SPEECHES OF MAORI CHIEFS TO GOVERNOR GREY AT THE KERIKERI.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume II, Issue 2, 15 January 1862, Page 16

SPEECHES OF MAORI CHIEFS TO GOVERNOR GREY AT THE KERIKERI.

Wi Hau: Welcome, Governor Grey, Father, welcome. Let this letter be read before the Governor and the meeting, so that we may all hear it. Bay of Islands, Nov. I, 1861. LSir, Governor Grey,— Salutations to you Father. Welcome r back to your children whom you left; we and you are well through the grace of God and through the kind acts of the Queen to the Maori people. Come and view the land which you left in prosperity. We are residing here and listening to the works that are being done in the world. \. Father, the Governor, welcome. The Ngapnhi people have nothing to say to you except to bid you welcome: we are everywhere living in quiet, but we have not yet acquired a knowledge of the many hidden things v in'tigs difficult to understand,) in the Pakeha system. It will be well for you to look to this people, the Ngapubi, to your old friends, and to your Pakeba children residing here. - Respect the word of your friend Governor Browne, and carry it out now at once. Do not delay 0 Governor to establish a town here: the land has been surveyed, and we are only wailing for the word. Give us Pakehas; give us wealth; give us employment, and let the kind law or the Queen unite the two races. Welcome 0 father to your laud, to your people the Ngapulii, and to your Pakeha children. Here end our words of respect and welcome. From us, the Chiefs of the Ngapuhi. Letter read by Tamati Huingariri. j November 7, 1861. :Friend the Governor. ■ Salutations to you. Welcome in the love of God aud..of the Queen to us who are living here in ignorance as to the cause of' your coming Enough, this is our word to you; establish a town at the Kerikeri, for a ( site has been surveyed by the sanction of 1

Governor Browne. This one word to you ii fixed for ever; be true. Enoughs Hikuwai, Wiremu Kingi Tarehav Hobaia. Waikato, Tako Mokaraka, Paraone Wbare, Tamati Huingarirr. Mliai Penetona: Welcome 0 Governor, come and see these people of yours that you left. I will now speak to yon, bnt do not be angry at my words. In purchasing land formerly it was not paid for by the acre, it was bought, by the piece, and the payment was fish hooks, pots, knives, and suchthings, this was the payment given for a great piece of land in former limes. Herein was the unfairness, for we were ignorant. The Gospel was first introduced, and then land purchasing was carried on. t will tell you the work of the British resident formerly. Mr. Busby came and then the Treaty of Waitangi was made to save us. Ido not consider that there was any harm in that Treaty, if there was I would name it. My parents resided, at Okura, and were lost at sea: Piakau (a European) was also lost at sea, and then Mr. Busby purchased that land. It was not land that had been sold to Piakau, he was merely a squatter there, and now let the face of the Treaty be washed clean. 1 will now speak about Mr. Clarke. Ido not consent to Mr. Clarke's appointment, let Mr. Clendon be our Magistrate. ; Wbare: Welcome 0 Governor to your children: lam willing that my words should go with the Government. Gome and be my friend to shew me kindness; what I approve of is to live under the Government as with my parent. Wiremu Kingi: Gome and see these children of yours: these children are yours, my word will not take another direction. Hearken; this was what was meant by the word which you left with us. I replied, yes, perhaps. Your words are upon what is good. My word will not deviate, it is what I spoke to you in Auckland. 'Waikato: Welcome, welcome good, wefc come the Queen. I will not set up a report of evil, nevertheless my word to you is a bad word. My place alone was not tried by Mr. Clendon as my children obey my words. My years in the world will not be many. I shall not go to war for I am an old man. I do not approve of Mr. Clarke being made a Civil Commissioner. Tango Hikuwai: Welcome Governor Grey. Our words have been written on

consent to them. JEstaUtsh ijownshiphere, put flesh upon the land that the laws ]fcay.apisar,jjj>-the world. LetthVlaw relating to each man's lajad be jnade. and lea the old: Pakeua la»d claims 'be settled. Some Jhaye • been surveyed, others are not y*t purveyed; let Crowa Grants be for *M the Maori lands. Tiis is a word, abom Mr, Clarke, senc. Ido not approve of "V£!»*n, Mr. Gteodpn. does wrong then only let another man be appointed in bis place. ' Pirip? Gome, gatbw attttvkigs to your find Jet God oee w&at 1» wrong. y, W\ Haji... This was the word to Governor "Browne whien he visited the Waimate. This : is unity. Welcome Governor Grey with yoftr new system. Governor.Browne proposed to establish townships so that the 'Paltehas and Maories could live together. >The pieces of land have been surveyed* and we are wailing for the fulfilment of :hH word; there is error, for we have performed our promise, Whereas bis is not yet performed; Bo yon agree to Governor Browne's word. . WeiCome with your mam :.:system, welcome to your did friends; ■■ Te Wba r Welcome, Governor Grey* with your new plans; beWnd*o me liksthe former days. TamaiTPaiia: Welcome, you atone shall be burton Wipe away the .sins of this isfond, Wbe?i yau cariie before, there was evil, ajicl you put an end to ft, and now that you have come again there is wrong standing up.. Ido pot. approve of eyfl,. Wipe away thei sins of .ibis island. »Ira Mura: Hearkea 0 Governor, Mr, Clarke was not in fault in regard to tie land, the Maories wei?e mostly in feuh. Mow we approve, of Mr. Clarke :as head ■ever the Waiotate. Mr. Qankewas notin fault in purcteasjng the land. Axes, were great treasures to the Maories in former times, and land could be obtained for them, I have seen no fattjt.in Mr. Clarke; leil»im be bead over the Wainiale. if be is like ; .ilr. Shepherd, 1 approve of Mr. Clarke. Welcome. The Catechism 6ays that I am to do unto others as I WoaMaveothers to do unto me, and to obey tbeQueen. Bencethis word,Uiistondhas become the Qaeen's. If men's works are good only, it will be well. It will to well also if She Governor tells us bis plans.

Naihi: Come and hearken to my words, I will speak about the land. My landV, ami all the lands about my part remain unsettled by the Pakeha, and ibis causes • trouble* Welcome, father of aU men. It is well, the tribes have spoken truly to you. ■ Heremaia ?eL'A,ra.: WelcoW JJere am h Wekome back fatherugj\ the, Ngapuhi. (Song T ) I have constantly adhered to yo*«inee you left me. You ara there* Q Gweraot. Welcome as a parent for tbe orpbaa, as a shejter for the people; I am pleased, and will always, adhere to .yoiu If I prove felse, there is nothing that will not have a skin. If I run, I will- run to the law of the Queen for safety. Welcome Governor, welcome. There is no day wherein there witt ten© evil: be kind 0 Chiefs. Welcome 0 Governor to your ehadrett. . Hare Hikairp: Welcome. Come and listen, my speech, will not be long. Tbe law is the tiling by which man is saved. Give us tbe laws of God and of the Queen. Had I commenced the speeches at this meeting, I should have asked you about your plans, and questioned you as to what you bad to communicate. Had ibis been done we could have properly replied to vou, Papahunbia: tet tbepe be one word* 0 people, to the Governor, Behave well to the parent:, murmur afterwards. lam silting down, mount upon my back, 0 Governor, and I wilr carry to youf people atHokianga.