NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2355, 20 October 1881, Page 3

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

ME BEYOE EE JOINS THE MINI3TEY THE GOYEBNMENI’S ULTIMATUM. [PBEBS ASSOCIATION TELBGEAM.J WELLINGTON, October 19. Mr Bryce has again accepted the position of Native Minister. The following Proclamation has been issued in a “ Gazette” extraordinary : James Prendergast, Administrator of the Government. A Pboclamation.

For nearly two years past the Government has been endeavoring to bring about a satisfactory conclusion of the difficulties on the West Coast of the North Island, and to effect such settlement of the lands as would enable Europeans and Maoris to live together in peace. In January, 1860, a Eoyal Commission was appointed, in accordance with the will of Parliament, to inquire into any claims and grievances which might exist on the part of the Natives in reference to such lards, so that just grounds of complaint might be removed and peace be firmly established. Governor Sir H. Eobinson, in his proclamation announcing the appointment of this Commission, said that the confusion then existing could not be allowed to continue, and ho called in the name of the Queen on all her subjects to assist him in bringing about friendly relations between the two races. The Commissioners proceeded to make their enquiries. They recommended the setting aside tor the Natives a fair and suitable portion of the land, to be given to them on condition of their loyally accepting the proposals of the Government and living according to law upon the lands so allotted to them. Parliament approved of the proposal of the Commissioners, and the Government has taken steps to give effect to them in the case of those Natives who frankly accept them. Some have already received Crown grants for the land allotted to them. Te Whiti and those who chose to obey his word have held aloof from this work ; they have persistently neglected and caused others to neglect the opportunity offered to them, and have repeatedly rejected proposals mads with the hope of a settlement. Mr Parris was sent to explain to them the desire of the Government for an amicable settlement. Te Whiti would not hear him, or allow his people to listen to Mr Parris’ words. Governor Sir A. Gordon himself sent to invite Te Whiti to meet him. Te Whiti rejected the invitation. Lastly, he refused to listen to proposals made in person by a Minister of the Crown, and did so in a manner which could leave no doubt as to his intention to resist the law. His action has done great wrong to his own people, as well as to the colony generally. Through his words numbers of Natives are kept back from obtaining lands which would otherwise be given to them, and numbers of strangers who never had any interest in the lands at Parihaka are being brought to Parihaka to the detriment of the people of that place, Month after month Natives are assembled from a distance. They fire making themselves poor by contributing to useless expenditure upon feasts, which take them away from their own homes, and they are led to neglect the cultivation of their own lands. At these meetings Te Whiti has spoken in such a way as to turn aside the people from listening to the proposals of the Government, and the sound of his voice has unsettled the minds of the people. Eeoently his words were such as to promote angry feelings and incite open resistance to the law. This was followed, in defiance of the law and in spite of warnings by officers of the Government, by the erection of fences on land not set apart for Natives, and by Te Whiti’s orders his followers assembled in such numbers and under such circumstances as plainly to show their determination to resist the law when the fences should be removed by order of the Government. Thus a great wrong is being done to Natives as well as Europeans, and the confusion which the Government said must cease is still prevailing. The language used by Te Whiti and the threatening attii ude assumed by his followers have caused apprehension among the settlers, and compelled the Government to incur great expense and to increase largely the number of the Armed Constabulary. The Commissioners rightly said “ a time must come when the offers and promises of the Crown must either be accepted or refused once for all. No one would pretend that Te Whiti may on, his part, keep the whole country-side in turmoil and danger as long as he likes, and that the Government, on its side, must be ready to redeem its promises whenever he choose. If the Native people are to have the promises fulfilled, the English settlers must have some guarantee that they, too, shall have done with this long suspense and may live on their land in security and peace.” These were the words of the Commissioners, and the time has come for their fulfilment. Te Whiti and his adherents must now accept the proposals of the Government, or all that they might now have under these proposals will be beyond their reach. In the Parihaka block, 25,000 acres on the mountain side of the road are, as recommended by the Commissioners, offered as an ample provision for the Parihaka people, besides other reserves on the seaward side of the road. About the latter the Government has said that it was willing to consider the wishes the Natives might lay before it. The Government now states plainly that these offers will after fourteen days be withdrawn, unless within that time Te Whiti and hia adherents signify their acceptance of them and their willingness to submit to the law of the Queen and to bring their claims before the Commissioners. If they do bo the recommendations of the Commissioners and the promises made will be liberally interpreted and fulfilled. Should the Natives bo so infatuated as to disregard this warning the Government will proceed to make roads throughout the Parihaka block and to lay off lands for European occupation inland of the main road. The claims of such Natives under previous promises will then have pasred away, and none of them will bo allowed to occupy lands in defiance of the law The Queen and the law must be supremo at Parihaka as well as elsewhere. Te Whiti and his people are now called upon to accept the proposals made to them, which would give large and ample reserves to the people. If they do not do this they alone will be responsible for the passing away from them for ever of the lands which are still reserved for them by the Government, and for the great evil which must fall on them. In conclusion, the Maoris residing on the West Coast who wish to live at peace with the Europeans are earnestly requested to listen to a word of great importance to them. Te Whiti, and those who adhere to him, have hitherto refused to listen to the proposals which have been made by the Government, and at Te Whiti’s instance numbers of Natives are keeping aloof from the work of peace. The word of the Government now is that those who wish to accept the offers which have been made should leave Te Whiti if he neglects the final opportunity now offered to him. They should go to those lauds which have been set aside for them. All visitors should return to their homes, in order that they may not he involved with those who are working confusion, and may not suffer with them. If this warning is neglected, who can distinguish between those who desire peace and those whose work loads lo disaster. The innocent and the guilty may suffer together, and this is not the desire of the Government.

