VISIT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT,

Tauranga Argus and Opotiki Reporter, Volume 1, Issue 27, 25 May 1867, Page 2

VISIT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT,

jokn

WILLIA'MSON,

ESQ.

Tuespay, the 1 4tli instant was probably oue of tbe most momentous davs in the history of Tauranga, and great indeed were the joyous teelings felt and expressed by that vast concourse of people who met on the Beacli to welcome John Williamson, Esq.,- the Superintendent to this place. Indeed, the greetings which that gentleman met on his arrival, was somything the pen cannot describe, tbe heart alone betokened fe'elings and sentiments within which are not capable of heiug openly expressed ; and had it been knowu positively that he might have been expected on that morn by the steamer Lord Ashley, hundreds rnore would have done him the honor of being present on that joyful accasion. , We noticed five of the largest war canoes, newly trimmed and dressed for the occasion, whaleboats, and 'sinai! canoes, escorting his Honor, a messenger of peace and future prosperity, from the steamer to the Beach. On the Beach might he seen 400 to 500 natives belonging to Arawas and the Bay of Plenty tribes, amongst tbem were several of the most influtial chiefs who had been deputed by

their respective tribes to represent ! them on this important occasion, and n^ceive from his Honor those assurances of his anxiety to, establisl} amongst them a better and a more friendly state of exisfence than has for the last years been amongst them. On the boat Teaching sh'ore, the venerable chief Hori te Haupapa, of Maketu, at once plunged into the water and carried Mr.'Williamson on his back to dry footing, where he was received by all the influential inhabitants. G olonel Harington together with a vast concourse of people, both European and native. The boat that brought him ashore having on board C'aptain Fraser, M.P.C., J. Chadwick, Esq., and several other gentlemen, left the town the instaht the steamer was sighted for that purpose, and we were right hearfcily glad, to find that he was accompanied by John White, Esq., late R.M. of Whanganui, and Paui Tuhaere, the first native chief who has had the honor to be considered worth'y to hold a seat in the Executive Counoil. It is needless to say that these gentlemen were received in a most welcome manner. After the greetings had practically ceased, his Honor was escorted by Mr, H . L. Sk.eet, District Surveyor, and several other gentlemen, to the residence of Captaiu Fraser. He paid a visit. a short time after to the survey office. A large meeting of the natives oi

tauranga and tbe Lay of Pieuty was held the same day in order tb meet his Honor the Superindent, and receive'his.statement with xeferenee to various matters con -ernfiig tlie positioii of th "fRnifc iu the district. The meeting took place on the site of ground intentled for a branch of the Bank of New .Zealand, and there were abou't seven hundred natives present. The priticipal inhabitants of Tauranga, Opotiki,- and

Maketu, were also there : amongst which. were near his Honor, the Superintendent, Colonel McDonnell, Major W. G. Mair, R.M., captains Fraser, Goldsmitb, Skeeue, Tunksi Percival, Dr Henry, 1st W. 1! , Dr Nesbi.t R.M., Messrs Chadwick, Douglas, Holdbrough, Warbrick, Henderson, Ball, Korris, Wrigley, Purvis, &c.

Hamiora Tu, oue of the Jeading chiefs of Tauranga, came forward and proposed that Captain Fraser do take the chair. This was seconded by, captain Skene and carried. Iu order that no confusiouor misunderstauding should arise between the diSereut tribes, Mr Warbrick suggestedthat that afternoon's meeting should be entirely contined to the Ngaiterangis. This was at once acceded to bv his Honor, who thro' Mr John White, his interpreter, infoi'med the assemhly that the Arawas and all the natives of the Bay of Plenty would be allowed an opportunity after he had done with the Ngaiterangis. The Ghairman then rose and said, I have great pleasure in taking the chair, and I hope my Maori friends will assist me in keeping order. I have to inform you that Mr Williamsop will confiue himseif to the Ngaiterangis to-day.

At tbisjuncture the Arawas were abodt to leave, but were informed by Mr White that though the meeting would be specially confined to the Ngaiterangis. his Honor wished them to remain and listen to whac he hacl to say. Raniera to Hiahia then rose, and after the usual salutatious, said — Y ou are a stranger to us, meaning his Honor, and your fece is new. If you are come to pay us for our land you are welome. You are the chief of the Ngaiterangis. Hohepa Hikutai then rose and said — tWhat I have to say is that my word is firm. My ancestors and I are the friends of Europeaus, Listen to me ! Dont mistake tlie evil I have committed with Ngaiterangi, I was rnisled by the Waikato, wno fought with Europeaus, and the natives who were then out are therei still. rlhe speaker then complained bifterly of the Governor and the indiscriminatq manner in which he eonfiscated land, punishing the iunocent and sparingthe guilty . Now understand me : It is not the Ngaiterangis that are nt present in arms against you, they are here — meaning that these disaffected natives that are located in our viciuity are natives from other tribes. I am a friend of the Europeans, and will ; always remain a subject of the j Queeu. In saying this I am speaking the voice of the Ngaiterangi i tribe : This is all that I have got to j say.

