The Governor and the Maoris.
HIS EXCELLENCY AT RUATOI&
A GREAT KOREJRO.
SUMMARY OF THE SPEECHES;
Whakatanb, March 21, On crossing the aukati lino yesterday, Major Swinley, who had joined the party with Mr Kelly, M.H.R., rode on in advance, and on arrival oL . Lord Onslow at the village of Ruatotff which is situated on an extensive <N "" plain on the banks of the Whakatane river, he was received with a salute and a war danoe admirably executed. The Natives then assembled in front of the Governor, and the usual speeches made by leading chiefs, who accorded him a cordial welcome, and wished him io go through their country. There were about 300 Natives present, nearly all of them being attired in European clothing: His Excellency, in his speech, said he had seen nearly all the tribes, and they had welcomed him warmly, but none more so than the Uriweras, who had been called the bad. tribes, Whatever they had been in the past they were now friendly, and he hoped they would always be Lord Onslow then shook the leading chiefs, as also did the Hon Mt Cadraan, Native Minister, and Mr Lewis, one of the leading chiefs rubbing noses with the latter. The partythen rode through the village, and afterwards partook of some food served up in native fashion by the Maoris. This morning His Excellency made a trip up the Wbakatane river, and will start for Botorua by way of Matata, camping en route at Tikitere, and arriving ac Ohinemutu on Tueto day. The party stayed last night a£ Oporiau. Mr Cadraan has sent a telegram to the Premier from Kuatoki announcing the success of the meet* ing.
March 22. The Governor and part of the party, comprising Mr Cadmap, NativeMinister, Lord Anovum, Mr Bush, Mr Puller, and two Herald reporters, yesterday morning rode about twelvo miles into tho interior of the Uriwera couatry, up the valley of the Whalta* tape Kiver, which had to be crossed about a dozen times. On each side of the valley rose bush olad ranges to tho height of 100 or 500 feet, some c£ the clumps of trees and fern being exquisitely beautiful. The scenery was greatly admired lency. At an old chieftan) the party* wAo were accompanied by a number of Maoria, turned back and arrived at Euatoki at lunch time. After lunch a haka was danced with spirit by about 60men and women. At the kororo which followed, The following speeches were delivered :
Mimio, speaking on behalf of the Tuhoi they had four : . grievances v/nich they desired to before tho Jlativo Minister. Tho was with reference to obtaining a small pie3o of land at Wbakatane upon which they could squat, so that when visiting Whakutane for tho* purpose of dealing with tbo Europeans they could live there. At present they had no place. Tho land which they would like was a piece of Grown lands of 22 acres. VB Their second was that they wanted tho Government to fix tha tribal boundary so that no other tribo could lay olaiui to any of their land Their third grievance was with* respect to a piece, of land called Wainui, inOhiwa, whioh they wished the Government to give them. Their fourth grievance was with respect to a piece of land at Wakare Moana, comprising 300 acres, which they wished tho Government to give them. *' - These subjects had been grievances , ~-.: since tbo time of Sir Donald McLeanyidß
, and aUhou|h the Tnhoi had often •* been promised redress they had not jet obtained it. Eaukaru, the nest principal man, Baid the Tnhoi (Uriwera)did not want any of the evil things such a3 leases, surveys, roads, gold prospecting, and Land Courts, and he did not want Europeans to follow criminals. The Tuhoi would have nothinp whatever ■ to do with selling land to Europeans. They must not think that because his Excellency had gone into the country other Europeans could g r > there too. If they did they would be 1 turned back. Lord Onslow, in his reply, said he was sure that they understood the difference between the Government and the Governor. One represented the people of New Zealand ; the other represented the Queen of England. He had travelled as the Queen's representative throughout New Zealand, As he was coming along here he met Te Kooti, and they bo'.h shook hands in a friendly manner. Whatever may have existed in the past, all he knew now was that everyone he had met among his tribe was the Queen and her and from what he had Been that was likely to continue. The Queen had lately chosen as Governor of this and the adjoining colonies leading rangatiras in England. He was one of these, and Lord Ancrum. - who was present, was the son of another ; and they were glad to see the rangatiras of New Zealand, because they felt the same feeling animated both with respect to their 'grievances. He would leave the Government to deal with them, but
__. they might rest assured that equal i-SfSjastice would be meted out between " all the Queen's subjects. The Hon A. J. Cadman delivered a long speech, going over the grievances alluded to by speakers. He said that the Government felt by inviting the Governor to visit their country the Tuhois had held out the hand- of friendship to the Governor, and the latter desired to accept the invitation = in the spirit in which it was offered. He exhorted theni to educate their children and to encourage them to mix more with the Europeans, avoiding, however, the public house and those known as the lower classes of Europeans. Referring to speech, Mr Cadman said he wished them all to clearly understand that the Queen's laws must go everywhere in New Zealand. In so far as their own land was concerned they were in their own hands, and if they parted with them, they would only have themselves to blame. They must understand that criminals who seek rafuge in their own country would be taken and the law generally upheld. "With reference, to the land at Whakatane, if they made their application in writing he would see that they got what they wished, with the condition that the lan J did not become their own property but remained the property of the Crown. "With regard to tribal boundaries, it would be necessary to have the land properly surveyed before anything could be done. With regard to the land at Wainui, he ' would require to consult his colleagues before he could give them an answer. Ifthelandat Waikare Moana was absolutely necessary to them, he would be prepared to favourably entertain a proposal to' exchange this piece of land *for another, but he could not consent to give them the land for nothing. Mr Cadman advised the Natives to take up the land under the same conditions as Europeans. The chiefs thanked his Excellency and Mr Cadmanibr the speeches they had made, and said they would remem- . ber that as a red letter day in their annals. In the evening the Governor . was introduced to Kaire Koko, a tJriwera chief, whose name was well-known to the public during the time of the Maori war. The old chief stated that he had come , down from his village as soon as he heard that Lord Onslow was in the district, but by the time he got to ; Euatoki His Excellency had gone to Oporiau. He har 1 therefore come on to see him. He said all he had to gay was that the Governor could go anywhere in the Uriweia country. Lord Onslow thanked the old warrior, and said he would not have liked • to have left the district without meet- . ing so important a person. He hoped - to again visit the district, when perhaps Tanni Hofea would be able to carry out his own wish and accompany . him over the Uriwera country.
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Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3767, 23 March 1891, Page 2
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1,320The Governor and the Maoris. Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3767, 23 March 1891, Page 2
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