M'BETH AND THE KINGITES.

Press, Volume XL, Issue 5755, 28 February 1884, Page 6

M'BETH AND THE KINGITES.

AUCKLAND, January 81

J. B. Mcßeth, of Wellington, whose correspondenco with the Aboriginea , Protection Society and nepociatione with the Kingitea have lately brought him before the public, senda the " Herald" the following copies of letters and statement by himself. The following are correct copies of the letters of Tawhaio and Bewi to the Minister for Native Affairs, unanimously approved of by a meeting helil at Whatiwhatihoe composed of the whole of the Natives in the Alexandra district, many of Eewi'a people, and a large number of chiefs from Kawhia and other places : — Whatiwhatihoe, 26th January, 1884. To the Minister for Native Affairs. Friend, —This ie my word to you about the railway land and survey. Yon grant the Maoris local self-government and the control of their own lands, and we will grant you a railway, and also throw open the greater portion of our lands-.upon the leasing system, but if you do not-consent to this no land will be opened, andvwe will net allow the railway to be made. (Signed) T. A. Kinoi Tawhaio. Whvtiwhatihao, 26th January, 1881. To Hon. Minister for .Native Affairs. Sir, —In consequence of the applications made by some of us Maoris for the survey of the boundary of the King Country having been misrepresented, 1, Kewi Maniopoto, withdraw my signature therefrom. I wish also to state that so far as I am aware no application has been made by the Maoris for the survey of inter-tribal boundaries, and it is not intended that the King Country shall be.put through the Native Land Court a» atnted by the newspapers, I wish further to inform you that, with the consent of the Maoris, no lands will be thrown open for settlement or railway made until we obtain local self-government and the control of our own lands, and I know Native population to be of this way of thinking. You want a railway, and we want local self-government; you grant us the one and we will grant you the other. Tf my name is attached to an application to Court I wish it struck out. (Signed) Naeewi Maniopoto.

With reference to the statements made by the newspapers, I may say that I went to Waikato at the request of Eowi, who wrote to mc on the subject, and that if any " agents for speculators" are concerned in the present Native agitation I am not aware of it. Native affairs are getting into a much more serious state than is generally believed. At Whatiwhatihoe I learned that Tawhaio and some of the leading nhiefs had exerted their authority to prevent the shooting of ths surveyors at Kawhia, and, indeed, that the chiefs had met in council on the subject. Viewing the matter in a European light, and setting aside the question of justice or injustice to Maoris, it is clear to mc the policy of the Government is a mistaken one. The Native Minister will never succeed in opening the King Country by obtaining the signatures of a few Maoris who are not the owners of the land, so long as the great body of the Maori race is opposed, to him. The only way to settle the Native difficulty is to accept the terms offered by Tawhiao and Eowi, the Maori representatives, in their letter to the Aborigines' Protection Society. If that were done, I believe that the difficulty would be settled without cost at once and for ever, but so long as the Government persists in its present unjust, unreasoning and costly course, those who sympathise with the Maoris will persist in the endeavor to bring the whole Native question before the British Parliament, with the object of ascertaining whether the power of dealing with the Native race vested in the Colonial Government by Great Britain is or is not subject to the treaty of Waitangi.

Eewi sends the following telegram to the " Herald":—" What I said to Tawhaio is correct, but I feared both the Queen and the Government. Nevertheless, I will continue to be loyal to the Queen."