TARANAKI.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume I, Issue 6, 1 June 1861, Page 7

TARANAKI.

Many of you will be anxious to hear some news from Taranaki respecting the war and the cessation of hostilities at that place. On the sth of February the following Waikato Chiefs—Aihipene Kaihau, Tamati Ngapora, Ihaka Takaanini, Te Mokena, Patara Tomaioha and Rihari—waited upon the Governor and requested that peace might be made, saying that they were most anxious on this point, so as to prevent further loss of life. Aihipene put his head down between his arms in token of submission, saying that he would counsel the Waikatos to put an end to the war. Taraia, from the Thames, Eruera Patuone, and Hone Ropiha of the Ngapuhi tribe, and Hohepa Tamaitengia of the Ngatitoa, were present at this meeting. The Waikato Chiefs proposed to send Mokena to Taranaki to withdraw those of their tribe who had joined William

King, if the Governor would agree to peace being made. At the same time they handed in a paper containing the terms proposed by them. The Governor stated that he desired peace, but that it must be on a permanent and satisfactory basis. That the terms proposed were inadmissable, as they afforded no guarantee that this would be the case. He reminded them that the Waikatos had gone to Taranaki and taken up arms without cause ; that they had spilt blood there; plundered and destroyed property; and after all this, expected to make peace on their own terms. The Governor told them that submission to English law would be an essential condition of any terms which he might propose ; but that the question of terms could not then be discussed, as the Chiefs of Waikato then present were not prepared to accept them on behalf of their people. That each of the tribes who had taken up arms would have to answer for themselves. William King and the Ngatiawa would be treated with separately, as also the Waikatos; and the Taranaki and Ngatiruanui, who had murdered defenceless settlers and young children j but that the Waikatos would I not be held responsible for those murders. In conclusion the Governor said that he was going to visit Tamati Waka and the Chiefs of Ngapuhi, and that the members of the meeting might go back and confer with their people, in order to be prepared with more reasonable proposals after his return. The Governor sailed to the Bay of Islands that day. Tamati Ngapora and Aihepene KaiJiau proceeded up the Waikato.

Shortly afterwards, Wiremu Tamehana went overland to Taranaki. On his arrival there he solicited the General commanding the Forces to grant a three days' truce, so as to enable him to confer with the insurgent natives about making peace. This was on the 11th of March. The armistice was granted by the General, but as no satisfactory terms were proposed, the fighting was resumed on the fourth day. On the 18th the Native Secretary had arrived at Waitara from Auckland, having been instructed by the Governor to go and hear what the insurgents had to say for themselves. Meetings were held both with the Waikato and Ngatiawa, who were in arms against the Queen: and both these tribes expressed an earnest desire for peace. When Mr. McLean reached Waitara he wrote to William Thompson, informing him that he had been deputed by the Governor to have an interview with him; to which Tamehana replied, suggesting Te Waionaha as a suitable place of meeting. Thither Mr. McLean went, accompanied by his European assistants and by the Chiefs who had accompanied him from Auckland. There were about 100 Waikatos at that meeting. The korero was commenced by Tameham, who recapitulated the proposals he had made to the General, but which had not been accepted. He stated that the Waitara land was the cause of the quarrel, and that it would have been well had a conference of Chiefs taken place before the commencement of hostilities, that the Natives did not fully comprehend the views of the Government, and he finished

his speech by referring the case to the Governor. Mr. McLean replied, that it was a good thing that he should desire peace, and that the Governor would be glad to hear his views on the subject, if a real peace and of a permanent character, were his object. He also explained the feeling of the Government in reference to thej unity of the two races; stating that whatever might be asserted to the contrary, by some Europeans, it was the aim andearnest desire of her Majesty's English subjects, as well in the Colony as at home, j to preserve them as a race, and to promote their welfare. He pointed out how very desirable it was that the questions calculated to interrupt the harmony of the two races inhabiting the same island should be fully and frankly considered on j Both sides, and some remedy applied for, their removal —That it was not the intention of the Government to disregard the rights of the Chiefs ; but that they, by the course pursued, had trampled upon the rights of the weaker parties amongst themselves. That the object of the Government was to extend justice to all alike—* That neither Wiremu Kingi nor any other party, who could substantiate a just claim to Waitara, had been precluded from doing so: that on the contrary, he had been freely invited to prefer his claim, this he had only done by asserting the right of might over all the land within certain boundaries, without reference to the claims of other people, which they were precluded by him irom exercising. Mr. McLean also requested Tamehana, to represent fully, in writing, any grievances of which the Maories had j to complain, that they might receive due i consideration by the Governor, with a view to their removal, if found to be true. Tamehana answered, by stating that the Government had laid down no rule

to meet such cases as the present. He said that the Natives were an ignorant people, which made it necessary that the Governor and the Europeans, who were endowed with superior wisdom, should enquire into and adjust the quarrels arising between the two races. That if the land had been apportioned individually, as in the case of Pakehas, quarrels of this kind would not arise, but as their mode of inheriting land was different from ours, they could not, as yet, understand our system. The Native Secretary replied: it was quite true that the mode in which they Held their land was surrounded with difficulties, which however, could be overcome, if they, instead of trampling upon and quarrelling about each others rights, would agree to a fair division of their property by which system each tribe would hereafter enjoy its own lands. That the only thing necessary to meet this difficulty was, that each tribe should cordially unite with the Government, to decide upon some plan that could be mutually agreed to : and that the Governor was very anxious that such an arrangement should be adopted. When the Native Secretary had finished, Rihari said that though the land might be considered a cause of quarrel, he would urge them, at once to put down the Maori King movement—restore the plunder taken by them during the war—and give up the murderers of the unarmed settlers. Epiha stated that the land at Waitara was the cause of the quarrel and that the King movement was not mixed up with it. That the two questions should be considered apart, Waitara first, and the King movement afterwards. That his interference arose from the decision arrived at, long before, viz., that no more land should be alienated by the Maoris.

Tapihana objected to the concessions requested by Rihari—denied that the murders were other than the mere casulties of war—and intimated his readiness to prolong the strife, if the Government insisted on the suppression of the Maori King movement. The Native Secretary reminded Tapihana, that by interfering in a land claim with which he was not concerned, he had run headlong into trouble, and had increased the difficulties of a question, which if left to the parties chiefly interested in it, would have been settled long ago. Enough—Mr. McLean then urged Wi Tamehana to return with him to Auckland to see the Governor, leaving his people at Taranaki, but to this the parties would not consent. The following morning Tamehana and party left for Waikato; the other tribes also dispersed to their respective homes. On the 21st March, a meeting was held with the Ngatiawas, at which Wiremu Kingi, Wikitoa, Hapurona, Arapata and Rewi were the chief speakers. There were about three hundred present. The main subject of discussion was as previously with the Waikatos, about peace, that the Governor should make peace with them. And the final arrangement was that the Ngatiawa were to remain quiet at Mataitawa—that the fighting would be suspended by the General .for the present, and that the Native Secretary would hasten back to Auckland to lay the whole affair before the Governor; and, if possible, to prevail on His Excellency to return with him to Wa'itara, when the final terms could belaid down and considered. And so tbe Meeting concluded, and Mr. McLean returned to Auckland, and informed the Governor of what had taken place. Shortly afterwards, his Excellency and suite embarked in her Majesty's ship

Victoria, and landed at Taranaki on the 27th of March. The terms of peace, which we published in the former paper, .were offered by the Governor, and accepted by Hapurona and other Ngatiawa Natives. William King, however, although he was the most earnest in asking for peace, left for Waikato without seeing the Governor.