KIHIKIHI.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1022, 11 January 1879, Page 2

KIHIKIHI.

January D, 1879.. . The Hon. the Native Minister arrived hero on Monday evening last, and put Tip at Anderson's Hotel. He was accompanied by his Private Secretary, Mr Lewis; Mr Busli, 11M. ; Mr Grace, Native Agent ; Mr Rusdeu, of Victoria ; VI r Gill, from Wellington ; and Mr Brodie; from the Thames. • ; Early on Tuesday morning, Mr Sheehan was fully occupied with buaiuessj both European and native, Amongst other matters, a deputation pf members of the Town Board waited upon him, with a view to th 3 settlement of some questions of loGal importance. They were courteously received, and their request pronoised his earliest attention. 4-hout JO a f ift., the Ministerial party left Eihikihi for the residence of Mr Koss, near the Puniu, where they were met by Rewi, at whose invitation the Native Minister came. The day was exceedingly hot, but the place selected for the meeting — Mr Rosa' garden —was delightfully

cool and refreshing, it being thickly studded with large pines, cypresses, and fruit trees. Here, a considerable gathering of natives of all ages and sexes were assembled, intermixed with a good sprinkling of Europeans. There were several chiefs of importance present. Rewi himself opened the meeting, the purport of which wag the settlement of obtain intertribal disputes respecting /I^ndj- marlcsj^ boundaries, and land claims^Re|yfrspoks; frequently, evidently putting straight hi|| erring peers — tho Native Minister dropfi ping occasionally a judicious,7sisl' wcll-ii timed word, which seemed to nave great weight with the speakers. At dinner hour, a plentif ul supply of ■ goodvfoodv was /served,^in n messeßj'- under the trees. The Pakehas present, were invited to chime m, and they did so, with right good will ; heartily enjoying. them-, selves, at the novelty, of the scene. Towards evening,' the Hon. Mr Sheehan and party,, accompanied by Rewi, left for OrakaV, ttte j;oJßne of bistfa^tjfightjj':;. Sere, "Rewi fougnYhis" battles over ' againg, declaring that some of our soldiers-fired iuto each other, turning an angle/- The residence of Mr Andrew Kay, J.P., being near by, the distinguished party was invited, by that gentleman, to partake of his hospitality, which,. they cordially accepted. As it was now wellnigh sundown, a start was made for Kihikihi, and, then, 1 may remark, one, of the most anlopked;for and, ploasing events. of the day took- place. Rewi,at last, broke the spell that bound him so long to his isolation, seated himself on the outside of the coach, between Mr, Sheehau and, a young lady 0f .... the party, from the South, and was driven, at a rattling pace, into Kihikihi, and, soon after, comfortably located himself m, Anderson's hotel. During the remainder of the evening, and early part of the night, crowds of people, both European and native, assembled m front of the hotels, highly pleased with the visic ; but, notwithstanding the occasion, time and place, the utmost decorum and order . prevailed. Groups of the old settlers might be seen, seated on the cool grass, enjoying their pipe, and the mollifying influence ,of the bright harvest moonj and talking of the time when Rewi was "dark" Upon all matters ..affecting their safety and interests'; but, now, they said,, things arc wonderfully, changed for the better, as Mr Sheehan, by\a;grand stroke of policy, has turned Rewi into an angel of light. The next " morning, Wednesday, the settlers presented Rewi, alias Munga,'.with; an address, " heartily welcoming him m their midst," and, " assuring him of the satisfacting his visit gave chem," aud, of their " desire, m future, to assist him; m all matters affecting tho interest of himself and people." It Avas signed by Mr James Henderson, and many more; of the inhabitants, and was interpreted by >Mr Grace. . Rewi made a suitable reply, and stated that he would' say something to them before he left, that would gladden their hearts. Shortly afterwards, he, m company with Mr Sheehan, and several other gentlemen and settlers, proceeded to- visit the sites of his old home, aiid church, and the graves of „ his parents. They- were known to have been m th£ acre now occupied by Sergeant Cooper, but no | trace of .them, remained, on the surface. He recognised and pointed out some peach trees yet remaining that he had planted, and he knew from their position that the graves must bn clesa by. On his way back to the hotel, he presented a-jrieco of greenstone to Mr Rtisden ; it was m its rough state, and weighed about lolbs That gentleman. hesitated .to take such a precious gift, but Rewi said to him that he did not hesitate to come and see him of Ins own free will ; therefore, he should take the stone, and, m doing so, he hoped Mr Rusden would remember him as a. father. The stone was then graciously accepted. Immediately afterwards, Rewi gave notice of his wish, to address the settlers, in the school-house, and accordingly every available man mustered up, and, together with all the native followers, crowded into the school. Rowi at once commenced his speech, Mr Grace clearly and audibly interpreting each sentence. He said : — " Kihikihi was my settlement. 