THE LATE WAIROA MEETING.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3045, 30 April 1867, Page 7

THE LATE WAIROA MEETING.

W» condense the letter to the Eitor of the Ifawtes Bay Herald giving a narrative a the meeting. The chitf matter for the setfement of which the oonfennoe was called was the nuch-vexed question of confiscation of native lands o the Eaet Coast. Ail understand it, Mr. McLean, oir respected Superintendent^ was the chief mover of the gathering. That certain lands were to be talon by the Government had long been an accepted Act ; but the precise localities had to be determine! and conflicting interests adjusted — hence the mettiug. For many months past the natives on the coat, more particularly those of the Wairoa, have been making preparations in the'shape of procuring food ior the expected -visitors. Old men, who for years had scarcely moved beyond the smeke of their tiharos, aroused themselves from their lethargy and daed the dangers of the briny deep for the purpose of procuring piscatorial delicacies ; antiquated ladies (whose bodies had been innocent of soap from their childlood upwards) rushed into the flood to seize its cruaticeous inhabitants and to gather its dainty testacea; children wandered through the woods imitating the joyous songs of its feathered inhabitants and alluring them into the treacherous snare j whilst sylv*n glades reaounded with yells qf canine delight in the pursuit of the bristly denizen of the forest— that much-despised but very intelligent animal, the * porker. 1 The chiefs of Ahunri forwarded their quota toward* the gene■mistook in the^shape of a very considerable supply of flour, tea, and sugar. In a word, provisions of every description were collected in great abundance, and Maori hospitality was never more profusely bestowed than at the late Wairoa meeting. I should say that £1,000 would scarcely cover the expenses incurred for provisions alone, of which our late respected friend Kopu contributed not lees than £300. In addition to this, two houses, in the old native style of architecture, were erected purposely for t&o recaption of visitors — one by Hamana Taiepa, of the Ngatikurupakiaka people, and the other by Kopu. Each house is about 60 feet in length by 20 feet wide, and each beautifully ornamented with scroll work ia the good old native style, which to be appreciated must be seen. That erected by Hamana at his settlement (the Übi) is called Poho o te Rangituanui, after an ancestor of the Ngatikahungunu tribes. It has an image surmounting the door with outspread wings— somewhat in the form of those mystical beings we are in the habit of denominating angels (albeit the expression of its countenance is scarcely angelic). In that erected at Te Hatepe, the village of Kopu, there is also a figure of a most respectable lady, as large as life, at the base of a pillar facing the entrance, of Most benign aspect, and exceedingly well executed. These two houses did not cost less than £150 each. The preliminary business of the assembly may be ■aid to have commenced at Te Uhi, the pa of Ngstikurupakiaka. I shall therefore pass over the arrival of the party at the residence of Toha (the pilot) at the mouth of the river, and the ceremonies consequent thereupon, and proceed at once to note what occurred at the first-mentioned pa. On Saturday, the 30th March, the Hon. J. C. Kichtnond and Mr. McLean and party having arrived, together with the Ahuriri chiefs Karaitiana, Tareha, Te Hapuku ,and others, with about2so of their people, . and a number of the men of Mohaka, — the whole body proceeded to the pa above mentioned, where a plentiful repast was provided. Our natives marched in a long procession four deep, with union jack and other flags of fanciful designs flying— the bugler sounding a long tin trumpet about five feet in length, and one young man (strange to relate) playing upon the concertina "The Campbells are coming." Almost every man of the party was armed either with a double-barrelled gun, or rifle. On approaching the pa they were met by the Ngatikurupakiakas, when a volley was fired by our people, and returned by the men of the settlement. The demonstrations usual among natives — as if about to attack each other — then took place, and, subsequently, the all-prevalent tangi or crying. The ceremony of the "tangi," in this instance, being over, the residents of the village addressed themselves to the task of satisfying the hungry appetites of their visitors — no easy matter, I can assure your readers. Food had previously been prepared in another part of the village, and every man, woman, and child of its inhabitants rushed with frantic glee to secure something to place before the strangers. Some