Correspondence.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVII, Issue 1324, 24 August 1860, Page 6

Correspondence.

* * Our correspondence columns being impartially open, we are not to be identified with any opinions expressed therein.

To the Editor of the Southern Cross. Sir —A letter signed Donald McLean, dated July, 1860, appeared in print a lew days ago, wherein Mr. McLean says Teira'spsuty "had an undoubted right of disposal to the land in question,"— viz , Waitara. ; Mr McLean also considered that Te Pakitahi, of the N*atimaiu, "had an undoubted right of disposal to the land" called Tikouma, on the Thames. When he handed over to the native Te Pakitahi a bag of money, when the real owners heard of this matter they were very angry with Mr. McLean, and said that the Pakitahi should go to Mr. McLean as payment for the ■ Peke money,- but that he should not have the land ; and when the " Pandora" party cauae to survey the coast line, the native, thinking they came to survey the land sold by Pakitahi, would not allow the "Pandoras , boats to land. In like manner, when Mr. McLean e»ve Hopa Totohi and MaTk Peneheireti, of the Kapupo tribe, £300 for land on the East Coast, "he considered they had also an undoubted right to the land" • but the real owners called a meeting at Kapancain the summer of 1859. Mr. McLean being present acknowledged before the chiefs that he had bought from the Tmmg party, and there and then the land was given back to the proper owners. These are but two cases out of many, and may not Mr. McLean have made a like mistake in the Waitava land affair, which has caused the present war. Yours, &c, Donald McGakvey. Te Paiapara, August 10, 1860.

To the Editor of the Southern Cross. gIRg lRi _Many of the old settlers, and the more intelligent of the Native Chiefs, agree with youself as to the non-advantage of the present Maori Conference to either the Government or the native people ; indeed, some go a step further, declaring that it is a positive evil, and that its vicious effects will be seen and felfc after many days. "We need not make known our real sentiments to our white people," said some of the parties to their confidential friends, "it is sufficient to express with the lips words without meaning. 1 " This is precisely what one would expect from an assembly of native chiefs at such a time as the present, and in such a place. One bold chieftain, possessed of greater moral courage than his fellows, challenged the Commissioners in regard to sundry grievances deeply felt by the Maori, but he was immediately interrupted ; and thus ended the vnshackled Conference for that day. " Hitherto," said an influential Chief, "We Maori were treated as inferior beings, and when we stood at the door of a white man's house our ears were greeted with the well-known words, "be off," but the Governor has introduced a new order of things ; he has built us & house, furnished abundance of food, and appointed servants to wait upon us. Now at least we shall be looked upon as equals, our Jaws and customs being one, as the Governor says. " Hearken to me. We are now at liberty to enter any dwelling in the town, and should the inmates be at table, we must seat ourselves, and help ourselves to the food we may find thereon, for we »re now one with the white people. Should the Europeans be angry with us, we must tell them that they must calmly submit to the intrusion, the Governor having made a new decree, that there shall be equality." This speech pleased the audience well, and there being no Maori speaker present willing or able to retort, the mutter passed off with a little merriment at the Governor's expense. A Southern Chief, of celebrity, spoke somewhat to this effect. The chiefs having been called to the Conference by the Governor to express themselves in his favour, they had responded to his call, and uttered woTds in his rooms favourable to Ms policy, therefore a reward should be given to each chief in the shape of hard cash. This truthful one was confronted by the Land Commissioner, and the matter hushed up as speedily as possible. " I have & desire," said the faithful W*ka Nene, "but it shall remain within." 1 his desire was to confer with Wiremu Kmgi at Taranaki with the hope of bringing about peaceful relations with the Government. The inference of course is, that Waka considered his friend the Governor to be morally wrong in waging the presont war. It is true that your contemporary has given another version to Waka Nene's words, but the " New Zealander" is well known to be a most doubtful authority upon all native matters. The following is an extract from a Mrori letter dated July 30th, 1860. " What are your thoughts regarding the white skin and the black skin, that is to say && assembling together at Whanganui (t e, KohimuKtm*). We are trying to seek onfc the meaning of this assembling together at Whanganui. Is it salt water or is it fresh ' There is a word in 'James,' the 3rd chapter : 'Doth a fountain send forth in the same place sweet water and bitter V The writers are, I am told, Chiefs of Ngapuhi. A Sobsombeb. August 10th 1860.

