TAWHIAO AND THE MOKAU LANDS.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1507, 2 March 1882, Page 3

TAWHIAO AND THE MOKAU LANDS.

The following letter from the pen of Mr C. 0. Davis appears in our Auckland morning contemporary :—: — There has been considerable discussion in the columns of sundiy journals regarding the ownei ship of the Mokan territory, a locality in which the writers have triumphantly assumed Tawhiao has neither tribal nor personal interest. It may, however, be ascertained on inquiry, that wo .are attempting to treat Tawliiao, as we did the chief William King, in ]8.j9, the ignoring of whose peisonal claims to the Wait.ua land at Taranaki brought above the unjustifiable New Zealand war, the evil effects of which are still manifest in many parts of the colony. In i elation to the Mokau lands, it is siuely our duty to suspend our judgment until the natuie and extent of Tawhiao's clams aie determined ; and as the following translation of a document transmitted to me elucidates in some measure certain phases of the WctercTawhiao land dispute, I shall, with your permission, give publicity to Tawlnao's written statement here :—: — [TKAWjATIOX.] "To all the people of Mokau, to Wetere and party — Greeting ! During my stay at Auckland, a ceitain newspaper was bi ought to me, in lespect to your statements about Mokau, to the effect that myself and my Kingship [kingitnngj] have no interest [in the soil.] My woi <l to you is this : The land is mine, and the people aie mine. Firstly, on account of the woid [kupu] ; secondly, on account of old pledges [owhakij ; thirdly, ancestral descent [kawei]. These are the reasons why I wiote to Mr Pan is, so that the a\ hole of the disputes should be left to me tor settlement. I did not aver that I should arrange matters, and that after an amicable conclusion had been arrived at that I should be become a mute [ihupuku] ; not so. All I desired was that the land should bo raised up [a discussion lcgaiding the title to Mokau lands], that I should also laisc up the people, and the words leferring theieto [the pledges of past times, in legard to both the dead alid the living]. Now, should the affair be decided as suggested by me, a day will be seen [fixed], and when my plan is caiiicd out the result Avill bo satisfactory, for this one will go forth with his poition [of land], anil the other with his poition ; and these will be in possession, and those will be in possession. I say, theicfoie, let me auangc this matter, so that our perceptions may become lucid, and the lclations between the pakehas and the Maoiis confidingly established. This is my woid to you all — be peaceful, end the litigation ; come back, all of you, to your gieat place of assembly — to the pillar [pou] where lested your fathers, and grandsircs, from time immemorial. The woid still lives, and is still cherished. Who am I, do you suppose ? You know that I am hcic ; and 1 al&o know that you are there, together with the Europeans [who are urging you against me]. Cease ; look directly to me, and wait till you know the result of my plan. And now, let me say, hearken considerately — when the day shall be fixed, then will be the time for all to attend at the place [appointed]. It [the notification referied to] will not be concealed ; it will be disclosed as bvoadly as the shining sun. This is my word to the whole of you. — (Signed) Klnui Tawhiao. " This is another word of mine to the European fi iends who are aiding Wetere and paity : Greetings to you, 0 European friends ! —Have you not indeed yet heard the words spoken by me saying, ' Wait awhile till the warmth be felt ?' Perhaps you imagine that this sentiment of mine is insincere. No ; that utterance is quite reliable. In consequence of that spoken word, I say to you all, look directly to me, and carefully note what transpires. The matter will not be overlooked ; the day will be fixed, and then attend ye at that place. I will not conceal fiom you all, all, all my words. [Tawhiao's statement will be publicly announced at the meeting.]— ( Signed) Kixoi Tawhiao." It will be admitted, I apprehend, that the writer of the above paper makes a modest request, namely, that the avowed owners of the Mokau lands shoxild be allowed the privilege of adjusting their disputed land claims prior to an iurestigation of title by the Land Courts — a project warmly advocated by no less an authority than Mr Justice Gillies, whoso critical judgment and large experience in such matters will hardly be questioned.

A Shabby Act. — 1£ may be remembered that-duping the halcyon days of the Empire^tne' Marsellais, then the most loyal of subjects built and presented to Napoleon 111. a beautiful villa, to be the property of his Majesty and his heirs for ever. The Empire has fallen, and the Marseillais are now numbered amongst the most extreme of Radicals. The EmEress Eugenie has lost her husband and er son, and has sought an asylum in a foreign land. Woe to the vanquished. The Marsellais have repented of their gift, and want the villa back. Their Mayor, M. Brochier, has brought an action against the Empress Eugenie for the recovery of the property, — Telegraph,