A MAORI FAREWELL TO HIS EXCELLENCY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4231, 12 October 1874, Page 3

A MAORI FAREWELL TO HIS EXCELLENCY.

(From Te Waka Maori, Oct. 6.) Wellington, 21st September, 1874. My Friend, —I send you the following letter, addressed by me to His Excellency the Governor, and his answer thereto. Will you publish them in the Waka Maori. —Fi’om your friend, Wiremu Katene.

Wellington, 7th September, 1874. To His Excellency Sir James Fergusson,

Governor of New Zealand.

Long life to you, your family, and to Lady Fergusson. This is a farewell letter from me to you. Though I am alone in Port Nicholson, I will present this address on behalf of my people, and X beg you to accept it as having emanated from the whole of the tribe of Kgapuhi. The hearts of those tribes rejoice because you personally visited them in their own districts, and gave them direct words of counsel and admonition —words which are fixed in the hearts of the people, and when they hear of your speedy departure for England, they will, no doubt, be sorrowful and grieve thereat. Although you are leaving you will not have gone without having seen those tribes, and without having experienced the cordial reception afforded to you by your Maori people in the district of Hokianga when you visited that place. And all troubles which have occurred during your presence in this country have been settled satisfactorily and quietly in obedience to the dictates of the law. This now is the actual word of farewell. Go, with your lady and children, in peace and tranquility; you are leaving New Zealand in the enjoyment of peace and prosperity. Go, in the performance of your duty to our most gracious Queen. Though you may be separated from us by thousands of miles, we shall not cease to remember you.—From your friend, Wi Katene.

The following is the Governor’s answer:— September, 9, 1874. My Dear Sir, —I thank you heartily for the kind words of farewell which you address to me as representative of your tribe and Parliamentary district. The cordial reception which'l met with when I visited the Ngapuhi tribe and those living near it assures me that they will share your friendly sentiments towards me. I have been very happy to find associated with me as Ministers, chiefs of distinguished tribes, who not only take an honorable part in the General Government of the country, but contribute effectively to the loyalty and contentment of the Maori population. It is highly satisfactory to observe the increasing confidence of the Maoris in the Constitutional Government in which they take part along with the rest of the Queen’s subjects in Hew Zealand, and their disposition to look to the Government and to Parliament for the satisfaction of their wants, knowing that their interests receive a fair and liberal consideration. Before long I trust that such confidence will extend to all the tribes, who will gain much in wealth and comfort by trade and inter-course with the Europeans. I hope that the rising generation will bo educated so as to manage their property prudently, and bo fitted to take respectable places in society. I can assure you that I shall all my life take a warm interest in New Zealand. I have seen enough of it to make mo understand the difficulties that still attend its progress, but also to appreciate the good qualities of its people, both Natives and Colonists. I shall rejoice to speak favorably and hopefully of it. When you return to your home I ask you to give your people my best wishes for their welfare. I hope that they will long endure in their own lands in peace and prosperity.— X remain, yours very faithfully, James PEEonssoif, Governor. The Hon* Wiremu Katene, M.11.R,