Mr. Mclean's Speech At Whaingaroa.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume VII, Issue 9, 31 May 1860, Page 5

Mr. Mclean's Speech At Whaingaroa.

On the 26th April last, a meeting took plare at Whaingaroa of the natives of that district, as well as those of Aotea amd Waipa. We shall give the chiefs' speeches in our next issue. Mr. McLean addressed the meeting in the 4 following words:

William Nero, —Your property, your property, your riches, that is, the Europeans you have asked for, and for whom you have sold your land for them to settle upon. It is for you to befriend them, and for them to be friends with you. You have received them from the Goviernor when the sun was shining. Let your sentiments this day be sincere. You are of the " Waikalo Taniwha rau."—There is no reason or ground for apprehension at this place. The murders committed elsewhere have caused alarm to some of the Europeans, it was not your fault. If was owing also to rumours from Waikato. Formerly you lived without law and killed and ale each other, sleep could not be enjoyed. Now you have religion; it may be only on the lips or it may be in the heart, however, do not disregard it; it was the greatest gift that could be bestowed upon you. Some of you have gone and turned your backs upon the Europeans, thinking that by adopting a course of your own it would Cause them great anxiety, but do not think so, it does nothing of the kind. If I were here standing alone, and you had all turned in the same direction, it would not be long before you returned to the fountain or source from which you derive life. The water springs of the interior are dried up by the sun in summer, others are absorbed by the ocean ; the ocean always lives, its waves night and day fill our ears with its noise and astonish us. The Europeans come from that .everwonderful, ever-moving and living ocean, and the difference between you and them is about as great as that between the small inland streams and the great ocean. Some of you talk of going to Taranaki, do not go. If you had not gone Wiremu Nero it might answer; you went, your words were trampled upon. Niutone went, his words were trampled upon. Tamati Waka Nene went, he was served in the same way. The Governor afterwards went, they would not listen. Jt was wasting words to go there. My opinion is that all should stop, whether friendly or unfriendly natives. Mist overhangs the mountain of Taranaki, that will wet both good and bad. It is right that the Governor and Te Jtangilake should settle their own affairs. That matter is all clear, no murders have been committed there, It may not be long before it is settled, but the evil rests chiefly, on the slaves you returned with an injunction

to occupy the land in peace, that is the slaves of Ngaiiruanui and Taranaki. Do not believe the words of people who say,: when .the Governor ends the fight at Taranaki, he will commence to fight in some other place. Listen i the Governor will not fight unless there is a cause; without a cause the Governor does not fight. Another report is circulated to the effect that all natives connected with the Government will have their lands taken from them. Wiremu Nero, do not listen to such words. The Governor will never sanction such proceedings. Does any European lake your land? No, Europeans are not strong to do what is wrong. The Akau, Whaingaroa, and Aotea look to your property. Live iu peace. These are all mv words.