MAJOR ROPATA.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 126, 8 May 1884, Page 2

MAJOR ROPATA.

PRESENTATION OF A LETTER OF CONDOLENCE. A meeting of the settlers of this district was held to-day at 12 o’clock, in the commercial room of the Albion Club Hotel, for the purpose of presenting Major Ropata with a memorial on account of the recent action of the Government in reducing his pension There were a number of gentlemen present. His Worship the Mayor, said that they had met there to express their sympathy with Major Ropata on account of the late action of the Government in reducing his pension. The Government had evidently forgotton what he had done for them; but the old settlers had not forgotten him, and still respected his name, and were glad to see him and his people who gave so much help at the time of the massacre, and all through the Maori war. Those sad events may have passed from the Government, but the fact still remained that he had received a slight, and that his past services had been ignored. The settlers appreciating these valuable services desired to express that they did not approve of this action of the Government, and he had been requested by them to present this memorial, which, certainly was only signed by a few, but it had "ily been out about a day, otherwise it would have been more numerously signed, he might say, by thousands.

He then addressed Major Ropata in Maori, and after reading the Memorial, presented it to him. It is as follows :— To our Brave Friend Major Ropata Mahawaha. Greeting,—We, the residents of the East Coast district, desire to express to you our words of sympathy and regard. Ist. To express our non-upproval of the course adopted by the Government in reducing your salary. 2nd. To assure you that the general feeling of the people of the Colony, and of this district in particular, is that an injustice is done you. 3rd. That many of us owe the safety of our homos and families to your loyal support in the day of darkness, trouble and error. 4th. That the marks and sword of honor bestowed upon you by Her Majesty the Queen for your unswerving loyalty has been truly

deserved by you, as you have ever abided by the Queen’s laws, and served the Government faithfully. 5. We feel assured that the people of the colony, through their representatives in Parliament, will see this wrong lighted, and obtain some permanent recognition of your valuable services to the colony. This is all from your true friends. (Here followed upwards of 100 signatures.) His Worship, on behalf of the gentlemen signing the Memorial, had much pleasure in presenting it. It showed that they still esteemed, and had not forgotten the valuable services rendered by him. It had been said that it was only the rebels who got anything in the end, and that those who were loyal and true were forgotten, but this proved that to be wrong. Mr. J. W, Johnston said he was sure that the settlers who were here and saw Major Ropata’s good work, would be sorry to think that they were ungrateful, and that he had been ungratefully treated by the Government. He thought that all knew how the Government were trying to retrench, but they might have gone about it in more suitable directions. He thought this act, must have been an oversight on their part, and if properly represented to them, they would rectify the error, and see it was an oversight. Mr. C. W. Ferris said he felt they were doing an honor to l)Iajor Ropata, to which he was justly entitled. He had been acquainted with him* (Major Ropata) for years, and had always known him to come forward when he was wanted. If he had not have come forward, like he did in 1865, this place would not be in its present advanced position, and the Government instead of having their present debt, would have had a much larger one. There was no doubt that it was owing to Major Ropata’s adherence to the Queen that they were in the position they hold to-day. He agreed that if the case was properly represented, the Government would see their err or. Captain Porter here gave a short sketch of some of Major Ropata’s exploits, which we are compelled to hold over for want of space. Mr. W. F. Crawford thought it was a pity that a man of such courage and determination, should now be put to the humiliation of having a meeting of sympathy like this ; to try and bring pressure on the Government to regain him his pension. If it was not for him the expense the Government would have been put to would have been enormous. If he had not have come forward, they would have had to employ strangers, and send regiments, and they all knew what terrible expense that would have entailed. He hoped that at the next session of Parliament, the salary be not only reinstated, but that some further recognition of his services, be meted out to him. Up to the present he had been scurvily treated by them, and should, at least show that they appreciate his services, for he was not fighting for himself, but for Europeans. Major Ropata said he had few words to say in reply to what had already been said in regard to him. He was pleased at their expressions of sympathy with him in his trouble. He was unable to reply to what had been said and could only express his pleasure. If all this had been said about some one else, he could reply, but as it was all about himself he could not very well do so. He was in the position of a dog, which when being bred gets good food given him by the master, but when in its decling years, the master knocks it on the head as it is of no use. That was exactly his position. When he was young, and of service, he was fed by the Government, but now so many years had passed, and he was old and declining, the Government wished fo knock him on the head. He was not sad about the deduction of his pension. If he was, he would show it by turning rebel or something of that sort. One of the reasons alleged by the Government for so doing is that there is no service now for him to perform. That was not his fault. In 1872 the war ceased, and he had been waiting for years for orders from the Government to proceed to Waikato to arrest Te Kooti. (Much applause) But instead of that they raised the war, and got him (Te Kooti) are were now showing about. He knew nothing about land purchase. With reference to the sale of the land, he had only to tell the Ngataporous to sell their land and they did so to the Europeans. He could see their object. They thought he was sad, but this showed him that they were the ones that were sad, and they saw their reasons for their feelings. He greeted them with pleasure, and could only conclude by saying that, though the Government have acted in the way they have done towards me, I will always remain loyal and true to the Queen and country, as will my children and children’s children.