THE KOHIMARAMA CONFERENCE.

New Zealander, Volume XVI, Issue 1486, 14 July 1860, Page 3

THE KOHIMARAMA CONFERENCE.

Now that it has fairly commenced, and that the Chiefs in attendance have been ranged under their respective tribes, the Conference at Kohimarama of Native Chiefs with his Excellency, as represented by the Native Secretary, proves to be very much better attended than could have been anticipated considering the season of the year and the severe epidemic, still prevailing, which has in several instances caused the death of old and influential chiefs, and which has prostrated many others who but for this cause would have been at the gather ing. In the existing state of the Colony, arising out of the disastrous war in the Province of Taranaki, no measure could well have been devised by the Governor so calculated to prove ultimately beneficial as a Conference like the present. Many of the doubts and fears’of both races are already being removed by the open and frank interchange of sentiments which is now taking place between the Chiefs of the various tribes who arc here represented and the Governor of the Colony. We have already adverted to some of the many Chiefs of distinction and influence who are present, and we may here extend the list very considerably. Prom the Pay of Islands we have that •loyal chief Tamati Waka; of Kawiti's party, Hon Kmgi Talma, besides Mongonui, W i Han, Wi Tcte, Tango illkowai, AVi Kaitara, Hakitara; and from Wangarei, Tirarau a biother'iaorau, his nephew Manihera, and William Puhe, The expressions of decided Joyahy on the part of these Northern Chiefs

cannot fail to produce a good effect throughout the Island and especially in the Province of Auckland. From Waikato—as, under existing circumstances, was naturally to be anticipated —there are not so many Chiefs as from other districts. The death of Potatau and a severe attack of influenza have prevented our staunch ally William Nero from being present. He is, however, represented by liis uncle Tc Waka, his nephew Hemi Matene, by Hira Kingi Ratapu—Chief of Aotca, and others from the same place. From the Wellington Province all the principal Chiefs have come up. We refer to them in the order of the several districts from which they have come. From Whanganui, Hod Kingi te Anaua, Mawae, Tahana Turoa, Kawana Pacpac, Mete Kingi, and Iloani Wiremu Hipango have come:—these Chiefs represent the greater portion of the populous Whanganui district, and have always been distinguishe d for their loyalty and attachment to the Europeans, whose lives and properties they defended from the inroads of the interior tribes long before there were any troops sent to Whanganui for the protection of the settlers of that district. From the coast-line between Whanganui and Wellington, the leading men of the Ngatiraukawa—such as Matenc te Whiwhi, Tamihana tc Rauparaha, Te Alin Karama, Ihakara, Karahan, brother to Taratoa, Horomona Parakaia, and others, of Ngatitoa, Rauparaha’s tribe—their oldest Chief, Horopapera, Hohcpa Tarnaihengia, Ropata, and Nopera. The Wellington Chiefs are Porntu, Te O t t 7 Manihera, Pnni’s nephew, Hemi Parai, and Epiha Karoro. From Wairarapa, Te Wereta, Ranicra, Ngatuere, Wi Waka, Te Korou’ssnn Karaitiana, and Wiremu Kingi Tutepakihirangi. From Hawke’s Bay, Tc Hapnkn; Wairoa, Kopu Parapara; Poverty Bay, Te Waka Parahuku: Hicks’s Bay, Tc VVikiriwi and others; from the Bay of Plenty, Tohe te Urnrangi, Te Amohau; and Te Motu from Tauranga. The Chiefs from the Middle Island are Taiapoa of Otago; Pita te Hod of Canterbury; and Wi Katcne tc Mann and Ngapiko’s bi other. It will be perceived by the above names of leading chiefs, as well as by a reference to the districts from where they have come and to the more detailed list of the tribes and names of chiefs present given in another column, that most of the New Zealand tribes of any importance are represented at the Conference. This is the first time since the Colony has been established that a general Conference of the Chiefs has been held; and it seems to he highly appreciated by them. They recognise in it a disposition on the part of the Governor to afford them an opportunity of publicly expressing their sentiments on the questions most affecting their well-being as a people, and of seeking redress for any grievances they may think they have reason to complain of at the hands of Her Majesty’s Representative, of the Colonial Legislature, or of European colonists. Several of the leading speakers have also expressed a very decided opinion that, had such a general conference been summoned sooner, say two years ago, the King movement would not now have been in existence, and that the Taranaki war need not have taken place. It is considered by many persons well acquainted with the natives, that such a conference should he held annually, and he taken advantage of by our Government as an institution through which native affairs could be managed in a “ representative” manner, and therefore not open to some of the objections now raised by certain parties against this department of Colonial government. That there would he objections to this as well as to any other measures that are or could he adopted we may expect; but those objectors, we believe, will belong chiefly to a mischief-making class who disregard the general welfare of the two races inhabiting the Colony, and who attempt to throw cold water on every measure that does not tend to promote their own scllih ends. We need hardly say that with this class of objectors we have no sympathy; and we feel assured that—although they may wish it had been resorted to sooner —all right-minded men will accord to Hie Governor a hearty support for having taken a decided step in the right direction for the counteraction, it not absorption, of the King movement; —for using means to contract, as far as possible, the limit of the present war in Taranaki; —and for uniting together for friendly purposes tribes that might otherwise have ranked among the disaffected, and so have entailed upon the Colony a protracted and fearfully expensive general war. With reference to the suggestion for making the Conference annual one, it may be further remarked that it would doubtless prove very useful as a training institution for the natives in the practice of that representative legislation to which they are as much entitled as are British colonists. The chiefs now assembled, like most ol their countrymen, appear to great advantage as orators; they speak with great deliberation, yet express very decided opinions on various subjects, such as the King movement and their desire for the adoption of one law for themselves and the pakeha thus indicating a growing general anxiety to become British subjects in reality. The mode m which the proceedings of the Conference are being conducted on their part, might he advantageously imitated m some i'l oin own legislative assemblies, both in the colonies and at home; and the present session—for such, we trust, it may prove —affords an opportunity to all who are curious in acquiring an intimate knowledge of aboriginal races, of obtaining a store of useful, information which could not be easily acquired by any other means so near at hand.

