HENARE MATUA’S DEFENCE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 81, 23 August 1873, Page 3

HENARE MATUA’S DEFENCE.

The following is the translation of a document which was found tacked up at the Court-house the day before Henare Matua’s departure from Gisborne. There is nothing particularly new, nor interesting in it, beyond wnat our readers are already acquainted with; but it will be easy to gather from it evidences of a desire to relinquish the strife in this district for the present: — “ This is a reply of mine to the words of the resolutions of a meeting printed on the 16th day of August, 1873 ; the words of those resolutions say that I was the cause of the difficulty that the Court of Commissioners did not sit. “ 1. Friend (Chairman of the meeting) my word to you is that the Commissioners were the cause of the difficulty, because the notice from the chiefs and the tribes and sub-tribes had been handed over to the Commissioners that the work of the Commissioners should stand over until Parliament should be finished, the Commissioners did not consent to this.

“ 2. The Commissioners proposed that the Maoris should go outside the Court; when they arrived there, the Commissioners asked them to choose the chiefs to go to the Court, that the talk was with them. The tribes did not agree, because they had sent their message and had received no reply. ‘•3. The Commissioners again appointed a sitting for the work of the Commission ; the whole of the tribes went. The word of the Commissioners came forth that the chiefs should think over and consider. They did think over, and when considered they revealed their thoughts. The Commissioners still persisted in holding the Court, even if only a few claimants came forward. “4. The Court sat on the day appointed. I stood up and explained my views, which were, that the Court should again cease its sitting, on the grounds that the Maoris did not wish it. The Commissioners did not consent. That is all on that subject. “5. Friend (Chairman of the meeting) this is my word to you, let us go into the higher Courts and talk, that you may be just (to ascertain the rights of the matter.) If you will not go there, in order that we should quietly be shown the law, lie in the dirt and rest all of you and your sins, (signifying the bad laws that have been made for Turangu ) This is all I have to say to you. Farewell! Friends (the meeting) and your opinions. I have seen your bearing towards the natives of this place (Turanga). Enough. When I have left, turn to your natives and cajole (raweke) them. That is all my word. “ From Henabe Matua, written under the authority of the Native Committees.”