A FEW WORDS OF PAST YEARS.

Paki o Matariki, Issue 6, 6 October 1892, Page 4

A FEW WORDS OF PAST YEARS.

Hearken to me ye nations who are living on Ikaroa a Maui, (Aotearea and Waipounamu) and across to the largest continent of the world. I have here words which I will palce before yon, so that you may see the situation of the two nations who are living on these islands Aotearoa and Waipounamn. During the year 18S4, we all heard and saw that the King and chiefs of this Island swam across tin- wide ocean of Kiwa, fie moana lnii a Kiua) and landed in that part of England ' where the law is to b.' f m .'l, el <> Her Majesty the Q.teen. The v< :• h of the King and chiefs was in s .. t m* Q leen, j and speak to her p.-sovallv of t'..e laws , which appeared in the Treaty ef' Wai-1 tangi to tun chiefs of this island. The > King and chiefs did not see the Or.e.n. | Enough. The King and clii' then i appeared lefore the Queen's iepre-| snitative and members vlio wne i«:—' st nihleil in the Parliment of England and told them the object of their visit, and laid their petition to the House in the 1 presence of members and Lord Derby, who were in Parliament assembled, The object of the petition of those Maori cheifs was to show the trouble caused to the Maori nations, which is now being done by the Government of New The Government of the Q.iei 11 sympat hin d with the Ma<.ri race. Lord D.'.hj replied as follows with reference to the petition : " The Queen and Government gave to the people of New Zealand almost the entire management of their own affairs, and it was then knnvn by those who formed the deputation that it was not right to inteifeie with the management of the adairs which had been given to the people of that island. Whether the authority was not given right, I will not 1 i - ten to words of one side alone but I will listen to th > words of both sides, and it was for that reason, I did not reply previous to making the fact known-to the Government of New Zealand, as I wished fo know their reply to the things which, was said had not been done right." The petition of the M;">ri chiefs was left in the Parliaineii. of England so that the Parlianien' of England could make enquiries uf t.ie New Zealand Government re the e 'titioii of the Maori chiefs. On March "rd, Mr Gorsi a-ked the I'2l«ii r Secretary of State for the Colo liie-, win ther any iqdv had 1" on _receivi d ii'or.! ;l.e Governnunt of New V. mil i«s Uiiswc 1 ' to the dc;-p.ii,<-h v hit h t;auseiitted Ihe nieviorial el ci'tali, Mami r-bji-f-i alii ".me iu\acb- ~ of

the Treaty of Waitangi; whether he had any reason to thiuk that the Ouvernment of New Zealand declined t > reply to this despatch, and if he knew on what grounds they had adopted such a course ; whctlnr tin Treat'/ of Waitangi was still regarded as binding upon the British Government; an 1 what steps would bo taken to ascertain whether the Treaty was observed. Mr. Ashly : No lcply has yet been received from the Government of New Zealand, but a ti'li'gr.un has receuth gone to the Governor requesting that it may be sent. We have 110 reason to think that the Government of New Zealand decline to reply to our despatch of August last. Her Majesty's Government have long ceased to superintend actively the Native affairs of New Zealand, and so grave a step as would be involved in any direct intcference iu the internal affairs of the Colony could only be justified by circumstances very different from those of the present case as actually understood. Mr Ashly in answer to a further question said : No doubt the Treaty ot Waitangi is in force so far as lapse of time or change of circumstances may not have made any parts of it obsolete.

