MR BRYCE IN THE KING COUNTRY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1112, 31 May 1883, Page 1

MR BRYCE IN THE KING COUNTRY.

The following communication is from the mouth of a Native Chief, at present in Wanganui, who was present at the interview between the Nat ve Ministerjand Wahanui. His words have been carefullyinterpreted, and we have the best; authority for saying ihat Hntaraka bears a high character, both for intelligence ami veracity . Mr Bryce : Are you, Wahanui, willing that the road shall go by way of Mckau 1 Wahanui: No. Mr Bryce : Why won’t you let it go by that route 1 Wahanui : Because I do not wish it. This land has not been bought with your money. You can go on with your roads until you come to the boundary of my lands, but you must not come any further: that must be left with me. I am to decide whether these roads shall be made on my land or not; and I wish you to assent to this word of mine. Mr Bryce : Yes, I assent. If you allow this road to run, it shall he well; and if you don’t allow it to run, it shall be as you say, and it is well. 1 Wahanui; Now, 1 have written that down in writing, and (handing the pea to Mr Bryce) now you, Bryce, sign youtname.— Mr Bryce wrote Tub- name, and

then Wahanui wrote his name too; (This happened before the party started, and before they were seized and tied up ) Mr Bryce : Are you not willing that my Europeans should go from here to Mokau, and through to Taranaki ?

Wahanui: Retire outside the house while I and seven men discuss that question.

Mr Bryce retired outside the ‘house, and remained at a distance, and Wahanui and his seven men were left inside.

Wahanui then said : What shall we say to Bryce?—The seven men said : Let them simply go on the road to where they wish to arrive ; but they must not turn their eyes to the right nor to the left, neither must they lay their hands upon anything on the way ; let them simply pass through, and the way close up behind them.—Wahanui: I assent to this; it is pood.—Mr Bryce was re-called inside the house.

Wuhanui: Bryce, I consent that your Europeans go through to Mokau and Taranaki, bnt lot their feet only go along the road, and go neither to one side or the other; keep straight on to the end, and look not to the right or the left Mr Bryce : Very well ; it shall be as you say. My people shall abide by what you have said. I will start them off tomorrow. Wahanui; Stop ; I don’t assent to that. Wait for two weeks. Mr Bryce : Why ? Wahanui : The tribe is absent, I alone am here, and they must assemble and hear what has been said by me, so that it may be understood. Mr Bryce : Very good ; let it be so.

Mr Bryce returned to Alexandra, but two days after this arrangement Bryce started his party on their way. Wahanui heard of this and said : “As Bryce has done this thing, let no man go to lend them, and should they come to harm, it will have been their own fault.” Bryce’s party got as far this time as Otorohanga, and from there Te Taratu ordered them to return ; they did, to A lexandra. The next day after the party had returned, Bryce sent them on again, but Wahanui wrote to Te Taratu not to interfere in any way with them. (Taratu is Wahanui’a younger brother, and has no connection with Mahuki and the followers of Te Whiti.) So the party was allowed to proceed unmolested until they got to Te Uira, where they were seized aud tied up by Mahuki. Te Wahanui’s brother then went and rescued them ; broke open the house where they were prisoners, and then lied up Mahuki’s party, and left them kicking and-rolling on the ground. All the tribe of Ngatiroaniapoto returned with the party to Alexandria, myself, Hataraka, being with them, and seeing all these things.

[History continued after the survey party had been liberated by Wahanui’s brother, and not by TeKoofi]

On the 7th of April we all gathered together at Te Kuiti to discuss the position of affairs, and this is what happened : On the 17th of that month, April, Mr Bryce arrived at Te Kuiti with 12 men, Euro-

peans. Wahanui said : “Do not think I will open m? mouth to speak words to you, Mr Bryce. All I have to say is, you can go your way now, but do not think I have given you the.road or right of way. No, that I keep for myself, and the right to act ns I judge best. But now (herd Wahanui held up the forefingers of each of his hands), look here : see herfe are two kings, which of the two is yours? Mr Bryce remained silent, and spoke, not one word.

WahanuiYou, Mr Bryce, are a Minister. I want to know a Minister of what or for what ?”

Mr Bryce : A Native Minister for the Natives.

Wahanui: You are wrong, for your laws are hard all over the island ; therefore it is I say that the only chance you see of being saved is to come here to me. You are in fear of your position, and you come to me to protect yourself, and to be saved from the Parliament. Now if I chose to throw you down I could do so now, but I will not, as 3ou are here residing with me. But I will take you to your Parliament at Wellington, and throw you, Bryce, down there before all people, the white as well as the dark, so that all men may judge between us, Mr Bryce remained silent. On the day Mr Bryce started oh his way through to Taranaki via Mokau, he said to Wahanui, “ Wahanui all our talk is ended, and if any other European comes Mter me on this road, he does «o of his qwp accoid. 1 have nothing-to do with it if anyone says after nie t! at he is coming to catch murderers, I have no part in that, the responsibility is not mine.”

Wahanui said to Mt Bryce (before he left;, “ I will break your bead with try fits,” and when Mr Bryce made no teply it wag thought that it was became he was not £n a town to be able to inane an answer. -Wanganui Herald.

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