Poverty Bay Standard. PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1881.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 930, 30 March 1881, Page 3

Poverty Bay Standard.

PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1881.

We skull sell to no man Justice or Right; We shall deny to. no man. Justice or Right ; We shall defer to no man Justice or Right.

We are not amongst those who advocate or tolerate Govrrnments within Governments, unless those that occupy the inner circle are subject to that which is without. Therefore, we do not think it wise that the so-called Maori Parliament, at Orakei, should have any more importance attached to its proceedings than would be the case if a body of Europeans assembled and said they would or would not have such and such things. As with Europeans, by all means let the Natives understand that their position and privileges are identical. They have a right to meet in conclave, and pass such resolutions, in their own w T ay, as may be laid with becoming dignity and respect before the Houses of our own Legislature ; but for Native nomadic gatherings to be formally recognised, and their sayings and doings accepted as possessing all the solemnity and authority of a Parliament, is too much. However, it does not appear that the “third Session of the Maoii Parliament at Orakei,” which has just ended, has done much harm, although some of the resolutions arrived at may do good. According to the “ Order paper ” of the Parliament, issued in circular form by the Chairman, Paul Tuhaere, to the tribes, the following was the business :—“ The confederation of the chiefs of New Zealand, which was recognised by the King of England before the Treaty of Waitangi, in the year 1835 ; the Treaty of Waitangi and of Kohimarama, that the covenant should be maintained ; the despatch of delegates to England to the Queen; the taking of the land of Natives who have not been in rebellion ; the taking by the Harbor Boards of the foreshore in front of Maori lands; that the laws in reference to Maori lands should be arranged by a Committee of the Maori people; that the voting of Maoris for members of Parliament, either European or Maori, should cease; that Government land purchasing should cease ; that laws in reference to Maori lands and other matters should be put in the Maori language by the Government, that the Maori people may know ; that a Maori Committee should be instituted for each district; that the Native Lands Court should be suppressed pending the institution of a new law for the conservation of Maori lands and collecting money for the Road Boards; that lawyers should not be allowed within the Native Lands Court; that Maori chiefs should not be called on to take any part in the Government; that reserves of land which have been made for the Maori people should not be released from restriction ; that the regulations in reference to giving licenses to obtain gpns. powder, shot, and caps, should be left to the Magistrate of each district ; that the Kaipara Railway and the buildings arrranged for by the Government should be built; collecting money for expenses of the meeting and for printing; that the people shpuld be urged to arrange for schools for all the children, so that they may learn the European language.” On the assembling of “ Parliament,” Paul Tuhaere disclaimed any legislative power, or desire to make laws. He merely advocated the bringing of their grievances before the House of Representatives at Wellington; and, amongst other things said he thought the doings of Te Whiti would eventually end in good. Himi Kahoe, a chief from Mongonui, accused Hone Here of cutting down the flag which had been hoisted at Maika (Bay of Islands), and going to war with the Europeans, and complained that all the land surveyed they had to pay taxes for, and argued that thig'W’as breuking the Treaty of Waitangi. Re? Te Tai, a chief from Hokianga expressed a wish that- the

copy of the request sent to .Ehgland by the Natives in 1835 (2,800 of whom had signed it) might be read. The copy was then read and gave satisfaction. The'first two items were then concluded, and the speaker asked for a show of hands to notify their assent as to the Treaty of Waitangi having been broken by the Europeans. Arms and hands were held up en masse. A proposal of Kepa Matu, a chief of Kaipara, to send “ ten representative chiefs to England,” we suppose to “ tena koe ” Her Majesty, was carried with great enthusiasm ; but a Mr. Adam Clarke, and others, “ decidedly negatived ” it, and most pertinently enquired where the money was to come from to defray the expense of even one chief the England. Meti Kingi, from Wanganui, turned the scales in favor of the proposal, by saying the matter should be left with the Chairman as the “ Parliament ” could not answer for the absent tribes. As it stands there is a possibility of Downing-street being interviewed by one of the elect kt no distant date. The question of ceasing selling lands caused much altercation. The “ House ” was much divided. The Chairman said, “We are passing this motion to cease selling lands, and before long we shall want to sell, then what are we to do ? I say let anyone sell that thinks proper,” and eventually it was resolved that “ any Maori selling land before consulting a Native meeting, shall be fined;” although it is understood to be only another mode of shelving an awkward question until the next. “ Parliament.” The following expressions of opinion of the several speakers were recorded: — “ That the Government at Wellington should have printed every session their doings in both the English and Maori languages, in order that everyone might be able to understand what was taking place.” “That the Native Land Court did them more harm than good, and ought to be abolished until new laws should be made.” “ That no lawyer should plead in the Native Land Court.” When this motion was put to the meeting for a show of hands, one and all voted for “no lawyers.” The “Parliament” was unanimously of opinion that the question of payment of expenses should be left to a future meeting. There was no dissentient voice to the advisability of sending their children to school, and to have them taught the English language ; and the voices were all agreed that Maori members in the House of Representatives did more harm than good. The two last were about the only sensible things the “Parliament” did and then quietly dissolved.

The Wellington correspondent of an exchange says that Sir E. W. Stafford and the Honorable Thomas Russell are expected to arrive in the Colony about July. Probably one of the Rothschilds may accompany them in view of home bank interests. The Honorable James Williamson, President of the Bank of New Zealand, also goes home by the April outgoing mail steamer. The commencement of Parliamentary business will, I believe, herald the .announcement of an opposition journal which is badly and sadly wanted in this rotten field of journalism, and should, as is likely to be the case, Mr. G. M. Reed be the editor, we will have both sides of public opinion. The morning paper is believed to be entirely under the thumb of a certain institution, and as the proprietors of the Post are desirous of selling out, they must apprehend a change in Government patronage. If Mr. Reed takes charge of the new organ, I should not like to be in the place of the four Auckland rats during the sessional campaign.