SAYINGS AND DOINGS OF WAIKATO.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 7, Issue 348, 18 June 1863, Page 4

SAYINGS AND DOINGS OF WAIKATO.

[From the Dally Southern Cross, May 19.]

Our esteemed Correspondent “ PliiloMaoi’i,” appears to attach more importance to the pacific professions of the chief William Thompson than we think they deserve. Whatever influence Thompson may have had at one time in the Waikato, it is quite clear he is a cypher now when he preaches peace ; and we question whether he will be able to control his own tribe in the event of hostilities being resumed “in earnest” at Taranaki, or commencing in the Waikato. It may be politic in the “ King-maker ” to disavow any participation in the murders at Taranaki, and we do not suppose any one would think of holding him individually i*esponsible ; but as the main instrument in bringing into existence that political organization which has x*esulted in these murders, and which shields the murderers, we do and must hold him responsible.- In fact every King-tribe must be held accountable, to some extent, for the commission of this act, unless they at once lay down their arms, renounce the King movement, and come under British laws. If Thompson and Matutaere suppose they will purchase immunity for themselves solely by such professions as those recorded by “ Philo-Maori,” we hope they will be mistaken. Something more will be requii’ed of them than a declaration that they do not countenance assassination, to purge them of their re bellious proceedings. While Rewi and Kingi are in arms, throwing up formidable works on the borders of lower Waikato to obstruct the peaceable march of her Majesty’s tx-oops if desirable that they should move into the intei-ior, we cannot accept as sincei-e the professions of those men at whose instigation all this hostile action was taken in the fii-st instance. Let them sepai'ate themselves in act, and notin word only, fi’om theNgatimaniapoto and Southern tribes, and then we will be l-eady to advocate on their behalf the exercise of leniency by the Governor, If, liowevei-, the so-called King and liis Privy. Councillor content themselves with words then it appears to us that no attention whatever should be paid to them, and no considei'ation shown on the final pacification of the country, which we anticipate as the result oftlie present struggle.

. No doubt the disaffection is wide-spread among the natives, and the less prudent amongst them have taken the lead. That they will bring certain'Slestrhctioir ;on themselves none can questibn ; ‘aiid. if- is the duty of.our-rulers to Jo what in them lies to crush the spirit of rebellion and lawlessness, which is the real enemy to the orderly settlement of the country and civilization of the Maori race.

[Written for the Dally Southern Cross.]

The peace thermometer may well rise when it is generally known that the heads of the people of Waikato are striv-ing-to secure peace, by expressing their disapprobation of the recent murders of our soldiery. It would appear that the Ngatimaniapoto tribe are the only ultraKing tribe, and that they are gravely accused by the Ngatihaua and the Ngatimahuta of instigating the Ngatiyqamu to commit the aforesaid murders.

A mast important conference, endingin a thorough'and- sincere understanding and agreement, took place upon Tuesday or Wednesday last, between Wiremu Thompson and Wata Kukutai, at Mati, the kainga of the latter chief, adjoining the Kohunga Mission Station. The very holding of such a conference is ominous of good. The character of Wata is so well known for loyalty, intelligence, and uprightness, that he was sought out by the“ King-maker” as a fit councillor and ambassador to the Governor. It is in times of distress that the points of goodness in good men shine out, and lieye Thompson has shown that he does hot look to war or kingism for the salvation of his race, but rather prefers to ally his moral force with friendly natives and Europeans. On Thompson’s first hearing of the late Taranaki murders he made haste to come down the'river to Mati, accompanied to Tioriori and a very few others of like mind with himself. These came by land, that they or their errand might not be indentified or confounded with 'a'lafge' v pitfty Of \ Up-river natives, with whom was Sophia, and for whom the Ngatiteata at Waiuku had killed five bullocks, and other hospitable preparations. The agreement between Thompson and Wata was to the following effect, as I had it from Wata himself: Thompson said lie came down to assure Wata, as the Governor’s friend, that lie was very sad at the news which had come from Taranaki, and that if it should prove, when he had accounts overland, that the story in the newspapers was correct, he would do all he could to keep back the Waikatos and their chiefs from approving the conduct of the Ngatiruanui and the Ngatimaniapoto tribes ; that he would not harbour'the murderers, and that, as he did not wish for Avar in Waikato, he would try to keep back all the other Waikato tribes from joining in with the Mgatimaniapoto, and accompanying that tribe to Taranaki. He parted from Wata on Thursday-morning, the 14th, and Wata was avell satisfied Avith his visitor, saying “He pai vga korero.” Wata proceeded the same day on to Auckland, probably thence to Taranaki, as the Governor has sent for his friendly chiefs to consult Avith him in native matters, especially as to the course to be pursued in dealing Avith the natives Avho have committed the late murders. Of course the object ought to be to find out the perpetrators, as an outrage of this nature, however gross, cannot Avell be considered as a ground for going to war with natives in the gross, or even Avith a Avhole tribe.

