VISIT OF SIR DONALD McLEAN TO WHAKATANE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4387, 12 April 1875, Page 2

VISIT OF SIR DONALD McLEAN TO WHAKATANE.

The Luna arrived off Whakatane shortly before daylight on Sunday, March 7. Early on Monday morning, Captain /Fairchild took the Luna into the river. The natives immediately sent a message to the Native Minister not to land until they had completed their arrangements for his reception, of which he would he informed. Accordingly, a little after 1 o'clock p.m. a letter was received saying | they were ready. . Sir Donald and the officers accompanying him at once went on shore, landing just opposite the “kainga.” He was received by Te Hata, the principal chief of Te Kaha, and by him conducted through the intricate windings of the Maori pa to the large new house, named “ Matatua,” after the canoe which, according to Maori tradition, brought to New Zealand the ancestors of the East Coast Ngatiawa tribe, the different sections of which occupy the whole coast line from Tauranga to Cape Runaway (except Maketu), and embrace the whole of the Urewera tribe in the interior. The Native Minister was welcomed in truly Maori style, -with all the accompanying demonstrations. There were about 700'natives on the ground. The chiefs who were present and took part in the proceedings were as follows; — Of Ngatiawa (proper)—Apanui, his son Wepiha, Te Keepa, Toihau, Tiopira, Eangi Tukehu, Hori Kawakura; of Ngatipukeko—Te Meihana, Manuera, Te Manohoaka, Matiu; of Whakatohea Hira Te Popo, Tiwai, and Awanui; of Ngaitawarere, &c. —Te Hata; of Ngaiterangi—Hori Tupaea, Enoka, Hamiora Tu, Hori Ngatai, Hohepa, Tareha, Hone Makarauri, Te Kuka, Eanapia, Wi Parera ; of the Urewera —Te Whenuanui, Kereru, Te Makarini, Ahilcaiata, Tamaikowha, Hapurona, Kohi, Hetarakas Te Warn. There were several other chiefs of less note “ too numerous to mention.

Wepiha, after the usual set speech of welcome, said that it appeared that a report had been set afloat by some industrious mischiefmakers to the effect that the house in which Sir Donald then sat was intended for bad, political, and insurrectionary purposes. (This refers to an old Maori custom of building carved houses, at the opening of which great questions, especially of war on neighboring tribes, were discussed and plans determined upon). He said such was very far from being the case, and that the reports emanated from tribes who were jealous of the prestige of their ancestors, which his father Apauui was determined to restore. These jealous people had gone so far as to say sneeringly that they could not build a house such as Matatua, and that if they were capable of it neither the Native Minister nor any of the surrounding tribes would be present at the opening ceremony. These sneering remarks were sufficiently answered this day—“ There stands the house Matatua, here are representatives of all the descendants of Awa from Taurauga to Cape Runaway, and here is Sir Donald McLean. I repeat again what I said before —this house was never designed for a bad purpose, but for good, and that good will result to the tribe. The days of evil aud folly are past, and we anticipate nothing but good in the future.”

Sir Donald McLean, in reply, expressed his gratification at meeting so many of the sections of Awa in one place, and said : “ Apanui has carried his long talked-of design into effect ; he has built this large bouse in bis old age, and has left a handsome work whereby be will be remembered when he is gone from amongst you. , The intention in its erection, as explained by you, is good, but your intentions have been misunderstood by some tribes, and it has been said by them that this house was intended for evil purposes. . Dor instance, when I was at the North the other day, the chiefs of Ngapuhi told me that they had received invitations from you to be present at this day’s ceremony, but there was one expression in your letter which made them hesitate and eventually decline your invitation—it was to this effect t that the ‘house was intended as a place in which to discuss and devise matters intimately connected with the -welfare of this island.’ Now, they said, ‘ this is the old story ; this is the kind of invitation we received from the southern tribes in years gone by, and we know how these discussions and devices ended—not in good, but in irreparable mischief to the island !’ That is why I say that I know of my own knowledge that your invitation was misunderstood. But you have explained to me that it is with no evil design this house has been erected. I congratulate old Apanui in his declining years on its completion, and hope that it is as you say, the commencement of a better state of tilings.” Te Hata then, on behalf of the hapus he represented, welcomed Sir Donald McLean. The Drewera, in the course of their speeches of welcome, alluded to the confiscated boundary line, and their desire to have it modified so as not to include so much of the Drewera territory, or territory claimed by them. Although it had been previously arranged that all business matter should be discussed on the following day. Sir Donald McLean thought fit to give them at once a decided expression of his opinion, believing that it would have a very salutary effect on the following day’s korero with the Drewera. He said : Chiefs of the Drewera, you have spoken of confiscated land, and affect to be at a loss to know why a slice of your land should be taken from you. It was through your own unwarrantable action, Te Whenuanui that your land was confiscated — you had ho pretext for taking arms against the pakeha, they never interfered with you in your country ; but there was hardly a single disturbance between the two races that you did not take part in. You were at Waikato, at Te Wairoa, at the different fights in the Bay of Plenty. Cau you then greatly complain of your land being confiscated. It was done by the Legislature, [and after due warning had been given to the natives. It is in accordance with your own customs. You thought that because the Government did not take up arms at once and invade your country, upon the impregnability of which you so much relied, that therefore your conduct would be overlooked. I warned Paerau when I saw him at Napier, that his country, difficult as it is, would he no protection ; but lie would not heed me. The Government forebore as long as it could, and at last had to send forces through and through your hills and forests, and the result is well known to you. That, however, is at an end ; we now meet face to face this day. It is well you should remember that the pakeha can do anything he makes up his mind to ; be satisfied on that point.” The speeches having been made, the meeting concluded by the different sections of the Ngatiawa tribe challenging each other to a dance (haka) which, as our readers who know anything of Maori life may imagine, were responded to with alacrity. Those performed by the Ngaiterangi were most admired. Everything was conducted in the most orderly manner ; not a single drunken man was to be seen on the ground. Sir Donald McLean was invited to partake of some refreshment before returning to the Luna. Two tables were laid out in the new building in European style, and loaded with the good things of this life, to which ample justice was done. The guests were waited upon by Mrs. W. H. Taipari, Mrs. Wepiha, aud Apanui’s youngest daughter. On the morning of the 9th, as previously arranged, Sir Donald McLean landed and proceeded to the large house “ Matatua,” received the several sections of the Ngatiawa separately, and listened to the subjects they might think fit to bring before him for consideration. Several chiefs, in conclusion, said what had been said in reply was satisfactory. This terminated the business of the day.