α-i
73
tribe. These are the subjects which gladden my heart. I say again, lam alive at the present moment, let these things be done in my time. That is all. The Premier lam deeply gratified to find the elder chief of the tribe here this morning. It must be pleasing to the Ngatiwhare that he has arrived before I left, and that I have seen him in person and in the presence of all. I will now shake hands with this old and respected chief, and in person welcome his presence here to-day I rejoice at having had an opportunity of shaking hands with him before he passes away This is the position the Government, my colleague, and. myself take up. We say that as every day and every week of time that passes without your having your titles defined, there is great danger We must see that this is done—that justice is done to you before you are gathered to your forefathers. You are the connecting link with the past, you represent the past generations. With regard to the younger men, if this link is severedevil will befall them, misfortune will befall the younger generations. Others will reap where they have not sown , others will get in error that which belongs to the Ngatiwhare. I therefore, so far as the Government is concerned, wish to have that which belongs to you clearly denned and satisfactorily settled. I think your voices have a right to be heard and your wishes complied with, more especially as regards the survey of Te Whaiti. When I see you in Wellington I shall then have seen the people right through the district and can come to a conclusion. You know my views in the matter I wish to be fair and do what is just to all concerned. I will therefore finish my journey before I give a final decision. I do, as a friend, as one wishing the Ngatiwhare and the whole of the tribes well, advise them, before it is too late, to have the titles to the land ascertained, so that they can know what belongs to them and what will go down to their children. I will now leave the question of survey, and go to that of a road between here and Galatea. I may tell you in that respect that after hearing your wishes in the matter I am favourably disposed, and if I can arrange for it to be gone on with I will do so even before next June. Wherever a road is made, progress and prosperity follow it. Whilst the schools educate the mind through the schoolmaster, the road also educates because it gives the older people an opportunity to meet their friends, and they get the news of the outer world. Without those roads their visits would be very few and far between. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than for the old man to live to see you able to drive in a buggy from here to Galatea. I notice he is getting frail, and riding on horseback would be exhausting, but he could drive in a nice buggy along a good road. If there was a good road between here and Whakatane, and between here and Ohinemutu, the visits of Ministers would be more frequent than they have been in the past. And now we come to the request of the Ngatiwhare, that they may have a flag given to them to commemorate this visit, and thereby to know that you have the same protection afforded you as the other parts of the Queen's dominions have, because the sun never sets on her possessions. If you want that flag and that protection you shall have it. I have already told you that, as regards setting apart a piece of land for the Ngatiwhare at Ohinemutu, it shall be done;. You shall have that land. If you had a piece of land there upon which you could camp it would be of benefit, and I will see that you have it. I think I have nowspoken upon all the subjects. lam glad to see that letter you have received from the Education Department. If you have no map to mark the principal piece of land I will get the Chief Surveyor to send you one, so that all these particulars can be fixed, and the three acres marked off which you wish to give, and then we can get the matter completed 'without delay As to the investigation of the titles to the Whirinaki and Herewera blocks, the Government have no power over the law. When once a decision is arrived at, the Government have no power over rehearings, and cannot interfere, unless there has been absolute fraud. The Supreme Court is the only tribunal that can interfere. But it would be well if you were to reduce to writing the matters complained of, and send the particulars down to me, so that I may make inquiries as to how the affair stands. I will now conclude by expressing to you the very great pleasure I have experienced on this my visit to the Ngatiwhare. I must also express my thanks to Hiwavva Whatanui and his wife, who, on behalf of their grandfather, have done the honours of the house, and have so much contributed to our comfort while here. They have entertained us, and we thank them for their attention. I hope the Ngatiwhare will rest satisfied that they have nothing to regret. We have been well entertained and received here, and shall remember our visit amongst you with very great pleasure indeed. Salutations and a kind farewell to the Ngatiwhare, and may you prosper ! The party then proceeded on their journey to Tβ Mimi, hoping to reach there before nightfall, but, having made such a long stay at Te Whaiti, they had to camp in the bush. The next morning a start was made, and Te Mimi was reached by noon. From here the Premier proceeded to EuATAHDNA, a distance of seven miles. Here another meeting was held. Teihana was the first speaker He said, —This is our great house Matatua. It is not much of a place for visitors, but come, welcome the Premier ! Hautaruke said, —Welcome to Euatahuna ! Come and see these people. Welcome, Mr Carroll, with the Premier ! Come in love , we greet you. It is well. Go where you like over this country See the country and its people if you wish. We expected you to come to see us. We are on the move ourselves. We are going down to the Court. We are glad to comply with the European laws. Te Whare Kohia said, —Welcome, Mr Carroll, to Euatahuna ! I have only heard of you, Mr. Carroll, as the one returned to represent us. I now see you in person come to Euatahuna. All our chiefs are gone, there are very few here now to welcome you. This is, no doubt, a historic place in the European mind. It is not much of a place when once you have seen it. Come, if you are so inclined, to kill the people on the land. If you have come to show us light, well and good.
Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.
By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.
Your session has expired.