NATIVE KING MOVEMENT

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 74, 27 November 1862, Page 6 (Supplement)

NATIVE KING MOVEMENT

To the "Editor of the Nelson Examiner. Sir,—-Having ]iacl my attention directed to a letter ot Mr. Hough’s, which appeared in jour paper ot the 15th inst., in which lie announces the receipt of some very startling intelligence relative ■to the designs ot the Maikato natives, X would beg to observe that I have seen the letter referred to by Mr. Hough, which is at present in the posession of Mr. Domett, and, as I understand it, there is nothing in its contents to warrant anv person in alarming the public. The letter in question is written bv Te 'Wet-ini I’akukohatu, a chief of the Ngatikinohaku hapu of the IV aikato tribe, and contains an invitation to the Ngatiraruaof Motuoka, Golden Hay, and Wairan, to proceed to the Northern Island. Subsequent to the date of that letter, two on the same subject were received bj the Ngatirarua, also written by the same man (To AYotini Ihikukohatu). In September last, a deputation of the Ngatirarua ol Motucka, proceeded to Motupipi, for the purpose of discussing with the Ngatirarua of that place, the propriety of accepting the oilers of the Ngatikinohaku. Hearing of this meeting 1 attended it. The natives very frankly handed me the letters and asked my opinion about the proposition contained therein. On reading these f found that there was an invitation for the Ngatirarua to return to the lands which thej’ formerly occupied at Manngatawhiri and Wnikawa in flic Xawhia district and from which they had been expelled by the Waikato. The reason assigned being that the Maori king had made a law that all hands held by conquest should be returned to the original owners. The proposed policy of the king party was also plainly stated, but it contained nothing new or* particularly warlike. It is unnecessary for me to relate the step’s I deemed it expedient to take in this matter. Hut tiie result is, none of the Ngatirarua of Nelson or M.nrlhoronrjli will accept the invitation of the Ngatikinohaku. I would remark that letters similar to that of Mr. Hough, and others arc calculated to mislead the public, and create had feeling between the Europeans and natives. Even admitting that the information endeavoured to be conveyed was reliable, it is excecdignly bad policy" to publish it, in any newspaper. I must hovevor, distinctly and emphatically deny that there is anything in any of the letters above referred to, to warrant the publication of such statements as those made by Mr Hough. There is not one word about crushing the pakcha nor is there any time fixed for the departure of the Ngatirara, in the event of their acceding to the proposition ot the i\ gatikinohal: u. If Air Hough and others, would only sift

native reports heiore writing about them, it would save much excitement, and subsequent trouble and ill leeling. If every letter which natives here receive from the Northern Island is to be looked on with suspicion, and form the subject of a newspaper correspondence there will be an end to receiving any information from the natives of this island. Doubtless one object of the Waikato in holding out inducements for the Ngatirarua to settle in the Kawhia district is to add their number to that of the king party. This however does not necessitate or justify any person in alarming the public and informing the natives that we are not in, a position to meet 10,000 natives if such a number concentrated against our forces. 1 have this day seen Rei Nganiho and Takerci Pairata the chiefs from whom Mr Hough is said to have received his information, and they deny having stated anything dillerent from what had been previously laid before me at Motupipi. And in conclusion 1 will again mention that the letter now in the possession of Mr. Domett is of prior date to those shown at the meeting held at Motupipi. I am Ac., James Mack ay, Jun., Assistant Native Secretary.