MEETING OF NATIVES AT THE MUREWAI.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1164, 2 October 1882, Page 2

MEETING OF NATIVES AT THE MUREWAI.

Last Saturday a meeting was held at Te Murewai between Mr Rees and the Natives of that part relative to negotiations connected with the Maraetaha, TeKuri, Tangotote Nos. 1 ami 2, and Pakowhai Blocks.

31 r Rees addressed the Natives, through Mr Jury, as follows : —“I have come to ascertain the grounds upon which our union has been broken up. I desire that we should again become as one. I have been four years in this district. Tke first meeting I held was at Waercnga-a-hika, and certain Natives gathered there to hear the talk. I came to this district upon tiie invitation of the Natives. Napier was my home. The Maoris have agreed that I should be their Champion, and relieve them from the oppression of the Pakeha. I took into hand their affairs, and, with an eye to their interests, established a company, which, under the circumstances, I thought was the best thing for them. Now, 1 have come to-day that we might again join together in the one great work. I ask how is it we have become divided ? I ask you to give Pakowhai into my hands. I will give it to the Company, who will use it to your advantage. The Maoris will get plenty of money out of it, as they will get two-thirds of the profit accruing therefrom, and so on.”

Nepia Te Paka: We know that your words are true, but there is one objection we have and that is your mortgaging Pakowhai, Te Kopua, and Te Kuri Blocks out of which you got £16,000. Eru Pohatu: I will reply to your question. The reason we are dissatisfied with you is because of the way in which Maraetahi was subdivided ; it was first proposed that a committee should have the full management of the land. You would not listen to the suggestions offered by the Maoris. It is true you did hold a meeting at Waerenga-a-hika. and you declared that you would get justice for the Maoris, and set right all injuries they had suffered. No wonder the Maoris said, “ Come ye that brings salvation. Having faith in your declarations the Maoris handed their lands over to you and Wi Pere, stiil thinking that the Native Committee would have a voice in the conduction of the business, but what was the surprise of the Maoris when they found that once you got the power into your own hands you cared little for their interests, but prompted your own by mortgaging or selling, which is the same, all you could Jay your hands on. Your troubles and not ours formed your chief consideration. You ask us now to give you Te Kopua that you might mortgage it or offer it as security for the bridge you builtjat Whataupoko. You have already acted so well in our interests by mortgaging our lands, Pokowhai, to Read’s Estate for £lO,OOO, that we modestly decline to trouble you any further as guardian of our welfare. 1 might ask what have you done with the £3OOO that Mr Johnson paid, and we were to receive ? You say that we will be paid back out of the Whataupoko funds. I can assure you we only trust that we may. Enough ; we will have no more of thee. Hemi Waaka and others followed in the same strain.

Mr Rees suggested another meeting to take place in Gisborne, when he hoped that production of papers and additional arguments he would away all doubts from the Native mind.