His Honor then rose, and said I d id not come here to fight, and I am sqrpraed to see the last speaker with aa-evolver in his hatuL. There£or»J. yxfr you will not displav your arms. jl did not come-to hear what you have to say about past grievances. .1 did not come to settle matters in connection with the war. those will be settled by the Government . I come in the name of the public of the province of Auckland, of their intention aad wishto live peaceably with you. I again assure you that this is the desire of all Europeans of Auckland all throughout the province that you should live in peace with them. I visifced Tauranga 8 years ago. At that period there were only two stores. and Ngaiterangis were not afraid of Europeans nor Europeans of them. At that time I

saw men that I do not see now. Where are they ? They are dead through the war. Why, at that time wheat was growing, and ships taking it to Auckland— where are your stores oi wheat now, and your vessels that were continually taking your produce to that place ? What are you doing now ? Let us go back to those oid tiaies, and let us see whe. I ther we cannot live peaceably toge. 1 ther. I see many Europeans no.v living here that will assist in advanc ing civilisation. I have been chosen by the Europeaus of the province to co-operate with you. 1 have also invited the chief Paul Tuhaire to come down with me to advise with us about you, and he has kindly come down to sit with us in our council vvith the ' Europeans around me. In the old times in New Zealand the laws were given by the Queen to the Governor, but now they are given by the men who are

sent by the public to represent them in the Council ; also, the Crown will jyive you a title for your land, so you will then have like the Europeans, the right to elect your representatives in the council who are sent there by the votes cif the majority. Long ago you were forbidden to sell land to Europeans. That was at £he. time of the treaty of Waitangi, but now every man i's allowed to sell land provided he proves liis claim. And you will get Crown grants which will enable you to sell land to Europeans. The Native Lands CoWt will take into consideration your claims co land, and when you have got Crown grants no one will be able to dispute your right to the land You will have to prove your claims, and if they are disputed will have to be settled by arbitration. If you wish your children to go to school you can now do so. I beg of you to coase from war and live in peace. We wish to have roads opened in your district so as to enable you to live like Europeans. Cease therefore from war. and do not listen to badminded people who will lead you astray. Te Moanahui, a chief of some importance residing in the disaffected neighborhood, rose, and said he had a great deal to*say, so , that he would not be finished that day, and desired that they should meet the Superindent the next. His Honor said that he would hear on tlie following day and lialf the day after, and if ihere were any in the bush he would like to meet them. The meeting here terminated ; the food which had been provided by two or three influential gentlemen, who had taken a considerable interest in the- visit of his Honor, consisting of beef, bread, potatoes, tea, cc c., was served out to all, and who had been preity weil app'etized by waiting foi- ii is Honor durtng the early part of the day, did ample jusiice to the provisions. On the following day owing to the ra-* temperance which liad pi-evailed on the previous evening, the natives themselves re- * quested that the meeting should be held in the Monmouth Redoubt Field, which was ac.x ruingly done.

Hohepa Kitutaia wnhed greeting to the Arawas for eoming to Tauranga. It v*"" — ' ■_he said you vyho brought tge war ii ; iaiiU. it wa s ' be. " Liie W a: Ua: j broug-ht me iub j this staie now. ' Y* and the Europe ins are oue. Do not laugti. 1 .Moanui also welcomed the Arawas to Tauranga, and . id thaM the land was not theirs now but beiopged to the Kuropeans. Raniera te Kiakie also welcomed his Honor, and a song fbllovved. He snid v.cl\come. I shall be your people. I am your \property. I was proud once but not no.w. It " fSs good that you have come to see us. I was jkvaitirig to find a reply but could not. U hat Ifou said yesterday was not to my liking. ||The only thing is the school for my children j j — that is good. But where is the good for j pe lo have Crown Grants ? I have no land , ilt is ended for that. The Arawas are not ijfhe cause of the disturbance here now. The Hiovernor asked me whether I would be EBrijthfu], I and Paul. Tuhaire said ye~. I am ^friend of tlie Governor. I brought the biiropeans here, and I came in a friendly spirit. Welcome to Tauranga— Tauranga is dead. Your coming to Tauranga is to save us. I have been to the Hauhaus, but they would not come. I have accomplished your desire. I am dead. I have become lame and I am useless, but if you come to heul me, it will be ended. Moananui said, in reference to your speed to bring ihe Hauhaus back, we will do so. I said to bring them iu if they refuse. We and the Arawas will go with you, bufc the agVeement of the Ngaiterangis is, that they are willing to go ticcording to your letter. You came vvithonfe warning, and have taken us by surprise. What you have said is g'ooI — the land is gone ; but about the men you mentioned in your speech yesterday, we will go and bring them in. Then, we shall have our echools. I will go with you if what you say is true. I will go for the Hauhaus if you remain here till to-morrow. The word which you have heard is firm and they will all agree to it. Say this day that we shall fetch tlie Hauhaus and we will start. If you say to-morrow we will go. His Honor : You have asked again what I cannot do. The land was the Governor s and I cannot refute it. I do not wish to i peak of what is passed, but about ourfutnre affairs 1 have cfome here to settle your future claims. What is spilt on the ground we cannot gather up again, I believe you iu-