It was probably after the days of March that a reply was received from the Government of New Ze iland, as it was on the 23rd of June. 1885, that the despatch was scut to the New jZealond Government, la paragraph 3 and 5 of the despatch sent by the Government of the Queen to the Government of New Zealand are the following words : Paragarph 3.—The said petition has been -discussed by the Parliament of England, and great sympathy was expressed with the Maori nation, and a wish was also expressed that the Government of New Zealand would protect the good and righteous of the Maori race." Paragraph 5. —"If you are not to be advised by the L'overnmeut of tho Queen with regard to the Treaty of Waitangi which tlvy have ceased to superintend, we wish you to ask your Government to protect the Maori race, and abide with tjie laws which are just and honest." These were tho words which the British Government du-spatcliL-d to the Government of New Zealand. Those words were also made known to Tawhiao and his tribes. Tawhiao called a meeting of tho Maori tribes to be held before him on the 4th of April. The tribes and chiefs were assembled on that The chief laid before those assembled, the object of the meeting. After carefully considering the subjert which had been laid before them, tlmsc assembled decided that some of the chiefs present should form a daputation to interview the Governor on the subjects discussed by tin* meeting. The following are the names of the chiefs upon whom the chiefs and tribes decided to form a daputation to the Governor: Paora Tuhaere Tana Te Waharoa Te Tihirahi Wi Parera Te Arai Tareha Te Toko Tc Uoronoho Tho chiefs arrived at the Government Ilouse jy» April 7ti ami made known the object ui their

visit. They had also boea nskod by the Governor The following aro the words of tho Governor : " It gives mi! great pleasure at your having come to 863 me, anil I wish to know who ot tin; Chiefs forming the deputation is to speak to lur. ot till) subject upon which you aro sent't " I'-mra Tuhaore — I will speak to you. Tho reimim of these chiefs who are seated before you is. Tawhiao had sent them to intervimv ymi. It is you! (representative of the '.jueun. ) who has come to New Zealand to uphuld tho laws of tho Treaty of Waitangi. It is for tins reason that tho chiefs are now seated before you. Wo now ask : What is your opinion of tho despatch sent by the British Government, which nuked the Government of New Zealand to protect the Maori nation ? The s.ime question was asked by tho eight chiefs present. - -Tho Governor replied as follows : " ] c.umut at present reply to your questions; but if you were to write it and give it to me, 1 I have nu doubt that the question would bo made clear, and so that I may look over the despatch sent by the British Government to fne. If your secretary has wiittena report of the proceeding of tho meeting, also of the questions which you have asked ; it would be much better to give it to me, K'» that I may read it, and I will then be able to yive you a plain reply to your questions." —The interview with tho Governor was now over. The chiefs lett with the Governor the subjects which had heen done at the meeting held on the 4th April. On the 14th of April the Governor wrote n letter to Tawhiao ill reply to the quest.ous ot tho chiefs who formed the deputation. Ihe Governor's reply was sent to Tawhiao by the Hon Mr Ballance on the 17th of April It waiseveral days before Tawhiao received it. Some of the words which appeared in the Governor'), reply were as follow s. 1. 'I There is only one mistake with the Treaty of Waitangi: The Maoris approval el their land being sold to any Euroj-ean. It was asked for the Maoris. o._" Authority has been given to the iuao:" Committees to h.-nr all cases regarding then laud and give it to whom the committee thun. are the proper owners. 3 ii ('he GuV rnmont have protected txirights of the Jluori notion. ' 4." I received 110 information form Lord liorbv askiuo- my Government to protect tho Maon i i«Ue. These were the words of the Governor, Tnwhiiio then repliey to the Governor's de-patel..

TAWHIAO'S LETTER

>'Whatiwhatihoe, July 12th, 186'.. " >ly Fkilnh. - Salutations to you. 1 In" to aekouwledae the receipt of your <le>,1,11,1, ditel April 1 4ill, forwarded to me bv tlii- Hon Mr IS.iUanre un April 11 til in njili to the deputation of tlio Maori eliiets who in-t.-rvh-wed y"U in Auckland. Enough. I have <• ii-Lfullv ivail your despatch, and iu lvply jir. the loliAxiiiK words: - You say there is on!\ one mistake in the Treaty of Waitauiji : whieli is the power tiie Maories te difpuse ot the,r laud to tin'pub'.ie. 1 will now ask: What "muiin" ol' the Treaty of Waitangi gives the " rnaua to do away with the rights ot the Maori natious to their land by the Native Land Court Act? I)<> you think it was approved t\ theoliiufus with the Treaty of \\ ait.mgi. Win. | wero those tribes and chiefs that consented i I I 2. You say that "inaiia'' has_ been gi\un the Maeri Committees to hear cliams to then | land, and decide who are owners. In wh.i! section of the "Maori Committee Aet is thut ■ " imina " to be found.

