MONGONUI.
No. I. Report from George Clarke, Esq., Civil Commissioner. Mongonui, Dec. 14th, 1861. Sir, —I embrace every opportunity of keeping you informed of my proceedings while passing through my district; and I hope I may be excused if somewhat informal in my communications. I am now in the vicinity of Mongonui and Kaitaia, and with Mr. White, the Magistrate of the district, have fully communicated on all subjects connected with the native policy about being introduced into this district. Fully concurring as that gentleman does with the whole scheme, and cordially approving as he does of the efforts about being made for the good of the natives, it cannot be concealed that he is regretting the apparent want of courtesy in not making him at an earlier period acquainted with the changes proposed to be introduced into this district, and affording him an opportunity of placing before the Government the altered position, and its inconveniences in relation to himself. I hope it may not be considered that I am out of place in stating that it is due to Mr. White to say, that he is not only an old well tried energetic serxant of the Government, but has the full confidence and esteem of the natives in his district; and their general orderly and respectful conduct has called forth my unqualified approbation. It cannot, therefore, be a matter of surprise that the changes which place him in a subordinate situation in the district which owes so much to his unwearied exertions, should be felt as a degradation, and appear to him as uujust and neglectful. Conscious that the Government could have no such intentions, but on the contrary highly appreciated the services of that officer, I told him that I was prepared to submit to the Government in order to remove such a feeling, that one of two ways should be adopted to relieve him from his embarrassment, and secure his invaluable services to the Government and to the European and Native population of the district. The first plan which occurred to me was, that Mr. White should be promoted by appointing him Civil Commissioner to one of the districts about being formed, which he is in every respect well qualified to support and conduct. Should this be found inconvenient or opposed to the arrangements of the Government, then I would submit that the Rarawa tribe, who are more isolated than the other tribes in the Hundreds of Hokianga and Waimate, should be formed into a small district, in which Mr. White should be promoted to the office of Civil Commissioner; the district extending from the North Head of Wangnroa to the North Cape, from thence by the Western Coast to the Heads of Hokianga, from thence to Waihou or Motu-karaka, from thence to Mangataniwa, from thence to the Heads of Wangaroa. This would make a compact though small district, would need no further assistance than of one Magistrate, which is even now necessary from the increasing European population, remove every difficulty, and secure the service's of Mr. White in a district he has reduced to order, and in which he has necessarily incurred heavy expenses in forming his homestead. Should the Government be pleased to accede to this proposal, I would submit that the Bay of Islands district should extend as far south as Wangarei, the full extent of Ngapuhi territory south. a Should Mr. White be removed to another district, it would be the labour of years to gain for another officer the position he holds in the confidence and esteem of the natives of this place; but if promoted as above proposed, there would be a cordial co-operatiou, and arrangements might be made with Mr. White for training young men for the future work in native service. These proposals have made no alteration in my plans in the complete organization of this district which plana I hope to have complete
to be laid before the Government-by the end of ri the yean ■ 'lhave,&c, E The Hon', the Native MM: Clabke,. s* Minister, Auckland. Commoner, n No. 2. » Report from W. B. White, Esq., Resident si Magistrate. M Resident Magistrate's Office, P Mongonui, DecUth, 1861. . Sir,—l liave the honor to acknowledge the \. receipt of your letter of the 28th inst., inform-; ■ ing me of Mr. Clarke's appointment as Civil Commissioner, and of my duties m connexion • with the system of Native Government to be carried out for the future. , a In the letter which I had the honor to g address you on the receipt of Mr. Clarke's note hj informing me of his appointment, I proposed a > separation of the district. One of the grounds ( for making this request was, that the Rarawa . tribe were a distinct and separate people. Mr. | Clarke, who is now with me, fully agrees with me in the opinion that this separation would be advisable, and much to the benefit of the natives ; and further, the same proposition had . been made by the Hokianga- branch of the Rarawa. He will, therefore, also recommend this separation. I think there is no point of difference between Mr. Clarke and myself in the manner of carrying out His Excellency's wishes, and of thorough unanimity in His Excellency's views; but I trust that I shall not be considered as wanting in proper respect, if I should fail in strict official etiquette in expressing how deeply hurt and disappointed I feel at the position lam placed in. I feel that no greater censure could have been passed on me; for any gentleman who may be appointed to-morrow a Resident Magistrate is placed in the same position as I am at this moment, after