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 Eelson Examiner. Srn, —I am beginning to wonder, Wliat next ? I find that I have unwittingly created a storm. I was told, in good faith, by two native chiefs, in my own house, that such and such things were being concocted amongst the king natives, and, when I made light of it, I was told by them in sober earnestness, that it was true, and that we should soon know it. 1 mentioned it to several friends without any intention of taking further notice of it until I was requested to do so. I consented, believing that should the information be untrue, no harm could result from such a course but, should it turn out to be true to any extent good might result from it. I was not aware that I was living so near to a hornet's nest. In my simplicity, I did not dream that none but Native Interpreters and Assistant Native Secretaries had anything to do with native matters. 1 was not aware that I should trench upon their dignity by doing what I expected any Englishman in New Zealand had a right to do, if he thought proper; but enough on this subject. With regard to To Matene’s letter, he has told us that he has not heard this report, and, as such, it is not true. Now, sir it is well known to all the k'ng natives, that Te Mateno is a paid agent of the Government, and, as such, not very likely to be a confident of theirs. On the contrary,'! believe him to be the last man in the world whom they would make acquainted with it. And now, sir, for the great gun fired oil' by the great man of to day. He tolls us that he has seen the letter referred to by Mr. Hough. I doubt this very much. "I’is true he has seen a letter which 1 brought last week from Motueka, where I had been, in order to sift this matter to the bottom. 1 went to i’e Rei Nganiho’s tribe but could not get any information from them. Te Rei left Motueka for Nelson. The letter which Air. Mackay has seen is from another tribe, the Ngatirarua. When I got back to Nelson I sought To Rei, and found him in a state of great excitement, on account of Mr Jenkins having published their names, which was certainly, under the circumstances, very unfair. He was much afraid that he was likely to get into trouble, and, as such, anxious to back out. 1 told him that I had got a letter from * * * °, corroborating some of the statements made by him and his friends to me but I was anxious to get the other, which they had spoken of. He replied, “That is the * letter which you have got.” I doubt this. The fact is I don’t believe it now. And now Sir, for the letter, the very innocent letter which Mr. Mackay has seen, and in which ho cannot find anything to corroborate what I have stated. None so blind as those who won't see. A few extracts from that letter will throw some light upon it; —• “Ki a * w ki on hapu katoa, puta noa i on rohi katoa.”—“To * * * * ; and also to or for all your people, of every place, throughout your district (Wakarongo rniii.) listen intently, to what wc have to say,” and then follows. “ Ka huihui maua, ki to kawo i a Wircmu Kingi ki Ngaruawahia, kite korcro, kia hapainga, ki a ia ano, temana o NiuTireni, kia tarewa ki runga.” —“Wc assembled to take William King to Ngaruawahia, in order to talk and consult together, about bringing the maim, power, strength and influence, of all Now Zealand to him, that wc may vigorously rise or triumph over all. “Rupcka ako maua, e torn ran rangatira tonu huihui katoa Ngatipaoa, ki tana runanga.”—“Wc assembled together there were 300 principal chiefs and also the whole of the Ngatipaoa tribes in that council.” They then go on to state that one subject had been specially discussed at this runanga and this was the request of the Governor, that they should abandon the Maori king movement, and allow the Queen alone, to rule supreme in New Zealand ; and tlie conclusion this great runanga had come to, was “ Kahore i wakactia i ana kupu,”— “ We will not not hear, nor yet obey, this request of the Governor.” At the end of the first paragnph they write: “ Ki to tao atu tenei pukapuka ki a koutou, me haere mai, tetahi o koutou, kite wakarongo i te korcro, mo koutou ki Otaki, kei reira nga pnkapuka a nga runanga katoa, mo tenei motu, a putu noa.”—lf this letter should reach you, lot one of your people come over to Otaki, and hear all wc have to say, and then he will bo able to give you all particulars ; hero are all the writings and particulars, of all the runanga?, not only for this part, but also for every other place.” They then go on to state that it would not be safe, or prudent to send these particulars to every | place. At the end of the last paragraph they R ny . j —“He kupu atu tena, ki a koutou, iioki mai Id | nta, kaoa e wakaaroa te pea tanga, te ahatanao, e

wakaaro ai kouton, hoki mai ki uta, kaua e tirolirobia lie mea wakanana, cngari kite ngakau polio. Hoki mai e boa ma. E Tama mu, i runga i nga wakaaro o inatou.”—“ We bare yet another word or two for you. Do come over to us. Don’t allow, either this thing, that thing, or any thing to prevent your coming to us. Do come. Don’t shrink from the struggle, but come, with brave and true hearts. Come, O i'ricnds all, O sons all; let your thoughts and actions be one with ours.” “ Xo to rimanga katoa.”—This to you, is from the whole council.” I am sorry to publish this ; I did not intend to notice the subject again, but too many' wasps about one’s cars is not pleasant. One thing, sir, should bo borne in mind, the Maori language is so meagre, that, on a subject such as this, much more is implied than is either spoken or written. I am, &c., AY. Honan. Kelson, October 30.