THE WAITARA MEETING.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1364, 28 June 1878, Page 3

THE WAITARA MEETING.

[ebom the special cobeespondent of the pbess] Waitaba, June 27. The Southern Nativea arrived at noon and the meeting commenced at 1 p.m. at Penington's store. Fifty Maniapotos, fifty Ngatawas, and four Taranakis were present. The meeting ended at 2.30. The principal meetr ing will bo held to morrow, There are about 500 Natives at Waitara.

Eewi spoke to Sir Q-. Q-rey as follows : You and I have come to see each other at this special placo according to agreement. Your hand is on my head- My right hand is on yours. That is the reason why we have met here. It is good for the tribes to see us together here, to utter what we have to say at Waitara.

Sir Q-. Grey said to Rewi—You asked me to meet you at Waitara that we might discuss certain things at the place where the war began. I am here in compliance with your invitation. Since the war everything has changed and we have now to consider what our future shall be. The question is not whether you will be governed by others, but whether you are willing to govern yourselves. Now we all stand on an equal footing, and unite in choosing people to make laws. Natives sit in the House and make laws. Natives are Ministers for carrying out the laws. We are now one nation. There is nothing to urevent putting more Natives in the House. Nothing to prevent Rewi entering the Upper House. Nothing to prevent you becoming Minister. At the present time the title to your lands is obtained by the courts, not by fighting. We shall soon try to get an alteration of the courts by the addition of Native judges who understand Native customs. In looking back on the war people may hear of great courage shown on both sides, great bravery, and some examples of generosity. Now the days have come when we are one people, who instead of destroying each other, rather help to d-fend the country against an enemy. We truly are one people. Mr Sheehan is just as much a New Zeajande» as any of you, born in the country, 'attached to it, and intend? to live there all his life. Mr pric.e also was born in New Zealand. Both are as proud of New Zealand as any native. So the whole generation of European people grown up here cannot help being one people. We live together and cannot separate Had the war in Europe continued I should have deemed it practicable to raise a regiment for the defence of the empire. The natives could furnish good officers and men, who would be glad to servo. We have mot to discuss the new state of things, and try to make the natives rich and prosperous, to make their hinds secure to them, and the sources of great wealth. W e +P. ee t because a great nation is rising u,p, and hr-causo it is the duty of the natives to help in raising it up. That nation is becoming one. I can point to intermarriages taking place every day. There is no great, chief who is not related to the Pakehas. Let us therefore try to perform well the duty devolving on us. I and other European Ministers do all w- oan. Let the chiefs come forward and join the G-overn-mont, both in making and administevins; the laws and in making the country greut and happy as we can. Rewi thou said—What you have said is clear and right. We will work together for the good of these islands. Past troubles brought us here to-day. It is for me to search myself for the trouble I have brought on the island. It is for you, Wi Take, Matene Te Whiwhi, and other great chiefs, to lay down subjects for to-morrow, I show reason why we are here to-day. First 1J; me ask a question—Which i's the best spot for producing good ? I 'can answer, Waitara is tho place from whence the good is to spring. Lot us plant the good tree here. Should it succeed, we may plant cuttings elsewhere This ia, the subject on which I will spens at largo tomorrow. First lit. uj speak clearly, secondly fearlessly, and thirdly let our speaking be . final 1 I now say a few words to the Maoris. Sir Gh Grey ti desiro that the tree of peaco might be planted and grow, and that the Bpouking might be in gentle terms, but plain and without fear of offence. Rewi to the tribes--T. am just going to speak to you, Wi Tako ar.rl thoughts that spring ftim myhea'd, because we hav; come to Waitara. We and the Europeans' destroyed each other we were not related. When the Pakehas came, they brought a new faith. Ministers preached their faith for the salvation of men. In three the whole nation listened to and embraced Ibis ftilth. During those days Sir Gh Qtey promoted the establishing of that faith. When troubles arose ho wad forward in suppresssg then. Vyhcn; war* broke out at Waitav.i then tb* faith" was first shattered. I was among' iihose who abandoned .it;.-'-The whole island abandoned it. To day I bid you welcome to lift up that faith again. The meeting was then addressed by Matene Te Whiwhi, Wi Parata, Mete Kmgi, and

Karaitiana. The speech of the latter was full of flattery towards Sir G. Grey and Mr Sheehan. The meeting then adjourned.

[feom thb tress ag-bncy.J At the meeting to-day Matene Te Whiwhi said your words are your own making, Rewi, for you and your friend Sir George Grey. You said we should meet at Waitara. I have come to see you from a long distance. Wi Tako—l have but very few words to say. Listen to me, Rewi. I received your telegram to meet you at the great meeting at Waitara. Now lam here I have little to say here. I was a friend of Potatau. I was one that was away. I was the cause of the disturbance to the whole country. I was at Waikato when I first went straight to Potatou, and am therefore the one with a heavy load on my back. Wi Parata—l will not divide myself neither to my father nor my mother. I will have nothing to do with this meeting. I will listen to you all, and I will also look on. We have people in the Parliament to represent us. Rewi—Mete Kingi, I have a word to tell you. I sent for you to bring back my spirit, which I gave you. Bring it here to Waitara. It is in your own body. On this account I sent for you here.

Mete Kingi—Very well. You see me here, both you and Sir G. Grey, but I will take no part at your meeting. I leave everything to you and Sir G. Grey. Piako rose to speak, but Rewi told him to sit down, adding—The people I have asked to speak have not answered me.

Karaitiana—Listen to me, all you chiefs. I have known what brought mo hore. It is to meet. I was one of those that said we should meet at Waitara. I told Potatau to give me Waitara. When I left for Tamehewe, I met Tamihana. I told him to give me Waitara, and, if you wish to let me have it, give it to me. Referring to the place of meeting, my coming here is because of the newword that came from Parliament. Therefore lam here. Why I allude to this is because we have a new man in the House—one who was but a lawyer to me. Therefore I say this is the man that will conduct us right. I have been fighting for the land in the House, when I was greatly hissed by one side. Therefore I had no more to say. Rewi, if I was to sav anything to you and your friend Sir George Grey, it might create an ill-feeling. Listen to my last words to-day, that is we all meet to-morrow.