seventeen years' active service, more than thirteen years of which I have had the sole charge of a district in which I am now called upon to consider myself a subordinate; at a time, too, when I had every reason to believe I had given entire satisfaction to the Government, and when I had begun to feel satisfied ' that, after years of toil and anxiety, and with very little expense or trouble to the Govern-' ' ment, the people of this district were more quiet and orderly and amenable to law than ; any other of the tribes of New Zealand. I was about to propose that I should be allowed to •; avail myself of the benefit of the SuperannuaJ ; tion Act, thinking perhaps the Government ! considered I belonged to that class of officers mentioned, I think, by Mr. Stafford, who, ' though not able to obtain a medical certificate, 1 were not able to satisfactorily perform the • duties of Government. But \!r. Clarke (whose kind and cordial conduct I most thankfully acknowledge) has suggested for the consideration of the Government a separation of the district, not differing materially from that which I proposed before. If Mr. Clarke's suggestions should be approved, an officer would be required for the people from Herekino to Hokianga Head and neighbourhood; and I am quite sure, from what I have now heard from Mr. Clarke, that we could work together for the benefit of the people in our respective districts. I trust it will not be for- . gotten that the European population is in--3 creasing rapidly in this district, of course much j increasing my duties, as well as the responsibility of my position. In the meantime, I have strictly obeyed the 1 instructions conveyed to me in your letter of 3 the 28th ultimo, which reached me yesterday, 1 by giving Mr. Clarke every information ret quired; but I trust that I may be shortly relieved from the position in which I am placed. s I must again claim the patience and indulgence r of the Government if I have too warmly exr pressed myself in this or my former letter: the 1 subject is one upon which I feel waimly, and f. it may perhaps be considered that I have ] written hastily. 3 I have, &c, i The Native Minister, W. B. White, Auckland. Resident Magistrate. " ! No. 3. 1 ' Instructions to W. B. W kite, Esq. 1 Native Office, t Auckland, January 31st, 1862. 3 Sir, —With reference to the various letters . that have been received from yourself and from j Mr. George Clarke, on the subject of the . constitution of the Bay of Islands District, I 3 have to acquaint you that upon full considera- ! tion of the circumstances, His Excellency the . Governor in Council has been pleased to decide . that you should be continued in the indepen--1 dent management of the Mongonui district. An Order in Council has accordingly been 3 issued, revoking the Orders of 7th December, f 1861, and reconstituting the district of Mon--1 gonui, under the Native Act of 1858, accord--3 ing to the original boundaries of 1859. ? It will, therefore, devolve upon you now to 3 lose no time in taking the necessary steps for 3 bringing into operation among the Rarawa 1 people the plan of Native Government proj posed by Sir George Grey. It appears from your letters that the communications which t have already taken place between Mr. Clarke r ■ and yourself have put you completely in pos--3 session of the details of that plan; and I need 7 not, therefore, in this letter, enter into particulars on the subject, or do more than direct . your attention to one or two points, and invite t you freely and fully to write for instructions y or advice on any point where you may be in i doubt. I enclose you, in the meanwhile, the t copy of a letter I have just addressed to Mr. , Clarke, as Civil Commissioner for the Bay, f which will generally indicate the views of His , Excellency's Government on several matters i which in your own district will require your 3 immediate attention; and I also enclose you a I t few copies of the Address recently issued to the t natives, and published in the " Messenger." With regard to the constitution of the Rul nanga for the Mongonui District, it will be i necessary in the first place that you should r visit Ihe various native settlements, and invite . them to concur with you in recommending 3 certain Chiefs to be members of it, and also in > selecting those who are to be appointed Magis--1 trates and Wardens. It is intended by the Governor in all cases to leave the appoint--5 ment of Kareres to the Runanga itself when ' established. i With regard to the appointment of Native Magistrates, the Government will wait to hear from you before taking any steps. In your > letter of December 30th, calling attention to a i previous letter of yours datod 21st January, . 1861, with a list of Assessors and their pay- ; ment, you request that if the proposal then made by you is approved, the sum of £145 may be sent up to you. But the proposal you • made in January, 1861, may not be the one , which now, with the renewed responsibility thrown upon you by the separation of your district from that of the Bay of Islands, you would wish to make for the future. You are ware that the Governor intends to grant Bala-' a
