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Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume VI, Issue 10, 31 May 1859, Page 1

His Excellency the Governor has just returned from a visit to the Settlements in the Southern part of this island. On his arrival in Wellington, in the beginning of may, Te Puni and several oilier Chiefs waited "upon iiis Excellency, who look lhat opportunity of disabling the minds of ihe Port Nicholson and Wnirarapa natives of a groundless apprehension, caused by the circulation among them by some evil disposed persons, of an absurd report, lo the erTea lhat the Government was inimical lo ihe Natives, and r A-as planning their destruction. liis Excellency had no difficulty in dispelling these ridiculous fears, and received from all the Chiefs with whom he communicated assurances of loyalty lo ihe Queen, and confidence in himself as Her representative. We are somewhat surprised that any intelligent Maori should be found lo believe such reports as that alluded to, or lo doubt for a moment the good faith of the Government towards the Maori people. Justice and : kindness have always characterized the pro-! eeedings of the Government in connection with t'.ie Maori people, and they have received the repeated assurances of ihe Queen of England that their welfare and improvement are objects of her deep solicitude, '

The Maoris may rest assured that in the Queen's representative, they will always have a true and firm friend, and> they will be wise to suspect any one who tries to make them believe otherwise. From Wellington, His Excellency, accompanied *by Captain Steward, Mr. McLean, and others, proceeded overland to Otaki, where' he held a public meeting with the Natives. The following address was presented. and several speeches were made, expressing loyalty and attachment to the Government:— Address of the Otaki Natives to His Excellency Governor Browne, on his Visit to their Settlement. Welcome hither, 0 father, Governor Browne, the Representative of Queen Victoria. Come and see these your children who are cowering from the # cold at this end of our island, waiting in love for you, our Governor and our kind parent; our hearts are satisfied now that you have come to this part to visit us. We are still in remembrance of your first visit to Waikato and Rangiaohia, and also of the kind words spoken by you on that occasion to the people of Waikato, expressing your desire that we should forsake the foolish customs which prevailed of old during the time of our ignorance, when we lived in darkness and in the evils of this world. We still bear in mind your visit to the Ngapuhi also, and your loving words to thai people; we also remember how pleased that people were to receive you as their parent, and their re-erecting the flag-staEf which was cut down by Hekeand Kawiti. It was erected by them in token of their love for you, and that you might know that the Ngapuhi had returned to their parent the Pakelia. That proceeding is quite clear. We will endeavour to act in like manner. We thank you, 0 Governor, for causing the laws of the Pakeha to be translated, and printed in the Maori language for our instruction, so that we may walk in that open road. The Scriptures have already been translated and rendered e'ear for us by the Missioniir'es. 0 father, Governor Browne, this Is the last word I have to say to you. I)o you remember us your children, and direct that the places on which our fires are now burning may be surveyed, these portions which we wish to be reserved for ourselves and for our children after us. Do you also give us Crown

grants, so that the Maori boundaries and Maori difficulties may be done awav with. As to the present doings of the Waikatos, such insane projects will be kept (ar from us: let them starve for want of sweet food if they like. May you live for ever, 0 our kind parent, and may God keep you. His Excellency was much gratified with the recrption given him by the Otaki natives, and their assurances of fidelity lo the Queen's Government, also with the marked advance which had been made by them in civilization, as evidenced by ihe appearance of the settlement, which is rather European than Maori in character. A considerable breadth of land has beer, cleared, fenced, and brought under cultivation or laid down with artificial grass. A school has been long established, and is mainly supported by the proceeds of a well managed farm. A handsome church, ornamented with highly finished carvings by the Maori lohunga; several buildings for the accommodation of a large number of school children, and a comfortable parsonage, occupied by the Native Clergyman, have all been erected by the Natives themselves, under the guidance of their devoted Missionary, the Venerable Archdeacon Hadfielcl. These, with several cottages belonging to Native Chiefs, and neatly furnished in European sljle, show that the Oiaki Natives are making real progress in civilization, and establish the claim of this settlement to be considered the best specimen in New Zealand of a Maori Village. From Otaki the Governor proceeded along the coast to Whanganui, where he found the Natives assembled in large numbers from various places awaiting his arrival. His Excellency held several public interviews with these Natives, and again took occasion to correct erroneous impressions which had been received. Several important matters were discussed, explanations were given, which proved satisfactory lo all parties; and most of the principal Chiefs renewed lo His Excellency their assurances of loyalty to and confidence in the Queen's Government. The feud between lupine Mamakuand a portion ol his tribe had not terminated, but a committee was appointed by the Governor to enquire into and report on the matter lo him. li is lo be hoped that when this is done, boih parlies will be prepared to come lo some belter understanding and to bury their animosities, and that means may be found of pulling an end

to strife which can be productive of good lo neither party, but which must injure both. liis Excellency returned from Whangauui lo Manawatu, accompanied by a large num» ber of influential Chiefs. Deputies from the tribes lo the South met the Governor's party at this place, and a very important meeting was held. His Excellency again succeeded in removing from the minds of many of the Natives suspicions of the good faith of the Queen's Government, and in reestablishing confidence in the honesty of its intentions. From Manawalu the Governor relumed lo Wellington, leaving Mr. McLean to enter into negotiations with the Chiefs for the purchase of two large blocks of land in that district, which they were desirous lo cede to the Queen. The Natives on this coast are now beginning to take a more intelligent view of the question of ceding their surplus lands lo the Government than they were once disposed to do. They are becoming aware that no! good can result to them from retaining iii their own hands large tracts of country which they can turn to no profitable acconnf, | and that the wisest course will be to dispose' of them in such manner as that they may j be occupied, and made productive of wealth', i in which they will share together with the 5 Pakeha who settles among them. There! are other tribes who at present hold different views, but we doubt not they also will in lime have eyes to see the truth. From Wellington His Excellency proceeded by the White Swan steamer, to Ahuriri, where also he had interviews with the prin-j cipai Chiefs. Te Moananui in an animated speech professed firm loyally to the Queen; and was followed by oilier Chiefs lo the same effect. After Hirec days slay at Ahuriri His Excellency again embarked on board the steamer and arrived in Auckland on the 27th, having been 51 days absent.