KOHANGA.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume II, Issue 5, 5 February 1862, Page 20

KOHANGA.

December 17th, 1861. His Excellency: I have come here to help you, and I thing the best thing is for you to ask me questions about, anything you do not flnQeretandj ( W. Kukutai). Do yqii. understand what the duties of the Runanga will be? (Waata: Yes.) The Work of the Runanga, when it sits as such, wilt be different from that of the Magistrates ; it will tie td make laws arid' regulations for fhe Government of the District. When these rules have bteen made by the Runanga and approved by the Governor, then the Magistrates will have, to enforce them as any other laws are enforced. Then there will be other work for the Runanga to do: it will have to consider all things that are good for the District ; e.g., if h Perry is wanted by any people, the Runanga will have to consider if it is necessary, and report to m'e before I do anything ; it will have' to consider and recommend what.the ferry-man will have to be paid, and what people should pay for crossing. In the same way •if Roads are wanted, it will have to .enquire, if it is so; and what are the best lines, and. when -I have consented to their being: made, it will have to superintend them and the expenditure, and the Secretary of the Runanga will: have, to keep the account, and the liuuanga. will have to arrange with, the owner, of the land over wluch tn&road:wUl pass, if he. is tp be. paid

thp wunqwav- the boun* disputed, the \p,ill appoint a. com-, mission, to? examine xutgi the and report, ans ty, vriJl. hijve to coqsider. if the commission baa reported correctly, and it w;ill, report iu its turn to. me qs to. what I ought to.do. In the way if is the Runanga will, <Wyje, upon the site, ap4 what fees people shou i pay should be let in free with n paying. Then if the people want a Scboojthejj the first instance have to apply to-the Runanga, and it will report to me if the school is, necessary. Fur all t >ese things it will arrange its own time of meeting, perhaps onqe a perhaps once in six weeks, and it will sit for five or six days if necessary, and will'give public notice that ail may know of the sittings and attend them if tney wish. This is alh I niow thiuk that you will understand about Ronangijs. About Magistrates I need say nothing, you all know what they have to do. If .you w<int any more information upon any subject now. you can ask me, ana I shull be glad, if I can, to give it. Te Aoro. te rangi (Tainui).: My part of the talk will be op the same subject as yours, Waata. You spoke about peace, about an enlightened system, and about everything which is good. That side (of the question) is correct, but, brother, you and I have never been found in fault up to this period. (To His Excellency.) After you, the Governor, left us, there arrived another Governor, and when that Governor turned round, it was against me, That is the reason why lam dark. lam an orphan, G Governor, an orphan, all are orphans by accidents and by war; by your arrival in New Zealand,, either we become possessed of parents, or we do not. Well, be kind to the children according to your word-; and let not the Maories say that you are speaking deceitfully (or with flattery); do not curve your road, let it be straight, that carts may travel on it. Our discourse will not be at an end, it will be mouth to mouth, we shall not be separated ; at the present time, lam pleased with your korero, but if ray. reply ia wrong do not . he. gloomy, nor find fault with it. Now th'i3; is wbat I" say: I consent to the Governor's word. The Governor calls for. the. road, and the rananga, and everything, has. bepn mentioned by the Governor. My (present) road is the out-? side, noadj on the aea, and its* opening (commencement) is: ftt*W haingafoa. A road; is the thing whicU I approve of, the (governor's side, because, of . the mud and th<3 mountain, and ojur produce, that the tribes, may be conveyed for' sale. I speafc. thus to you, Q Governor, because of the words which you

