REPORT PROM LIEUT.-COLONEL RUSSELL, CIVIL COMMISSIONER.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 59, 14 August 1862, Page 5 (Supplement)

REPORT PROM LIEUT.-COLONEL RUSSELL, CIVIL COMMISSIONER.

Civil Commissioner’s Office, Napier, 9th June, 18G2. Sie, —I have the honor to report my proceedings as Civil Commissioner up to this-date. I left Auckland on the 18th March, and arrived at Napier on the Ist April. The gunboat having taken shelter under Table Cape, I landed and visited the Native settlements ofWangawai and Nukutaurua. I explained to the Natives the proposed institutions, but met with small encouragement. I believe this arose in some measure from the fear which had been impressed to them that debts which arc brought against them to the extent of£iOObyoneEuropean, of £SOO by another, and of £GOO by a third—would have to be paid up, now that law and order were to be established. I believe that such claims extend all over the Province, and that Ten thousand pounds would not cover them. My present Interpreter, Mr. Edward Hamlin, estimates his claims alone at £IOOO. On my arrival at Napier, I met the Chief Renata, of Pa Whakaairo, and told him that in accordance with the promise which Mr. Crosbie Ward and Mr. Fox had made him, that a Civil Commissioner should bo appointed, I had been named for that puroose; and, having been to Auckland to consult with His Excellency the Governor and his Ministers, had now returned to introduce the new institutions. He enviuced no pleasure at the information, but rather a wish to avoid the subject, in which, line of conduct he has subsequently persevered. I addressed letters to all the principal Chiefs, stating the order in which I would visit them; and also sent the Interpreter to Pa Whakaairo to let them know on what day I would bo there. accordingly, accompanied by Mr. Locke, to Pa Karamu (Karaitiana’s Pa), and found him, to my surprise, about to start for the Manawatu to bold a Runanga about a land dispute amongst themselves. I urged him to delay his departure for one day, and to accompany me to Pa Whakaairo, to discuss the Governor’s plans with Tarcha and Renata. lie declined doing so but remained about half-an-hour, during which I explained the proposed system ; to which ho gave no assent, but said by the time I had visited the other portions of the Province he should have returned from Manawatu, and we could then have a meeting to discuss the matter. I went on to Pa Whakaairo, where I passed the night, and talked at great length with Tarcha Paora Kaiwatu, Karauria, and others. Renata was present, but said little. Their tone was unsatisfactory ; they declined proceeding further in the matter at present, —urged the unsettled state of the Waitara question,—their own disputed land purchases,—their desire to talk with the Governor “ face to face,” &c., &c., &e. Finding I could make no progress with the new institutions, I tried to engage them in friendly conversation about their schools, medical men, &o ; but found them on all subjects captions, and determined to see no good in anything that had been done, or was purposed to be done, for them. Thoyicxt day) 1 . Mi-. Locke was taken aside by Renata, who explained to him that he was not unfavourable to the Governor’s views, but that after I bad returned from the AA'airoa, and Kavaitiana from the Manawatu, they would hold a meeting for the further discussion of the question. I left them with the strong impression that they were watching events and hud no immediate intontion of adopting the new institutions, though they ■were content to deal in generalities concerning them as long as they were at a distance. I see nothing yet of a contrary tendency, though evorv disposition has been shown to settle their disputed laud sales, and they have since seen the Governor face to face. I proceeded to visit every part of the Province south of Napier, and was able to settle some disputes ; ,but, with the grand subject I made no progress, the Natives asking generally what the Pa Whakaairo people said, and being apparently resolved to follow their lead. At Havelock I met the chief Ilapuku, much incensed about a sum of money which bad been paid to Renata on account of a sheep run occupied by a Mr. Mason, and which ho stated to be in opposition to a promise made by Air. Crosbie Ward that no future payment should be made to either party until it was decided who were the proper owners. On my visiting Air. Chambers, who was acting for Air. Mason, ho said he had so paid the money to Renata, but that it was to bo held “in trust,” and that Renata was an honourable man who would produce it whenever the dispute was settled. Renata subsequently denied having received the money “in trust” (though it seems ho signed a paper both in Maori and English to that effect) but stated that, though he signed the paper, he distinctly said that lie did not receive the money in trust, but would hand it over to whomsoever it should be decided to belong by a Runanga of their own people. He bad accordingly paid it to the man on whose account l/apuku claimed