To the Editor of the Southern Crots, \ Bli,~~l think the natives will be of age early next year, would it not be well to give them all the privileges of free born subjects on, their attaining their majority. ■I am, Sir, youra &c., ' - ENQDIBKB. Auckland, August 23, 1860. [" Attaining their majority" i« an expression pref. nant with meaning.'— Ed.]

To the Editor of ( tht"' Neie-Zealaiider', Sm.—ln 1 consequence, of,iome editorial remarks which appear-in ,the §ou*A«rH ( .C«ws,of ,ye«terday.reupectintfthYlaie NatJve'Copferenc^at Kohinuwuniv intrq'aiicing'alet't^f.frp'njlfie, ,Rer. Ts... Burrowi.'in 1 vrHich he^tateKthit^th^raj^ution.No. 2 cdndemnato^of tVfeKiri^mo^ment.'and-Noj.' 3, condemnatory.) of Wm, King',! p^dcee^ings^verp not, un»njm;oustjv pMWd;yfeeFßound,'f^f a^ithß*! topk placp,' to Aatc^thkt nljUSJriaTretoiuuonwa? aB«ented,tobyaU ■ tho l Chie'f^w > »tH'VHe'escepuon'ofir».nalt party,abqui ten in n«njber,'>»Ho -wcrp-.cpnneoU'iljvfith lne mov/e , in^V^^^ fron^ew 6fcQjn>^)toiBiiife themselves i|fngre»olution.- „t-} v»H ? 'teiJ'«'Cs%man-^e%e pMwg|h^ t«oiutioii|, e^, >«VoWol&inb{aafi^

Nfttivei were not used to the ?ngliih fo?m ofj>j«fipfe resolutions, th'oie"of them.who disapproved ojr hafo anything to say against 1 all or anjr one'of'the moj-; tions, were invited to come tor ward and fremkly.sUte^ such objections. . ' . <■* 'Some confusion did wise, but it w«s occasioned by k few of the aged Chiefs when the 3rd resolution was being passed; not from opposition to the resolution,, m you shall presently see, but frbm & > temporary uiitunderstanding as to the full scope of its wording^ In order, however, that ther» should be n o misapf prehension or mistake resting on the minds of the Chiefs, the Chairman, after the meeting was over, directed that the resolutions should be sent that even, ing to the several wards and freely discussed amongst the Chiefs, without any official or, indeed, any Euro, poan being present. He gave them at the same time to understand that any resolution objected' to shoul^ oe either altogether omitted or, at the option of the movers, put to t) em again in an amended form. On the following morning (Saturday) |the Chiefs assembled in the Conference Hall, and there publicly expressed their entire approbation of all the resolutions, which were then eagerly signed by onehun-' dred and seven oi the Chiefs, those onh ha\ing expressed any dissent, and that only from the 3rd resolution. I enclose you a copy of the resolutions with the signatures uttached ; merely adding that had Mr: Burrows but expressed to any officer of the Native Department the doubts he now appears to entertain as to the propriety of the mod c in which the resolutions were put and passed, the explanations I now give would have been readily iurnuhed to him, and he would have been spared the trouble of writing a letter which really conveys u very grave imputation against the Native Secretary ns Chairman. I observed in the columns of the Cross a gratuitous statement of a fare" ell address presented to the Governor, having been "signed by a number of Natives without reading, but which when examined by one more wary than the rest, was seen to contain a condemnation of William King." Hming, in connection with Mr. Smith, Assistant Native Secretary, hanskted all the addresses, and never having seen the one referred to, I must in the . most emphatic manner deny the truth of the allei gation thus made in the Cross. ! I am, Sir, 3"our" obedient servant, H. T. Clarke, Resident Magistrate, Bay of Plenty.

