THE NATIVE CONFERENCE AT KOHIMARAMA.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 201, 26 July 1860, Page 3

THE NATIVE CONFERENCE AT KOHIMARAMA.

; . [From theiVew Zealander, July 13-3 , . Thismeetingof loyal chiefs, to confer with the Governor on the present condition and

prospect.of native affairs, commenced yester- ; day (Tuesday). We know that-many persons . have thought the conference should have been held in: Auckland, in the General Assembly .buildings', to iwhich; the whole population could , have easy and, instant access, just as they wished. But there were some insuperable obstacles to this plan tfeing adopted.. l?ven for our: own white population, however, the selection of Kohimarama was'a decided advantage. It forced them either to take advantage of the services of* tlie * Emeu,’ or of some of our- stout-armed watermen, and enjoy the’fresh breezes of the Waitemata from the southV The‘Emeu’ took down nearly 250 passengers—and probably as many more arrived by,boat or-on-horseback. * : .* - The lodgement for the chiefs was good, yet not extravagant; the provision was substan tial and'abundant, yet not luxurious, or too profuse. Th Qwhare& were weatherboard, and raised a sufficient height from - the ground to keep the inmates free from the effects of damp. The provision was good “ John Bull fare~ ' but no ;more' than «Maori, qjiiefs make for their Bakeha guests. H is Excellency, ,Col> Gore Browne arrived t in : the pinnace, of H.M.S.*“ Iris,” about 12 d’clopk.;.apcompan}eA, by,McLean, Na‘ tjye 'Secretary; jGhief J Justice Arney; Mr. Stafford," Colonial Secretajx; VNative ''G^heralY General | Mr. Williamson, Superintendent of the Pro - "yince. Steward, ? *JPfivate Secreiary,' &c. f j- Goto s Tahcry\ add;sprae’othVr ladies were'also present;- ■ Among the officers of the Native depart-

I ment Were Mr. 'I!.-iH. Smith; A sSisUmtsNiiti ve j Secretary; 'Mr. Tlalse;'Mr.!<l}uller (secretary to the coiiference) f ! Messr3.»Kfempi:Glarke,‘ Baker.,! Sinclair, &c. r'■ ••’ ■'' ; . , t ; ;; i'JVe - also Messrs. F:T). Bell," J. L, Campbell, ; Colonel. Sillery, Major- Stack,'Major Salmon, Majori Clark,' T. C. Law, R.<Gl?ahamj' C. -H; 'Hev.iMessrs. Borrows, Garavek’Hoyd, &ci,’ sonie-'bf -the officers: of tiled* Iris^in#short, a thoroughly mixed assembly; representing very of the''commuaity.Wv':’dd.’''d : i The ‘proceedings Were; opened Mir tab large | schoolroom of the ; Melanesian mission; •' 1 ■ , j " The .G;b,vernor:: having taken his' seat, Mr. 1 McLean aiinbiinced to 7 the chiefs majdrity t f of. whose names we hav'd 3 already given),-that.his Excellency, would mow proofed, to address -them; { ’• "T his the; Governor did by reading the following. English}- version ’of flie addr&si im Maori, 'wliiclr vrassubsequehtiy read byMrv'McLeah: ;-^ My Friends—Chiefs of-New Z£Xland ; .Cl

1. ' I hive: invited you ito meet me on'the present" occasion {that ’we may'have an opportunity of discussing various matters connected with the welfare-and advancement; of the two Raees dwelling Zealand. Jl , •2. I take* ad vantage also iofifc to repeat to you, and-; through ' you 1 to' the wlidle Maori people, tlie assurances of; goodwill on’-the'part of pur gracious Sovereign,-which -haver been given by each succeeding Governor from Governor Hobson-to irayself.' / 3i On assuming the sovereignty of ;Ne> Zealand her Majesty extended to her Maori subjects her Royal protection; engaging to defend New Zealand and the Maori people from all-aggressions by any foreign power, and imparting to them all the rights and' privileges of British subjects ; and she confirmed arid guaranteed to the chiefs arid tribes of'NeV? Zealand, and to the respective families and individuals thereof, : the full,' exclusive -and undis* turbed possession' of- their lands and estates, forests, fisheries, and other properties ; which they may collectively or individually possess, so long as it is their - wish to retain the same in their possession; i > • 4. In return for.these advantages the Chiefs who signed : the-Treaty of fTaitangi ceded for themselves and their' people to her. Majesty the Queen of England absolutely arid without reservation, all the rights and powers of Sovereignty which ithey' ColleCtively; orindividually possessed'or might be supposed 1 to exercise or possess. - 5. Her Majesty has instructed the’Goverpors who preceded.irie, and . she will instruct those who come after me; to "maintain the stipulations, of; this Treaty inviolate, and- to watch over, the interests; and the advancement of subjects without' distinction of race. ' • ' r - _ ... . 6. Having renewed’ these assurances in the name of , our gracious Sovereign, T now ask you to confer with me < frankly and without reserve. Tf you thave grievances-make them known(to mp, and, if they are real, I,will try to redress them; Her Majesty’s wish; ,is; that all-her subjects should be happy, prosperous, and any suggestions for ' the ' better protection of property, the punishment of offenders, the settlement ofdisputes; or- the preservation of peace, I shall gladly hear them, rind will give them the most favourable consideration. , *7. the minds of both races have lately been. agitateil.by; false ' reports or exaggerated statements ; and, in order to restore confidence, it is necessary that each should know arid thoroughly understand what the other Wishes arid intends. " 5 ‘ j 8. There is also a subject to which l desire to invite your attention, arid in reference to which I wish to receive the expression of your views. For some time past certain persons belonging to the tribes dwelling to the ! south of Auckland have been endeavouring to mature a project, which, if carried into effect, could only bring evil' upon the 'heads of all concerned in 4t. The framers of it are said , to desire that the Maori ‘ tribes in New Zea-