possessed themselves of strings of cooked eels ; some obtained possession of cakes of baked bread ; others seized upon boilers of hot tea and pots of "riripi" (a mixture of boiled flour, sugar, and water), while the main body loaded themselves with baskets of cooked potatoes and kumeras. Marching then in a body, they deposited the heterogeneous mass upon the ground, before their guests. One man itrutted dp triumphantly with a roast pig upon his shoulders ; and another old fellow, ambitious of carrying something, in the absence of anything better, grasped the stretcher upon which it had been hanging, and with a most ludicrous expression of countenance placed it upon the heap. Then commenced a general ruth and scramble of the strangers, each in gleeful mirth endeavouring to secure such of the delicacips as suited to his fancy. Baskets of potatoes and kumeras were trampled under foot, delicately cooked '* porkers" were rent piecemeal, and a most prodigal and reckless waste of really good and wholesome food took place— the use of which would have gladdened the hearts of many a destitute and wretched family in old England, aye, and in New Zealand too. Meanwhtye, a most plentiful repast was spread out for the pakeha. A table covered with a snow-white damask cloth was set out in front of the newly erected house of Hamana. Amongst other delicacies provided was a fine fat stuffed goose ; fowls ; roast beef ; a most luscious sucking pig, stuffed and. cooked in a manner which would not have disgraced a Soyer - t bread which one would suppose could not have been produced by any less celebrated a character than our worthy townsman, Mr. Blake ; and vegetables in abundance, in addition to all this, there was a most respectable supply of generous sherry, obtained I know not ■where — I imagine not from the Wairoa publicans. I was much amused with my old friend flapuUu endeavouring, with a blunt pointed knife, to dissect the remains of the goose ; but finding his efforts utterly futile, he cast the knife down with a mattered anathema, and seized the creature with his fingers. the feeding being over, a most prodigal supply of wncooJxd provisions was then brought and placed before the visitors, consisting ef flour, sugar, potatoes, kumeras, pigs, eels, lampreys, kc, intended a$ a supply during the time our people might' remain at the settlement. This pile of edibles measured 50 fjet long by four high, and the whole mass was j loxmally handed over to Mr. McLean by Hamana, 1 K) be distributed amongst the various Ahuriri tribes> This his Honor did in avery npat speech, judiciously calling upon the people (according to then? standing and position) to take possession of their portions. Hamaxa then addressed Mr. McLean to the following effect :— " My friend Mr. McLean. You and our people are welcome here to your land (referring to the land to be handed over to the Government), the Wairoa. In olden days Te Kahu o te Eangi (Rainbow of the Heavens) was a promoter of peace in this place, and, subsequently, our chief Tiakiwai. These men have gone to their last resting place, the abode of our ancestors' spirits, and with them has departed the peace and tranquillity of our district, You now have arisen amongst us to/ speak words, of peace and" kindness. We look' upon you, the representative of. _ the Government, as a parent and guardian, to befriend anA assist us at the present time-^-we therefore welcome you as a benefactor; Whether we be Hauhaus, Kingites, or Government men, all are alike ; we are aH' your children." JUIHI KajMOANA, a chief of Ng&tikurupakiaka, saMj-^"Frien4Mr.McLean. You and yorir people are Welcome to fte inhabitants qf |he Wairqa, whq have received and welcomed hundreds, pome and direct the deliberations of your "Wairoa frfencls. Our trouble' commenced with Kingism ; then came the Haubau fanaticism, and, lo ! the result was the dpath of Volkner. This has, brought muery and affliction upon the people pf this side of the island, 1 ' It was here said by some one that, as the business for which the meeting had been called was not to be discussed until Kopu's settlement was reached, nothing more was to be said. Ti Hjlptjktj then jumped up and said:-— "Who says nothing more is to be said ? I have to say that the pakeha is right when he claims land, the owners of which he has conquered by his bravery. There is Fakowhai inland, which must be given to the pakeha ; he has earned it by his prowess. And not f>i}hf Eakowhai, but Mafcgaaruhe, T Matakuhia, 1 Waiau',' and on' fc> Waikar'e 1 Mdana. Thft country below (lower part of the Wairoa) must be left for the Maori ; the country above must be given in compensation for the killed of both pakeha and Maori.'' KABAmAJEfAthen rose and said:— "Nothing can be said. In olden times disputes could be settled by discussion ; now,' in these days of civilization, every filing is settled in courts of law. Nothing more <jan be said tb§n" what Mr, McLean has jitsed. In the meantime, I am npt satisfied with uncooked grub } if my food were cooked, I'migbfc remain here possibly for weeks. 4> the matter ifcwii, X •ball depart; for Kopu'i home,"

