Dr Pollen and tho Kingites.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2539, 24 February 1877, Page 3

Dr Pollen and tho Kingites.

A Native who was present sends us the following spirited report of a portion of the discussion between Dr Pollen and the Kingites at Alexandra j— When By Pollen arriyed, the natives ■bade him welcome, and after friendly greetings they sat down chairs being proTided for the Doctor and suite by Major Te Wheoro. Shortly after the Native Minister arose, and through Major Mair, who acted as interpreter, said: lam very happy indeed to meet you to-day, Manga (Rewi), and the friends that are with you also; I am here to day in the place of your friend, Sir Donald McLean, and as he was so I wish to be to you. I hope our meeting to'ifoy will be the means of s better understanding between our races, and that in future we shall often meet like this. Let there be no more division between us. Let the past go. Let us bury our grievances—bury them deeply from our sight. Come in under our banner of peace! Let our laws be your* laws; our Queen your Queen. Let us be as one family, mutually helping each other. I want you, as the leader of your people, to help me

In the cause that needs assistance,

And the good that we may do,

Manga arose and said: Welcome, Dr Pollen 1 Sir Donald told me before he died that you would be his successor. I greet you as the bearer of good tidings to me. Manga then sat down. After a silence of several minutes, Dr Pollen again arose and said : If you have anything to say, d<| so now. Then Manga said s What did Sir Donald promise Tawhiao at Xaipiha, at their last meeting P I, not being present, did not hear. y-”- -■■■■'■■' Dr Pollen s Neither was I present, so I did cot hear. «. -^ ,-. Mangai I was told that Sir Donald said, " Tawhiao, all unoccupied land shall Jf be returned to you, and you shall rule '- your own people." ,; Dr Pollen i I wish you fully to understand that you cannot have the land back. Waikato is gone from you for ever. But this 1 may, say* that those who come in and are subject to our laws will, according to their rank and standing, have sufficient given them for their use and for cultivation. You will also find on this side protection, security, and prosperity. ■■ Te Ngakau: I wish to ask Dr Pollen a few questions. He must not look on my low degree and scorn me for speaking. Dr Pollen says,. " Come under our law." When we were under your law did you protect us ? If so, why are we here today? Why this discussion? or were we ever subject tb your.lawsP Don't sit silent; answer me,-.that" my heart may be light. .......... Dr Pollen: Yes. You were once under our law. %c Ngakau • When ? . [No reply.] Eh, why keep silent ? Although I hold no rank, it is everyone's p/ivelege, who, wishes to speak to-day. [Silence still.] Tell me then, was it when I went to Waitara that I committed myself P Dr. Pollen: Yes. Te Ngakau; Ah.! it was then, then, was iC?, Tell me where was your law then . that; it did not make inquiries as to who,, was in fault ? or why did you rush hotheaded into war there, without first ascertaining who. was wrong? or was it because I ran to assist those yotr had wronged? You made it a pretence to rush into Waikato, killing men and taking land. .- ,;.■■<;?...*<>■:.■.■ ' . .!..., Dr Pollen: It was not I that did it. I

have said let bygones be bygones. 'Tis better for us to let that be, and start anew.

Te Ngakau : That's not a satisfactory answer. Your word is good to us, but we have not yet seen the substance of it. You must show us more clearly to-day before we can yield. Dr Pollen : None so blind as those who won't see. ,

Te Ngakau: This is my wish;—to have the bandage taken from out eyes, that we may see. Tainkakawa, a son of William Thompson, then got up and wished to know who had invited Dr Pollen there ?

Manga answered: It was I; because I had been told that his piece of land beyond the confiscated line had been sold clandestinely, and I wished to inquire into it from Dr Pollen ; for had it been taken possession.of suddenly by the parties who bought it, I would not have considered the matter a second,, but have shot them at once.

ThenuHote Te Wabaroa, Thompson's eldest son, arose and said : If that is the matter that Dr Pollen has been brought up about, let. us have it out at once, for I am the man who sold it. . . .

Then Te Puke rose- and spoke very strongly against the legality of the sale of said land.

Karaka Te Horowai arose, and wished to. speak, but was stopped by: Manga, who said that Karaka's words must come after his, and that he bad intended, if all went well between the two races, to have made it his future residence, and will not acknowledge the sale of the land, and will take possession at once. Dr Pollen then said he must bring the case before the Supreme Court.

Manga said he would not come to the Supreme Court.—Herald.