Native Meeting re the Opening of the Totara Road.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2594, 1 May 1877, Page 2

Native Meeting re the Opening of the Totara Road.

At about eleven o'clock a considerable number of Moaris assembled outside the Court-house, Shortland, to discuss the opening of the Totara road. Mr Brodie and several other Europeans were present. Mr Wilkinson acted as interpreter. Hoani Nahe read the conditions on which the Maoris were willing to grant the land for the road. Arime said he wanted two millions for the opening of the ro^d. Ho quoted Scripture, and said the Europeans wanted to rob the Maoris of their property. Nathaniel said if the road was opened it would go through the tapue ground. Mr Brodie said he did not wish to go orer any of their sacred ground, and they were willing to pay them a reasonable sum. Eewai said they would have to take the road over bis head before they got it. Mr Brodie said the road was going through whether or no. Eewai said Sir George Grey had caused all the troubles. Mr Brodie said most of, the road had been obtained, and only a small portion of Eewai's had not been obtained. A Euro- : pean. had given two miles through his land for a very small sum, because it would increase the value of it. He said the matter could easily be settled now if they would only consent to reasonable terms. . J. Hobbs said when Sir Donald McLean was here they had a talk about the road and Eewai objected, so nothing more was said about it. He did not believe in Eewai having it all his own way. Xapahena and he (the speaker) had a claim to the road too, and as they all agreed but Eewai the road should be made. If the others j had objected he would have done so. Eewai said he did not object for the others, he only objected for himself. Hoani Nahi said he had no claim to any of the land, but he was related to people who had, and he had been advising them to, have the road, as it would be for their benefit. He thought the offer they had was a very good one, as the Government might have taken the ground and not fenced the tapus, and made them pay rates as well. Tomiti Pautai said that he had consented to the road up at Hikutaia, but he had not given his consent before the matter was very plain, but now some agreed and some objected, and the same arrangements as they made about the Totara road they would have to make with him at Hikutaia. Shortland said that those who objeoted

should get up and state their objections. They got the road paid for and their cultivations fenced, what harm would the road do? Besides that there were so many pieces of land in the hands of Europeans that they could not stop the road. Waitai drew a plan to the ground, and showed what land belonged to him-and the relative position of the intended road. Nikorima Foutoutara said he was the only one that paid rates, and, though he was summoned for them, he thought it was no use holding out against the road, as he thought it would benefit them. Rewai said the.other Satires could do what they liked with their own land he would do what be liked with his. ;■ They could give up their pieces if they liked. There was a river running up, «nHY<tn*t was road enough. , . . ■ i Mr Brodie said they did not want to talk about the land they wanted to talk about the; road. Bewi did not always -„■ use the river, and all the Europeans were not rich enough to possess boats like Rewai, neither were the Maoris. . They i wished to agree about the-matter-with those, thatfowned,the land. Nikorima wanted the road and so did the Kerikeris, and what < did Bewi object fo£? JSe wanted to do business, and wanted those who were-agreeable to the road say yes. , Eewai said that the Europeans were crasy (kawharu). . Raika Whakarangatai agreed to the road, but he wanted to get at the condi- d tions to regulate the roads. Let ReWai • shut up his land if he wanted to do »o. Matui Poonasaidhe had been opposed to V the road, on account of the tapus, but now they were to be fenced he'did noi object, and he saw no obstacle, to it but Bewai's objection. In some places which were claimed as tapus ho dead bodies were there at all, at least there had been, none buried for centuries, and those that were there were all crumbled to dust,r 1^ t Mr Brodie said they would make the read up to Bewai's fence and. then from the other side of Rewai's ground, and if the pakeha chose to go throughßewai's ground they could^ot prevent them as they could have no control. He hoped Bewai would let his land be fenced, and then he would not be bothered by the;p|ikelut.j •■■s - ; > f John Hobbs said they should come to an arrangement, now, or perhaps they would not have the chance '■ again. He suggested that it be put to the vote and let the majority carry it. If the majority were for .the road let it be made,, or ..vice versa. " " ' '" >■- -v. Hona (Jonah) said he was agreeable to the making of the road; for if they had one the Europeans would not go through their cultivations. John Hobbs said .that if they did not like the road to go through their cultivations they might ask the Council to divert it. - - : Buihena (Russian) said he was in favor of the road. They should leave Bewai but of the question and do what they liked with their own pieces. Bewai said he owned land at Puriri and would stop the road there. Parata wished each person to speak for his own; land. It would be bad to make; the road without first making arrangements for fencing in the tapus. They must look after the tapus and each look after his own piece. Although he did not own land there he represented the dead bodies and would see after them that the tapus were fenced. Te Koki objected*to the road going through sacred ground. $ Kapihena agreed to the road but he liked to be asked first. Bewai said he still held out against the road. He gave some land to the Government, and then the Europeans would not take it, and he had to pay back the money to those who bought the land. The Maoris were sure to come to grief making those concessions. It might not be in his time, but it would be. Rewai here sang a song to show what he said was true. It was right for them to say that they could fence it, they could see what would be the result. They had given their consent but how were they to get over his throat. Those buried at Totara would be crying out in their graves that they were being sold. Although the others: had, given it up he would remain as a guardian for the dead. What did he care for; the rotteneyed people (the Europeans) and their road. Listen, that they need not say, they didn't hear. Mr Brodie said he had heard it was a very sacred place. Tomiti and Parata were willing to have the road. It was all very well for Rewai to say that the dead bodies were being sold, but .those people that were buried were now being trod upon, and . pigs . were. rooting up the ground. He had neglected the duty of guardian of the dead. , The Europeans wished to see the tapus fenced. See how the pakehas fenced in their tapus (cemeteries), and they would do the same ■ for the Maoris. They would fence in the ground and relieve Bewai of the responsibility. Nikorima said Bewai's objection was, that the Government had treated him badly in the matter of the beach lands, and he was afraid Jte would be badly treated again. If anything went wrong Bewai would have the satisfaction of saying that it served them right. The Europeans. promised to fence the tapuat Tapu Creek, but they were pulled down in no' time, and used for firewood. * Mr Brodie said that the fences would keep the horses off the road, and he did., not think Mr Bullen would trouble him-a/% self about fowls ; but he did not know "f about Bewai's cattle as they had no control over his land. Rewai said that the Government did not pay them anything for the potatoes trampled down at the prize firing. Eapihena asked how it would be if pigs got on the road and rooted it up P Mr Brodie said they would not root up a metalled road. Rewai, if he had a dog on the road the Pakeha would summons him; Hoani Nahi then read the conditions for the making of the road. • Mr Brodie suggested that they appoint a committee to arrange details. He then asked if they agreed to the conditions. Parata asked what sort of posts they would put round the tapus. Mr Brodie said he expected that they would be asking them to French polish the posts next. The Maoris signified their agreement to the conditions, by signing them, and then adjourned to have a repast of- bread and smoked fish.