THE GOVERNOR'S LETTER TO TE WHITI.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2141, 5 January 1881, Page 3

THE GOVERNOR'S LETTER TO TE WHITI.

[PBESS ASSOCIATION TEtnQEAM.] WELLINGTON, January 4. The following has been placed at our disposal by the Government: — " Memorandum for His Exoellency—Mr Hall presents his respectful compliments to the Governor, and transmits herewith a draft letter, whioh Ministers advise should be addressed by his Excellency to the chief To Whiti. (2). In doing this Mr Hall thinks it right that he should state briefly, for his Excellency's information, thn steps which have been taken for the purpose of communicating to Te Whiti: —(1). The purpose of the reports of tho Commissioners appointed to inquire into any grounds which might exist for discontent among the Natives on the West Coast, and generally into the Native difficulties there'; (2). The action taken upon those reports by Parliament, and (3) the steps which the Government have taken, or are taking, for the purpose of giving effect to the Commissioners' recommendations. (3). Full information upon each of these branches of the question has from time to time been communicated by friendly Natives on the West Coast, and particularly by a chief of high rankgjthere, named Hone Pihama, who is in frequent communication with Te Whiti, and has lately attended the monthly meetings at Parihaka. Government have every reason to believe that through this channel the substance of the information to given has reached Te Whiti and his followers. (4). Tbe Act of last session, by which Parliament empowered the Government to give effect to the Commissioners' recommendations, was translated into Maori, and the Government interpreter sent to Parihaka to distribute a number of printed copies. He found great difficulty in his attempts to do this, and eventually oopies were thrown back at him by Tohu, who is a sort of brother prophet and Te Whiti'a principal assistant. (5.) At a later pcrisd, when the chief Wiremu Kingi Matakatea was released with several other Native prisoners from Dunedin gaol, the Native Minister addressed to Wiremu Kingi a letter embodying his views as to the West Coast difficulties. This letter was printed, and the Government interpreter again sent to Parihaka with a number of copies of the dooument, which he succeeded in distributing to the Natives there. (6.) Mr Parris, an officer of the Native Department, not only of high standing, but well and favorably known to the Natives throughout the West Coast districts, was instructed to attend the October meeting at Parihaka, and state that he did so because it was understood that Te Whiti had said he had no knowledge of the Commissioners' reports and recommendations, and that he desired to be informed as to them. Mr Parris further was instructed to state to the Natives the purport of the reports and recommendations of the West Coast Settlement Act, and of the Native Minister's letter to Wiremu Kingi, and to add that the Government intended generally to give effeot to the intentions expressed in those documents, on the acquiescence of the Natives concerned, and to caution Te Whiti as to the evils that would follow further resistance or obstruction. Owing partly to the inclemency of the weather, but also no doubt to indisposition on TeWhiti's part, Mr Parris did not succeed in giving effect to his instructions. He was therefore direoted to attend the November meeting, and use his best efforts to communicate to the Natives the intentions «f the Government. As will be seen from his report, of which a copy is attached, Mr Parris was refused a hearing by Te Whiti. (7) Te Whiti on this, however, expressed, as he has done on other occasions, his willingness to discuss his troubles, and the best mode of settling them with the Governor. Under Ihcso circumstances, and as it appears to tbe Government that no reasonable means for arriving at a satisfactory settlement of those differences should be left untried, Ministers respectfully suggest that the accompanying invitation should be sent by His Excellency to Te Whiti. They would propose that the delivery of the letter should be in the first instance entrusted to Hone Pihama, and if he should fail, the Government interpreter should be sent to Parihaka for the purpose. (8) Mr Hall thinks it should be added that Sir Wm. Fox, K.0.G.M., the senior member of the Commission already mentioned, has, at the request of the Government, agreed to aot under a new instrument conferring upon him ample powers to carry out the recommendations contained in the reports of the first Commission, whioh were sanctioned by_ Parliament, and he proposes to oommence his work immediately after the new year.—JOHN HAIiL, Wellington, December 22nd, 1880."

" Friond To Whiti—This is an announcement from me to you who are living apart in a far off portion of these islands, whom I desire to see brought near to me. I am come to assume the Government on behalf of the Queen ; in her name to administer justice to both races of her subjects. The troubles which have existed among tome of the Maori people have been known to me in the past, and now it is my duty to do my best to remove them. I know what has been done by my predecessors and the General Assembly to settle the difficulties which have arisen, and I desire to finish the work of putting things right. lam told that you aro desirous of seeing me and representing your view of what should bo done to promote this good end. That is very good, and if you will let me know when you will come to Wellington to see me you shall be received with fitting hospitality, and_ I will not only listen to whatever you wish to say to me, but also if you _ show that wrong has been done I will do justice in accordance with the law and will of tho Queen. Bhould you consider the distance between Wellington and Parihaka too great to travel, then there is another way in which it would bo easier for us to meet to discuss matters. I shall soon be journeying round the colony to make myself acquainted with the affairs of Europeans and Natives throughout these islands, and in my journey I shall visit New Plymouth. Now, if you will come you can more readily return thence to your own people, to tell them the result of our conference; or, if you prefer it, I will meet you at any other place on the way between New Plymouth and Hawero, by inland road. I am told that you have heard of what is proposed to be done for the settlement of the differences, and when we meet I will make more clear to you the provision which will be made for the settlement of your people, and the plans whioh I have for their future welfare. I have lately ruled over a people very liko the Maoris. I have left them happy and contented, discussing their own affairs. They make their wishes known to the Queen and to the Governor in a regular manner through duly constituted channels. Why do not you and yours in like manner avail yourselves of those channels which, though not the same, here answer a similar purpose ? Why should we not talk over these matters ? I have heard that you are a man of peace and that you have striven to prevent war. The light is still lingering on tho mountain top. When you receive this letter write me at once, so that I may know what your intentions are ; whether you will come hero or whether you will meet me on my journey, and I will then let you know what day I shall be at New Plymouth. If you explain in your letter what your grievances are, I shall bo better able to answer you when we meet. —From your friend " Abthfb Goedon."