WELLINGTON EXTRACTS

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 784, 19 October 1853, Page 3

WELLINGTON EXTRACTS

SIR GEORGE GREY’S DEPARTURE. the natives of the south. [From the “ Wellington Spectator,” Sept. 2!.] In (lie early part of last week (he Governor visited Olaki, where a large number of natives had collected to meet him. For some time past negotiations had been carried on by Mr. Kemp, the Native Secretary, for the purchase of the Waikanaedistrict; this district, comprising some eight or ten thousand acres, the greater part of (he Waikanae natives (a part of the Ngatiawa tribe) inhabiting it were desirous of selling to Government, and removing to Taranaki. The Olaki natives, on the other hand, (the Ngalirakauwa tribe) who have, or allege to have some claims to the district, have shown (hemsclv.s strongly averse to the sale. It was thought, however, that the negotiation was sufficiently advanced to be in a fair train of being completed ; the natives were also exceedingly desirous of having an opportunity, before his leaving the Province, of presenting to his Excellency an address expressive of I heir great regard for him and regret at his departure from New Zealand, After stopping some hours at Waikanae. his Excellency arrived at Olaki on Tuesday Evening, and on the following day upwards of three hundred natives, including Rangihaela and the pr;n cipal chiefs of the district, assembled in the large schoolroom, to talk over with (lie Governor the sale of liie land. A good deal of speech-making by (he natives took place, and a further meeting was held ou Friday in the open air, at which the Governor also was present, where there was some very earnest discussion on the part of the natives, but the result was unsatisfactory, and the arrangements for the sale of I he land may he considered as deferred for I he present. On Friday evening, Taratoa and oilier influential chiefs, and a large body of Manawatu natives, came to Olaki to see I he Governor ; and on Monday an address, signed by all the principal natives, was presented to his Excellency, who afterwards proceeded to Whanganui. To any one who had not seen a 1 ‘ public meeting” of the natives convened for important objects, (he scene was very interesting ; the speakers succeeded each other in due order, and were listened to with great attention, and without any interruption. Many of (hem indulged in a good deal of aclion, and if an unfortunate orator broke down in his speech (an accident that will sometimes happen to the pakeha as well as the maori), he received a very significant intimation that he had better sit down. Rangihaeata was (he principal speaker, and both by his energy of manner and his ease and fluency of speech maintained his accustomed superiority. A translation of the address of the natives to the Governor with (he waiala, or song, is subjoined. In (he latter, a Maori “ maiden of low degree” bids a last long farewell to her lover, and urges as a reason for her devoted love, that he, so greatly her superior, first sought her out and bestowed his love upon her. The force of Ibis sentiment under the circumstances in which it is applied will be generally acknowledged as peculiarly appropriate and touching, while the address hears abundant evidence of the strong feelings of attachment which the natives entertained towards “ the successful ruler of these New Zealand Islands.” [translation.] Olaki, New Zealand, July 12th, 1833. Alas! 0 Governor, our kind and faithful friend. It is only now that the sudden tidings of your departure for England have reached us. This together with the probability that we may never again see you, has caused us much sorrow and regret, especially that you yourself, held as you are in high estimation by I he native inhabitants throughout the length and breadth of New Zealand, shall leave us perhaps for ever. We have a very sincere regard for you in and through Christ Jesus our Saviour: having presided over us for now seven years, and having experienced the good effects of your kind ollices towards us, and the Europeans also, our thoughts had been that you should remain, and with parental care watch over us hero, and over the whole population of these islands. As it is your God and ours has in his wisdom seen fit to cause your return to yuur native soil. Even so let it be thus ; yet Id it be permitted to us (o hid farewell to our kind Governor and Friend, Ob ! then, Father, come now, speed thy way. Thou (he successful ruler of these New Zealand Islands. Go then. Father, with our well wishes. Hence to thy Native land, and to thy near relatives and friends. Go hence. Go to thy Sovereign and to ours, the Queen. Forget us not; hoar us in mind—frequently look back upon us all, and in kindness remember as; and if, 0 Governor, Jknefac(or ? and Friend, it should he fhy detcr-

minalion to remain in (hy Native land, use thine influence, so that in the appointment of a Governor as thy successor, one may be sent, who, like thee in acts of love, may preside over us the Natives, as well as the Europeans living in New Zealand.