Thompson expressed himself as “ pouri mo to ratou main kino,” and was . evidently afraid lest the lawless deeds of the Ngatiruanui should be charged against the King" natives in general, especially as he knew for certain that these late murders (of Di\ Hope, 1 Lieut. Tragett, and six soldiers), had. been instigated by the Ngatimaniapott), tlxe most unruly of all the Waikato tribes. It will be wondei-ed at that Thompson came down so soon, so speedily and so quietly, after heai’ing of the intelligence of those murders, for the first circumstantial (aud reliable) account which he received (probably on Saturday, the 9th), was the printed circular letter issued by Mr; Dillon Bell, the Native Ministex’, and addressed to Matutaera, Sophia, and Thompson himself. This letter, of which you have no doubt seen a copy, is dated at Taranaki May 7tli, and although it contains a few errors in dates (probably misprints), still informs the King natives of Waikato of the mui-ders in a tenxperate and detailed mannei*. Miv Hogan with Mr. Fulloon left Aixckland for the Waikato, on Friday, the Bth, and, although'a message went after them to return in case of danger-, they determined to proceed -as far as' prudent. The natives at Maungatawhii’i told them not to press on too eagerly if warned to go back ; so up they went on lioi-seback as fax*: as Raxiwhitu, where they stopped with Mr. Ai-mitage on Sunday. In thatneigli bom-hood they met a large assemblage of the Ngatihaxia and other ti-ibes, who to the number of two hundred, were busily employed in building, at Rangiriri, an extensive axxd substantial earthwork, combined with layex-s of fern ( whakpakiki ) enclosing about forty acres of gi-ound, the the suiTounding bank being about nine feet in both widtli and height, and the interior intended, no doubt, to be well honeycombed into rifle pits. Foremost amongst the woi-kmen and ni*ging on the work wei-e Rewi Maniapoto and the evik omened William King of Waitai-a cele-bi-ity, who had thus far invaded the territories of the Ngatihaua, &c., and broken - through- the i'anks’of -Ngaruawahia, hoping to Torccf' the'LovVer Wdikatos to assist them ini their evil’ efforts to precipitate hostilities in Waikato. They had already cleared oft* their own “ broken bottles” iu their own tei-ritox-y of the Upper Waipa, and done mauy other things besides, iu order apparently

to provoke the into taking the initiative in Waikato, .and now they had come down to the lands of the “ Old Maori*’ King party to urge them on to follow their example. While the illomened work was going an,' the “ Kingmaker” might be seen watching them oalinly and anxiously, but unable to counteract tlieir ascendancy. The result of this invasion of the Lower Waikato was Thompson’s and Tioriori’s expedition to visit and consult with the chief of the Ngatitipa. The upshot of that consultation I have above detailed. Wata who is how probably with liis Excellency, is charged by Thompson to assure the Governor of his views, and the exertions he will make for securing quietness in Waikato, Thompson .would, I believe, be ready to give in his wholesale adherence to the Governor, were he well assured that his Excellency wss pur® In liis benevolent intentions towards the Maori people. The Governor starts well this i/ime, whatever may ! ensue, as Thompson, we have seen, is willing to apply to him the words of Shakespear, “ He is thrice armed who hath his quarrel just,” ; ■ ..' pHinOrMAORI.