Page image
Page image

2

A.—l

the 10th instant, when they left, as I understand, for Tonga and Samoa. During their stay here the Admiral and his officers were, on various occasions, entertained both by myself and others, and they appeared greatly to appreciate the hearty manner in which they were received by the people of Auckland. I have, &c, W. F. DBUMMOND JEBVOIS. The Bight Hon. the Earl Granville, K.G.

No. 4. (No. 30.) My Lokd, — Government House, Wellington, 15th May, 188G. I have the honour to inform your Lordship that, when recently at Auckland, L had an interview with a number of Maori chiefs, who waited upon me, on the part of Tawhiao, for the purpose of laying before me certain matters concerning the relations of their race with the Europeans. When they had all spoken I invited them to furnish me with a statement in writing of the points which they washed to be considered, and they accordingly submitted the memorandum of which I enclose a copy. After conference with the Hon. Mr. Ballance, the Minister for Native Affairs, on the several questions referred to therein, I sent the enclosed reply to Tawhiao, with a covering memorandum by the Minister. Since the receipt of that document Tawhiao called upon me to pay his respects. After acknowledging the receipt of my memorandum he stated that he would go to Wellington during the ensuing session of Parliament, and I expressed much pleasure at the prospect of seeing him here. He repeated the proposal that a law should be passed to enable the Maoris to govern themselves, and I told him that the best course for him to adopt in reference to this proposal was to accept the offer which had been made to him of a seat in the Legislative Council. He would then be in a position, with the assistance that would be afforded him by Government authorities, to submit to the Legislature a Bill for giving effect to his views. Although, as I have before stated, it is impossible that the Maoris should be allowed a system of government independent of the colony generally, Parliament would no doubt be ready to consider favourably proposals for removing objections which they may justly entertain to the laws under which they live. Whether Tawhiao will or will not accept the seat in the Legislative Council appears as yet uncertain, for, although he would, I believe, himself do so, he cannot take such action without the consent of his Maori supporters. Meanwhile his proposed visit to Wellington may probably be regarded as a step towards his acceptance of the position of a Legislative Councillor. I have, &c, W. F. DBUMMOND JEBVOIS. The Bight Hon. the Earl Granville, K.G.

Enclosure A. Translation of Memorandum submitted to the Governor of New Zealand by Maori Chiefs 12th April, 1886. The resolutions hereunder written were confirmed by the chiefs and hapus assembled at Whatiwhatihoe on the 4th day of April, in the year 1886. 1. That the Treaty of Waitangi shall continue in force, by which the authority (mana) of the chiefs of the Maori people was assured to them, and which also confirms and guarantees to the Maori people the full, exclusive, and undisturbed possession and control of their lands, and declares that the Maori people shall be maintained in their rights. 2. That the powers conferred by the Act of the year 1852 should be maintained, namely : That a Council or Councils shall be set up, and invested with power and full authority, and that it shall be lawful for Her Majesty to authorize such Councils. 3. That the Maori people of New Zealand shall act together under the laws above mentioned. 4. That the Maori Committees authorized by the laws above referred to shall be zealous in the performance of their duties. 5. That no wrong proceedings or operations of the Government towards the Maori people shall be sanctioned.

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert