THE GOVERNOR AT DARGAVILLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6999, 23 April 1884, Page 5

THE GOVERNOR AT DARGAVILLE.

f • ADDRESS'TO THE NATIVES. ' [by telegraph.—own cobrespondent.] . _ ; 1 Dargaville, Tuesday. His Excellency the Governor.; met the natives iathePublic Hall this morning at ten o'oloofc. ..There was a large attendanoe, the hall- being crowded. The natives had' ■tastefully -deeorated the'hall, which had a very gay. appearanee. Onthe platform we're -seated the,.chiefs Parora te Awha, Mehaka Makaere,Netana Patnawa, teßore, Pnhi te 'Rangi, and others ; also some of the reception committee. The Governor, attended by his Secretary,' Mr.' Pennefather, Mr. J. M.' Dargaville, M.H.R., Dr. Campbell, and .Mr, Matthews, the County Chairman, took their seats in front of: the platform. His Excellency then said : I should like much to hear if anyone wishes to say anything to me now that I have come to Dargaville. Paboke tb Awha said:, Welcome, Governor, welcome ! Salutations ! As yoa have' 'come of your own accord to this'place, welcorae ! lam alone.- -My son is dead. Come and be. my . benefactor. If yon come to do good, well;. if evil, well., listen to my word. llt isthin : My honse is here. I a'ra'. head of the land to the North Cape, and the Bay of Islands. I object to the railway here coming near my house. Listen to me. This is the wrong that has been done to me. Let my land be kept saored. If you'persist in carrying on your works it will be your fanlt not mine. ' Listen te' me. I agree with opening up the road on the other side of the Kaihu Creek. This [ have oonsented to. This is all I have to say. "*•' Tito said': Salutations to you, O, Governor ! Welcome ! Welcome! Bring peace,, bring all things good to us. ' Pohi te Ranoi said : Salutations to you. You have come to'see bur people. My word to you is this: I sap port Parore in what he has said about the railway. Welcome, O, Governor ! The old people have disappeared on this side of tha Kaipara. The word of the old people is stillsacred to us. Welcome! Come and see this town'. A song of welcome was then.sung. . • Mehaka Makose ' said:' Welcome! I have' only a few words to say. Welcome, the parent of the Maori people in this island ! Twill now repeat what the old people.' aiid, "80-loyal to the Queen; the' Governor is- 1 the'representative of the Quean, sent out to you." We still guard with care the treasures sent by them; but they have been broken'to the present time of your visit. Winiata said : Salutations.l Welcome! Come and administer qnietly. You are the father to look' over our welfare. Welcome ! Because this is your first visit to our distriot. We have-all great respect for the Governor. Come and visit your children, as was promised-of - old.-"The Maori ohiefs here uphold the law, as it was given them of old. I will now speak about the railway.' I agree with what this - old man sayß. A road has been already laid down. Net an-a Patuawa said : Salutations ! Welcome, Governor ! The people are very much pleased that you have come to see them. It is you who sent out your servants to survey the land. That is the reason we are pleased you have come amobgst us, so' that we may hear • what you have to say. We are told that, in the days that are coming, we shall be treated like dogs; and that is what we are afraid of. Parore is an old mati. I have some land the road passes through. Ido not mind it. Tito said : Welcome, O, Governor ! Our old men are dying." The young ones are growing up. Parore is old. The railway Bhould go the other side of the creek. ■ Tamati said : Welcome, O, Governor ! Come! Come ! We, in New Zealand, are glad you have come. ' Troubles have taken place in all parts of.the country, bat no blood has been shed in the Kaipara. Te Rork said : Salutations to you 1 Come, see the people on the Wairoa. ■ There are no great fish here now. One great fish only is. left; that is, : Parore. Welcome ! No blood has been'shed in the Kaipara. All other parts'are soiled with blood ; but in Kaipara no blood well ever be shed. My parents never knew you as the Governor. You were on the other side of the sea at that time. Welcome 1 Welcome! ■ Two or three chiefs of lesser note spoke a few words. . 1 ■ His Excellency then rose and. said: I have heard all that the several speakers have to say. I will address a few words to you. First, I must thank yoa very much for your hearty and kind reception on this, my first visit here. The-loyalty shown-to. me as representative of- the Crown reminds me, if anything was wanted to remind me, of the loyalty that has always been shown by the Maoris in this part ef the island. And through all the difficulties and troubles of the country, the Maoris of these districts have always done their best to keep peace and live in friendship. We must also recognise that .that has been greatly due to the great chief Parore, and other great ohiefs i who have alwayß been loyal. I also thank iyou for your song of welcome. I was glad to hear 'it sung, and I. like it. What.the speakers have,said about the old men dying and; the young men growing up—this is so with allot us. ,Old men must die, and young, men must grow up. Some day I shaU.give way to a ysung man ; so will all of you, and, although Her, Majesty's representative, • I cannot help in that matter. Respecting the railway. First, I will tell you, that in England I saw the first railway made. . Most of the,people would not hear of railways then ; -and peoplo who held land were horrified at the idea of railways, and tried, .to prevent, their being made,, so the rail way s,in many, cases, were taken far from the towns and houses. Afterwards people learnt, that a railway running near their towns meant 'cheaper goods and better markets jfor their , produce. ! What happened iff, England lam not. surprised to hear ,happening ,in this country. , I feel sure that both Maoris and Europeans, will .yet feel glad of seeing a rail■way near their.doors; hence,,the Parliament, and Government have framed laws to carry 'out the scheme.., (Persons of property must be interfered with, it cannot be helped ; but proper .payment, should be' made for ,that property. , It is done all over the world in England, and in Australia— >nd if land is taken for, public good, proper payment should always be made. . I. shall make inquiries into this grievance, of yours jabout this railway when this meeting is over, and if not too far'mil likely go and see the place ; and the .Government will see that the. law. is. carried 'out, and 'that justice is done if a grievance exists. lam obliged to you for.jrour : kind attention to the' observations I have itnade. I can only express to 'yon, as the representative pf 'Queen Victoria, that I with to see the Maoris and Europeans go hand-in-hand for the benefit of " the country, and I am glad to see' that notwithstanding this "little misunderstanding you are doing all yon can 1 for the' benefit of your . country, and as the old . meia die the .young 'ones will come into, a rich -and independent inheritance. (Cheers.) '-'V Hiß Exoellenoy, having shaken hands with Parore.stJien left the hall, the .natives giving him -tfery hearty "cheers; Shortly af t'er,' His Exoelleiicy. acoompanied by 'Mrl Dargaville, Mr.. Wilflaras, K&iha Railway Engineer, and Dr. .Campbell, walked-put, as far as Pirore's settlement aloag the line of railway-, and personally inspected the source of the natives' grievance., His Exoellenoy remains at the Kaihu. Hotel this afternoon, : arid to-, inorrow morningwill betaken up the river in the s.s. Koporiito the Kopurn Company'a bushes , at.Otirira to. see some -large .kauris felled, returning in the evening. i- - -