The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1878.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5461, 27 September 1878, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1878.

Two months ago, on the 2(ith July, when opening the session of the General Assembly, his Excellency the Governor said to the members of both Houses, then in presence: “ I congratulate you on the fact “ that peaceful relations have, at last, “ been established with the Waikato and “ Ngatimaniapoto tribes. Complying “ with the pressing and frequently ro- “ ceived invitation of the leading chiefs “ of these tribes, the Premier ajid the “ Native Minister visited them on several “ occasions in their own districts, and “ met them also at the Waltara. Papers “ on this subject will bo laid before you.” We presume that the 'words “ papers on this subject,” as used by the Governor, mean and include a description of the relations now “at last” proved to bo friendly, that they ought to show in whatrespect those relations differ from the relations heretofore existing, and that they should also giveevidenoe of “the’pressing “and frequently received invitations” from Tawhiao and lluwi to visit them, of which Ministers make so much boast, and to which they attach so much importance, as showing their immense personal influence with these chiefs and with their

people. When Sir Donald McLean me Tawhiao in 1875 at Waitomo, and in the following year at Kaipiha, 1 a complete report of the proceedings, from the invitations down to the final' words of adieu, was oji.eßch occasion presented to Parliament", and may be found in the appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives for, the years: ,1875: and 1876 respectively. The whole story is there told, not by the Minister, but, independently, in the separate reports of three or four officers of theNativeDepartment who were present upon the occasion. The proposals for a settlement made in 1875 to the King were briefly as follows: — Ist. Tawhiao to exercise authority over the tribes within the district where he is now recognised as the head. . . , . •Xml. A certain number of chiefs to be selected by him to assist him in maintaining order and repressingcrime amongst ids people.' ~ 3rd. The Government to support him in carrying on the duty which,would thus devolve upon him. , 4th. A suitable house to be built forhim at ICawhia, and certain portions of land on the Waipa and Waikato Rivera to be guaranteed to him. Tawhiao at that time was urgent that there should be a meeting with the. Governor at To ICuiti in the next year, bub Sir Donald McLean insisted that the meeting should take place at Kawhia. At the meeting in 1876 there was perfect friendliness and unreserve* exhibited by the King and his people ; the proposals of the Government were not altered, bnfc there was further time taken to consider them. The * ‘ certain po vions” of land proposed to be given were defined as about 3000 acres purchased near Alexandra, some allotments at Ngaruawahia, and a restoration of certain burial places named. Had Sir Donald McLean s life been spared, we behave that, in the presence of her Majesty’s representative, a settlement with the Waikatos maniapotos would have been arrived at last year upon the conditions above specified. After long delay “ papers on this subjiict” have been dragged out of the Government,. and laid on the table of the House of Representatives. They are, as will be seen, meagre enough; we reprint them here :

Proposals made by Sir G. Grey to Tawhiao at THE MEETING AT HIKURANGI 0-1 THE lOni Mat, 1878. ~ , it ~ 1. You stand in your authority, to which tho Government will add that you are to be the administrator within your district. Tho Government will assist you and the chiefs of your district to so administer affairs that peace and quietness will alight on the two races of this island. The Government will alwaysdook to you ; they will not look to one side or the other. It is for you to say lease (land), and it will be leased; sell, and sales will take pUco within your district. . The -Government will give you ami your chiefs an allowance for the administration of your district. Tho Government will give you (Tawhiao) five hundred pounds n year. The moneys to be ex* pened within tho district will bo given as a whole to him (Tawhiao - ), for him to distribute as he thinks proper to tho chiefs of his district. 2. The Governmentwillgive you five Hundred acres of land in the district of Ngaruawahia, near your father’s grave. The Government will build you a house at Kawhia for you to hold your meetings in. 3. The portions of land-remaining to the Government which have not yet been sold to, Europeans, situate on the western side of the Waikato and Waipa —those are the portions which will bo returned to Tawhiao. , , -1. in addition to this, inasmuch ns I am very desirous that you should become wealthy, I consider that the Government should set apart certain town sections within all the townships situate on the Waikato and Wnipa, and give them to you in trust for the people, the money arising therefrom to bo dealt with as you shall think fit, for I wish that you should speedily become rich, because these are the places which are rapidly increasing in value. 5. WitJi reference to ro ids. It Is my wish that you and I should carry out the arrangements respecting them, and that no person should presume to make roads before it has been settled by you and the Government. . ..... 0. With reference to surveys, it is for you to say that surveys are to bo made, and surveys will be made. , . 7. I have thought over these matters, and it is my earnest wish that I may see you living comfortably on ’the lands which will be set apart for you. Should you consent to the proposals which I now make to you, I will give it my special attention, so that you may soon occupy the lands in those places which will now be given back to you, and which have not yet been disposed of to the Europeans. With respect to other matters,—that is, ploughs, harrows, and other implements requisite for tho proper cultivation of the soil, the Government will make some arrangement for that, so that you may live comfortably and prosperously in the homes that will bo made. These are *ll the proposals that I am able to make to you. With reference to'tho pieces in the townships, Tawhiao and I ourselves must examine the maps and select the portions for you.