1 resided m this place at the time the Gospel was preached here by the missionaries. My church was here. I was drawn into the King Movement. It originated at Waitara. At- that time, I resided at Ngaruawahia ; Potatau and myself resided there. People said that I should go and fight. I then said, 'We won't go and fight.' I wished the matter j to be laid before the missionaries, who brought the Word of God here, but people said, we wont iuvistigatq the matter, we will go and fight. It wa> fchero, the Waitara, they first agreed to go to -war. -We heard of it,- at iSgaruawahia. I followed them, and asked idiem to return. They said, we . won't, li-iton. You had better return. I'thon wrote tv llr Parris, that a Avar party was going He carat;, and we hoard chat lie wars very nearly killed. I then, returned from Mokan. They fought, aud defeated the Europeans. I wont to figM at the Waitara. It was William King that made peace I brought him to live Avith me. At that time, .Bishop Solwyn visited hero, and I agreed to his .suggestion, that the Waitra be investigated, but thej', the people, would not listen co Ul3 proposition. I then Avrote to the Taranaki natives, and told them to fight. They did so, and that Avas ocoa*ioned by me. I then said, so long as Sir George Grey remains at his own aide of the boundary, all would be well, bat, if he crossed, they were to deal roughly Avith him. Sir George Grey then removed the fighting to the Waikato. When the fighting had proceeded this way, I received a letter from Sir Georgu Grey. At that time, I wi?s building aPa at — .. The letter was sent to C. 0. DaAds. The letter said, peace should be made. I then svould not agree, so that the people should die, defending their land. After this, another messenger came from the Governor. I would not agr«e to peace being made. After that, Mr Graham visited William Thompson, and, afterwards, Thompson visited Kihikihi. Again, Mr Graham came, and .wished for peace. He avouM now, he said, cut his speech short, aud follow on to Avlien Todd was killed. Afterwards, Sir Donald Maclean A'isited Waikato, and, then said, that good relations should be established, and I agreed. I agreed not to consider what took place m the past, but, iv tho future, so that a good feeling should exist. After Mac Lean, Pollen came. He told me lie Avas the person m place of Mac Lean. I thon said, lot us go over my boundary, so that I should stand on a good footing. I Avill now, he said, finish, by telling you all, that I came hero of my own free will. tdo not know the people of Kihikihi. I come among you, the persons that fought against me. Let your acquaintance Avith me be straightfonvard, and mine will b» the same with you. Applause. I Avisb you, he continued, to understand whai took place here to-day, between mysel and Mr Sheehau. If I find him no satisfactory m the future, I will tell yon of the fact ; and, if ho should be satisfactory, Aye may live kmg together. '. Hr Henderson then rose, and called foi three cheers for Rewi, and, uhree cheer for tlie Defence Minister, Avhich were al heartily- given. Mr Sheehan now rose, and said, he Avaobliged to them for the approbatioi his distinguished friend received. fl« reminded tl^e aettlers present of th> dangers and troubles tney had passei through m the early days— how ilxey liar held their lives, as it were, iv thtgi'r haud.aud he contrasted the misery of those *ays A - wiitU tho happy aud peaceful scene (

now # before them. It was affecting, ho continued, to see a man-— a leader of his people, who fought against ua through the length and breadth of the war, until hcjwoundup aLjQra^tii^ a man who iou Sm as at|plS|#aad a gentleman^-it waS jlf aftecfcl 2ff sight to ccc that man, S- fcei iP ceil ye 4 r sf&tahd- here to-day over fB e .|Sfves of hisp'arenlsi-a sight that !soetpand painteMfmay depict to |»tutup|geueratidns|sJrhp;n #$ people that '^ c Jp*' 6 to - da y W.haysf passed away. S? v^ luded h y a "u<ling?t) the action of ijindiMuals who arc ;gunuermining the work that has been^done, by going between the Government and the native people— interfering between the rucos, sohemingy-and- endeavoring to get largo blocks of land. All, he said, should have a fair start and an open market. He would now thank the settlers, here to-day very iriuch; and thus concluded a moat interesting meeting,. . •..■