BAY OF ISLANDS.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 350, 1 March 1861, Page 3

BAY OF ISLANDS.

On Monday, the 11th February, 1861, the Governor, accompanied by Capt. Vernon, R. N., the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, the Native Secretary, and Captain Steward (Private Secretary), landed from H.M.S. "Iris," and proceeded to the residence of the Resident Magistrate (R. C. Barstow, Esq.), by whom, and by Messrs. Clendon and Kemp, His Excellency was received. The following Chiefs, with some pfiiheir followers, were present to welcome his Excellency to Kororareka:—Tamati Waaka JJene, Maihi Paraone Kawiti, Revva, Mangonui, Te Hoterene Tawatawa, Wiremu Tete, Honitana Te Irirangi, Te Warihi KokowaC sad Te Waiti Pokorehu. These chiefs' informed the Governor that they were all living, in peace and quietness; that they had no griev*J\n|es or complaints ; that they fully reciproca|p|his Excellency's kind wishes, evinced by^hfs, coming to see them; that they had heard^many reports about the Governors intentions^ carry l on: a general war, which they did noi'^f Keve> | and, of which his presence among thenX^ s ■the best refutation. "\ ' In reply, His Excellency assured them that such reports were unfounded; and after a few remarks expressive of his pleaI sure at meeting them, arid his old friend I Waaka, the Chiefs retired, and his Excel%ncy shortly afterwards returned to the Iris." ; . . ' : ■ Intimation having been given,to the Governor that a meeting of Chiefs was to be held on the following day at Te Ti, a distance of about nine miles from Kororareka, His Excellency proceeded thither, attended by the Chiefs who had accompanied him from Auckland, together with those from the vicinity of the Bay of Islands; The original object of this meeting was to discuss the propriety of relaxing ihe law which prohibits the sale of spirits to the native's,'with a view to petitioning His Excellency on the subject. It was attended by several Chiefs from different parts of the route, among whom were Heremaia.Te Ara, Have Hongi Hika, and Naihi Te Pakaru, from Whangaroa. With few exceptions, all the leading Chieft of the Bay ot Island^

r>istrict were present: 'Wajkato, , Manuj. Waaka Nenei Mangpnui, 'Riihe, Kingi Wiremu—at whose the meeting was held—W,i T^u/Maibi.Paraone Kawiu, and others who had knbt* the Governor at Kororareka bn-the preceding day-- ■" At first the speches were chiefly confined to a welcome,to His Excellency,;, followed by a request ibr a repeal of the restriction on the sale of Spirits to the Natives; : The speakers urged that the Ngapuhi tribe was the'first to welcome the Europeans,, and that there should be no exceptional laws, so far as they were, concerned. . The Governor replied,- through. ; Mr. McLean (Native, Secretary) r that the re- | striction of which they complained was imposed to prevent > the natives frppa- becoming victims to: the too free use of intoxicating liquors. That other aboriginal r^ces ! in°many otner parts of the, world^hacLsufi fered greater loss from the excessiye use of spirits than from the casualties .of .war and I other calamities. That : the object^of the Government was to preserve the natives of this country from such a fate. It was true that there was one law for them and another for the JEuropeans in thisrespectiandat was equally true that the; law was frequently evaded; but it was considered that, the use of spirits by the Europeans, who had been in the* habit of using them for, generations | pastj was not spiatal tp;:tfara^^:tlieinatives. &at; his Excellency w^lU^nof promise to repeal the, law; f but: he .• would be ; glad to have the ; subject considered at the next native conference, as it was one which involved the welfare of.the different, tribes throughout the country. /That they should also bear in mind lHat the Europeans were subject, to fines and imprisonment for 'drunkenness; that they would probably/object to any of their old chiefs being subjected Jo such penalties as imprisonment, &c. . After a succession of speeches by the assembled chiefs on different subjects, and in which scarcely any. further reference was made to the sale of spirits, the Governor again addressed the meeting, through Mr. McLean:— __ ■ ;•...., - ; --;,.;.;,.: : --:::

Friends, chiefs of the.Ngapuhi, I have come' to pay you a friendly visit, and I am. glad to meet so many of you from different parts of the North. You hear many foolish and unfounded reports, both from Europeans and natives, as to my intentions towards you as a people. : It has been asserted that when I have .'ended the war at Taranaki, I 'shall proceed to attack other places, but I am certain that you cbifes of Ngapulii are too wise and sensible to believe such foolish and mischievous reports. You were the first to welcome and invite the English to these shores. Some, of your great chiefs went to England, and sought the protection of the1 English nation: against foreign enemies. The old chief Waikato, who is nosrs present, is a living evidence of this .fact, The request waa granted ; we have now become one nation and one people, and 1 trust we shall always contjnue.to be friends. With regard to the war at Taranaki, of which you hear various conflicting rumors and accounts, :I may tell you that it was undertaken on "my part in defence of native rights, and io protect one party .of native^: from the aggressions and cruelties of another.': You;have all heardrf the frequently Recurring quarrels among the tribes^, siding at Taranaki: I gave notice a year-before the commencement of the war, that an end should be put to such proceedings. At that time, my object was not war, nor the taking of life; War was forced upon me by tribes who had nothing^to do with the quarrel. Some Europeans. Were skilled in cold blood by stealthy murderers; and;tins was done by two tribes--Taranaki. and Ngatriuanui. I am sure, N^apuhi^ that yon disapprove of such conduct. It.ia very different from the manner m which you carried on the war at this place. You did not disgrace yourselves by killing, helpless people and young children:. , lUs such acts that I feel bound to punish. 'Some Waikato chiefs have lately asked to put an ena: to. the; war, and make peace; but-they have said riothing^about these offences; While I yerymuch regret the loss of lifei and^bu'd like to see the war ended. I expectJ3uchra submission, and such reparation of the injuries done, on the part of the insurgents,; as will deter others fiorn following their example^ and prevent future wavsin New Zealand. While 1 reserve to myself the exclusive" right or, making terms of peace, I shall be-glad to consult some your chiefs—you being aaJmpartialttribe-H)n the subject. In affording you; all, as a people, the ajlvautages of English protection, I reasonably .expect submission to English law and authority* these being essential to the well being, of both races ot her Majesty's subjects in New Zealand, f ■.•