PUBLIC MEETING.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 80, 20 August 1873, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

An influential and numerously-attended Public Meeting was held on Friday evening last in the Court-house, Gisborne, for the purpose of considering the steps necessary to be taken, consequent uponjthe obstruction offered to the Deed of Cession Commission by the natives during the week. As already reported, the Commissioners have been unable to proceed with their duties, and the local force were powerless to enforce the law or to successfully quell the disturbances. The only alternative was to close the Court, and to suspend business until the Commissioners had communicated with the Government. Under these circumstances the settlers deemed it necessary to come to the assistance of the Court, by expressing their views in a series of resolutions whieh will be found below :—

Major Westruf proposed that Mr. Poynter do take the chair, which on being seconded was duly carried.

Mr. Poynter said: “Fellow settlers; you are all well acquainted with the necessity that has arisen for the present meeting. The proceedings of the past few days were of such a nature as to demand strenuous efforts being made by the settlers to prevent a repetition of the disgraceful scenes that have been enacted in this town and in this Court-house, and in passing to the immediate business before you, I shall be glad if some one will address the meeting on the subject of what he saw at the sitting of the Commission to day.” Mr. Wyllie, who was received with cheers, said: The natives were very defiant and were evidently prepared to obstruct the proceedings of the Court by force if necessary for their pur* pose. He saw the Commissioners hooted and

hissed; he had had much to do with natives and their courts, but he never saw anything so opposed to order, so unprecedented in the annals of the Courts in New Zealand, or such digraceful proceedings in his life. He considered that the Government should be called upon to take some immediate steps in the matter. Mr. Wyllie then explained the causes which led to the disturbances to day, whieh have been already reported in our columns; and at the request of the Chairman translated the substance of what he had addressed to the meeting, for the information of the natives present. The Chairman suggested that the time of the meeting should not be taken up by any further discussion of what took place, as it appeared that most people were acquainted with it, but it was absolutely necessary to vindicate the law; to uphold the dignity of the Crown ; to let the natives understand that the settlers of Poverty Bay are prepared to support the Government in preserving peace, and to protect the name of Her Majesty in this district. The influence and number of the settlers demanded that they should be heard in this matter; and the time had come when a firm stand should be made against a repetition of insults which the Commissioners hod recently been subjected to. He would call on the gentlemen who had resolutions to propose to do so at once.

Mr. Graham moved: “ That the settlers of the Poverty Bay District view with indignation and alarm the outrage committed to-day by certain natives belonging to the district, who at the instigation of Henare Matua and his adherents crowded the Court and not allowing any evidence to be taken, threatening the Judges, and seemingly prepared to use any violence, compelled the Commissioners sitting under the Deed of Cession, to close the Court when engaged hearing the evidence of claimants who were willing to have their claims investigated.”—Seconded by Mr. DeMoidrey. The above had to go through the process of amendment, in consequence of Captain Porter drawing attention to the fact that the original resolution being worded to shew that *' Henare Matua with his adherents” crowded the Court, &c., was slightly incorrect. An animated discussion took place upon the point of amendment, many persons maintaining that in substance it was correct, as, although it might be shown that Henare was not present, he had been the prime mover and instigator in the whole business, he had pulled the wires and had stayed away only to save himself from being actively mixed up in any disturbance that might take place. A voice in the body of the Hall suggested the withdrawal of the natives present, and wished to know if they were to be allowed to take part in the business of the meeting, whereupon Major Westrup suggested that the native* present should, by all means, be informed of what was taking place, as it was necessary to Jet them know that we were not keeping anything from them, and that the settlers will not shrink from supporting the law and the Court. One of our best safeguards was to let the Maoris know that we are not afraid of them. (Cheers.) Mr. Graham having accepted the suggestion that “at the instigation of ” should be inserted in his resolution it was put to the meeting by the Chairman as amended, and carried unanimously. Mr. M'Donald moved : “ That the closing of the Court at the present crisis would be a sign of weakness on the part of the Government, and would lead not only to further complications, but probably to further outrages on the part of the discontented natives.”—Seconded by Major Westrup, and carried unanimously, without discussion. Mr. Hardy in moving the next resolution said that as the necessity had arisen he had great pleasure in moving: “ That the settlers are willing, on receiving the sanction of the Government, to uphold the dignity of the Court, and to secure those claimants willing to have their claim* investigated a fair hearing.”—Seconded by Mr. J. Cuff.

