MAORI SPEECH ON Mr. FOX'S MOTION.
Mete Kingi (through the interpreter) : Sir, — I give thanks to the Queen and the G-overnor, to the hon. the Ministers and all the chiefs of this Assembly, for having summoned the Maoris to their deliberations. Salutations to you. May you live for ever. (Laughter and cheers) . I come among you as a child. I am an old man among my own people. Ido not understand your language. I will speak the thoughts of my people. "When war broke out with the Arawas, I went there to arrange peace. I knew nothing then of magisterial duties. The chiefs of the Botorua wished to fight. I. returned to my home. When war broke out at Waitaki, I went there, but the people would not listen to my advice to leave the matter to be settled by the law. I went to Napier when war broke out there. When a Maori was killed by a European | youth, the Wanganui natives rose to attack the settlers, I crucified some of them with my own hands. [The interpreter explained that " to crucify " and to hang are synonym ous.] I recommended the Wanganui chiefs to obey the law. They said they would do so. I have prostrated myself before the Queen. The Arawa have done same. Some of the Maoris went over to the King party, and afterwards became Hauhaus. I and the Arawa have remained faithful to the Queen. [The speaker gave a resume of his expeditions against jthepas, of chiefs.]^ I will now tell you what my people wish me to say. When the Europeans came here they found us cannibals. They brought with them law and religion. We, the people of Wanganui, find no fault with the pakeha, I will now commence from the beginning. (Oh, and laughter.) At the time of Boni Heke's war jealousy rose up between the Maoris and Europeans. The affair of the Waitotara was not the fault of the pakeha, it was of the Maori, who sold land which he had no right to do. The Taranalri war was also the fault of the Maori ; the recent affair at Patea was the fault of the Maori, and it is so spoken of by the Maoris at Wanganui. The present G-o---vernor has only recently come among us. Sir George Grey's war is past. If peace were offered they (the Maoris) would now only accept it to stop the fulfilment of the law. Let a measure be laid down with regard to this new murder. I have advised the Maori people to wait and see whether the matter will not be considered by the Assembly. I will bring before you another matter. Land has been taken by thejblade of the weapon of the G-ovemment, the land above Waitotara. When the fighting began at Wanganui, we were told that the land of peaceable natives would be left them When the war was over, we made application to the Government. We said the land was ours. But the other natives brought forward fictitious claims in the Court. A sum of money was to be given to us for good conduct. It was said to be given for the land, but it was given for good conduct. I ask the attention of the Assembly to this matter. (Cheers.) Mete Kingi, who spoke from the floor near the Treasury Benches, retired, and accompanied by the interpreter, to the seat usually occupied by him at the end of the Chamber.
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Southland Times, Issue 1014, 2 September 1868, Page 3
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581MAORI SPEECH ON Mr. FOX'S MOTION. Southland Times, Issue 1014, 2 September 1868, Page 3
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