it, and I am told he thereby detached an adherent from Ilapuku and secured him to himself. Ilapuku now insisted upon a similar payment being made to him, but I could only promise that I would not recognise what had been done, but would still bold to the promise made him that the money should be paid to whomsoever the General Runanga pronounced it to be due. He was very angry and left Air. Chambers’ late at night, giving me to understand that I need not call at his Pah the next day, as he should leave it, and should take such steps about the land in question as he thought fit. I called at his Pah next day in passing notwithstanding, and found he was not there. During the next fortnight I visited every place of importance south of Napier, and have requested the Resident Magistrate of the District to do so monthly.- I then returned to Napier, where I met his Excellency the Governor and also Air. Donald M’Lean. ■ Having when commencing my journey heard that Air. AlcLean was in the Province for the purpose of settling any outstanding land purchase

disputes, I wrote offering to meet and co-operate with him in their adjustment. AVe did not, however, meet until my return to Napier, when we proceeded to take such steps as he will no doubt have made you acquainted with. Other claims await his return, and I feel assured I shall best meet the wishes of the Government by doing all in my power to assist him in settling them. As soon as circumstances permitted, I started again to visit the Native settlement lying north of Napier, as far as the boundary of the Province near Table Cape. I found this district little known and much neglected. Its population is said to be more than equal to that of the other two districts together. At AVaikari (but one long day’s journey from Napier) the Natives told me they had never seen a clergyman for four years. The conduct ‘of some of the Europeans who have located themselves in the Alohaka and AVairoa districts, would almost lead one to suppose that they were the barbarous, and the Alaoris the more civilized, people—scenes of drunkenness and outrage are described in which men have taken part whose education and position should have led to a very different lino of conduct, and which bring the moderation and forbearance of the Natives into very strong contrast. Those evils have now been greatly lessened by the Natives, who have interdicted the introduction of spirits to their own side of the Alohaka where there is no European land, whilst on the Wairoa which is altogether Native land, they have excluded spirits altogether, and have even had recourse to the strong measure of suppressing a publichouse licensed by the Provincial Government, upon the plea that as it stood* upon Native land they were justified in so doing. They told me they were aware that spirits are still smuggled into the river by Europeans, but so long as it is confined to themselves and not made tan annoyance to the Natives, they shut their eyes to this breach of Afaori law. Several Europeans are located upon the banks of the Alohaka, on land purchased from the Government, who take no part of which I have spoken, but are anxious they should cease, I have addressed letters to the two magistrates who live there begging their cooperation in bringing about a better state of things, and I have desired the Aliudstratc who visits the district this month (pending the appointment of a Resident Alagistrate) to report to me on the subject. There are'also about thirty adult’jEuropeans living upon the banks of the AVairoa ; they generally occupy three or four acres of Native land each, upon which they have built their houses, paying a ground rent of £1 an acre; many of them have formed Afaori connexions, and have half-caste families : and they have employed themselves in trading with the Natives, with whom they seem to live on good terms, in sawing timber, splitting posts and rails, &c., and many of them appear very decent men, and pay a good (leal of attention to the bringing up of their children. There are two schoolmasters hero to whom I will allude in a separate paper. There is a large amount ?of good agricultural land on (lie AVairoa, and a considerable amount of grain might be raised there ; but it is generally in a very neglected state, but partially cultivated by tlsc Natives, who are said to have patches of such cultivations for thirty miles up the river. They seem, however, determined to retain it .in their own hands, and as the number of children hero is in much larger proportion than 1 have generally met with in New Zeeland, I think it not improbable that in a few years tbev may require it all. I found no Europeans living north of the AAViroa, until I reached AVaikokopu, near the rock of the Aialiia Peninsula, (hough there is a fair extent of cultivable land lying between the Coast and the nearest range of hills. From jjAVaikokopii, however, a few Europeans occupy (the small bays of the peninsula, where whaling stations of some importance once existed, but have now nearly all died out. The principal Native ha'ingas are at AVakaki