Another spirited, and withal, profitable discussion took place upon the subject of this resolution, as to whether “secure” should be substituted for “ allow ”in the sixth line. In support of some defined line of conduct which the settler* seemed desirous of adopting; and that there should be no room for doubt with either the Government or the natives as to what was proposed to be done, the general sentiment of the meeting was in favor of seeking for such authority as would enable the settlers to “ secure ” the Court and the Commissioners from further interruption, and willing applicants a fair hearing. The resolution was therefore amended as above, and on being put from the chair declared to be carried unanimously. Panapa Waihopi said he for one was anxious to get his claims investigated, so that he might know his position with reference to his leases, rents, &c. Mr. Hardy next moved : “ That the Government be requested to instruct the Crown Agent at the present or any future sitting of the Commission to use every means in his power to obtain evidence so as to prevent the insertion of the name of any known Hauhau in Crown Grants, in accordance with the Deed of Cession signed in 1869.” — Seconded by Mr. Wyllie. Mr. Locke said : That-ws Crown Agent he had the instructions necessary to take action _in the direction suggested by the resolution, during the investigation of titles by the Commissioners. He was present at the last sitting and would remind the meeting that the natives then did all they could to suppress the evidence necessary to exclude rebels. Mr. Hardy said : That at the last sitting of the Commission there were a number of Hauhau* whose names were admitted in the Crown Grants, and it was to prevent the possibility of such a contingency at the present commission that he urged the resolution. He then read the names of a dozen rebels who had, not withstanding the scrutiny of the Government, become grantees. Mr. Mathebon suggested a withdrawal of the resolution as unnecessary after what Mr. Locke had stated.

Mr. Hardy peremptorily refused, a* he conld produce additional evidence if necessary, that fifty other Hauhau* beside* those he had named had got their land back.

Mr. J. CUFV stud : That a penalty ought to be inflicted on the rebel natives by the loss of their lands. He considered that the trusts of the Deed of Cession had not been fulfilled by the Govern* ment, and we had no guarantee that they would be carried out in future. Mr. Cuff read a letter sent by him to Mr. M'Lean in August 1869, urging his opinion with reference to the issue of the titles under awards of the Commissioners, and we would ask the meeting if what the Government had done had been satisfactory. He did not blame the Government for having acted wilfully in this injustice to the natives, but still he thought it would be wise to bring some force to bear just now, especially as there was a feeling prevalent that the Government did not intend to take any very active measures in excluding Hauhaus from an equal participation with the friendly natives.

The Chairman then put the resolution which was carried unanimously. Captain Porter asked permission from the chair for Henure Potae to address the meeting. He said he had no sympathy with Henare Matua’s opposition and he would like to tell it himself. Permission having been grants 1, Henare Potae said : “ Mr. Chairman, —I am not mixed up in these disturbances. They were not the first that had occurred, but I and my people took no part in them, indeed, I regret very much that they do occur as I consider them a great reproach to our people. Although Henare Matua had not come into Court himself, I consider that the proceedings which have led to the obstruction of the business of the Commission were the effect of Henare Matua’s exciting the minds of the natives, and if they are repeated it will be known to be his doing. It is not only what Henare Matua does himself, but he has many emissaries such as Wi Pere, Tamihana Ruatapu, Paora Apatu, and others who were so many mouthpieces. I have heard that the proceedings of to-day were all arranged last night by Henare Matua who told the natives to get up and make a noise when any case was called on in the Court, and that if any half-castes were proposed they were to be objected to. I desire to support the Court, and to show that all the natives are not fallen ; and I desire that no Hauhau’s name should be in a Crown Grant.” Henare Potae’s address, of which the above is only the substance, was received with great cheering.. Mr. Tucker proposed : “ That a deputation of three gentlemen do wait upon the Commissioners to ascertain their views with regard to keeping the Court open until the • Government can be communicated with ; and, if proper, to urge upon them that this meeting is of opinion that it would be desirable to keep it open. That Messrs. M'Donald, Westrup, and Poynter be so deputed, and that the natives be informed of this decision.— Seconded by Major Westrup, and carried unanimously. Mr. M'Donald moved : “ That the Chairman do forward the first four resolutions to the Government by the messenger going overland to Napier to-morrow morning.—Seconded by Mr. Tucker, and carried unanimously. The whole of the above resolutions, and the substance of other business, were translated by Mr. Wyllie and Mr. Tucker to the natives present, the most of whom being friendlies seemed to take great interest in the procedings. A vote of thanks to Chairman terminated the meeting.