CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO RENATA'S THREATENED OPPOSITION TO THE MARAEKAKAHO MAIL SERVICE, HAWKE'S BAY.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1863 Session I, E-21

E.—No. 21

CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO RENATA'S THREATENED OPPOSITION TO THE MARAEKAKAHO MAIL SERVICE, HAWKE'S BAY.

[Return to an Order of the House of Representatives, dated 10th November, 1863,]

"That there be laid on the Table of this House Copy of a Letter from the Postmaster at Na pi er to the Postmaster-General (written between Ist January and Ist July 1863) enclosing Letter from the Chief Renata, of Ahuriri; also Copy of Translation of the same" '

(Mr. Colemo.)

AUCKLAND. 1863.

E.—No. 21

No. 1. MR. EDWARD CATCHPOOL TO THK POSTMASTER-GENERAL. Chief Post Office, Napier, 23rd January, 1863. Sir, — In the last paragraph of my letter to you of yesterday's date, No. 63-8, I stated that I should have occasion to call your attention to difficulties Avhich may probably arise with the Natives of this district in connection Avith future contracts for the conveyance of mails, and alluded to the fact of Renata (the well known orator) having threatened to obstruct the passage of the mail contractor from Puketapu to Alaraekakaho and Kereru. Amongst the numerous tenders scut in to this office in November last for conveying mails within this Province, was one from Renata offering to carry the Maraekakaho and Kereru mails for twelve months for the sum of £100, at the same time forbidding it (the mail) to be taken via Puketapu, and threatening in case the contract should be given to another man that he would be angry anJthat the mail bags Avould be thrown away by him. Of this tender, Avhich more than doubled the amount of the accepted one (£6B), and also of the threat, I took no special notice, but as was customary when the several contracts bad been decided upon, I forwarded to Renata as well as to other parties tendering, a printed list of the " Accepted and Rejected Tenders." It appear, that preA-iously to Renata submitting his tender he had sent round to the several pahs iv the neighbourhood forbidding the Natives tendering for this particular mail service, warning them of the consequences of disregarding his notice. Nikora Ngarangi had already tendered before Rcnata's notice had reached him, and on "receipt of my letter informing him that his tender had been accepted, he came into town, stating that Renata had since threatened to take away his horse if ho persisted in taking the mail after the warning given him, and requested to knoAv what course he should pursue under the circumstances. He Avas advised to proceed on his journey on the usual day for that mail, and in the event of his being obstructed to offer no resistance but quietly to return to this office with the mail, to which he agreed. In the meantime Renata sent me another letter, couched in still stronger terms, not only refusing to allow the Native contractor to proceed Avith the mail, but even any European to do so. Believing that I should not be justified in submitting to Renata's dictation, I thought it preferable to take no notice of his letter, but to encourage the contractor to proceed quietly with his engagement at the proper time, should he be Avilling to do so. The attempt was made and succeeded, neither Renata nor any of his party appearing for the purpose of obstructing the mailman. Renata in his letter alludes to my circular calling for tenders, stating that notice was given there ."That the Government would not accept the loAvest tender." This must be a wilful misinterpretation on his part. The circular states, " That the Government will not bind itself to accept the loAvest tender," which lam sure is fully explained in the Alaori version of it. A copy of that circular is enclosed with my letter of yesterday's date (circular No. 1.)

PAPERS RELATIVE TO MARAEKAKAHO MAIL SERVICE.

E.—No. 21

The present contractor for the Porangahau mail, Paora Torotoro, although an independent chief, was so far influenced by Renata and others that he was at first disposed to withdraw his tender, stating that he was unwilling to be at issue with the other chiefs, Avho, if they did not actually obstruct him in the performance of his engagement, bad given him to understand that he would receive no asistance from them should his horses break down ; that his mail carriers Avould not be supplied with food on the road, nor would canoes be placed at his disposal. After some persuasion, hoAvever, Torotoro was at last induced to try the experiment, and he has made two trips with the mail. The evident object of Renata and others is to restrict the contracts to chiefs who would then be enabled to command much higher rates for the mail service. I have thought it right to put you in possession of the above facts, that the Government may be prepared to instruct me what course I should pursue if, from any unforeseen circumstances, any of the present contractors should be unable to fulfill their engagements. I have, Ac, Edward Catchpool, Chief Postmaster. The Honorable the Postmaster-General.

No. 2. RENATA KAWEPO TO EDWARD CATCHPOOL. Omahu, Tihema 24, 1862. Xi a Katipuru, te Rangatira o te Whare Aleera, — Kia rongo koe ki taku kupu. Ekore c tukua mai eau te Meera mo Maraekakaho ma reinga i toku whenua. Kaore he ara i konei. Ite taenga mai o Nupepa i era tau ki a matau, kaore au i utu atu. Alahi atu ana koutou ko nga tamariki. No tenei tau ka mahara au, ko te huarahi c tika tonu ana i toku whenua, ka mahaia au, maku tonu tena Aleera i nga tau katoa katoa. Kia hara ra ano te Meera i au ka riro he tangata ke mana c mau tenei ano he tangata kei au hei mau, i mea hoki au kite nupepa c ki ana, Ekore te kawanatanga c tango i te utu iti, no te taenga atu o nga pukapuka Avhakaae ka tangohia c koe ko te utu iti. Kia rongo koe, Ekore tena Aleera c tukua mai eau ma konei, ekore c tukua ma Te Pakipaki he ahakoa he pakeha ekore. Ko taku utu tena mo tau mahi homai iau pukapuka ki au o vga tau katoa. Kua whakahe atu nga Pakeha ki te iti o te utu, koia i tukua mai ai c koe kite Maori kite utu iti ka kati i au apopo nga Mcera, kei te tinihangatia vga tangata maori ekoe. Heoti ano. Na Renata Kaavepo. Xi a Eruera Katipuru.

Translation. Omahu, 24th December, 1862. To Catchpool, the Chief of the Alail Department,— Be thou listening to my word. The mail for Alaraekakaho will not be permitted by me to pass over my land ; there is no road this way. In former years when thy circulars (inviting mail tenders) came to us I did not reply; you and your young men performed that service. From this year I thought the road (used) goes directly over my land. I considered this mail should be for me indeed henceforth in every year ; until I should fail to perform the mail service (then let) it be taken away to be carried by another man. I also spoke to your circular, which said, the Government Avill not accept the lowest tender, saying,—Here with me is a man to carry (the mail.) But on the written tenders reaching (thee) thou did st accept the lowest tender. Be thou listening ; that mail shall not be permitted by me to pass by this way, it shall not be permitted to pass by Te Pakipaki (the other road) although carried by an European (it) shall not (pass). That is my reply for thy doing, in bringing hither thy circulars to me every year. The Europeans have contemned the smallness of the payment, therefore (it is) that thou givest it (the mail service) hither to the Maori, to the little wages. To-morrow the mails shall be stopped by me. The Maories are being deceived by thee That is all. From, . Leonard Kawepo. To Edward Catchpool.

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MARAEKAKAHO MAIL SERVICE.