Resolution I—" 1 hut this Conference takes co[>n ! ~ zance of the fact that the several chiefs, member* iheteof are pledged to each other to do nothing inconsistent with their declared recognition of the Queen's sovereignly, and of the union of the two races ; aUo of discountenance all proceedings tending to » breach to the covenant here solemnly entyrrd into by them." , . Resolution 2— "That this Conference is of opinion that the project of setting up a Maori King in NewZealand is a cause of division and strife, and is fraught ivithttoubles to the country." Resolution 3~"That this Conference having heaid explained the circumstances which led to the war at Taianaki is ot opinion that the Governor was justified in the couis-e taken by him ; that William King te llnngitake himself provoked the quarrel »nd that the proceedings of the latter are wholly indefensible." Resolution 4— " That the Conference deprecates in the strongest manner the murders of unarmed Europeans, eoramitted by the Natives now fighting at Taranaki." Resolutions—' That this Conference desires to thank the Bishop of New Zealand for his kindness in allowing them the use of the Buildings at Kohiranraitw." Resolution 6— "That this Conference desires to thank His Excellency the Governor for Ins goodness to the Maori people; that is for his constant kindness and love to them ; and also for granting them this great boon the Runanga whereby they aie enabled to express their \iews, and propose measures tor the settlement of the difficulties which arise among the native people." Resolution 7 — That this Conference desire to thank their friend Mr. McLean for his great exertions on their behalf, and for his kindness to the natives ot this Island of New Zealand." "Wiremu Nero te Aivataia ParakaU te Pouepa Homi Matini Wiremu To Ahukaiamu Hetaraka Nero Pnora Tuhaero Tamati Waka x Te Ruk\ Keene x Hapeta Waka x tona tohu Paraone Te Rangi Reweti "Waikato x tona HoriNiniana tohu Monukau Rewarevrft * Mohi Te Rongomau Kepa Te Ahu *-«"< ■** Matutaera Pungaawaka x Ernera Kahawai x tona Winiata Pekamu Tohite- tohu urnransi * Henare Kepa Te Ngae x Tomika Te Mutu x Te Reanuku x Wiremi* Patene Whiti- Na Te Hemara rangi x Na Henare Winiata Hamiora Matenga Tux Na Paratene x Hamuera Te Paki s. Na Here noko RaupaMaihi te Pohepohc v raha Menehira Kingi te Rxkau Wiremu Kingi TuahanMakanni Te "Uhinika gata Mohi Kupe x Arama Kaiaka Topinete Amohau x Kaitoke k Te Herewini Te Amohiu Paikea Tehekena x Tamati Whaiehinaki x Arama Karakangakete Aotnarere le Puna Pakirori x l'dkeiei te M.iwe x Pehimana Hanga x h Hope Taraipine Teama x Wiremu Kingi Tutepaki- PeraTaiki hirangi James Parata Pomare Taiapo Te Waiatua x Ruarsngi Ngahuruhuru x Timothy Tauaru x James x Ngarima Te Tipitipi x Tame x King Wiremu Hakitara x Wiremu Hemi Parai x Hori Kmgi x Te Rawharitua x Tabaiia Turoa Ilimiona Mohaka _ Kawana Paipai Mamhera tehinaote rangi Mete Kingi x i Hori Te Kotuku Mawae x KUiiiini Te Tuaahu Hori Kerei Te Naeroa x ■ Taiaroa x Pehimana Kamarama Perenara Te Ilaukopa Ihakara Rangiahua Parakaia Tiiruroa x Hapurona Tohikura HohepaTamahengia Nga- Reihana Paruhi titoa x Nga Pomate x Hoheia Pokaitara Maihi P Kawili Nopera Te Ngiha x Manihera Te Ivvitahi Ropata Hurumutu x Wiremu Pohe x Horopapera Pukeko x Wiremu Pomare RawinWYitereHikihikix Honetana Te Kero le Rapihana Otaota Haie Pomare Hapimana Ngapiko Petaera \Varerani x Kuruho Rangimaiu Kainamu Tarapo, x Moroati Kibaroa Komim Te llanginoa x Ihakara Tukumaru '1 c Mutu Kuri x , Hoiomona Toremi x Honni Wiieinu Hipango Tamihana Te Rauparaha Tamati Wiremu Puna x j MateneTe Whi«hi Te Ahu Kaiamu x tona tohu We agree to those Resolutions with the exception of one, which is not clear, and from which we dissent, viz. Resolution 3— "That this Conference ha%ing | heard explained the circumstances which led to the war at Taranaki is of opinion that the Governor was justified in the course taken by him, that William King Te Rangitake himself provoked the quarrel and 1 that the proceedings of the latter are wholly inde- ; femible." , I lhis is the Resolution from which we dissent. (Signed Wmratu Tamihana Te Nbke. Te Maniheea iIATANor. EI'IHA KaIIOUO. Witness to Signatures, HenkyT. Cluike, Resident Magistrate, Bay of Plenty.