This, then, is our address of kindness and esteem, our last farewell address ; made and given hy us the tribes and people occupying this the Southern part of New Zealand. Receive it as a tribute of kind remembrance and respect. Receive it thus. [Here follow 272 signatures.] SONG—FAREWELL. Lo yonder mountain stands Pukehika, whose lowering peak Peeps out, enwrapped in sombre cloud, Itself the path hy which The darling object of my heart Went upon his way. Oh (hen Pause for one moment—there Cast hack one glance on me. Thus lo receive one fond One last fond look. Thy love came first, not mine: Thou didst first behold With favor and regard, The meanest of our race ; Hence then it is, The heart o’erflows, the eye Bedew'd wifh tears, anxiously desires To catch one fond, one parting glance, Ere thou art lost lo sight for ever, Oh for ever! The following is the Waiala of which (ho above is a translation: it is printed in p. 30 of the collection made hy His Excellency:— HE WAIATA AROHA. Tera le pukohu, mau tonu mai, Pukehika; Ko (e ara tonu ia, i haere ai,(aku torore. Tahuri mai, Ki muri ra, kia ringia atu, he wai Kei aku kamo Ehara i a au nana rawa, i Tuatahi ; Nau rawa i tuapeka, ki (e Hi I aliau. No reira, le ngakau, i whakawai Rangi ai; He konohi aroha, noku, ki A koe ra. [From the "Spectator," Sep‘. 24.]

Farewell Address to Sir George Grey, from (lie Natives of the Southern part of New Zealand. Tuesday, 21st Sept., 18o3.—An Address numerously signed was this day presented at Olaki, in one of the new School-rooms, by the Ngaliraukawa, Ngatiawa, and Ngaliloa Tribes to 11 is Excellency Sir G. Grey, on (he occasion of his departure for England. At eleven, a.m., several of the principal chiefs, including Rangihaeata, Taratoa, Rawiri Puaha, TeAhu, Marlin, Thompson, son of Te Rauparaha, Te Matia, TeKingi Ahoaho, Apcrahama Te Rum, Ihakara, and several olhers having assembled in (he new School-house, Thompson proceeded to read Ihe address on behalf of the Native Tribes of the Southern part of New Zealand. A very large number of Natives of all ages and sexes were present, who, after the address had been read, all joined in singing the Ancient Poem, a copy of which was attached to the Address. After which a most interesting and affecting ceremony took place; Ranguira, the wife of Rangihaeta, was led forward by several people, one of whom having cut the siring by which a valuable Green Jasper Ear Ring” (a very old heirloom of (ho Ngaliloa Tribe) was attached to her ear, handed it first to Rangihaeata, The old chief then proceeded, after (he ancient Maoti custom of “■liongi,” to press the green stone to his nose, and pass it over his face in token of Farewell, having finally parted with the precious hair-loom of the Tribe as the most expressive mode of conveying to the Governor the assurance of his regard and esteem. The same ceremony was gone through by all (he other chiefs present at (he delivery, and was likewise performed on a Patu Paraoa,f an inslrument of war, also a very old heir-loom of Taraloa’s Tribe.

His Excellency having received these pledges from (he Natives, replied in the most feeling manner to their address. lie was listened to with (he utmost attention, and the whole assembly of Natives seemed really to feel that they were losing a very sincere and (tied friend. At the conclusion of His Excellency's address, Thompson Te Rauparaha and Te Aim, (wo of (he principal chiefs, remarked to their people in reference to the copy of it (hey held in their hand, — u Thai it was true they were going to lose the Governor, hut that this record would remain to them for ever.” Soon after which the principal chiefs shook hands with His Excellency. Three cheers wore then given, and the .school children whose education has been the object of His Excellency’s most anxious care came forward to testify their thanks and (o speed him with their good wishes, now that that care was about to be withdrawn.