land should combine together and throw off iheir, allegiance to the, Sovereign whose protection they " have enjoyed- for -tnore tlian 20 years, and that they should , set up a Maori King and declare • themselves an independent Nation. Such ideas could only be entertained by men completely ignorant of the evils they would bring upon the whole Native Race if carried into effect. v

♦9;v While the promoters of this scheme confined themselves to -mere talking, I did not think it necessary to notice their proceedings, believing that, if allowed time to consider, they would abandon so futile and dangerous an- undertaking. This expectation has not been fulfilled. At a receut meeting at Waikato some of the leading men proposed that Wiremu Kingij-who-isM in armsagainst the Queen’s authority, should be supported by reinforcements from the tribes who acknowledge tlie Maori .king* and armed parties from Waikato ahd Kawliia actually went to Taranaki for this' purpose.- These men also desire to' assume an authority over other New- Zealand tribes in their relations with the Government,

and contemplate the'forcible subjection of those' tribes who ! refuse-to recognise their authority. 10; * Under f these -circumstances I wish to know your views and opinions distinctly, in order that I may give correct’ information to our ; Sovereign. r *' -> - .>/ ’ c 11. It is unnecessary for me to remind you that 'her ’Majesty’s -engagements to her' Native subjects in ;New’Zealand have>been ? faithfully observed'. N 6; foreign eherhy has; visited your shores’. ? Ypur j lands -hive remained in your possession, orfliave i: beenf bought_ by the Go-' verhmeht at you’r. c 6wn': desire. -Ybur'people have availed, themselves of their privileges as British.subjects, seeking and obtaining in the