Hamana here exolaimed :— " You have plenty of your own women to oook your food ; we have supplied you with abundance of firewood, and you muit now shift for yourselves." This was said of course in ft jecular manner. Here the business of this day ended. Monday, the Ist of April, was observed as a grand gala-day in honour of the people from Nuhaka, Te Mahia, Turansa, aud the East Cape, who had just arrived. A grand exhibition of military tactics took place. At the lound of the bugle out rushed from every house the well-drilled raeu of Ahuriri chiefs Karaitiana, Tareha, and the Hapuku, upsetting (to their great surprise and alarm) two or three garrulous old women, and scaring a host of marling curs. Then •nsued a general buckling on of belts and adjustmeHt of accoutrements. The soldiers of Karaitiana, Tareha, and the Hapuku '• formed line" in most admirable order, and went through a variety of evolutions with a steadiness aud regularity which would no doubt have excited the envy of our invincible Napier Volunteers and Militia veterans. The words of command were given in remarkably good English, and the numbering, "one," "two," *c, ran along the lines with the slightest possible tinge of Maori accent. The native* have a natural aptitude to perform evolutions requiring an attention to time. The " marking time" of the various corps was performed with a regularity perfectly astonishing. I wai ■trongly reminded of the futile attempts of our own worthy and valorous townsmen to accomplish a similar feat. The beautiful exactitude with which the old native hakas and dauoes are performed is well known. Such men, under proper training and leadership, could not fail of making good soldiers. Of this we have had abundant proof from what has been done by the brave Arawas, and the gallant men under tht intrepid McDonnell. Our frienda, having exhibited to their ruder Wairoa brethren the characteristic traits of European civilization, proceeded to show that their superior education had not altogether subdued their natural barbarity of character. 11 The ruling passion, be it what it will, The ruling passion conquers reason still," Divesting themselves of all clothing, their faees marked with lines of red ochre and charcoal, and hair ornamented with peacock and other feathers, they commenced a haka (native dance) which baffles description, and of which the leas said the better. These displays of Maori barbarity are well known, and I will not attempt a description of them. At the conclusion a rtturn haka was given by the Ngatikurupakiakas— a m«it disgusting spectacle of impurity and savagism. One fairy-like creature, scarcely ten years of age (a half-caste) took up a position in the front and electrified the spectators by the graceful movements of her lithesome body, retiring at each interval of the performance amongst the motley crowd in the back-ground to hide her blushes in the midst of her admiring companions. The whole of this day was passed in feasting, singing, and dancing, 4c. On Tuesday, 2nd April, the whole body started for the Hatepe, the village of Kopu. Our people, largely augmented in number by th« addition of the coast tribes and those of the lower Wairoa, formed a column four or five abreast and som« 600 yards in length. On nearing the settlement they stripped themselves of their clothing and advanced in a state of nudity towards the pa, where they were met in like manner by the Hauhau leader Te Waru, and hi* people. Then ensued a series of war dances and bakas of a similar nature to those of the preceding day. Our Ahuriri friends particularly distinguished themselves on this occasion. On this and the following day all places of bulkiest were closed amongst the European population, a very large number of whom were present at the meeting. Numerous European ladies also graced the proceedings with their presence. Never before had Kopu's pa been honoured with such a galaxy of beauty and grace as was that day assembled. An immense quantity of provisions had been provided for the native visitors, consisting of dried fish, preserved birds, eels, pork, potatoes, kumeras, flour, tea and sugar, &c, &c. Several store-houses were crammed full of bags of biscuits, flour, sugar, pumpkins, &c. Numerous piles of water melons were to be seen in every direction