REV. FATHER HENNEBERY'S VALEDICTORY ADDRESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5395, 3 March 1879, Page 6

REV. FATHER HENNEBERY'S VALEDICTORY ADDRESS.

lt Hennebery, Catholic missionary, would givi a valedictory addres3 in the new schoo V building, corner of Pitt and Wellington g streets on Feb. 14, and at the time appoints [. the building, which is said to be capable o , s seating 2000 people, was iillcd, many person [ s being obliged to Btand. A temporary i- platform had been erected at the west em y of the building, which was occupied by tlx t Very Rev. Father Fynes, the Rev. Fatue Waljjer Macdonald, the Rev. Father Hennc bery, and the Rev. Father O'Dwyer. Ii ? order to afford the Catholics of the city anc suburbs an opportunity of attending, ther e wero no evening services at the cathedral o 0 at the Parnell Catholic Church. He lira 11 answered some objections which had bee] ;e made to his works, and to the building o >r this school. Ho had called on them to giv y contributions, and did not call in vain, fo , 11 they responded cheerfully, and subscription ;o of £2000 had been giveu, of which over£7o 2 ~ was already paid in cash. That evening hi had handed to the Very Rev. Father Fyne the builder's receipt for £700, which he ha y paid him. He (Father Hennebery) ha 16 himself gone security for that amount, for h * G knew them and believed in them, and cor sidered it a pity that they had bee •y* maligned, for they were a line Catholi 10 here. He risked £700, and ga*e tb !U to the builder to go on with the work In knowing that they would not let him suffoi and yesterday evening he told tho buildc i" again, securing him £500 more, as he kne they would not let him stick. They shoul 1( i get the best teachers they could iu the mean ■d- time. He had tried to get them, aud he ha 'P no doubt they would be ready when th school was ready—teachers fully equal to c rl superior to those in the secular schools. Oi the question of how to support the school fc ie the lirst twelve months (as during that tim< re no doubt, their Bishop would bo here), lii proposition was, that ten persons shoul T1 each contribute £10; twenty persons, £ s » each; one hundred persons, £2 1C te each; one hundred persons, £1 each two hundred persons, 10s each ; an 30 the Select School would brintj in abou e " £200, making in all, £SSQ, and v ' there was any deficiency, a bazaa could be got up to meet it. He rc e- commended the Vicar-General and clerg rt not to open the schools until tho names wci given for these amounts.

NATIVE MEETING AT ORAKEI. " Phe meeting of natives, for which 1° D 8 reparation has been made, commenced on t ] 55th February, at Orakei, and continuesifor ii leveraldaya. These gatherings are an ancien , Maori custom. At such meeting?,in old j J1 matters of importance werejiet'' jfm^ De( j j n i reference to boundaries of £ 0 alliances s af the tribe, to war diplomacy. At j them the young people of different settlements saw each other ; gossip and scandal (for this latter, no doubt, good occasion was often given) were indulged in ; gay mats and valuable greenstones were displayed, as well as skill in singing and dancing, And even now, when the power of the Maori race is so much less than it was, they mußt keep up their ancient customs. Time was when a native meeting at Orakei would have fluttered every resident in Auckland. All would have been on tip-toe of expectation to hear the force that had assembled, and whether there was any chance that they would take it into their heads to clear the Europeans out of the place. Now, the feeling is very different. But very few of the inhabitants of Auckland know anything of the Maori language, or the history of the Maori tribes. They hear that a meeting is being held, and that a large quantity of pork and potatoes, of shark and eels, has been gathered, and they hope that Paul and his friends may enjoy themselveß, and that good digestion may wait on appetite, and health on both. Only those whose memories can carry them back to the great native gathering at Remuera in 1840, when 10,000 armed natives, were assembled, or even to the gathering at Kohimarama, in 18G0, can appreciate the difference between now and then. The history of this dietrict, deeply iuteresting as it is, woul<*, if fully set forth, attract only a lauguid interest from a few. We now are too far from all these things for them to affect our safety or our wealth ; and the time has not yet come for them to attract attention as matters of archaeological interest. From the testimony of Captain Cook and of all thoso who touched on the New Zealand coasts soon after the great navigator, it is clear that it was a thick'y peopled country. The Maoris were frequently at war, it is true, but their contests did not prevent the maintenance of their numbers till thcy_ got muski-ts, and then, from 1820 to IS4O, it is calculated that SO, 000 perished. The Auckland district was always one of the most thickly populated in the island, but as it was subject to invasion from all quarters, it was a scene of frequent strife. The Ngatiwhatua, tho ancestors of Paul and his