'Courts,;of flia t :;fe dress vjw hicfe: t^y^ord. tq all. her.. Majesty’s subjects..,. 'you‘-sliQulff.know pud .understand that, in return for these, .advantages. yo,u inust ■ prove,yourselves to, be. loyal and faithful subjects, and that'the establishment of a Maori king would be an act of disobedience and defiance to her Majesty '* whicir^Cannot be toleratedf„,,lt i, is ntesary! • for .sie!, preservation*.:pf • peace, in every* country .tiiat the. . inhabitants should ackhbWledge one'Head. , .. >•••; }.••.,? *„ - ' "'l2; I. may frahkiy tell,you , that -New Zealand is the only.; Colony wherev the 'aborigines have been ' treated with . unynrying^; kindness., J[fifr'the;V)niy'''<»lbny./'^here^ : been invited to unite with ’the! cojonistsrift&d: to be-i come one people under .one law. In other colonies the people offthe land, hayei-yemained l separate and. distinct, from which ..many evil [consequences; arisen \ blood’hastbeen shedjaiid J|gajly the aboriginal peopler.pf the , country driven away or ’destroyed. ;Wise; and good men in England considered that .such treat-* meht of flboriginei' unjust .and .contrary to the principles .of Christianity. ;Tliey, : brought the subject ihp British' Parliament, and Hie Queen’s Ministers advised a change of policy towards the aborigines-of-iall English Colonies. New; Zealand is ■ tlifr-.-first; country colonised on this and hiimahe system! It will be the' wisdom of the Maori > people to javail, themselves, of this generous.<policy; and thus save their race, from, evils winch * have befallen others lessfavoured. • k It. .is your adoption by her Majesty as her subjects which makes it, infpqssible that, the/JMaori .people should be unjustly dispossessed tof theirdands or property. Every Maori is, .a, i( paember of the British nation } he is -firqtectpd. by the same law as/Hiq' Englishfellow/subject;; and it is because ydhta-re Qqeen as a part of her oWn especial feQple r , tligt you have beard. lips -ef successive Governor th§,sgjjig words of and goodwill. It .is, therefore,.the. height! df folly for the Ne!vy Zealand tribes to allow .themselves to be seduced into, the qqmmissux^ an y act which, by , violating their'! allpgipnce to the Queen,' would render, them ,liaj)lq. tq forfeit the rights and 4 privileges which . tiieir ■ ; jposition as British subjects "confers upop,them, and .which must necessarily entail upop them evils ending only in their ruin as a race. . ; 13. It is a matter of solicitude to her Ma jesty, as well as to many of jqur friends in this country, that you should .be preserved as a people! No unfriendly feeling should be allowed to grow,; up betweenj jthe. two races. Your children will live,..in country when you are gone, and .when"- the . Europeans are numerous. For their sakes,!,l''i:all upon you, as fathers and as chiefs of ypur;tribes, to jtake care that nothing be done whibh may engender animosities. .which may injure your the differ: ence of ianguage tprms a great barrier between the European** and the Mabries, r Through not understanding 1 each oilier/ there are frequent misapprehensions. ojf; wh.at-, is said or intended; this is also the chief ob-j stacles in the Wa f o'f.ypur pafticipating in our] English Councils, and in the of [laws for ..your guidance. To- remedy ibis the various missionary bodies, .'assisted by the Government, have used every to teach your children English, in order that they may speak the same language, ais the European inhabitants of the colony. .. 14. I belieyq it. is . only' peedful tliat these matters well to ensure a continuance, of'peace ''aiici, jjnenaly feeling be tween, the two, races of her Majesty’s subjects; and it is for thisreason,, and,jn a firm hope that mutual explanations will remove all doubt and distrust on both sides, that I have invited you to meet me now.

15. I shall not seek to prove, what you will all be ready,to admit, .that the treatment you have received from the,Government, since its establishment in these islands down to the present hour, has been invariably marked by kindness. . I. .will. not count the hospitals founded for the benefit of;, your sick ; the schools provided for. the education of your children ; the . encouragement ; ami assistance given you to yourselves of vessels, to cultivate wheat, to build mills, and to adopt the civilized habits of your...white brethren. I will not enumerate the proofs, which have been given you that your interests and well being have been cared, for, lest you should think I am ungenerously recalling past favours. All wi|l admit, that, not ~onty your ears listened to the words of .kindness, but that your eyes have seen, and your, hands have handled its substantial manifestations. 16. I will not now you by alluding to other matters of great importance, but will communicate with you frqm time to time, and call your attention to them heforq you separate. Let me, however, , remind-you, that though the Queen is/able, without any assistance from you to protect 2 tHe. Maories .from all foreign enemies, she cannot 2 without their help protect the Maories from themselves. 1 It is therefore the duty of all who would ; regret tq see their Race relapse into barbarismi and who desire toTive in peace and prosperity, to fake heed that the,counsels of the foolish do not prevail, and that the' whole 'country ; be not thrown iuto anarchy and confusion, py the folly of a few misguided men. r ‘ 1 , ■ must corigriiulate you on the vast progress in civilization^which, yon r' people have made under the 'pToteqtjjph' pf -thß'.tjueen. Cannibalism bas' beeh‘excba»iged 'for ’.'Christianity become mdre yare; prisbnei?s take- in war are not- shun ; r Ehropeaff ’ habits; are gradually replacing - tho'se of 5 your ancestors,"of which all be ashamed/ ’ *Tlie; l olcV have reason to be fhankful' that' tbeif sunset’ is brighter than their dawn* and ,the, young may

grateful that their life did not begin until ; the darkness of the heathea night had ’.been r dispelled by that light which is. the glory ; of all civilized nations,. Earnestly praying that God may grant his ;; blessing on your deliberations and guide you > in the right path, 1 leave you to the free dis- \ cussion of the; subjects I have indicated, and of any others you may think likely to promote the welfare of your Race. . > ; Thomas Gore Brown, Governor.. At the conclusion of. the address, Mete | Kingi and Kawana Paipai stepped forward, ; and in the name of, the Wanganui natives, t presented the Governor with two beautifully ’ embroidered kaitakas, or . fine flax - mantles, . and a taiaha or staff, as a pledge of loyalty I and peace. The conference terminated for this first day j about half-past three o’clock, and will be i renewed; this morning. The chiefs all spoke t strongly in favour of peace and allegiance to [. the. Queen.