'poke to me about the roads and the bye-roads: 1 consent to them. -This is neutrality (or friendliness), 0 Waikato: lam much in want of my road. Look at my side (of the subject). Let the Kupapa (neutral native) defer his word (of censure). If you see the guns and soldiers travelling on the road, the error will be mine, apprehend me, because I shall be in fault: judge me, convey me to prison, because the Governor aud I shall have cleared the road, allowing the guns and soldiers to pass. If my road is formed I shall be much pleased at being able to take my po tatoes, and wheat, and onions, and other produce to market. That is nil about the road. I do not agree to the (European) Magistrates. We want no other Magistrate than Waata and W iremu te Awaitaia ; they can' do the work. Our errors and our faults can be talked over; if there is any great offence, I can write about it to you. I will not consent to adopt the Runainga and the Magistrate. That side (system) is very good, but 1 have spoke to you about it in the town, telling you I was not agreeable to it. I will tell my errors by letter lest it be said that I have been flatteriug you. Ruihana (Ngatikarewa) : If I fall now, do not laugh at me. This is my patience and my kindness. It is for my eye to see goud and evil. These are the things I am afraid of, ganfl and powder. Break them loose (release tie restrictions on their sale), and 1 shall be satisfied: these, in my opinion, are the fearful things. My thoughts are, make an opening for the snake (allow the sale of arms and ammunition). 0 Governor, cause the reptile to be driven forth : I have no fear connected with any other treasures, with money,or blankets, or other things ; it is all with guns and powder (i. e., for you to possess them aud the Maories not). His Excellency: Who is the gunpowder for, and for what purpose ? Ruihana : Either to keep, or to shoot birds with. His Excellency: I cannot let any one get guns, either European or Maori. Do you only want shot ? Ruihana : Shot is good j if in large quantity, it is good: it is for you to look at what I say. His Excellency : What are you afraid of ? Ruihana : I am afraid of you. His Excellency: You neea not fear me j I will take care of you. Ruihana: Very well: you will take care of me : but there is your dog (military force). His Excellency: lam so determined to have good, that I will not put arms into people's hands with whiob to kill each other. I am so fond of being safe, that I shall keep

everything locked up. Hereafter, if I can find chiefs that I can trust, and they want gunpowder for shooting birds, we will talk about it. I am a very cautious man ; they might shoot other birds. Ruihana : That can be thought about. This will be the cause, of my death (my being deceived) ; it is said peace, peace ; but it rests only on the lips. Where does it reside ? His Excellency: What Ido for one, I shall have to do for others. Ruihana; Other men must speak for themselves, and you look at (judge) what they say. His Excellency : I don't intend to keep anything back from you ; but this I will not promise. Ruihana: Hence the fear. Now am lin dread about that. I looked at the alienation of my land, and hence I said, let not the land pass away without payment. His Excellency: Do you ask who is to pay? Ruihana : You, you must pay me. It land) is for the payment of powder, of powder for me, and for the purchase of guns for me, that the reptile may go forth, that fear may cease, and that I may know there is no evil. . His Excellency: I cannot consent to arms being sold. Herewini Hunia (Ngatitahinga): I formed my desire, and expressed it to tha Pakehas. It was not long before tltf Governor's letter arrived, containing his dissent, and preventing (the settling of) ray minister; hence I was slow to survey the land. Now Governor Browne and I disputed on that subject. His Excellency: If natives desire to give land for the clergy, I shall always allow it. I should like to see the land filled with clergymen. Herewini: Now this is my reply, to that: if Governor Browne had said the same, it would have been well. I now say to you, give me a Fakeha (minister). His Excellency: You must go to the Bishop. I'will do my best with him, and I think you will soon get it done. AperaKiwi (Ngatitahinga) : This is another subject, the ferrying of* the Pakehas at my river Whaingaroa. I cross the poor (class of) Europeans, who say they will pay, but don't. They run away into the bush. His Excellency: As soon as we get the Runanga, it will settle on some annual payment for the ferryman at Raglan. Te Pou Totara : Welcome, father. You come not here of your own accord, but are brought by the providence of God. (Song). My friend, wno loves us,

Sow I Will ask v6u, what toads ate they which you say are to be provided bythe Itttnatigk? Hid Excellency : Any roads you like. Te Fou Totara: Listen; all that I know about {will consent to}, is the river, the Waikato,; which is flowing by: that is the road in your possession. The boat can come-, the boat can come, the whale-boat can come. That is ail-the road that lam light about (agree to). As for a road over the land, no. "These are all the roads, the water. Hii Excellency: Mr. Fgntori has been sent up to start all these things, and if you,will wortt Wtell and truly with me, I pledge myself to Work with you, atidhelp yoti to the utmost of my power.