people, came hero as conquerors, and after mauy contests with the Ngaiwi and Waiohua —the origiual possessors of the land, — established themselves at Orakei and elsewhere. The two tribes mentioned were indeed exterminated, or absorbed amongst the conquerors, who consider their title to the land strengthened by being able to trace the Waiohua blood amongst their ancestors. Then Ngatiwhatua were severely tried, both hens aud at their original settlements at Kaipara, by invasions of Ngapuhi, the people of the Bay of Islands, who were the tirst to get muskets from the European traders. They were more than once driven off the laud, and some of them were amongst the defenders of tho pas at Mauinaina and Mokoia, near where the town of Panmure now stands, where, in IS2-, llongi slaughtered immense numbers, and feasted till even the dogs refused tho human liesh. However, the Ngapuhi never settl&d here, the refugees returned from their place of shelter at Maungatautari, in Waikato, and when the Europeans came to Auckland they fouud the Ngatiwhatua in possession. Orakei Bay, where on Tuesday's meeting took place, is extremely well-suited for a Maori settlement. Therj is a good lauding at high tide, pipis can be got on the beach, while the small flat extending back from the sea has good soil which is light and easily worked, aud has warm and sheltered spots favourable for the growth of kuuiara and taro. So the Maoris have stuck to it while they have sold all around. For the sustenance of tho assembled natives a large quantity of provisions had been gathered, as follows : —450 bags of potatoes, 23 pigs had been killed and 49 sheep, 1G bags of sugar, 0 bags of rice, besides kumaras, several hundred sharks, countless numbers of eels, and other Maori delicacies ; 100 sheep are in waiting ready to be slain as they are required. The animals are slaughtered close to the place of meeting, and tho spectacle offered is not appetising. The following are the names of the principal men present:—Paora Tuhaere, Arama Karaka Haututu, Hcta te Hara, Te Kene Taugaroa, Pairama, Tiopira, Te Otene, Nopera, Te Hira, Te Honiara, Tautari, Paraone, Henare Rawhiti, Tatana, Mati te Kuwha, Te Watarauhi, Paturomo, Retimana to Mauaia, Te Ahoroa, Paratene, Te Katu. These are all of Ngatiwhatua or Ngapuhi, or other tribos of the North, except the last four ; Retimana ib Hauhau Ngatihaua, and the other three are of the royal tribe, Ngatimahuta, Tawhiao's people. 5 Te Ratu is indeed a kind of clerk or secretary > to Tawhiao, and has just arrived from Nelson and Taranaki, whither he has been » to invite tho natives to the great meetiog at Te Kopua. They will attend tho present J meeting, and report to Tawhiao. ' The time appointed for the u opening of ' Parliament" was half-past 2 o'clock, the orthodox hour for the Assembly at Wei--1 lington. Shortly before that time the * steam launch of the Ariadne, haviug two boats in tow, came to the beach, aud " the German Consul, Mr. Von der Heyde, 2 landed with Captain von Werner, several - officers of tho Ariadne, and a party of ladies. r They were courteously welcomed by Paul 3 f and with other Europeans who had come tc attend the meeting, went towards Paul's house. A party of uatives were assembled * in two lines, and gave tho ancient call o welcome, "Haere mai e te manuhiri tuar * aogi." At some distance beyond, a seconc : party chanted another welcome. Amongsi e the Europeans present we observed Mr > Bryce, M.H.R.; Mr. Hobbs, M.11.H.; Rev W. Gittos, of Kaipara ; Hon. \V. Swainson " Mr. H. T. Kemp, Civil Commissioner, was * present as representing the Government. j The natives then assembled in the lious< which has been erected for the meeting o 0 the Parliament, room being left around tin ' platform-pulpit for tho Europeans. .Like al native meetings, the present was commeucec by a religious scrvicc. Arama Karaka, win 0 is a local preacher of the Wesleyan body 0 ascended the rostrum, and gave out a Maor hymn from the Wesleyan collection. Thi e was sung to the tune of "Old Hundred.' Arama then read a psalm, and asked Tatana of Kaipara, to pray. The prayer was fluently uttered, and appropriate to the occasion For both peoples assembled ho asked tin blessiog and guidance of God, and that th< r Maoris, in tho matters they bad to discuss B might have the counsel of the Almighty 1 that the blessing of tho Most High rnigh rest upon the Queen, the Governor of tin colony, upon all persons in authority, anc f upon all present. Arama then read Roman; 9 chap, xiii., aud spoko briefly, exhorting hi: y hearers to obey the laws of God that the] X might dwell in safety, aud enjoy all tin c blessings given by God. Let them dwel r together in unity and peace, and this couh . only be accomplished by submitting to th< u Divine laws. The religious service waß con [ eluded by a prayer. e Paut,, having welcomed the strangers pre r sent, read a speech, stating that one of th t objects of the meeting was to consider care o fully the provisions of the Treaty of Wai f tangi. Ho recommended that tho Maor e members of the Assembly should, in future r be chosen by such a meeting as the pre3enfc s He concluded as follows : — 44 Finally, 1 wis) 0 to bring before you the invitations whicl e have been sent round, inviting the chiefs a l with the Europeans, to attend an importan d meeting at Te Kopua, on the Wuipa, Wai d kato. There also will your near and younge lc kinsman, Tawhiao (tho Maori King), an i- Sir George Grey meet together. The chief n of this assembly should also go, and shoul tc be present to hear and assist in th ie arrangements which may then be pre posed and made on cither side for th % general good of the country and people, ir Paul then proceeded to read the speech c iv Governor Browne at the opening of the con d ference at Kohimarama, and concluded b 1- reciting the provisions of the Treaty o d Waitangi. 