IJiiEAcii or Aums OrmiNANci:. —From our Uagfan correspondent, under date the S)th instant, we learn that an inquiry had been instituted in the case of the supposed gun robbery by the Natives, from tho premises ot Messrs. Davis and Antes of Jvawhia. The investigation was conducted, on

the part of the Crown, by Mr. Armitage of Waikato, before Mr. Harsant, Resident Magistrate of Raglan, on Thursday the sth instant. Alter a careful examination of witnesses during a two days’ inquiry, the defendants were found guilty, and the Court inflicted the highest penalty — £SOO and £Ol 10s. costs. Mail Robbery. —The Raglan and Kawhia Mail lias been robbed. Mr. King reports that he f found a portion of the mail which was dispatched from Auckland on Monday last, in a ditch nearly opposite the residence of Mr. James Dilworth. It would appear that the letters had been carried on, for what purpose it will remain to be seen, and that the newspapers and gazettes, amounting to upwards of a hundred, had been got rid of by throwing them into a deep diteh. At such critical times as the present, it is to be hoped that only Mail carriers well known to the Government will lie employed—men in whom the strictest confidence can be placed. It is of paramount consequence that the Government should have reliance on those to whom they intrust their dispatches. At this moment Maories ought not to be trusted. The loss of a dispatch at such a time might place the rebellious in possession of the most important communications. Auckland Mechanics’ Institute. —lt will be seen from our advertising columns that a lecture, the third of a series, on Astronomy, is to be delivered in tlie ball of the above institute, on Tuesday evening next, the 17th instant. The lecture will be illustrated by illuminated diagrams, as on the two former occasions. An opportunity is thus afforded to the members, especially the more juvenile portion, to obtain a vivid, although limited impression of the wonders of that science which explains the nature and evolution of those bodies that (ill the immensity of space. As this is the last of the series on Astronomy, it is to he hoped that our youth, especially, will avail themselves of this opportunity. We understand that a number of literary gentlemen have engaged to deliver lectures on popular subjects through the course of the season; this, while it will afford instruction, will also tend in some degree to dissipate the languor which at piesent hangs over our social existence. Taranaki. —We learn, with regret, that the extract of the letter from Taranaki, pnnlishcd in our last, has been assumed to convey an imputation upon the Medical Department doing duly in that unfortunate Province. AVe are certain that any such intention was quite as remote from the purpose of the writer, as it was from our own. We have every reason to believe that the writer is fully conversant with the facts of which she treats; and we ourselves, from appeals of a similar nature made to ns, for “ loose warm garments, blankets,” and the like, have a feeling conviction ofthe sore privations to which 111011}’ have long been reduced, and of the active and practical, sympathy which ought to be exercised in their behalf. Far be it from the writer, or from ourselves, to give utterance to a single syllable calculated to impute discredit to such invaluable branches of Her Majesty's service as those of the Naval ami Military Medical departments. We have scanned the offending extract narrowly, and for the life of us we arc unable to detect a sting likely to penetrate even the thinnest skinned. The aggrieved we are tempted to class among the most sensitive of the hypercritical, and we trust that we shall not aggravate his disorder, but that he will considerately pardon ns if we address to him the language employed by Count \ irolet to Kilinallock : lie who doth take offence before’tis meant Is, in himself, offending. Sir, it, dwelt not Within my thought to anger you.