Given under the hand of his Excellency Sir James Prendergast, Chief Justice, the Administrator of the Government of her Majesty’s colony of New Zealand, and issued under the seal of the said colony at the Government House at Wellington this nineteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eightyone. Wsi. Boixeston. God Save the Queen! [FROM THE OWN CORRESPONDENT OF THE “ PRESS.”] WELLINGTON, October 19. This evening Mr Bryce formally accepted the invitation to rejoin his former colleagues. A Cabinet meeting was held, and subsequently a special meeting of the Executive Council was called at Government House, when Mr Bryce was sworn in before Sir J. Prendergast, Administrator of the Government, as a member of the Ministry and the Executive. The Cabinet then resumed, and it was further decided that Mr Bryce should resume his old position as Minister for Native Affairs and Defence, and that he should proceed at once to the West Coast, leaving by the boat at four o’clock to-morrow morning for Taranaki, en route for Pungarehu. Another resolution of a very serious nature was also arrived at. The Government had received information during the day that

this morning a party of Natives, some fifty in number, suddenly appeared on a section of land near Cape Egmont, purchased by a man named Fleming, who was working on it with his mate, cutting and carrying posts for fencing. The Natives ordered them to cease work, and then proceeded to carry back into the bush the posts which the men had brought. Then the Natives warned Fleming both in Maori and English to cease working on the land. Some 200 posts were then taken away by the Natives, and some were thrown away in the flax and fern, some were pitched into the swamp, and those which were too heavy to carry were chopped in two. Having done all the mischief and stopped the work, the Natives went away. This affair received the careful consideration of the Government to-night, and I understand that it was decided to give an order to the officer in command of the constabulary that the men were to be protected in their work. This of course means an immediate collision if the Maoris renew their interference. It was also de'ermined to send an ultimatum to Te Whiti, and at another special meeting of the Executive Sir James Prendergast signed a proclamation, which was printed in a Gazi te Extraordinary issued to night. This you will receive per Piess Association. Mr Rolleston’s signature is appended to this proclamation, which is thus his last official act as Native Minister.