THE GOVERNOR'S TOUR IN THE NORTH. THE KORERO AT MANGONUI. (BY OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.)

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 3972, 16 May 1870, Page 7

THE GOVERNOR'S TOUR IN THE NORTH. THE KORERO AT MANGONUI. (BY OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.)

; „ '/ ; MitfGONpi, A&ril 30. , The ' Luna ' rounded the North Cape at .11.30 ,last night,- and anchored in Mangonui harbour at about' a "quarter past; 6 o'clock morning. The passage was, on the •whole, not a very agreeable one. There was a very high sea running, which caused the Vessel to roll very considerably, and rendered it not easjj to sleep. Immediately after the 'steamer had anchored,' Mr. H. S. McKellar, /the Collector of Customs, went ashore' in the ship's boat to the Custom-house, and a few minutes later the Hon. the Native and Defence. Minister went ashore also, and very soon met some of the resident' natives, from whom he learned that a great number of the principal chiefs of this and the neighbouring districts and their followers, to the number of about. 200, had left on the previous day, having come to. the conclusion, from the inclemency of the weather, that the * Luna' had gone to, the Manukau. Before leaving, the chiefs consulted Mr. White, ' 'R.M., who coincided with them as to the probability of the « Luna' a' departure for the Manukau. When the ' Luna' cast anchor in Mango- 1 nui harbour, a calm and stillness hung over the place. The hills which surround the harbonr were enshrouded in thick mist, and it was not until an hour, at least, after our arrival that the sun came out, lifting the vapours, and disclosing the surrounding' country to view. A gun was fired from the steamer, and the echoes reverberated along the harbour ; but, nevertheless, it was long before any stir on the jpart of the inhabitants betrayed an interest in the arrival of the ' Luna. As yet but few of the houses were visible. Captain Butler's residence, standing in the midst of a picturesque tableau, surrounded with rery handsome trees and Bhrubbery j the store on the beach, the Custom-house further up the harbour, another store on the opposite side^ and a few other dwelling-houses, could be seen; but the place was remarkably still and calm, and , save a few natives about the beach none of i the inhabitants were asleep. Mr. White, the Resident Magistrate, was, however, tho first to come on board and to wait upon his Excellency the Governor and the Hon. the Native and Defence Minister. Mr. Patter- ! son, of the Customs at Mangonui, also came on board, and had s the honour of an introduction to his Excellency the Governor. The steamer was just preparing to leave again at about nine o'clock, when a canoe, manned by natives, was descried coming down the harbour. Upon this his Excellency the Governor, rightly conceiving that the natives would be very much disappointed if he did not meet them, expressed his desire to land. The ship's boat was immediately manned, and his Fxcellency the Governor, accompanied by the Hon. the Native and Defence Minister, Sir George A. Amey, Chief Justice, and the following other gentlemen landpd at the Customhouse : Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. C. E Edgcumb, Grenadier Guards ; H. S. McKellar, Commissioner of Customs ; D. McLean, jun. ; R. C. Barstow, R.M., Bay of Islands ; William Mitchell (Private Secretary to the Hon. D. McLean) ; H. H. Maning, jun., and others. On landing the party were met by Captain Butler, Mr. Kelly, and several others of the residents. His Excellency was conducted to the front of the Mangonui Hotel, kept by an old resident, Mr. Mclntosh. Here the Governor was met by several native chiefs, amongst others Pororua Wharekawa, Poni te Kanahi, and Hohepa Kiwa — all of the Ngapuhi tribe. The party were conducted to the fine bowling alley adjacent to the hotel, which is also used as a meeting-house by the inhabitants. His Excellency and party having taken their seats, the chiefs and their followers assembled to the number of about thirty, looking very picturesque in their vaii-coloured garments. Kakana YVAiANAwasthe first to open the korero. Addressing his Excellency the Governor, he said : Welcome, O Governor, to Mangonui. We have been awaiting you for several days. The multitude of the people who came here a few days ago to welcome you have departed. Still we, who are few, bid you welcome. Welcome. Come hither to see "your children dwelling under the law. Poni Te Ranohi said : Come hither, 0 Governor, that you may see your children dwelling in this portion of the island. Your arrival is the cause of much rejoicing. You are our j> are nt. Your coming is as the shining forth of the morning star, or aa sunshine after rain and clouds. . PoßOituA Wharekaori said : Come here, 0 Governor. We rejoice to see you, we who are living under, the sovereignty of the Queen in this portion of the island. I have only one thing to ask — let a small quantity of powder and a few caps be given to some of the authorities here, who may have power to issue it to us.' His Excellency the Governor then addressed the natives as follows : Omy friends, salutations to you all. I am very sorry indeed to have disappointed you by not arriving sooner ; but, as you know, I was prevented by the storms of the last two days. But it is a great charm to come to this peaceful .haven, this place of calms and sunshine, after the storms of last night. 1 am very much * obliged, ' indeed, when I find so many of you coming here to welcome me directly you heard the cannon which announced' my arrival this morning. I have always heard that the Ngapuhi and the Rarawa were famous iin the arts of war, and I am very glad to see that they cultivate equally well the arts of peace. The Queen has often heard of the loyalty, and bravery of Tamati W»ka Nene; and.so many of the other chiefs of Ngapuhi and Rarawa, and she will be glad to hear from, me that their loyalty is continued. / The word of, the Queen is, that the law should be 1 administered equally "for you and for -the pakeha. There is- one point on which I irish to address a .few words to you. I would advise you, while adopting the other customs of civilisation, not to follow in ' the evils of' drinking. * I am story to hear that the evil is making some progress here, and I counsel you strongly to eschew ■ that evil. The effects of intemperance are such that your children, if they give way-to them, will not grqw up such chivalrous warriors, as their ancestora were.. The -Government -is mosb' anxious to meet your wishes and to forward t them in any way it .can ; ,and^ if any ; of ,you hav.e any* complaints* or have 'any request to make, if you will write to your old and tried • friend Mr; 'McLean' you l will always receive a 'reply, ,and, if the case is deserving t of ■ it, redress ' also. I have nothing more to say ,to you further than this. i -» After a few words from Hohepa Riwi and Ha^ma Riri, Karana Pororxta said : Welcome, O Governor, to Mangonui./ The laws of. the ■Qu&en Have been "steadfastly adhered to by fus. All vre want is ,to the same privileges as the Europeans!" 1 " " Rakana said : Welcome,- Gome, the parent and> protector of the people. Our grievances Jiavje been_ T communicated^ ygu in a. 'letter, (and 1 you "have 'come here 'yourself to give 'yqujr reply by word of mouth, I say that is vr.eli. , -Mr. McLean addressed the natives as , follows : O chiefs and'-people^of Mangonui, , palirfcations to you. You must be aware 3ba» it is necessary to the peace of jthe^country ithatrestridtionVsUouldube placed upon the sale "Even the ilJGrOMernor and the Chief Justice, exalted is--asjtneir rank, are subject to iihe Bame restrict&Qnli as the meanest pakehapind the greatest ,gupj itity of ammunition that any European tsanT purchase at aijy^t%eris llb^Vpowder, 101 K. shot," and 25ft "caps'." - Under the same restrictions an.d <wndin<ms^a_fejr jßhiefs.jCMa. > appficatibn~io~th<^ffi> §id*en|; 'Magistrate., i Mr. " White, may haw* small quantityNjf-ammu-. .nittfn Jssuei r %f"- f "i 0^ 8 ?^ 11^ ifear^oseis %oney i &6& 1 wasb^he -%wareiiiatf _" applications w^hftYJK .Aeen^pade ftptfcae Government', for ammunition v by per-, not soruplerlfiid'their request.)

