THE NATIVE MINISTER AND WAHANUL

Press, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5365, 5 December 1882, Page 2

THE NATIVE MINISTER AND WAHANUL

[PBXSS ASSOCIATION THLBGBAX.] WELLINGTON, December 4. The following is Mr Bryce's letter to Wahanui j—" Auckland.—Friend Wahanui, greeting,—This is a letter from mc to you, which yon will do well to regard as one of great importance. I address you; because of Tawhaio's word that tie de-| cision had gone from him to you; My ; first word is in regard to Tawhaio and my recent visit to Alexandra and Whatiwhati-, hoe. Now Tawhiao was willing to accepts the liberal terms I offered him, but it waejj you yourself, speaking for the Ngatimanio-| poto, which prevented him doing so, andj whatever the conseqnencea may be, yous will have to bear them. Enough; that is| past. There is another matter—th%t the* hand of the law is suspended over crimiS nals in your district. Now last session of, ! Parliament an Act was passed whichj enabled the Government to issue a projjj clamation of pardon for the offenders, bulfi how can this proclamation be is3ue<fi while Tawhaio claims a Bovereigntyj setting himself outside the Queen's lawj and you support him in it. If the hand op the law descends on .the culprits, who w£Q| have to blame but you. Enough of tharai When you spoke at Whatiwhatihoe J°sffl seemed to desire to go back to the discuJ|j sion of old matters, and the causes oTfij trouble between the two races in the WaiJ| kato. I am ready to enter upon that if youfj really desire it, but remember that thea Ngatimaniopotoe , were as deep in thaj trouble as the "Waikatos, and if so how wtlfij yon justify that' the M"™* pumshmenw should not have fallen upon them as upoifij the Waikatos. I wffl not begin the discus*! sion.;. Itis- for you to say whether these] tribes are to be dragged back from thel darkness, where they are now. hidden.| There also is another thing for yon to loon at Yon have closed that part of the! country in which you reside against traJj vellers, but that can't long remain ao.| There are three reasons why it should be! opened by roads and railways, any one of J which is sufficiently strong. First, all thel

rest of New Zealand is open to the public by toads and railways. Your conduot in keeping this part of the country closed is a sign of enmity to the colony. If indeed you and your people were enemies of the Government and the colony, it might be right if we were to continue friends as we now are. "What reason can you give ? This is one strong reason. Another is that the Government own large blocks of land near Mokau, and it is unreasonable to suppose that they will consent to be denied access to their own lands. Tho third reason is that the construction of such public works will greatly enhance the value of everybody*! land through which they pass, as well as benefit others, both Maoris and Europeans. These reasons are strong, and should convince you ; that you are taking a course injurious alike Ito others and yourselves. Now these are all matters of importance. Do you reflect on them. lam willing still to assist you all in making proper arrangements. Ido not use empty words. The question now is whether you desire to confer with nxe for auch a purpose ? If you do, well we can meet at some place I will appoint, and discuss the things which conoern us all. If you do not desire to make proper arrangements, still you will remember that I have made the offer to meet you, and that I desire to make arrangements beneficial alike to all. It is my wish that you will communicate the contents of this, my letter, to the people, co that they may know with whom tho fault lies if trouble hereafter come upon us. From your friend.—(Signed) John Bbtck.