covered with flaxen net?, the edges of which«were staked down to the ground. A cask of tobacco weighing 3001b. was opened and apportioned amongst the guests. Unconsumed bags of flour and numerous baskets of potatoes were sold for a mere song by our natives to those whites who were inclined to speculate in such matters. It is a practice with natives never to leave behind anything which is given them on occasions like this. If they cannot consume or carry away all the food placed before them, they tell it if possible. This day (2nd April) was passed in feasting and general enjoyment. On Wednesday, April 3, the business of the meet* ing commenced by Kopu and one or two others making a few remarks respecting the late troubles of the district and the intentions of the pakeha. Mr. McLean then stepped forward, and stated to the assembled tribes that it had been the intention of his Excellency the Governor to be himself present at the meeting, but that business had required his presence in the other island. The Hon. J. C. Richmond had, however, come in his place, and he would speak to them the word' oi the Governor — afterwards the Heretaunga chiefs would doubtless address them. The Hon. J. C. .Richmond then rose, and, advancing into the midst of the people seated around, spoke as follows (through the able interpretation of Mr. Hamlin) : — "Friends, Kopu and all the chiefs and men of Heretaunga here assembled, — I have come a long distance to be present at this great meeting. It is a very great pleasure to see so large a number of men and women met here together in amity and peace, under the shadow and protection of the law. Then w only one thing which I regret, and that is that I alone am the person to speak to you. I had thought and hoped, until a few days ago, that the Governor himself would have been here. But although he has been in these islands a very long time, he has never before visited the South — having been prevented by business and a multiplicity of matters requiring his attention. He therefore went to visit the people of the Middle Island, anal attend to their interests ; this (therefore accounts for his absance from your gathering. It is not of myself alone that I have come here ; but, from the wish of the Governor and the other members of the Government, I have come to see those brave men who have supported the Government under very trying circumstances. I should be afraid to attempt to enumerate the many whom the Governor' would wish me to name, lest I should omit some who have spilt their blood nobly and bravely fighting in defence of law an.d order, and in repressing the attempts of thqse'who would violate the peace and Vranquilfity of the country. When the history of this country come.s to be. recorded,, their deeds' will be written and their memory revered. There qrej however, nqw present soxne who. have not always been friend^ qf the Government—who«e deeds have not always been honest and noble. I refer to the Hauhaus. The Government knows and values bravery, and will appreciate these men, now they have given up their evil ways and joined the loyal men of the country in upholding law. Do not let any one suppose that tubmission to the law is slavery. All who are obedient to the law come under its protection, and will be treated as children of the Queen. I might give many illustrations of the beneficial operation of the law, but the thing is self-evident. I, for instance, have travelled many long miles through the country with a feeing of independence, freedom, and security; whereas had tb.ere been no law, I must have ineaked along with my head down, apprehensive of danger atany moment. This is the freedom that the law offers to all of us, whether pakeha or Maori. And I wish to say, with respect to the business of this great meeting, the land, that the law here again is a protector ; that it will not make slaves of men. It justly takes their land, but ib is careful to recurn a sufficient quantity to enable them to live as free men. I will not speak more about this land questibn. It is 'a zpatter which will be dealt with' by the different section! of th'e people here met' logetner. Should you wish fo offer any suggestions, I shell be happy to be tfye medium of carrying them tp the Gevex^men!t for 'due, consideration. Th,ere is one subject which X consider important, and to which I with to dr4w your attention, although I have been talking too long— and it is difficult to talk at all when one does not understand the language in which his ideas must be expressed. It has been said that the Maori people are decreasing in numbers in consequence of the influx of the pakeha. You must not believe this. You may have heard from your fathers that the Maori race was decreasing before the pakeha came here. The pakeha introduced some evil*, hut he also introduced much good. Ona of the principal causes which have depopulated your'couritrs has been war. It is for you to' say that thfct evil sha.ll cease, A'nbther great evil (which the pakeha introduced) is drunkenness; that, however, is not the fault of pakeha • gentlemen.' We look upon men who roll about the streets as men who are not to be trusted with Government affairs or any other matter of importance. The strife amongst the tribes and chiefs should not be who should have the greatest number of men, but who should have the greatest number of tober adherents. 