Maori Parliament.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3129, 27 February 1879, Page 3

Maori Parliament.

The following is the speech of Paul Tuhaere at the opening of the Native Parliament at Orakei, and also the joint message from Sir G. Grey and Hon. J. Sheehan :—

" Welcome to the chiefs of the different districts, who are invited once more to meet together, and to listen to the farewell words handed down by your ancesr tors, but who, alas! have been removed from our sight for ever, that so the words' spoken by them may be revived and remembered afresh by us, and by those who may come after us. It is now thirty-nine years since the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, including the time at which the preat Conference of chiefs was held at Kohimarama, presided over by Governor Browne, who was then the Governor of New Zealand, when the articles of that treaty were repeated and confirmed by him, as ' the Queen's representative, in the presence of your Elders and friends, who, as I have said before, have gone to their long rest. It is with a view to bring those words to a living remembrance, l|fct they have been submitted on this occasion for your consideration, and for the benefit of your children after you, having ! failed on my own part to understand clearlyahe real intent and meaning of the ] terms of that treaty. No other object, j however, is in view than that of truly j comprehending its details, on behalf of our children and successors hereafter, who I feel assured, do not understand it aright It will be well therefore for the chiefs of this assembly to consider carefully the words whichjwere delivered by Governor Browne at the great Conference, which took place at Kohimarama. Let me read them aloud to you, and then let each member of this assembly think over well in bis own mind, points of the question now put before you. Special occasion has been taken to revive these things in as much as Sir George Grey and Mr Sbeehan have assumed the reins of Government, in the interest of both European and Native races, so that the people throughout these Islands may witness these our deliberations, and I trust at the same time that our friends of the Ngapuhi trjbes by, whom the Treaty was first signed, will not think this un attempt on our part to,take from them that-to which they have a prior and better claim. It is with the spirit ..only ,of the .Treaty of "Waitangi we wish now to deal. A word for our Maori member now sitting in the Colonial Parliament may also be in season, for those especially who are without energy to bring these things into life and activity. To remedy this defect it is recommended that for the future members for each Native district should be chosen and returned by an Assembly, such as the one I am how addressing, whose vote shall make the only good and true election. My friends, lam most anxious that the Treaty should be well discussed by you, nnd that you will be able to give it your best consideration. Finally, I wish to bring before you the invitations which have been sent round, inviting the chiefs, with the Europeans, to attend an important meeting at Te Kopua, on the Waipa, Waikato. There also will your'hear and younger kinsman Tawhiao (the Maori King) and Sir George :Grey.! meet together. The chiefs of this assembly should also go, and should be present to hear and assist in the arrangements which may then be proposed and made on either side for the general good of the country and people. The following telegram from Sir George. Grey and Hon. Mr Sheehan was then read by Mr Commissioner 3Lemp to the assembled natives 2—" To Paul Tuhaere: Friend,—Salutations to you and to our tribe, Ngatiwhatua, and the chiefs and people'Mft^are now assembled by yOur invitationi^at Orakei. This work of yours is good, it is well, as the call to the tribes to discuss the affairs of the Island should come from Ngatiwhatua; our tribe (Ngatiwhatua) has been an upholder of the law/and a preserver ;of Jlaie peace since the first coming of the pakehas into this Island. It was our tribe (Ngatiwhatua) which led the first Governor and the first Europeans from Kororareka to the banks of the Waitemata, afterwards when evil came upon' the land and strife arose between the tvo races, it was in the land of Ngatiwhataa at Kohimarama that there was held the great gathering of chiefs of the native races, though the words spoken at that meeting did not take root in Waikato, yet they flourished and bore fruit in many other parts of the Island, therefore it is well that once more the tribes should meet at Kohirnarama, although the war in Waikato finished in 1864, yet the evils which it engendered did hot disappear, and also a large section of the Maori people went forth as it were; into a desert, to dwell there with their faces averted from their European brethren.-Your work, Paul Tuhaere; during these long years' that have intervened, is well known to the Government and to the Europeans. Of the many chiefs who assembled at the first meeting at Kohimarama, how few remain. It is well that you have been 'spared to see the dawning of. better days. It is well- that you should live to see the uoTßjSetion of the work in which you have had so large a share. This is a word of ours also, to you, the chiefs arid people who have assembled at this meeting at the bidding of our. friend, Paul: Tuhaere; We are glad that you have come together for the purpose of talking over the affairs of the island. We trust you will-discuss the questions which will come before you in an enlightened and liberal spirit j that all purely personal considerations will_ be set asic.e ; and that all will unite heartily to discover a solution Of the troubles which still remain. Let the result of your work be to establish the old order of things, when the European and Maori dwelt side by side in ; peace, and ■ the poorest and meanest of either race could traverse the length and breadth of the country protected by the hand, cherished by hospitality, which has given the Maori people a repu tation wherever the English language is spoken, and when your work is done let some of you be the bearer Of comforting and kindly words to Wailtato, words which will strengthen them in tbeir desire to reunite with yourselves and the Europeans, and induce them once more to reestablish or be governed by the Words of that wise and good old man, Potatau Te Wherowhero, that is "ko te aroha, ko te pono, kote ture." Sufficient— From us— from your erring friends} H< bi Kbbei (Geo. Grey), Honk Hini (John Sheehan). -_____iii_