and. shot to those who would have used it ] against the Europeans and friendly natives, j Therefore you cannot but recognise the jus- j tice with which theserestrictions areimposed. Pororua, you 1 would not place a weapon in the hands -of, your, enemy to be turned against yourself. As I have before said, however, in consideration of your loyalty, if "representation is properly made to the Resident Magistrate, a, arnall quantity of ammunition for sporting purposes will be granted to those in whom confidence can be reposed. ■ i Rafana : What you have ; said, -' Mr, j McLean, , is entirely oatisfactory. What we design is that ammunition should be kept here, and that Mr. White and Captain Butler should be authorised toissueit to trustworthy persons only. - > - < Mr. MoLban (to Mr. White) : I suppose it would be a confirmation of our confidence in their loyalty if we were to slightly relax the restrictions, so as to enable trustworthy chiefs, on making proper application, toobtain small quautitiea of ammunition for sporting purposes, Mr. White said he believed the action referred to by Mr. McLean would have a beneficial effect, and Captain Butler coincided in that view of the matter. Hohepa KuOA said : I am glad you have given us this proof of your confidence in us. It will not be abused. We have never shed blood from the time of the coming oi the Europeans : yet you have given powder and arms to the people of the .South. | '< Mr. McLean replied : The Government has not given powder and arms to any people at the South, except those who were acting as soldiers in the service of the Queen. It is not because we doubt the loyalty of the peeple of this place. The Government has every confidence in your fidelity, but you must he aware of the necessity of using , extreme caution in regard to the issue of ammunition and firearms, in order to preserve the peace of the country. Hunia Pokoktja also spoke a few words. His Excellency the Governor replied Salutations to you. I have again to thank you for coming here so speedily to meet me this morning. You all know that it was the bad weather which prevented my coming sooner. If it had not been for my very great desire to see Nffapuhi and Rarawa here and at Whangaroa, I should have gone to the Manukau. I am sorry that T cannot remain here longer, as it is necessary that I should reach Whangaroa to-day. I now bid you farewell, and wish you all happiness and prosperity. The natives appeared to be extremely gratified at the result of the meeting, and followed his Excellency to the beach, watching his return to the steamer with great interest. Several of the natives expressed amongst themselves their admiration of the Governor's punctuality in coming to see them. The party embarked at about 11 o'clock, and in a few minutes the 'Luna" was again under Weigh, the natives, in a picturesque group, watching the departure of the steamer from the shore.