THE WAITARA PURCHASE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 140, 18 September 1863, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE WAITARA PURCHASE.

We take the following from the Taranaki Herald of the 15th August:— On the IGth April, 1863, we two went to the house of Mr. Bell. The beginning of our talk was upon another subject, and then we spoke about the arrival of Wm. King at Waitara. Mr, Bell said to us—“ Was the Governor right in what he did P ” One thing was wrong—his buying the three pas ; perhaps if he left out the three pas William King would not have been distressed (pouri.J. These were Mr. Bell’s words to Governor Browne. Mr. Bell asked us to answer (kaij these words. I (Teira) said to him wo will not answer those words lest wo should be talking aside (kei korero iitaha mav.a, i.e., not before all those interested), but wo will tell you what the Governor (Browne) said. lie did not say that W. King’s piece should be included in Te Teira’s ; but that ‘ his (W. King’s) piece should be for himself; though large, it should be for himself only ; and that of Te Teira’s though small, shall bo ibr me. If all the piece proves to be W. King’s, then there will be none for me : if it is To Teira’s then all will be mine.’ The second word of the Governor was that W. King’s piece should be marked out, but that he W. King would not consent to it. The first word of To Teira’s to the whole tribe before he offered the land and gave the parawai to the Governor was that W. King and all the people should pull down their whares and go ‘ that my land might be clear, that it might be sold to the Governor.’ This was our answer to Mr. Bell’s words. Another (answer) was that Mr. Parris was not present, nor the people who had caused the strife (te itvi whakararuraru , William King and his friends). This was the reason that we did not answer the words of Mr. Bell. I said also to Mr. Bell, Governor Browrc’s proclamation was correct because I gave him that piece justly, and Wm. King saw me give it, while yet peace had not been made between him and lhaia. Healsosawthe £IOO (paid me). Bo not pretend that it was given as a bribe. The Governor gave it to make the whole of the land which I had given tapu to himself. Our thought is do not let us get confused with the multitude of words, for the truth is in the proclamation of the Governor.