Proclamation of War, and Final Warning TO THE West Coast Natives.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3997, 20 October 1881, Page 2

Proclamation of War, and Final Warning TO THE West Coast Natives.

[By Telegraph.]

The following Proclamation is issued in a Gazette Extraordinary :—

James Pbendergast, Administeatob of

THE GoVEBHMENT;[A PROCLAMATION.]

For. nearly two years past the Government has been endeavouring to bring about a satisfactory conclusion of the difficulties on the West Coast of (he North ! Island, and to effect such a settlement of the lands as would enable Europeans and Maoris to live together in peace. In January, 1880, a Royal Commission was appointed, in accordance with the will of Parliament,'to enquire into any claims and grievances which might exist on the part of the natives in reference to such land, so that just grounds of complaint might be removed and peace be firmly established. Governor Sir Hercules Robinson, in bis proclamation announcing the appointment of. the Commission, said that the confusion there existing could not be allowed to continue, and he called, in the name of the Queen, on all her subjects to assist him in bringing about friendly relations between the two races. The Commissioners proceeded to make their; enquiries..,, They recommended, setting aside for the natives a fair and suitable portion of the land, to be given to them on condition of their loyally accepting the proposals of the Government, and doing according to law upon tbe lai>d,s bo allotted to thetn, Parliament approved of the proposals of the Consoiissioners, and the Government has taken steps to give effect to thm in the case of those natives who frankly accept them. Some have already received Crown grants for the land allotted to them. Te Whiti, and those who choose ..to obey his word, have held aloof from this work. They have persistently neglected, and caused others to neglect, the opportunity offered to them; and have repeatedly rejected the proposals made. With the hope of a settlement, Mr Parris was sent to explain to them the desire of the Government for an amicable settlement. Te Whiti would not hear him or allow his people to listen to Mr Parris's words. Governor Sir Arthur Gordon himself sent to invite Te Whiti to meet him; Te Whiti rejected tbe invitation.; Lastly, he refused to listen to proposals made in person_by a Minister of the Crown, and did so in a manner which could leave no doubt as to his intention to resist the law. This action has done a great wrong to his own people, as well as to his colony generally. Through his words numbers of natives are kept back from obtaining lands which would otherwise be given to them, and numbers of strangers who never had interest in the lands at Parihaka are being brought to Parihaka to the detriment of the people of that place. Month after month natives are assembled from a distance. They, are making themselves poor by contributing to a useless expenditure upon feasts, which take them away from* their own homes, and they are led. to neglect tfre cultivation of their ow.n

lands. At these meetings Te Whiti has

spoken in such a way &a to turn aside bia

numerous followers from paying attentiou to the proposals of the Government, and the sound of his voice ' has unsettled the minds of the people. Recently his words were such as to promote angry feeling, and incite open resistance to the law. This was followed, in defiance of the law, and in spite of warnings by officers of the Government, by the erection of fences on land not set apart for the natives ; and by Te Whiti's orders his followers assembled in such numbers, and under such circumstances, as plainly to show their determination to resist the law when the fence should be removed by order of the Government. Thus a great wrong is being done to the natives as well as Europeans, and tbe confusion which the Governor said must cease is still prevailing. The language used by Te Whiti, and the threatening attitude assumed by his followers, have caused apprehension among the settlers, and compelled the Government to incurgreat expense, and to increase largely the numbers of the Armed Constabulary. The Commissioners had rightly said:— ;

"A time must come when the offers

end promises of the Crown must either be accepted or refused once for all. No

one would pretend that Te Whiti may, on,his part, keep the whole country tide in turmoil and danger as long as he likes, and that the Government on its side must

be ready to redeem its promises whenever he chooses. If the native people are te have the promises fulfilled, the English settlers must have some guarantee that they too shall have done with this long suspense, and may live on their land in security and peace." These were the words of the Commissioners, and the time has come for their fulfilment. Te Whiti and his adherents must now accept the proposals of the Government, or- all that they might now hare under these proposals will be beyond their reach. In the Parihaka block 25,000 acres, and the mountain side of the road, are, as recommended by the Commissioners, offered as an ample provision for the Parihaka people, besides, other reserves on the seaward side of the road. About the latter the Government has said that it was willing to consider the wishes the natives might lay before it. The Government now states plainly that these offers will, after fourteen days, be withdrawn, unless within that time Te Whiti and his adherents signify their acceptance of them, and their willingness to submit to the law of the Queen, and to bring their claims before the Commissioners. If they do so the recommend* tih of the Commissioners and the promises made will be literally interpreted and fulfilled. Should the natives be so infatuated as> to disregard this warning, the Government' will proceed to make roads throughout the Parihaka block, and to lay off land for European occupation on the line of the main road. The claims of such natives under previous promises 'will then have passed away, and none of them will be allowed to occupy land in defiance of tbe law. The Queen and the law must be supreme in Parihaka as well as elsewhere,' and Te Whiti and' bis people are* now; „ called upon to accept the proposals made to them, which would give large and ample reserves to the people. If they do. not do this they alone will be responsible for the passing away from them for ever of the lands which are still proffered by the Government, and for the great evil which must fall on them. . ■■■-'...'? .•■.

In conclusion, the Maoris residing oh the West Coast who wish to lire at peace with the Europeansareearnestly requested to listen to a word of great import to them, as well as those who adhere to him, who have hitherto refused to listen to tbe proposals which have been made by the . Government. Te Whiti and numbers of natives are keeping aloof from the work of peace, and the word of the Government now is that those who wish to accept the offers which have been made should leave Te Whiti, if he neglects the final opportunity now offered to him, and should go to those lands which have been set aside r for them all. Visitors should return to their homes, in order that they may not be involved with those who are working confusion, and may not suffer with tnem. If this warning is. neglected, who can distinguish between those who desire peace and those whose word leads to disaster ? The, innocent and the guilty may suffer to* gether, and this is not the desire of the Government. .

Given under the hand of His Excel* Jency, Sir James Pbendeboust, Chief Justice, the Administrator of the Government of HerMajesty's Colony of New Zea» •: land, and issued under the seal i of the law in the said Colony, at the Government House, at Wei- -' lington, this 19th day of October^ ' in tbe year of our Lord opef' thousand eight hundred aM 2? eighty-one. * •-' ■5 W. BOLLESTON.'/. God Sate the Queen. '-.',"'"