CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE RETURN TO TARANAKI OF WIREMU KINGI TE RANGITAKE, IN 1848.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1863 Session I, E-17

E.—No. 17

CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE RETURN TO TARANAKI OF WIREMU KINGI TE RANGITAKE, IN 1848.

[Return to an Order of the House of Representatives dated 14//j November, 1863,]

" That there be laid upon the Table of this House copies of all correspondence in the year 1848, between the Governor-in-Chief, the Naval Commanders, and Lieutenant-Governor Eyre, relative to the return to Taranaki of A\ riremu Kingi Te Eangitake and a Section of the Atiawa Tribe."

(Mr. Stafford.)

AUCKLAND. 18 63.

E.—No. 17.

No. 1. COPT OF DESPATCH FROM his excellency lieutenant-govebxob eybe to his excellence SIB OEOBOE GEET, K.C.B. Government House, Wellington, 25th April, 1848. Sib, — I have the honor to report for the information of your Excellency, that a large majority of the Ngatiawa Natives emigrated from Waikanae on Monday, the 17th of April, on their route to Taranaki. This intelligence was conveyed to me in a letter from the Resident Magistrate of Waikanae, from which I enclose an extract stating the number of canoes and boats and probable amount of ammunition which they took with them. With respect to the latter, I may observe that I had previously been made aware that there was a probability of this ammunition being taken, and I had in consequence summoned my Executive Council, to consult with them as to the policy of adopting any measures for taking possession of, or at least preventing the. exportation of so large a quantity of gunpowder. The opinion of my Council, however—and I fully coincided with them in that opinion—was unanimously to the effect that as the Ngatiawas had always been looked upon as our allies, and were in some measure emigrating with the sanction of the Government, it would not be just to deprive them of the means of defence, and it certainly would not have been prudent to have made any attempt to do so forcibly without being prepared for the consequences of disaifection and distrust, not to say even rebellion, which would probably have resulted from the adoption of such a course. I therefore instructed the Resident Magistrate to take no other steps than to point out to the Natives in a friendly manner the danger of their keeping so large a quantity of powder in their own possession, and to suggest to them the advantage of placing it in the amicable custody of the Government. To this, however, they declined assenting, although there was no attempt made to deny or conceal the amount of ammunition in their possession. On the contrary, the Resident Magistrate was expressly taken to see it, by the principal Chief himself, William King. In connection with the departure of the Ngatiawa Natives, and in reference to your Excellency's instructions to me, to endeavour to come to an understanding with them that upon reaching the Taranaki district they should consent to settle on the North side of the Waitara, instead of occupying both banks of that river, I have the honor to state, that prior to Mr. McLean's arrival, I had two or three interviews with William King, and endeavoured, but unsuccessfully, to accomplish this object. That Chief expressed strongly his desire to be on friendly terms with the Government, but at the same time stated that he would not bind his followers to any particular course, and would not decide anything until after his arrival at Taranaki. Upon Mr. McLean's arrival, I sent that officer up to Waikanae to see W. King again on the same subject, and to point out strongly to him that unless he came to some understanding with the Government on the subject of his contemplated emigration, they would not in auy way acknowledge or recognise his rights in, or his claims to a district from which he had been so many years absent. Upon returning to Wellington, Mr. McLean informed me that he thought William King had considerably altered his views, and that he now stated that he was disposed to use his influence to bring about the arrangement proposed by the Government, but that he was still anxious that nothing further should be done until he reached Taranaki, or, to use his own expression, that he should not be pressed too closely. Finding therefore that nothing could be gained by urging the matter immediately, I have requested Mr. McLean to follow W. King to Taranaki, so as not to be in the way, to endeavour to effect the required arrangements when the Natives are actually on the ground.

PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE RETURN TO TARANAKI OF WIREMU KINGI.

E.—No. 17.

As no definite understanding could be come to with regard to Taranaki, I did not consider it advisable to enter upon the purchase of "VVaikanae, and especially as, until the departure of that portion of the tribe which intended to emigrate had taken place, it could not be ascertained how many Natives would remain, or what reserves it would be necessary to set apart for their use. I have, <fec, E. Eybe. His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief.

No. 2. HIS EXCELLENCY SIB GEOBGE OBEY, X.C.8., TO HIS EXCELLENCY LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOE EYBE. Government House, Auckland, June sth, 1848. Bib,— I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch, No. 41, of the 25th of April last, reporting the emigration of the Ngatiawa from Cook's Straits to Taranaki, their refusal to meet the wishes of the Government in reference to the proposed settlement of the land question at Taranaki, and the fact of their having been permitted to carry with them about half a, ton of gunpowder. The first of these points does not appear to require any comment from me. The second ] can only regret, as it is clear that yourself and Mr. McLean made every exertion to induce the Ngatiawa to accede to the proposed arrangement. The third point alluded to by you has, however, caused me a great deal of concern. The removal of so large a quantity of gunpowder was clearly contrary to law. The quantity was so great that the Natives could not have required it merely for immediate defence ; and I have no doubt that the fact of their having been permitted to remove this large quantity of ammunition, with the knowledge that in doing so they were violating the law, and this immediately after their declining to enter into the very equitable arrangement that was proposed for the settlement of the land question, will induce the badly disposed amongst them to attribute the acquiescence of the Government to the removal of this ammunition to fear, instead of to the proper cause. Indeed, intelligence has reached me overland that they have been boasting of their strength, and of the apprehensions which have been exhibited by the Government. And this is clearly a very dangerous feeling for them to entertain upon entering so defenceless a British settlement as Taranaki is, especially when they are so well provided with arms and ammunition. My own opinion is, that their movements should have been watched by a man of war at Kapiti, and that they should not have been allowed to remove so large a quantity of arms and ammunition with them. And from what I know of the Waikanae Natives, Ido not think that if they had seen the Government was determined upon this point, that they would have made the least objection to depositing their arms and ammunition with the Government. I certainly very much regret that more active measures were not taken to prevent the occurrence of a circumstance which, looking to the difficulties prevailing at Taranaki, and to our weakness there, are likely to produce very bad consequences. I have, &c. G. Geey. His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, New Munster.

2

THE RETURN TO TARANAKI OF WIREMU KINGI.