MONGONUI.

Taranaki Herald, Volume IX, Issue 447, 23 February 1861, Page 3

MONGONUI.

Speech of His Excellency the Governor to thu Rarawa Tribe, on Saturday, Feb. 16fA, 1861, at Mongonui. Friends, the Chiefs of the Rarawa,—

It affords me much pleasure to make your acquaintance, and to hear such a good account of you from your Resident Magistrate, Mr White, and your other European friends. I regret that I have not had an earlier opportunity of seeing you ; but the various accounts of your conduct and proceedings have been so satisfactory that I felt sure that you, as a tribe, did not require my presence to ensure your loyalty to the Queen. Ido not forget the aid you afforded the Government in past times, and I fully recognise the fact that you as a people have never shed the blood of an European. It was the constant injunction of one of your good old chiefs — noble Panakaraeo — that you should live in peace with the pakeha. This was a wise injunction, which I feel assured will always be borne in mind by his people and descendants. No doubt you hear many reports of my intentions towards you ; but you may feel assured that my desire is to see you enjoy peace and the fruits of your industry, living with the English as a happy and united people. I regret to hear that many deaths have taken place among you. I trust that, by adopting habits of industry and cleanliness, by building better houses, using more wholesome food, and wearing better clothing, you will avett many of the disease! incident to your present condition. I am glad that I can always look to this, the most northerly part of the island, as one in which the people are really well disposed and friendly ; in whose words I can place full reliance and con fid. ence. I may further add, that if all the New Zealand tribes were to act as you do, there would be no necessity for war in this island. I am informed by Mr White that you refer your disputes and differences to the Courts of Law. You could not afford a better proof of your own advancement than this. Obedience to the law is the first great step in the right road. The law protects the weak from the aggressions of the strong, and extends equal justice to all. You must yourselves perceive how much wiser it is to resort to law fdr a settlement of disputes than to have recourse, as of old, to war for redress of wrongs, involving frequent loss of life. England would never have been such a great nation as you know it is, if its people were not subject to law and order. Hoping that you will not relax in the observance of your religious duties — which, after all, are of the highest importance — I bid you farewell, and sincerely trust that I may hear of your continued well- doing and prosperity.