s o that the Maori L'omin ttoe may have the mana, for at present that Maori l ommittee lias 110 " mana, " no doubt you are aware of that i.omnwtee not having any mana. In reply to your statement that the Government had protected the .Maori race. I will now ask: What righis had been protected hy the Government ? What \v»! dono to Te Whiti and others who were imprisoned by the Government. As for the words of your Native iiinister who says that Kmvhia would 11 )t pass throug'i til • Land Court which has now been done. Ilive the lands which were taken without causo at the Waipou iamu b. en repaid. As for you having sui.l that you had not received any word ot command trom Lord Derby asking your (i verninont to protect the Maori race to the rights for themselves, no doubt you thought to " nhakahau, " " tuno " and " kiia " had not the snme meaning; these words have one menni y. Tho same words are stated by Lord I >erby in paragraph four and five of the despatch. Paragraph five roads : l lf you are not to lie advi>ed hy the Government of the Queen with 1-egnid to the Treaty of Waitangi which they ceased to superintend, we wish you to ask your Government to protect the Maori rnc,', and abide with tho laws which are just and honest.' 1 It if- ni'W knuwn that you have 110 thoughts of the Maori race. All that you seemed to be pl-nsid -with was when "mana " had been given to (lie Government of New Zealand, you di l not t ink it wns not r'ght to give thai. " mana" to t.'io 1 umpeaus, as t! e Maoris did not consent or hear of such a thins! being asked for. It matters not what we say to you; y.>u w.ll not pay any attention to us. This is all I have to say." King Tawhiao. To Goveenor Jervois.

Tawhiao has not received a from the Governor or Guver- Dient from ti.e da}* whieL lie scut Lis It tt« r, up to the ] lesent time, ii is> j for th.s lvnswi tliat 1 nr : te tluar woids so that ■ jnu mny know tlu- uoings of the two mitioos | v :i<» are livirg on this island, which Tawi iao i made known on the 9th ol Augr&t iast as to the | :i< tiou of iiiinstera and Govt ninei.t towards h'm <lunng years: beginning from iir j . I Mel.tan, Nr Cx» i ige Giey and then Mr iJryce ; I ntrcr which Mr J allai ee wab made Nati\u |Miiißt<r. 'iawhiuo called a nieePng to In- ! held at his >etthment on the l">t'' of April, I*M>. 'll.e llon Nat.vi- Minister was jusent nt tl.nt inciting. Tawniao addies-ed the Native Mii.ister t.s allows: Mr liallance to listt n to my \v« rds, stop hmd courts buiwjs and loads, su that we n.a\ see • in unv clear to adopt rules for tin* is'flnd " *! In-* lion Mr 1 allanco replied: \es; jon and 1 must agree. I was also of the same opinion. (t>, | A Native niubt be ■ pj"'in-j t". at that pinee, at that place, to as&iht t e| Judge. (a ) \ou must stand as wezufcer for

the Upper House ; money and other things will be givoii to you.

Tawhiao : It is well; I have heard your words, and to which 1 hare only one answer —a Legislative Council must be formed of the Maori chiefs, from north to south. If this is compleated, there would then be one ruling for the whole island. Iwill send my Bill to Parliament. The Hon Mr Ballance: I will give my support to your Bill, but you must agree to accept the office as member of the Upper House so that you can also do all in your power to get it passed. Tawhiao. —T am agreeable. I will help you from outs'de; and I will go to Wellington, but will not be member. The Hon Mr Ballance. —The Government will not bo strong in supporting your Bill; but you consent to be a member. Tawhiao: I will not consent; bnt I must notify the chiefs of this islan.l. The chiefs ■were opposed to Tawhiao accepting the office. Tawhiao's petition was sent te Wellington when the session commenced, asking Government and members of the Upper and Lower House 11 carefully consider Tawhiao's petition; which aslts that a Legislative Council should be forme 1 for the Maori chiefs of this island. The p.-tition was given by those who took it to Wellington to the Native Minister. The said petition never reached Parliament so as to enable members to see it. The Natives who conveyed the petition returned to Tawhiao; they had nothing whatever to say to Tawhiao. That was the sort of men who formed the Goveriime.it. Ever since then, Tawhiao has been the same.