THE WAITARA MEETING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 159, 3 July 1878, Page 4

THE WAITARA MEETING.

The following are tha speeches made by Sir George Grey and Rewi at the opening of the recent native meeting at Waitara as reported in the New Zealaneer : — Sir George Grey : Rewi, you asked me to meet you at Wnitara, that we might discuss certain things together ; that we might talk them over together on the very place where the war began, Here I am in compliance with your invitation to talk these matters over with you. Since the war began everything has changed. Now, what have we to consider iu the future ? At the present time the question is not whether you are to be governed by other per- ' bod ß or not, but whether you are to govern yourselves. Now we all stand on an equal footing, Europeans and Natives. We all can unite in choosing th'e people who are to make the laws for ud. The natives themselves sit in Houses of Parliament, nnd help to make laws. The natives themselves are made Ministers for the purpose of carrying the laws out. We now make one nation together. There is nothing to prevent natives putting o larger number of natives iu the House as members if [they please. There is nothing to prevent Rewi himself, or any other leading chief entering the Upper House and helping to carry the laws out. At the present moment the title to their lands ia decided by Courts and cot by fighting. We are soon going to try to get »q alteration in the law by which the Courts will be much more largely composed of Native Judges, who undersiaud Native customs.. In fact, every day we are becoming more and more one people. Even looking back upon the war, there are some things which we all may be proud of. There was great courage shown on both sides, great examples of bravery, and in some cases examples of great generosity. But now the days are come when we, as one people, inhabiting one island, should no longer destroy one another. Rather, as ws are one people, we should all help in defending our country against any enemy. Truly we ure one people now. Here is Mr Sheehan, just as much a New Zealander as one of yourselves, born in (hie country, attached to it ia every way, and intending to live here all his life, and even the person who is interpreting (Mr Grace), ie as much a New Zealander as Bny one of you. Both of them are just as proud of New Zealand as any other naiivee, and eo there has a whole generation of Europeans grown up. We are one peopie. We cannot help being one people, we are living together, we cannot separate. So much have my thoughts run in this direction, that if a great war waa to take place in which England was engaged, I formed a design that it might be practicable to raise a regiment to help England in that way — a regiment of both Europeans and Maoris, I thought that the natives might have furnished great officers and great men who would have dons good eervice in every way. Now what we are met here for is io discuss this new state of things— to try to make the natives wealthy and prosperous, to make their lands secure to them, and sources of great wealth which they may readiiy become. We' are here because a great cation is rising in New Zealand, and it is oor duty ' as the chiefs, whether European or Native chiefs, to try to build up the future of that natioD, and that nation is really becoming one nation. Intermarriages are taking place every day, and there is no great chief of New Zealand in the present day who is not in some way or the other related to the European race. Let ne therefore try well and faithfully to execute the duty which lies upon ug. Myself and the other Ministers, whether European or native, will give all our knowledge end experience to fill in thie, and let you on your part help us in return. Let the great chiefs come forward and help to make the laws for their own people, and help to administer those laws. Let them join in with the Government in making the Colony as happy and contented as they can. Let them become Ministers to execute the laws.

Rewi Raid: What you have said is clear. It ia right that we should work together for this ialand, for us who havecaused trouble on the islaod. You have come here this day to minister to the ailments of us who brought trouble on the island, therefore my heart is truly glad, also because Wi Tako, Karaitiana, Matene Te Whiwbi, and other great chiefs are here with you. You should lay down the subjects for us to discuss at the meeting to-morrow. I will show you the reason why we are here to-day. lam going to aek you a question. At which spot shall we begin tbe work of producing good ? My opinion is that the place should be Waitara, bo that our tree may be planted here in room whence good is to spring (Rewi here alludes to a remark made by Sir George Grey at the first meeting at Waikato that he would plant a tree wbich should grow into a giant of the forest). Let us now plant that tree, and should it grow well we may plant cuttings at other places which will also succeed. If it is not planted here you will not be able to get young trees from it to plant in any other place. This is a subject for us to diflcusa to-morrow, when I will speak at large and plainly to you. First, let ua speak plainly one to soother without soy reserve. Secondly, what we say aball be {genuine and Jrae. Thirdly, lha!l our meeting should be, final— and that ia all I am going to flay tu you

to-day. Bat I should like to ssy a few wordg to nay friends who are present. Sir George Grey : I will meet you to-morrow morning here. I believe you and I are quite capable of planting; a tree, the offshoots of which may be transplanted all over the lelaud, and grow and flourish everywhere. We hava also other very able men here to assist us. I agree with you that what we say should be spoken plainly and fearlessly, and that we should speak in gentle terms, but that we should aay exactly what we tbiak, without fear df giving offence to anybody: I believe that by following that course we shall, as you say, come to a good conclusion, wbich may finish everything. I will say no more to-day ; to-morrow we will meet and talk again. I understand that you wieh to speak now to your own people ; we will remain or go, just as you think best. Rewi : If you do not stay, who is there to listen to what we are going to say ? Addressing the natives, Rewi said: I am just going to apeak to you, Wi Tako, Karaitiana, and other?. My heart is thinking, now that we have come together at Waiters, I wish to say this word When the Europeans arrived we were destroying one another. We were bound by no tie of friendship or of blood to one another. When the Europeans arrived a God waa introduced (a new faith), and the ministers preached— that faith wae the' salvation of men. Within three years the whole nation listened and embraoed this faith. During those days of faith Sir George Grey waa the promoter of all things which helped to establish that faith When troubles aroße he was to tl e fore iu suppressing them. When war broke out at Wai tar a. our faith was thed. first .shattered. I was amongst those who abandoned if,' aud io a short time the whole Island bad given it up, and was in a fin ma. Nowhere today I, bid you welcome to lift, up Aha t faith agaio. <■ Do foot think that^e work will be done by your Parliament alone. Uniesa we here amongst ourselves can settle these things, Parliament "will fail to accomplish it. This is all Twill say to you at present.