MR. BRYCE AND THE KINGITES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6566, 2 December 1882, Page 5

MR. BRYCE AND THE KINGITES.

LETTER FROM THE HON. NATIVE MINISTER TO WAHANUI. Auckland, November 15, 18S2. Friekd Wahanci, — Greeting. This is a letter from me to you, which yon will do vrell to regard as one of great importance. I addrees you because of Tawhiao's word, that the decision had gone from him to yon. My first word is in regard to Tawhiao and my recent visit to Alexandra and Whatiwhadhoe. Now, Tawhiao was willing to accept the liberal terms I offered to him, and j it was yon, you yourself, speaking forNgatimaniapoto, who prevented him doing so. The responsibility of that now rests with you, and whatever the consequences may be, you will have to bear them. .Enough ; that is past. There is another matter. The hand of the ,' 8 suspended over criminals in your district. Now, last session of Parliament an Act was passed which enabled the Government to issue a proclamation of pardon to the culprits ; but how can that proclamation be issued while Tawhiao claims a sovereignty, setting himself outside the Queen's law, and you and your people support him in it ? If the hand of the law descends upon the culprits, who will they blame? They will blauie you. Enough of that. When you spoke at Whatiwhatihoe, you seemed to desire to go back to the discussion of old matters, and the causes of the trouble between the two races in the Waikato. I am ready to enter upon that discussion if you really desire it; but remember that the .Ngatiinauiapoto were as deep in that trouble as the Waikato, and, this being so, should not the tame punitlitnent have fallcu upon them as upon the Waikatos ? Can you say that this is unjust? 1 will not begin the discussion. It is for you to say whether these things are to be dragged back from the darkness where they are now hidden. Here, alto, is another thing for you to look at. You have closed that part of the country in which you reside against travellers ; but this cannot long remain so. There arc three reasons why it should be opened ] by roads and railways, any one of which is ; sufficiently strong. , First, all the rest of New Zealand is open i to the public by roads and railways. Your ; conduct in keeping this part of the country s closed is a sign of enmity to the colony. If, 1 indeed, you and your people were enemies 1 of the Government and the colony it might ( be right, but if we are to continue friends as ; we are now what reason can you give for it ? , That is one strong reason. I Another is that Government own lart;e , blocks of land near .Mokau, and it is un- ; reasonable to suppose that they will consent 1 to be denied access to their own lands. £ The third reason is, that the construction t of such puMic works will (,'reatly enhance the t value of everybody's laud through which ;i they pass, as well as benefit others, both 1 Maoris and Europeans. t These reasons are strong, and should con- i vince you that you are taking.a course in- ( jurious alike to others and yourself. t Now these are all matters of importance, t Do you reflect on them. lam still willing • to assist you all in making proper arrange- 1 ments. When I said so at Whatiwhatihoe, t I did not use empty words. s The question now is, whether you desire l to confer with me for such a purpose, t If you do, well ; we can meet at t some place I shall appoint, and discuss L tho things which concern us all. If you do l not desire to make proper arrangements, ) still you will remember that I have made tho c offer to meot you, and that I desire to make arrangements beneficial alike to all. It is j my wish that the contents of this my letter j should be communicated to the people, so j ; that they may know with whom the fault s lies if troubles hereafter come upon us. j | —That is all. From your friend, | John Bkyce. t ; I v