ries of £3O, £4O, anaevenlgO.to Native Magistrate*. In the Bay of District, adjust reconitituted, the Governor!*! sanctioned *%he payment of salaries at fel! rates; to teo Chiefs, but in your district S number would np doubt he sufficient. It intended, to interfere with the payment of tjk, small salaries paid (up to I860) to any who may not now be selected for thegßpS position Sir George Grey wishes to S* upon the best and most reliable men only: jfj* in this view you may not think it right stiff recommend sums of £lO a year being so many. The Government have had much pleasure* marking, by the steps which are now comnn? qicated to you, their appreciation of thetw and valuable services which you baverendW and their confidence in, your co-operatS heartily with the Governor in his establish institutions for the government of til natives. I have, &c., W. B. White, Esq., Henby Hai 8E) Mongonui. Acting Native Secretin, N0.4. Report from W. B. White, Esq., Magistrate. Resident Magistrate's Mongonui, Feb. 20th, Sib, —I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of February 4th, lgfj* informing me of the reconstruction of tjjg • Mongonui District, which His Excellency fig been kind enough to place in my charge j ; shall lose no time in placing myself in comma; . nication with the natives of the District, wta a I view to the inauguration of His Exce!W| [ plan. The communications I have had with k Mr. G. Clarke, the Commissioner of the Jj,^ of Islands, were principally of an oral character I I am, therefore, not well prepared as to the } details of the system, but as soon as I retnm [ from visiting the natives, I shall request such x information as may be needed. In the Beau. [ time I should be glad to be informed, at u . early a date as possible, if His Excellency ml! j sanction the appointment of seven Chiefs for 1 the District Runanga, and three Wardens fourteen Kareres. The distribution of e Officers would be thus:—For the District .] Runanga, North Cape, 1; Ahipara, 1; Eaitaia, 8 1; Mangatete or Parapara, 1 j Waikainga,!; 0 Kohumaru, Waihau, and Mongonui, 1; Wan- . garoa, 1. Wardens—Ahipara, 1; Mongonui, t l; Wangaroa, 1. s Of course, these Officers would be the bent , men to be found. Any of the present Asses. ' sors who may not he appointed to superior 'J pasitions will, of course, retain their present e pay. Should new ones be required to ad. _ minister the law, must they serve without i- P a y ? .<■ With regard to your remarks on my aßplija. lt tion for £145,1 think you are labouring under » s a misapprehension: the sum required is for payment of salaries for the year 1861, for ~ duties performed. I have forwarded tie copy . of the list which accompanied my letter of k the salaries paid in 1860 and proposed for ir 1861. The last proposal, I was informed r _ verbally, had been approved. In my letter of v _ 30th December, I asked for an addition if ,}j five pounds each to two of the Assessors' sak* L ries for zealous conduct; and struck off two others, one dead, the other for not kring ie performed any duty. 11 feel somewhat embar--3f rassed in meeting the Assessors without having Y it in my power to pay them the part year's ;I salary; it has been well earned, aid I think y ought not to be made contingent upon any j % new arrangement. I know perfectly well that •e most of the Assessors are put to considerable j. expense, and look forward to their salary with le certainty. I trust the Government will enable ,d me to pay this sum with as little delay as pos/e sible, or I fear it will induce them to look coldly upon the new arrangements. I urge this strongly, as I consider it would be breaking faith with them not to pay them for the e. past year's services.* I have, &c., The Native Secretary, W. B. White, Auckland. Resident Magistrate.
No. 5. Report Jrom W. B, White, Esq ti Raideni Magistrate. Resident Magistrate's OlLce, Mongonui, April 14th, 1862. Sir,—l have the honor to inform yon Art I have visited the settlements in this District, for the purpose of selecting the Chiefs for of* eers of the Runanga. I have called upon th» natives to elect their Chiefs in preference to nominating them, believing that they wm feel more satisfied, and that I should be more certain of the support of the people. Tte result has been generally that the men of tie greatest influence have been selected. «* informed you in my letter of February W last, 1 considered that we could not begin wito less than seven Chiefs to the Runanga, awe Wardens, and fourteen Kareres. Their names are — Chiefs of Runanga. Paraone, Puhipi Te Repi, Hohepa Poutama, Karaka Te Karau, Tipene Te Taha, Pororua Warikauri, Paora Putete Ururoa. Wardens. Waka Rangaaunu, Reihana Kiriwi, Heremaia Te Ara. Kareres. Raharuhi, Makarini, Hohaia, Hataere, Ihaia, Tamehana, Ruteni, Rehana Te Huhu, Timoti Popata, Mohi, jg, Hemi Rihari, And three not yet named. I would beg to urge that these'■PP o "***,, * date from the commencement of the year, f all have been actively engaged in the *»' the Government; and that they should be P quarterh'. . eflg iii I have incurred the following collecting the people, to which I have honor to request His large numbers of natives assembled at a* Ahipara, and Mougonui, making it -VgEl that I should provide in part for them; vm the Chiefs provided the principal part provisions ; expenses incutreo, (*-l*J, , pounds. The Native Secretary, W. Br Wbtl • Auckland. _--— * * This via done.
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New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1714, 13 August 1862, Page 6
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2,824MONGONUI. New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1714, 13 August 1862, Page 6
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