EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27276, 30 December 1949, Page 4

EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

FROM THE FILES OF TH* ©taoo Sail? Uimea DUNEDIN, DECEMBER 30, 1864. There are snobs amongst the Maoris. One dignified gentieman, rejoicing in the name of Rio, has lately insisted on the Europeans who are cutting the road through the Waitotara block in the Wellington Province, touching their hats to him! i The following is the translation of a letter addressed to the Southern Cross by five Maori chiefs, on the subject of the removal of tne seat of Government: —“This is a word from us to you, for you to impress on the Governor’s Ministry, who are now, together with the General Assembly'at Auckland, going to remove the Governor, Sir George Grey, to Wellington to reside there, for them to look back to the Treaty of Waitangi. This is our opinion—if the Governor is to be removed to Wellington, let him go. Only this is what we liken to it—the bow of the vessel New Zealand is at Wellington, and the stern is at the Bay of Islands. Is it well then, for the captain of the vessel to remain at the bow? No, it will never do. Let him remain at the stern. If, however, the captain should desert the stern let us have a captain for ourselves. And again, is it right for one captain to have command of the two vessels? No, let there be one for each vessel, and he will be able to do his duty. This vessel, New Zealand, has had four captains before the present one, and none of. them have resided at the bow at Wellington, they have resided at the stern. It will not do for this captain, whom they are going to rerpove to Wellington, to reside there and consider the Treaty ol Waitangi. Here is, also, anothej consideration. The promise of thi Queen is that the Governor was sen here to protect both the Maoris ant the pakehas. For that reason we con sider that if Auckland is deserted b the Governor and he goes to Welling ton then the Treaty of Waitangi wi have been broken by the Quee; —From Your Friends,”