MR FOX IN SELF-DEFENCE.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1644, 28 May 1879, Page 3

MR FOX IN SELF-DEFENCE.

[Press Special Wire.] WELLINGTON, May 27. Mr Fox writes a long letter to tho " Rangitikei Advocate " in reply to a statement made by the Auckland " Star " reporter, writing from the late Waikato meeting, and in which he says one of the chiefs there assembled sa ; d it was "Fox who caused all the troubles in this land. He made a plan to kill all the Maoris and take land and sell it, in order to get back the mopey spent in killing us. We did not want to fight the pakehas, but he so forced us with war in order to carry out his own designs." Mr Fox then proceeds to say, after quoting the above,

that the war of 1814 occurred in Governor Fitzroy's time, when be (Mr Fox) was living in Nelson. He had nothing to do with the next war, in the course of which ir G. Grey came to Otaki at midnight in a man-of-war and took Rauperaha out of his br>d. The next war was a Wanganui one (still during Governor Groy's time), and Mr Fox was still living in Nelson. He had nothing to do with that. There was no more fighting till Governor Browne came, when VVaitara followed, and when ho (Mr Fox) was living at Rangitikei. Thinking tbe war wrong he, along with Dr. Fcatheratcm and Sir W. Fitzherbort, opposed it, and received from Mr Browne's friends the name of the " Peace-at-any-price party." They represented to the Houn Government Mr Browne's wrong-doings, and next year he was recalled and Sir G. Grey again sent out to try and make peace. When Sir Geo. Grey came he (Mr Fox) was Premier, and tried to make peace, and suggested that six Commissioners be appointed to inquire into tho Waitara trouble and all other grievances. But the Maori King and Tarapipipi would not agree to this peaceful solution. That did not look as if ho was desirous of killing all the Maoris. At the end of the year he was succeeded by Mr Domett. A few months after, by a complica-

tion of blunders, hostilities were renewed at Taranaki, and the law of confiscation, framed by Sir G. Grey and Mr Domett, followed this war. Fighting went on in Waikato till October, 1863, soon after which he was asked by Sir G. Grey to form a new Ministry, which he did, Mr Whitaker being Promier ; but in November or December, 1864, Sir G. Grey quarrelled with them, and they resigned. The next disturbance was with Ngatitahuuia, Sir G. Grey being Governor, and Mr Weld Premier, and Mr Fox in England Then Governor Grey was recalled, Sir G. Bowen came, and Mr Stafford was premier Minister, and Te Kooti escaped from the Chathams. This led to fighting at Poverty Bay. After enumerating a few details as to the conduct of this last war, Mr Fox goes on to say :—" Since that there has been no more fighting, and I sincerely hope there will not be any more trouble. If only Sir George Grey and Mr Sheehan will keep from teasing the King, and will act justly about the reserves at Wamate, I behove there will be no more war. I think the above will show my Maori friends how little truth there is in the statement that I had been the cause of all the troubles in this island. There have been nine wars in New Zealand. With only two of these have I had anything to do, and in those two cases I did not begin the fighting. I only continned the fighting already begun by Sir George Grey, Mr Domett, and Mr Stafford, an a matter of self-defence on behalf of the white men and friendly Maoris. Observe that lam not saying whether these wars were right or wrong. I am only stating facts which show how little I had to do with bringing all these troubles on the country, and how great a falsehood it is to say that I have been the cause of them." The remainder of Mr Fox's letter deals with the confiscation, and is intendedto show that the law of confiscation did not originate with him, but with Sir G. Grey and Mr Domett. Mr Fox then says:—"No war and no confiscation has ever been made or could be made in New Zealand unless tho Governor was willing. When the Queen's soldiers were here General Cameron would not listen to the word of the Colonial Ministers. The only person whose orders he would obey was Governor Grey, or Governor Browne before Sir George Grey came. No fighting has ever gone on in New Zealand without the Governor being desirous, or at least willing to fight. His Ministers could not force him. It is the same with confiscation. The Governor alone can confiscate, and no Ministry could foice him to do it."