REWI RECEIVES AN ADDRESS FROM THE SETTLERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5350, 9 January 1879, Page 3

REWI RECEIVES AN ADDRESS FROM THE SETTLERS.

AN AFFECTING REPLY. THE HON. MR. SUEEHAN'S SPEECH, i [per "herald" special wire.] Kihikihi, Wednesday. | A deputation of the settlers of Kihikihi waited upon Rewi, at the hotel, and pre- ] sented to him the following address:— " We, the undersigned settlers of Kihikihi, gladly take this opportunity of heartiiy welcoming you iu our midst. We can assure you your visit on this occasion has afforded great satisfaction, aud we trust it is the forerunuer of many others in future. Vou may rely at all times on our assistance and cooperation in all matters affecting the welfare of yourself and people. — (Signed) James 1 Uendkksom and others." 1 To this Kevvt returned the following reply, ; which was interpreted by Mr. Grace : My coming here has not originated with Mr. Sheehan. I said to him, " Let us go to Kihikihi," and I am here. X have come here that I may become better acquainted with you. 1 will not be in a hurry to say much at the present time. Things are being arranged between Mr. Sheehan and myself that will not be in public just now. I am going for the next hour to walk about Kihikihi with Mr. Sheehan, and at the end of that time 1 may reply further to your address. Rewi then, accompanied by the Hon. the 1 Native Minister and others, visited the site of an old kainga of his, and spent some time in searching for the burial-places of some of his relations. The removal of all the old landmarks made the search difficult, but ho at last recognised some peach trees which had been planted by himself, and which enabled hina to arrive at the position of the graves, of which there -was, however, now no trace. Shortly after returning to the hotel an adjournment was made to the scliool-room, where the settlers had assembled for the proposed meeting. , The children stood in rank to receive Rewi and the Native Minister, and gave them three cheers on tlieir arrival. There were present with the Hon. Mr. Sheehan, Mr. Ruaden, Mr. Lewis (Private Secretary), Mr. Grace, Mr. Bush, R. M., and others. The meeting was commenced by Rewi addressing the natives present. He said : I am now speaking to the Maori people who are present. It was not Mr. Sheehan who asked me to come to Kihikihi. It was all my own doing. I invited Mr. Sheehan to meet me at Kihikihi. The reason of my doing so was because I wished to visit the burial-place of my haptt ; but, before! visited the buiial placr, the Europeans came to see me at the hotel to welcome me. After seeing them, I went to see my burial-places, aud told the Europeans that I would speak to them again after I had done so. These are the Europeans who welcomed me, aud I am now going to speak to tliem. Rewi then addressed the Europeans present as follows: Kihikihi was my settlement. 1 resided here when the Gospel was brought to this place by the missionaries. My house aud my church were here. When Te Heuheu first spoke of the King movement I was drawn into it. The subject first originated at Waitara, where the war also commenced. Potatau and I were living at when the lighting first commenced. The people said, " Lat us go to the light ?" I said, " Do not go to the fight." 1 wished the matter referred to the missionaries, that it might be laid by them before the Goverumeut. Wetenesaid, "No; let us light." Purukuru came, aud it was at this place where the people first agreed to go to the fight. Epiha was the man who first agreed to the lighting, and Rewiti was another. When Potatau and I heard of them at Ngaruawahia, Potatau asked me to follow them up. 1 did so, and overtook them at Mokau, aud asked them to return Epilia said he would not do an, aud that 1 might return by myself. I then wrote to Mr. Parris, and told him that a war party was coming to Waitara, and asked him to meet them. He did so, and was nearly killed. A light then took place at Taranaki, and the pakeha was defeated. After this I consented to the war. I said that if I commenced fighting, it would not end in a hurry. Tamihana, then, for a time, ma le peace. After this, I received a letter from William King, telling me that the Kuropeans had settled at Tataraimaka. At this time Bishop Selwyn was agitating that the Waitara land question should be investigated. I and William King considered, but nothing came of it. 1 then wrote to the Taranaki, and told them to fight the liuropeaus that went to Tataraimaka. I Eaid, iu fighting these people, kill them in a civilized manner, but do not torture them. I decided also that the Europeans who crossed a certain boundary (the Mangatawhirij were to be fought. As soon as Sir George Grey heard this, he commenced the war iu Waikato. When the fighting had extended