Rewl at Kihikihi.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2924, 28 August 1879, Page 3

Rewl at Kihikihi.

By Telegraph,

KIHIKIHI, Wednesday. A NUMBER of Waikato settlers arranged to hold a public meeting and give Rewi an opportunity of stating his position with the Government. Pursuant to advertisement, the meeting was held to-night in the Kihikihi school-room, and, though of short duration, was of an interesting character. The school-room was crowderi to excess with settlers from all Waikato and natives of the Ngatimaniapoto tribe. Rewi, on entering the room, was received with cheers.

Mr Henderson was called to the chair. He stated the object of the meeting was to give Rewi an opportunity of confirming or denying certain telegrams sent to the House of Assembly, and which were objected to by some as unauthentic. He asked for a good hearing for liewi. Mr Edmonds, interpreter, said he was requested last night to come to Kihikihi and interpret Rewi's words. He would act impartially. Rewi said: Salutations to you. To this assembly I am ignorant as regards the usages of Europeans in such a position._ I first saw Sir George Grey at Whakairoiro. His first words were to train up a tree, a good tree, and his second words to suggest a work for the good of the two nations. He was determined to adhere to these two positions. Ou the third day Sir George Grey and le Whcoro came to him. Sir George Grey said his endeavours would be to promote good for the future. On his second arrival at Hikurangi Rewi did not sec him until the end of the Hikurangi meeting, when Sir George Grey came to Puniu. Sir George Grey asked, "Where are you goiug?'' Rewi said, "I am going to Waitara." Sir George Grey asked, " What for?" Rewi said, "To see William King. Let us both Sir George Grey replied, " Yes, we will." "On arriving at Waitara," continued Rewi, "I asked Sir George Grey to give me back Waitara." Ho assented. I said, "We two will occupy it and train the tree at Waitara." He said, "That is perfectly correct." I then built a house at Waitara. My house had not been completed when a letter came from Tawhiao for me to return to Waikato. Tawhiao wrote, "I have somctlriug for you to do." On my return Tawhiao requested that Sir Geoi"e Grey should meet him in Marcii, but at the appointed time (March) we heard no thin" from him (Tawhiao), then I wrote for Sir° George Grey to come. The reason of my so writing was based on the invitation I had previously received from Tawhiao. When the Kopua meeting took place there was confusion, but the statement that Sir Georo-e Grey went ou all fours to Kopua was absurd. Prior to their going to Parliament, the new Governor wrote to me. He wished to know what occurred between me and Sir George Grey. I wrote to the Governor as he wished me to relate what Grey said. I replied, " Grey s words were to train a tree which would produce good fruit; and secondly, that there shouti be onekw for both people, that aU should be under one dominion." Kewi further stated that he hinted to the Governor that if

Gj-eys Government was overthrown he (Kewi) would consider himself overthrown. Europeans of recent arrival were ignorant now the Wav ocwu-red. Sll' Geoirge Gfty clv. l. uatlle or fought on. tlrist .istoM. It is folv Will to seek.tMt. Which mfy ilii good or avert jth(it. ivMcfi liiVry De evil. Sir George Qiey is a figiiUng man and Kewi considered himself also a lighting mon (cheers), meaning the two could work harmoniously together for the good if both races. He said the foregoing waß the substance of his communication to the Governor. Kewi sat down after handing some telegrams to Mr Edmonds, who read as follows :—First telegram, datect ,21st July, to the Go-vel-nttr of New Ze.iWnd,.iU Wellington : k'Sulutati'o_-s 1 I have seen in the neA-f.papers that Sir William Fox and other members are trying to overthrow the Government. lam grieved, very grieved, very grieved at this work. I would Jiave in remembrance the tree. thiil lias,, .been trained for gopd so,, that it may produce fruit, that we-'mi'.y pdiceive the good or the evil, of the fruit. But if tho supports of the tree are taken away, how can the tree be nursed or trained, or how can it grow 1 I and my tree will be overthrown, and the work we have been endeavouring to do for the two peoples of this Island will be overthrown." The next tclegriirVi was from Kewi to.Mi- HtoiliiV. . , Tuiiiuhi'a^ A Nga'tih'aun chief, wanted all tire telegrams to be read iv Maori, which was afterWards dotrc. Another telegram to Mr OTtorke was announced to be the same as Mr Hamlin's. The latter was similar to the Governor's, with a few additions to the effect that ho wished they had waited to see the fruit of tho tree before uprooting it; but Sir William Fox arrd Iris friends had begun to uproot the tree before the fruit was produced. Ihe tree was planted by himself, the Grey Government, and the Governor. Hitherto he had seen nothing wrong in Sir George Grey's or Mr Sheehan's proceedings. Mr h ami in was at liberty to notify the telegram to Parliament. After the telegrams had been read, Rewi said he hud nothing more to say. He only came to have the telegrams read, tod show what had been done-. The Chairman rbse and said t-bat that closed the proceedings;

Major. Jaeksoii here jumped on a form and said : Can I ask Rewi a question 1 (Great uproar.) The Chairman said "No."

Major Jackson said: I have been traduced and branded nil over the Colony as a traitor to my country aud my Queen. (Tremendous confusion here followed.) Rewi, who hud been seated on a desk at the head of the room, rose to depart. Half the people iv the blinding were shouting. Three cheers wero called for Rewi and for Sir George Grey and Mr Sheehan, amid which was heard the Major's voice again saying, " I'll take Rewi s answer as a decision as to whether I have been acting fairly or not." The Chairman retorted that Major Jackson must convene a meeting of his own. Further excitement was manifested, and Tiimuhuia mounted a form and said he wished the meeting would stay and consider whether Sir George Grey's conduct had been good or evil, A vote of thanks to the Chairman, carried amid general noise and oonfusion, terminated the meeting. Before the meeting, Rewi had told the conveners he would not submit to be publicly catechised.