tend to help me, aud shall be tliankful for your. assistnnce. You tell me about tbe king as you call him. The king is an old friend of mine. i have at the present moment a messeno-er ou his vvay to the king to tell him te meet me ii he wishes. I believe he means well but has been led by by bad minded men If you thiuk the Europeans are against you, you are ndstaken, they do no,t vvish to be bad to you I hope you'll assistme to make good laws for us. We want schools for our children and your children— that is my business liere. VVe want fencing androads on our ground, and law is required for that purpose. Europeans w i 1 1 repiesent you in the Council. When I was elected in Auckland, I said I would go to see my Maori friends, and I cnme to Tauranga liist because there was trouble between you. You tell me that Tauranga is dead. I say not. It is oniy sick. I am here to heal. You told me also that you bave no land. I heard here that you have more thau you can cultivate. My . friend Paul here, sold 820 acres, some years ago it was not worth anything, but now it is valuable, because it is so riear Auckland. I am told that you all have land here on the settlement. You can continne if you choose to sell it, and it will bring a great deal of money. lauranga will become valuable in two or three jears, Mqanui : if you depart from what you say, I have 110 land. I am a man of war. Of course the land js very good, but we want to you to say-— Let ns go for the Mauhaus at once. His ITonor ; If you can prove your claim to tbe lands you will get them. The land will be divided aniongst you. The land beloi'gii\g to the Europeans will become valueless if you allow the Hauhaus to be at vou back. You say to the Ilauhaus that I v/ish to see them, and that we will sett'e matters with them, but let them coine Jike men desirous of the good of the place, theti I wouid agreefor them 10 come and live with us at once. ^ Paul Tuhaire said, that Tauranga^iad had the first bonor oi a visit from tbe newlv elected Superintendent, and he himseH' wishe.d them to live in peace and have the people of Tauranga to come ajiti ]' /e n :r j;:g them. He and his iiiend iutended to see the king.if lie wished to meet them. The sciioo' Very got^l tbing, a ud in manv thiugs ■ xt ou Itf 0.;. li oy- Jxaaiof tho Europeans. His Honor vvas very ghrci to hear that there vvas a. desire to fetch the Hauhans. Three cheers were given for the 1 Superintenden:, and Captain Fraser for a vvhile va-. cated the cbair but resumed it again at three p.m., and addressed the Ara was, saying, that Mr. Williamson wished them to assist tire tribes vvba had been loyal to the Queen. Patera te Pukuatua wished toTead a letter containing his ideas about the survey of land and the inaking of roads. They wished to elect men from tbeir ovvn tribes. He spoke likewise in favor of schools and various other matters previously commented 011. His Honor said the Ara was had great claims on the Government, for they had been loyal. He remarked with reference to the survey of their lands, that the surveyors engaged would liave to be paid, and he know when it could be got for that purpose. The Europeans would have to pay surveyors for theirs, whieh they could not get, and he wished to asked them if they would give landin pay men t for the surveying, or were they prepared then to furnish him with money to pay the surveycrs vvho woultj. £0 cn with the work ? The Proviiicial Government had no money to advance, and the General would not lend in payment for the survey, He would be very willing to see the surveys proceed, but he ivamted a guaranteefrom them, and the application sent to Auckland would be placed before the Provineial Government and the chief surveyor, and if it could not be done by him he would place it before His Kxeellency at Wellington, The opening up the roads was a similar question to the survey of the lands, only the roads would have to pass from one district to another, that was avery important question, and they ought to understand it well in order that they might agree. So that no man should afterwards have the power to say that the road should not go through his land. It vvas not for their present but their future benefit. Opening up roads through the forest would not pay for the expertse. The same rule might apply as formerly when they had mou'ey, and when the Eurepeans weut half the expense. But as they had no money land was the payment now. The law on the subject was ac one tiine published in the

Maori Gazelte, In reply to their wish to send men to represent them in the Council. There was at present no room for any of them but Paul. They might name Captain Fraser or Dr. Nesbit amongst the Europeans if they had confidence in them to represent them in the Council. Mr. Williamson continued — I cannot promise land to you, though I was told you were promised land by the Gpvernor. 1 will mention it • to him when I go to Wellington, and if he intends to give it you you will get it, and all promises made by the Church Missiohary Society, I have no doubt will be faithfully kept. I will do all can for youin the vvay of obtaining justice. The meeting then terminated.