THE NATIVE MEETING AT ORAKEI.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1567, 26 February 1879, Page 3

THE NATIVE MEETING AT ORAKEI.

[Press Special Wire.J Auckland, February 25. At the opening of the Maori Parliament to day the officers of the German war-ship Ariadne and a number of Auckland citizens were present. Paul Tuhaere, in his opening address, -aid— It is now thirty-nine years since the treaty of Waitangi was signed, at which time a great conference of chiefs was held at Kohimarama, presided over by Governor Browne, who was then Governor of N.Z., when the articles of that treaty were repeated and con firmed by him as the Queen’s representative in the presence of your elders and friends, who, as i have said before, have gone to their long rest. It is with a view to bring those words to living remembrance that they have been submitted on this occasion for your consideration and for the benefit if your children, after you having failed in my own part of the country to understand clearly the real intent and meaning of the terms of that treaty. No other object, however, is in view than that of truly comprehending its details on behalf of our children and successors hereafter, who_ I feel assured do not understand it aright. It will be therefore for the chiefs in this assembly to consider carefully the words which were delivered by Governor Browne at the great conference which took place at Kohimarama. Let me i ead them aloud to you, then let each member of this assembly think over well in his own mind the points of questions _ now put before you. A special occasion has been taken to revive these things, inasmuch as Sir George Grey and Mr Sheehan have assumed the reins of government in the interest of both races, so that the people throughout these islands may witness these our deliberations. I trust at the same time that our friends of the Ngapuhi tribes, by whom the treaty was first signed will not think this an attempt on our part to ta»ke from them that which they have a prior and better claim to. It is with the spirit only of the treaty of Waitangi we wish now to deal. A word for our Maori members now sitting in the Council and Parliament may also be in season, for those especially who are without energy to bring these things into life and activity. To r.m.dy this defect it is recommended that for the future members for each Native district sh- uld be chosen and returned by an assembly such as the one I am now addressing, whose vote shall make the only good an i true election. My friends. I am most desirous that the treaty should be we 1 diicusse by you, and that you will be able to give it your best consideration. Finally. I wish to bring befor i you invitations which have be n sent round inviting chiefs with Europeans to attend an important meeting at Te Kopua on the Waipa, Waikato. There al-o will your near and younger kinsman, Tawhiao (the Maori King), and Sir G. Grey meet together. The chi ts of this assembly should all go, and should be present, to hear and assist in arrangements which may then be proposed and made on either side for the general good of the country and people. Printed copies of the speech were distributed immediately after its delivery. The following telegram from Sir G. Grey and the Hon. Mr Sheehan were then read by Commissioner Kemp to the assembled Natives : —“To Paul Tuhaere.—Friend, —Salutations to you and to your tribe, Ngatiwhetua, and chiefs and people who are now assembled by jour invitation at Orakei. This work of yours is good. It is well, as the call to the tribes to discuss the affairs of the islands should come from Ngatiwhetua. Our tribe (Ngatiwhetua) has been an upholder of law and a preserver of peace since the first coming of pakehas into the islands. It was our tribe who led the first 'Governor and first Europeans from Karorarika to the banks of the Wnitemata. Afterwards, when evil came upon the land and strife arose between the two races, it was on the land of JNgatiwhetua, at Kohimarama, that there was held a groat gathering of chiefs of the Native race. Though the words spoken at that meeting did not take root in Waikato, yet they flourished and bore fruit in many other places of this Island. Therefore, it is well that once more the tribes should bo at Kohimarama. Although the war in Waikato was finished in IHC4, yet the evils which it engendered did not disappear, and also a large section of the Maori people went f r: h as it were into a desert to dwell there with their faces averted from thoir European brethren. Your work, Paul Tuhaere during tlnse long dark years which have intervened, is well known to the Government and Europeans. Many chiefs who assembled at the first m.-eting of Kohimarama, however, remain. It is well th t you have been spared to see the d wning of bettor days. It is well that you should live to seethe completion of the work in which you have ha so large a share. “ This is a word of ours also to you, chiefs and people, who have assembled at this meeting at the bidding of our friend, Paul Tuhaere. Wo are glad that you have come together for the purpose of talking over the affairs of this island.

Wa trust you will discuss the qua tions whieh will come before you in an enlightened and liberal spirit, that all purely personal c >nsiderationa will be set aside, and that all will unite heartily to discover a solution of the troubles which still remain. Let the result of your work be to establish the old order of things, when the European at d Maori dwelt side by tide in peace, and the poorest and meanest of either race could traverse the length and breadth of the country, protected and cherished by the hospitality tvhicli ha ■ given the Maori people a reputation whereever the t nglish language is spoken. When your work is done, let some of you be the bearer of comforting and kindly words to Waik .to. Words which will strengthen them in their desire to re-unite with yourselves and Europeans, and induce them once more to reestablish or be governed by the words of that wi«e and goad old man, Potatau Te Whiowh o—that is, Ko te Aroha, Ko te po. Ko to tuae. Sufficient from us, your loving friends—Here Kerci (G. Grey), Hone Hipa (John Sheehan).” The meeting then adjourned until ten o’clock to morrow.