'Sober chief make sober men. It Ta impossible no6 to notice that in dittriotS *rher§ the chiefs' ate Hobfcr the settlements are, prosperous, i* anqther gre»t evil existing amongst the tribes, of which it is more difficult to speak, and that it thf irregularity of intoroouno between tbf

We did not, lie said, come here to consider th e thoughts of men upon this question. The Rev. Tamihana's ipeech, he considered, did not represent the ideas of a minister of the Gospel, but rather those lof a JHauhau minister. If the question of what lands were to be taken were not now decided, the result, when the Native Lands Court sat, would be confusion— the district would be spotted over by small claims. Himself, Mr. McLean, and Mr. Biggs had come to ask the chiefs to assist in arranging affairs so as to prevent that confusion. If the Key. Tamihana were a lover of peace, he would lend his influence in assisting to settle the matter at once — if not, he might let it alone. li Tamihana, or »ny other man, did not wish to join in the proposal made, he must apply to the Court, and get what he could. The Government did not wish, nor could they force, any one to accept the proposal now made, with reference to these particular blocks. They were only anxious that all should join in getting the matter settled as satisfactorily as possible to all parties. I In answer, the rev. gentleman said :— " You of ' i course have a perfect right to contradict and disapprove of what I have said. But point out to me where lam wrong. Go into my remarks sentence by sentence. Land is not a matter of so small value that questions affecting it should be settled so peremptorily. Y"ou have but yesterday, as it were, arrived, and you expect the whole matter to be concluded today. If you disapprove of what I have said, carry my proposals before the Governor at Wellington ; or, still further, to the Government of England for their consideration. Anything affecting 10 small a matter as a horae you would minutely investigate in your tribunals ; but the question of land you would settle off-hand. With respect to your observation regarding a Hauhau minister, you are welcome to make any remarks you may think proper in that respect." Mr. BIGGS here stepped forward and said : — "There is one thing which Tamihana has said, which I wish to answer ; namely, that the land to be taken for the military settlement was fixed ujion by myself, Major Fraser, and Colonel Whitmore, so that we might get good pieces for our portiont. This is not the caie. The reason why that locality wa« fixed upon was to out off the communications between the Hauhaus of thii place and those of Waikato and the Uriweras. I have been to Waiapu, Tokomaru, Uawa and Turanga, as well as to Wairoa, and have ■poken to all the chiefs of those places a* well as Tamihana concerning the plan I wiahed to adopt relative to the taking of Hauhau land. They all agreed that my plan was good — Tamihana amongst the rest. JNow he speaks differently. The fact is (and there i« no use disputing the matter), all the Hauhau land in the river is gone. What we want novt to do is to have an amicable settlement. Fathers, sona, brothers, unclea, and nephews, fought on different sides ; so that their reipective claims to the land of their forefather*, under present circum■tanees, are in a state of inextricable confusion — so much so that there is not a spot upon which one of them could place his foot and say, 'This is mine.' If you do not agree to'some arrangement like the one proposed, it will be my business to take the whole of the Hauhau land for the Government. This I certainly shall do — leaving none behind. It would then bt cut up into small pieces of no material value to any one. I ask you, therefore, to com* to some arrangement, lest it be worse for you." I find that I cannot complete my account of the business of the meeting in this letter without omitting many interesting matters ; I am therefore under the necessity of postponing the conclusion of my report. James Geindell, Napier, April 2?, 1867.