Notes of a Meeting between the Hon. the Premier, the Hon. tub Native Minister, AND KeWI MANIAFOTO AT PUNIU, MAY 12, 1878. _ .

Meeting with Pew! at Mr. Boss’s house, Fnniu, May 12, IS7S. Present—Sir George Grey, Hon. Mr. Sheehan, Mr. Ross, Mr. Grac*, Pewi Maniapoto, and other Maniapoto chiefs. Sir George Grey asked Rewi: Have you heard what has taken place at Hikurangi ?

Rewi : I have. Sir Grorok Grky; Have you heard all that took place on both (lays? Rewi : Yes; my brother brought rao a report of all that took plac? up to the time when Tawhiao agreed to take your (Sir George Grey’s) proposals in writing,' and that he (Tawhiao) would consider them. Sir George Grey: What do you think of the result of the meeting with Tawhiao ? Kewi : E pai ana na Translation. —Itiswell; korua na liokiko ko Ta- was it not done by you whiao? and Tawhiao? Here a conversation on matters of no importance took place, but during which Rewi stated that he was going to Mokau, and thence to Waitara, where a large meeting would take place. Ho went on to say that some years ago Wi Tako, Matcne te Whiwht, and Mete King! had wished him to agree to a large meeting being held at Waitara, to which proposal he would not consent. But now ho considered was the time for that meeting to take place as you (Sir George Grey) and Tawhiao have met and come to an understanding. . ~ . Mr George Grey: Arc you then pleased, or do you then agree with what has token place at the meeting at Hikurangi? . , Kkwi ;Am I not gomg to visit the Rous in my district, and to hold a meeting at Waitara? Sir George Grey.— E Translation.—"Do you pai ana o whakaaro ki nga approve of what was said kororo oto hui ki Hikur- at the meeting at Hikurangi? raugi? Rewi ; Ao. Bewi here again referred to the meeting to bo hold at Waitara. Ho said: “The meeting will tako place in June, but I cannot give the precise day. I wish you to bo present; Wi Tako, Matone te Whlwhi, and Meto Kingl will attend. You (Sir George Grey) should be present, as the meeting is of importance.” After further conversation, it was agreed that when Rowi arrived at Mokau he would send a telegram to Sir George Grey and inform him of the exact day on which the raeo.ing would take place. We will pass over thq, vague question of personal influence ; we will oven concede to the man who precipitated war in Waikato in 1863 by saying that “ho ‘ ‘ would dig round the King until ho fell”—the gushing affection of the King’s people, which lie. now'claims ; but wo will ask our readers to look at the difference in the price offered for “ friendly relations ” now and in 1875. Sir Donald McLean offered land. near Alexandra which he purchased for £3OOO, an allotment at Ngaruawahia which might be valued at £IOO, and a house at Kawhia £SOO ; including contingencies, let us say £SOOO in all. Sir George Grey offers, first, all the confiscated land between Waipa and the sea, roughly estimated to contain one hundred thousand acres, which at: the minimum price of £1 per acre is worth one hundred thousand pounds; five hundred acres at Ngaruawahia, £IO,OOO ; unsold allotments in all the townships in Waikato, say £IOOO ; house at Kawhia, £SOO ; and an annual tribute, which could not be less than £2OOO. This is for Tawhiao and the Waikatos only. Wo have then Rewi and To Whiti and Titoicowahu and the others to settle with; all this means money or land, and either or both in a very large measure. This will give some idea of what the “friendly relations” between Sir George Grey, Mr. Sheehan, and these great tribes are likely to cost. The “ relations” being exactly the same, the difference in price at present apparent is that between £SOOO and £150,000. We see that Rewi, with the dignity of a chief, and the courtesy of a native gentleman, corrected Sir George Grey at Waitara, when ho said he was there by his, RewTs, invitation. It pleases the Premier, in his version of the conversation with the Maniapoto chief at Pnniu, still to attempt to show that Rewi invited him to Waitara. Sir George Gw is in error, possibly from ignorance of the Maori language, or from inaccuracy on the part of Mr. Grade, his interpreter. We believe, with mqny others who ; have the best opportunities of knowing, that Rewi is right. The official report of the Waitara meeting, although it belongs to the promised papers, has not yet been furnished; that also will have to be dragged out.