throughout all Waikato, I received a letter from. Sir George Grey, in which he said, " I hear you are building a pa at I'aterangi." The letter was sent by O. O. Davis, and proposed a cessation of hostilities. I leplied that I would not agree that peace should be made, but would continue fighting so that my people might die defending their lauds. After this Tuhoro was sent to mc. He and his companion came up and asked me if I would make peace. I said, "No. I still grasp the hair of the Governor's head, and bis hand is on my head." Afier this Mr. George Graham visited William Thomson, and asked to make peace. Messengers were sent to Manuhiri and myself. Manuhiri came as far as Tokanui and lighted a fire there, but Mr. Graham returned on this occasion again. After this Mr. Graham visited Utorohanga, and tiic question of peace was discussed, but I was not tliera. Following these events, Mr. Todd was killed at Pirongia, and, after that, Sir Donald McLean came to Waikato. Th-in it was said that good relations should be established between the Mauris and Europeans, aud I agreed to discuss the matter tlreu. I said 1 would not consider the wrougs of the pa3t, but that the future should bo discussed for the f;ood of both races. I agreed to what Sir D. McLean said on the subject. After the death of Sir Donald J]cLean Dr. Pollen came to see me, and told me that he was the successor of ."-'ir Donald. 1 said to Dr. Pollen, " Let m go over my boundary and talk over the matter there, so that 1 may stand on a good fooling." 'lhe mee'augs with •-ir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan you know all about, and, as my story lias taken a long time, 1 will cut it short. 1 have come to see you, the Europeans of Kihikihi, as the persons who fought agiiusfc me in the past. Let your dealing with me be fair and straightforward, and let mine be the same towards you ! What I wish you to do is to look on and see the proceedings which are taking place between Mr. Sheehan and myself. If our dealings are not satisfactory, 1 will tell you, aud if they arc satisfactory, I will also tell you, that we Europeans and natives may look upon each other as brothers. ' This ends what I have to say to you. May J we long live ! : Mr. 11 kniieuson then called for three 1 cheers for Rowi, which were heartily given, with one cheer more. Cheers for the Native Minister were then proposed in a speech by Mr. Henderson, who spoke in high terms of the success of Mr. Sh-ehau's administration of native affairs. Three cheers were enthusiastically given. Mr. Sheehan, speaking to the Europeans, said: I think you for the hearty welcome you ; have accorded my worthy friend Rewi. A , stranger would perhaps wonder why we I attach so much importance to this small i gathering of both races, but we win know • the past history of the colony, and you who went for years with your lives in ynur haudß, know the deep significance of what is now taking place. There is something ex-i-eediiifily aflVcting in this return of the oid chief to the spot on which his own settlement formerly stood, and from which he has been : an c-xilo for the last fifteen years, lie fought against us valiantly from the beginning to the end, always bravely aad chivalrously, and as became a soldier and a gentleman, aud his hands are unsullied by . any unfair or treacherous act. 1 repeat, it win an affecting sight to see tho old man standing this morning over the graves of his ancestors, every outward vestige of which has been obliterated. At present the incidents of the struggle between the races seem tame aud uninteresting to us, but in time to come, seen through the mellow- ' ing light of centuries, our New Zeai land wars will furnish ample materials ; for our painters, novelists, and poets. I hope aud believe that tho hostilities between tho races are gone for ever, and that wo shall havo the friendship of the natives for the future. I anticipate good results from such occasions as thi3. The only obstacle in » the way is the interference of those who for some reason or other of their own are oppos- , ing the endeavours of the authorities to j bring about a peaceful state of things.. I do 9 not see why the peaco of the colony should be endangered and her interests sacrificed

because a few persons may wish at once to obtain a particular block of land. Let us get general questions settled first, and then start fair for the land, under equal conditions. I. am glad to see so many settlers present to welcome Rewi, and again thank you for the reception you have given him. The Native Minister and Rewi then returned to the Kihikihi Hotel, where Mr. Sheehan has since been closely engaged in interviewing natives and attending to other matters connected with his department. He leaves for Te Awamutu and Alexandra this afternoon.