0 According to the custom at Wellinglo >r with tho Governor's speech, printed copie 1 of Paul's address were distributed shortl >r after it had been road. 3, Sub-Inspector Pardy and two mounte s Constabulary men then arrived, and th d Sub-Inspector handed to Mr. Kemp a me* 5 sage from Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehar Is which he read first in English, as follows > To Paul Tulmcro : Friends,—Salutations to you an d to our tribe, Ngatiwhatua, anil the chiela and poopl it whoaro now assembled by your invitation at Orake :f 'I liia work of yours is goo:!, it Is well ; as tho call t the tribes to discuss the ufPuirsof tho Island shoul ir corao from Ngatiwhatua; our tribe (NKatiwhatuu 2- has been an upholder of the law and preserver of th v pe ice sinco the first coming of tho pakehai iuto thi J Island. It was our tribe (Ngatiwhatua) which led th ' e first Governor and the tirbt .Europeans from Korori , rcka to tho banks ot vhe WaitcwaU, and uftcrwaid

"nil fiT 3 the l*ad and strife »roHe bs- • hatua »t " "w" in ,he !and o' AOhimarama that there was held the i« w* -aring of chiefs of the native race. ThoHgh : ~rdß spoken at that meetiog did not take root . Waikato, yet they flourished and bore fruit in aany other parts of the Inland, therefore it is well hat once more the tribes should meet at Kohlroaama. Although the war in Waikato finished in 1564, ret the evil* which it engendered did not disappear, ind also a large section of the Maori people went <>rth as it were, into a desert, to dwell there with heir* faces averted from their European brethren, four work, Paul Tubaere, daring these long, dark :ears which have intervened, is well-known to the Government and to the Europeans. Of the m*ny chiefs vho assembled at thefltst meeting at Kohunar-ma, iow few romainl It ia well that you have be-n inared to see the dawning of better days. It is well :hat you should live to see the completion of the vork in which you have so large a share. This is a tvord of ours also, to you, the chiefs and people who ti'tve assembled at this meeting at the bidding of our [riend, Paul Tuhaere. "We are glad that you have :ome together for tbe purpose of Ulking over the iffairs of th* Island. We trust you will discuss the }u-stions which will come before you in an ec» lightened and liberal spirit; that all purely personal :on-idt:rations will be Bit aside, and that all will unite heartily to discover a solution of the troubles which still remain. Let the result of your work be to estab'ish the old order of things, when the European and Maori dwelt side by side in peace, and the poorest an t meanest of either race could traverse tti* length and breadth of the country, protected by the law, and cherished by that hospitality which has given the Maori a reputation wherever the Kngliah language is spoken. And when your work n done let some of you be the bearer of comforting and 'kindly words to Waikato, words which will strengthen them in their desire to rennite with yours Ives and the Europeans, and induce them once more to re establish or be governed by the words of that wise and pood o d man. Potatau te Wherowhero that is, Ko te aroha, ko te pono, ko tc turc I Love' tru h, law). Sufficient.—From us—from your loving friends. ilor.E K- kei (George Grey), Hone Hisi (John >heeLau). Mr. Kemp then read the message in Maori, and it was received with great cheering, Cheers were then given, on the invitation of Paul, for the captain and officers of the Ariadne. There appeared to be a prospect of a good deal of difficHlty in rendering the acknowledgment intelligible to all present—that it would have to be spoken in German and rendered into English, aud then into Maori. But Captain Von Werner uttered a few words in English, which were interpreted into Maori by Mr. Kemp. Cheers were then given for Paul, for Mr. Kemp, and by the pisitors for the Maori chiefs and people. The meeting then broke up, and the visitors left, after having been hospitably entertained in Paul's house. About 300 natives are assembled at Orakei. The native meeting at Orakei was resumed next day, and a number of chiefs spoke. The tone of the speeches was strongly in favour of holding fast to Christianity. The speakers also approved of the action of Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheelian in dealing with the Maoris. The meeting is s'.ill in session.