Among the Europeans present wore Archdeacon and Mrs. lladfield, Airs. Williams, Air. Wodchousc, Private Secretary, Hon. E. Portman, Mr. Ashton St. Hill, and the Native Secretary, Mr. Kemp, who all appeared to lake great interest in the proceedings. No one could have witnessed this scene without feeling deeply impressed with the fact, that some really good influence must have been at work to cause so great and beneficial a change in the minds and habits of the Native Race. A peaceful disposition seemed to pervade both old and young, let us hope, then, that this beneficial change now apparently established on so firm a basis may long continue and contribute (o the welfare and prosperity of this colony, that the two races may become more and more united, and that this policy which as effected so wonderful a change may he carried out by our future Governor in the same spirit and villi the same success. A Translation of (he address from (he Natives lo (he Governor, with a translation of the Waiata, was published in our last number. The following is a translation of his Excellency’s reply : Aly Children,-—lt was not originally any arrangement of mine that I should come to New • A Greenstone called " Kaitangata" or “ Maneater," a very old heir-loom indeed. It was first of all supposed to have been the property of Te Ngahue a chief who came from Hawaiki, one of the Polynesian Islands, in his canoe, and having discovered the New Zealand Islands, visited Te Waipnunamu, or Middle Island, where he procured this Jasper stone, which he called Kaitangata. Te Ngahue then disembarked in Cook’s Strait, and having sent on his canoe with his people, he walked overland to Tauranga where he met them. At Tauranga lie met with a very large Moa which he killed near to a rivulet called W'airere. The Moa bones he took back in his canoe to Hawaiki as also the piece of Jasper called Kaitangata. Te Ngahue never returned to New Zealand, but his people hearing of the fame thereof embarked in two canoes called Tainui and Te Arawa, and brought back with them here the Greenstone. From them as the ancestors of the Ngatitoa tribe, it has descended through several generations. f “ Patu Parana,” or Instrument of War, called after HineTe Ao, the maternal ancestor of a section of the Ngatiraukawa Tribe. The principal chiefs now living are Taratoa, Te Ahu Karamu, Te Matia, and Taraia, the principal chief of the Thames. Mine Te Ao was bora at Maungatautari. She had a brother called Te Maihi who was very nearly killed with this Patu Parana. It was in consequence seized and taken in payment for the offence by his sister, who gave to it her own name in remembrance of the painful event, and from her it has descended through six generations to the present time. It was presented to his Excellency by Taratoa in the name and on behalf of the chiefs and people belonging to his tribe called Ngatiraukawa,

Zealand, to a people unnkown to me, and whose language 1 did not then understand, so that when they came to me with complaints, I could make no kind reply to them. But troubles had fallen upon the land, race strove with race. Then our Queen, and the rulers of our great Empire sent to me, and directed me to proceed without delay to New Zealand, to strive to allay the dissensions, and troubles in this land. So I came here to strive to still the strife which prevailed and to attempt to carry out, as the servant of God, His will, that there might he established in New Zealand a nation to walk i i His laws, which lead to happiness and peace. When I arrived here I called upon all good men, Europeans and Natives alike, to aid me in this task, and they all arose to perform this work, and laboured hard each in his vocation.

For nearly eight years we have thus laboured together. Churches and schools have been raised, men have abandoned false gods, peace has been established, lands have been ploughed, mills have been built, great roads have been made, abundance prevails everywhere. Hereafter a great nation will occupy these Islands, and with wonder and gladness they will look hack upon the w T orks of those men who assisted in founding their country; and when (he children in those times ask their parents who were the men who founded so great a country, they will answer them, the men who did these things in the olden time were our ancestors. Yes, those things were done, not hy our European ancestors alone, but partly also, hy our ancestors who were the original native inhabitants of these islands, and then they will tell them many names, and amongst them those of my friends. Yes, then will be (old them (hose names, the mention of which will he always so grateful lo my cars, and which, when 1 am in a distant country, will, I hope, still come sounding across the ocean to me, connected with good works. My parting request then is, that you will not hereafter suffer any c\il deed lo sully those names, or to obscure the com! works which have been performed in this country. G. Grey.