E—No. 9

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OP

Before reading the Governor's Message, I will state to you a portion of what has come under my own knowledge in connexion with this place (Taranaki). I will not go back to the invasion of the Ngapuhi, but will commence with the first sale to Colonel Wakefield at Aropaoa in 1839, by the Atiawa residing on the opposite shores of the country better known to you as Kapiti. Their names are in the Deed transferring the land. There are the names of Hawe, of William King, of Ranponga, Ngarewa, Manurau, Mare and otlier of the Ngatiaiva. I will not detain you by reading all the names. These are the principal clue's who transferred the land. The name of William King Te Rangitake is the first of the signatures to the Deed. The whole district was alienated at that time. No portion of it was excepted, for the Ngatiawa looked upon it as tenitory which they had left, abandoned, and forsaken for ever : to which they had bidden a final farewell, and which had passed into the hands of the Wnikatos. At that time they did not expect ever 10 return to it. This was the reason why the Atiawas wished to sell it to the Pakehas : hence the sale (o Colonel Wakefield. The arrangement was made by William King himself, and the payment was received. On Colonel Wakefield's return to Wellington, the Chiefs of the Ngatia»a residing there deputed Tuarau and another of their Chiefs to go to the people who were living at Ngamohi (Taranaki) to inform them of the sale of the land. L'uarau accoidingly went, and on arriving assembled the people and told them what had taken pWe. They expressed their satisfaclion : they were delight at the nrospect of Pakehas coming to live among them as friends. Now would they come to lite, and the light of heaven, secure from Waikato. The assent of Awatea, Eruera Te Puke, of Ngatirahiri, Karoro, Poharama, Te Whiti, Tangatu and others, seventy-nine in number, was given. These were all the people living upon the land at that time, whose names appear on this detd of sale. This was the second purchase. This sale included Taranaki and Waitara. This '.eriitory was purchased, and the payment was ijiven to the men who were at that time residing upon the land. It was then surveyed, and afterwards Europeans came to settle upon it. I sha 1 not speak of William King's visit to Ngapuhi, and what passed between him an Potatau's younger brother: they had a difference about that land, Kati said to William King, " That land will be sold to the Governor." William King replied, " Then I will sell the Waipa Valley as a payment for my slain." (Alluding to an encounter ivliich took place between the Ngatiawa of Taranaki and the people of Waipa). Oα Kati's return from the North he repeated what had passed between himself and Wi Kingi to the old chief Potatau, just now deceased. Soon after, Potatau went to Kapiti with Governor Hobson. Afterwards he said to the Governor, " Friend, listen to me ! Taranaki is mine ; my hand holds it, I wish to sell it to you." The window of the room in which this conversation took place happened to be open, arid some papers which had been lying on the table, were scattered by the wind. The old chief collected them and, replacing them on the table, put a weight upon them and addressing the Governor, siid, " This is like Taranaki. if I pre?s the Taranaki people, they will remain quiet. See, O ! Governor, when I put a weight upon them they cannot move." Time passed on, Governor Hobson considered tlie matter, and alter having done so, consented to the purchase from Waikato. Here is the Deed of transfer—[Deed read], — The signatures to this Deed are those of Te Kati who lies buried at Man»ere, and of Te Wherowhero, just now deceased, at his own place cX Waikato. Now, in accordance with your customs, this land was completely forfeited and gone ;of the men who once possessed it some had been brought as slaves to Waikato, some had gone to Kapiti. It was a complete abandonment of a conquered territory. When the first payment was made a portion of the goods was brought from Kapiti to Waikato Te Pakaru received a share as also Te Aw.iitaia; but neither Potatau nor Kati got any. These two Chiefs were therefore displeased, and applied to the Governor urging him to give them a payment. After the transactions to which I have referred, the Europeans supposed that the land had finally passed into their possession. Accordingly it was suiveyed, and portions were allotted to individual settlers, some were also set apart for the Maories, within the European boundaries. Settlers came from England with the plans of their sections in their hands, expecting to find them ready lor occupation. The Natives who had been permitted to return from Waikato came and interfered with the Europeans, who had settled upon the land, claiming it as their own, the former also maintaining their claims. Animosities thus sprung up between the Europeans and the Maories During this state of affairs some of the Waikato Chiefs interfered, and admonished the Maojies to dwell in peace, and to treat the Eutopeans with kindness, threatening them with another invasion if they refused to listen. Such were the sentiments of Waisato at that time. Nuihona Te Pakaru of Kawhia and other of the Waikato Chiefs went there and thus admonished the Taranaki people. Mr. Spain, the Commissioner appointed for the purpose of inquiring into questions of land claims, had, previous to this, given a decision on this question. He did not award the whole of the land sold ; he restricted the extent of the Europeans' claim to what he considered a fair equivalent for th epayment given by Colonel Wakefield, and fixed the Northern boundary at Te Taniwha, thence Paritutu and thence inland. The claim which Colonel Wakefield put in tor the whole of the land was not allowed by Mr. Spain, a small portion only of the land was retained. Captain Fitzßoy was Governor at this time, which was also the time of my going to Taranaki. He looked at the unsatisfactory state of affairs at Taranaki, and out of consideration for the claims of the residents— of those who were living at Kapiti, and of those still in slavery in various parts of the island, he made a different arrangement from Mr. Spain's, and decided that a fixed payment should be given for the land, whether as included in Colonel Wakefieled's purchase, or in Mr. Spain's award ; in order that the Pakehas might occupy their land with a clear and undisputed title. The Governor instructed me to give this payment, that the Maories might dwell in peace with the Europeans. The Europeans were angry with this new arrangement of Governor Kilzßoy's, and one of the Queen's Ministers in England also condemned it. But when the matter came before the Queen, Her Majesty would not allow the word of her Governor to be set aside. Payments were accordingly made at

12