Nnhaka, Alahia, Wangawai, and Nukutaurua, but there are some others both inland and end.on the peninsula which I’did not see. It will be”an essential part of the Resident Afagistrate’s duty to make himself acquainted witfi the more remote part s of his district, and if lie be fitted for his office 1 conceive his influence and example will be of great value to both Natives and Europeans. The political aspect of the Northern division of the Province appeared to be more satisfactory than that of the Southern; the Natives {more "loyal, straightforward, and anxious to receive European law, though it will deprive them of power which they have hitherto used without control, but not without discretion. Their interference with the Europeans living amongst (hem lias been sometimes beneficial, occasionally vexations, but rarely oppressive. Tims their suppression of the grog nuisance has been beneficial, whilst their occasionally extorting 2s. or Is. for ferrying a traveller across a stream lias been vexatious. An instance also was mentioned to me by a sheep farmer who occupies Native land, where they stopped him for travelling on a Sunday, and detained him till the next day, but fed and lodged him well, and charged him nothing but ss. for bis horse’s corn; but being told by some one in authority that they bad done wrong, they followed him 20 miles to return him the ss. The only acts of oppression named to me were two, in one of which, a woman under exclusion from the l-aint/a having taken refuge in the house of a settler on European land, they looted his house, but subsequently returned most of the things; in the second case they crossed the Alohaka, and killed five pigs belonging to a European upon his own freehold. They had paid him liberally for one of them, and upon the case being brought before me consented to pay £3 each for the other four. But if Europeans have had hut little to complain of Alaori justice, a case was mentioned to me ; at Alabia which shows that it is sharp and prompt amongst themselves upon occasions. An old couple being encumbered with a r sick roan, who seemed likely to linger for a long time, killed and buried him—suspicion being aroused, the facts were elicited from the woman, whereupon they tied the man who committed the act, dug bis grave, shot and buried him within two hours. This occurred within the last two years in the immediate neighborhood of the Europeans, and

was incidentally mentioned to me from the circumstance of my having been discussing the new institutions with the executioner. The information which I gave them ns to the Governor’s plans gave them great satisfaction. The information that he saw, on his return to New Zealand, that their progress in civilization entitled him to cull upon them to hear a part of the burthen of their own government, and no longer to throw it all on the Pakehas, seemed greatly to please them. I had carefully enquired as to the influence and character of the Chiefs whom 1 desired'as Assessors, and they generally concurred in my selection ; in only two eases did they demur to it —in that of Paura Perepu of Mohaka, whom they stated to be the greatest man upon the Coast by birth, and whom they were unwilling to lose even temporarily from amongst them ; and, secondly, in the case of Hotena Tongihairc of Ilukutaurua, upon similar grounds ; but I believe in both eases their real objection was that they thought younger men of greater intellect would do better. I found but one man of any note calling himself a King’s man—Henry Te Apatari, of Wairoa, known as the “bottle of smoke he has some influence and a few followers, and might be (roublesome if left in opposition, but will, I think, be quite disarmed by making him an Assessor, with of course duo precautions. I believe the new Institutions might be safely introduced in the Wairoa District, as far as its people are concerned, as soon as I have established there a careful, active, and judicious Resident Magistrate. Very much depends upon the selection of those officers, and I think, as a rule, it would be better that they had not previously been mixed up with Native matters. I have named Mr, Samuel Locke for the Wairoa District, being about the best qualified of any who have offered their services, and as he is a single man of active habits, has some knowledge of the language, and will have no other occupation to interfere with his moving about the country, I hope he may do well. In the meantime, as he (Mr. Locke) is not yet a Justice of the Peace, I have induced Captain Russell to visit the District this month as a Magistrate accompanied byf my Interpreter, as I promised them they should be visited by a Magistrate once a month until one was appointed to live amongst them. I was glad to obtain the services of Captain Russell, as he is so intimately acquainted with my own views, and I think his discretion and judgment quite to be relied on. There is, I understand from him, a case of murder which has occurred at the Wairoa since I was there myself, amongst the Natives themselves, and I have no doubt he will