Friday.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 22, 25 September 1885, Page 9

Friday.

Messrs. Stevens and Kennedy returned to Napier from Tongariro on Wednesday night. At the base of the mountain there has been held during the past three weeks an important Maori gathering, over 1200 Natives being present, representing all the principal tribes who occupy the interior of the island. The object of the meeting was to cement the union of the Native race by the formation of a ■common platform, on which botb Queen and King Natives could agree. The following resolutions were passed : — Recognition of the King as head of the Natives ; unity of the Maori race, and maintenance of friendly relations with Europeans ; adoption of the Native Lands Court ; abolition of special representation in the Legislative Assembly ; the withdrawal of all lands from sale, lease, and survey, pending the arrival of Sir J. E. Gorst from England ; the support of the temperance movement ; though no obstruction wonld be offered to the construction of railways consent should first be given to them, and all land taken for railways should be paid for. A small section of the Natives, of whom Hobepa Taumanutu was spokesman, disagreed with all the above resolutions, but, being in so small a minority, their objections carried no weight. The Natives resolved to shut up the hotel at Tokano, and 600 took the total abstinence pledge. The principal chiefs present were Te Hehu, Hu Topia, Turoa, Hori Ropeha, Matu Ahau, and Te Keri. The latter was present as representative of Tawhiao. Mr. G. A. Sala has decided to postpone his trip to Tasmania. After giving four lectures at Christchurch, commencing on Monday next, he goes on to Dunedin ; thence he will return Northwards, and remain in the Colony till he leaves to attend the Melbourne races.

The Gazette notifies the appointment of Mr. John B. Callan to be captain of the Dunedin Irish Brigade.

The London Times, in the course of an article upon Sir H. Drummond Wolff's mission to the Porte, states that the British Government declined to fix a date for the evacuation of Egypt by the English forces, but perhaps an Axglo-Turkish Commission will be appointed to determine the period when such evacuation may become possible.

The British Government have made a recommendation to Spain to accept the decision of an arbitrator in settlement of the dispute with Germany as to the Caroline Islands.