do all (hat is possible in the matter, “1 will report more fully upon itjWhen he returns. The Natives pressed me to hold the first General Runanga at Napier as soon as I could return from the General Assembly, which I hoped would be in August. I suggested some more central point upon the Plains, but (hey stated they had been treated with so much incivility by Renata and the Pa Whakaairo Natives when they visited them shortly after the lanyi lor Moana Nui, because (hey would not join the King movement, that they would not meet at any place belonging to them. I am not aware whether or not there is any truth in this statement, but as it is stated to have occurred after Pa Whakaairo had been visited by Mr. Crosbie Ward and by Mr. Fox, 1, thought it remarkable. Upon my return to Napier, I took an opportunity of mentioning to Renala, that having visited the Wairoa District and arranged mailers there, 1 was now ready to meet them, as they had proposed to arrange them here. He immediately walked away without reply. I have since visited Pa Whakaairo at their' request, (accompanied by -Mr. Weber, Provincial Fngincer, and Mr. Locke,) to inspect Hie site for a water mill, which they say the Government has promised to assist them to build, but about which I have no information ; and 1 took a favourable opportunity of referring to the subject, but they again evaded it, and 1 now feel constrained to give it up for the present. This 1 should care little for but for the following reasons “Ist. Until the General Runanga sits we arc practically without law, for notwithstanding the pi-omises made to Mr. Ward and Mr. Fox that the seizure of cattle and such other acts would cease, they have not ceased. Rut no law can be enforced against the Natives without groat risk, until the General Runanga assumes that responsibility, and consequently it is not easy to enforce it against the Europeans. 2nd. The meeting of the General Runanga should precede that of the District or (so-called) Village Runanga, so as to form a basis for their proceedings ; consequently those who are willing to carry out the new Institutions are paralysed by those who are not willing to cooperate with them to constitute the General Rmpmga.” One of my most anxious objects hasbeen to convince the Natives that their plan of seizing horses, cattle, sheep, and even bullocks, when on a journey, will inevitably lead to bloodshed if persevered in ; as it is not to be expected that the Europeans accustomed to live under and obey the laws themselves, will much longer submit to have their property thus lawlessly assailed, but will oppose force by force. Yet at this moment there are 10 bead of Mr. Coupcr’s cattle in the hands of Paraone, of Te Ante, notwithstanding my having personally explained (hose things to him on my first visit, and subsequently by letter when this seizure was reported to me. Mr. Cooper, Resident Magistrate, is now endeavouring to arrange the matter, but I have pointed out to him that it is better to mediate than adjudicate, seeing that it is but one-sided justice 'to convict and fine the Natives for unlawful seizure in direct opposition to the Magistrate. Eor these reasons, I have been anxious, by the assembly of all the chief men of the Province in General Runanga, to make such laws for the Governor’s approval as are most urgently required, and to appoint the Native Police for their due execution where Natives are concerned ; so as to pledge those Chiefs, as it were, to the support of the law, or at least to provide that in case of its failure, contempt should fall rather upon them

than upon the Government. There are oilier subjects which I should wish to refer to, such as modifications which it will bo my duty to propose in my recent instructions — details as to the establishment of schools, medical assistance Iq the ISativcs, &c. ; but this report has already reached such a length that I beg to defer it for the present, and will only add that I consider “Ist. The Chiefs at Pa Whakaairo evince no present desire for the introduction of the new Institutions. 2nd. That their political importance is somewhat over-rated in this Province, and that they possess but little influence north of jN’apicr. 3rd. That I fear it may become necessary to proceed without them in the Wairoa District, but that to do so it will bo necessary to modify the proposed system of Village llunangas, as it will be difficult to carry out that idea in one Village Eunanga when the District extends over a hundred miles of the most impracticable country, and the population exceeds a thousand. ■lth. That this had better not be attempted at present, but stand over until I have had an oppor(unity of consulting with Ministers, at tho approaching meeting of the General Assembly. In conclusion, 1 beg to say that I believe tho desire and intention of tho Natives of this Province generally is peace, but that before giving up their present position they wish to extract all they can from the Government.” I am, &.C., A. 11. EcsseiX/, Civil Commissioner. The lion, the Minister for Native Affairs, Ac.