IMPORTANT NATIVE MEETING AT THE THAMES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 894, 12 April 1871, Page 4

IMPORTANT NATIVE MEETING AT THE THAMES.

(From the Southern Cross March 30.) Probably a more important and unanimous meeting was never held at the Thames than the one which took place yesterday at tbe native settlement, Parawai, distant two miles from Shortland. There were nearly 200 natives present belonging to this portion of the Thames, but the visitors from Ohinemuri and the East Coast swelled the number to 300. The Ngatimaru chiefs, who had only just returned from Auckland, having been engaged in the investigation of the Great Aroha, had but little time allowed them for preparation for receiving such important and welcome guests as the Hon D. M'Lean, Native and Defence Minister, and the native chiefs who for some days had been gathering from all quarters of the district. Still there was plenty of the necessaries of life provided for all. On the appearance of Mr M'Lean, the whole assemblage rose and greeted him with shouts of welcome. He was accompanied by Mr Puckey, Native Agent; Mr Busb, private secretary ; and Mr Warbrick, mail contractor. On the party becoming seated, an abundant supply of food was placed before Mr M'Lean, who rose and partook of a few kumaras, distributing the remainder of the food to the natives who had accompanied him, when the young chief W. H. Taipari rose, and saluted Mr M'Lean in pure Maori fashion, calling him their parent, f-.-u;_, and protector, and eaid : Come to Hauraki, where we have met on former occasions ; come and listen to the cries of the Hauraki tribes, and let us quietly and dispassionately talk over its troubles, which are now afflicting one portion of it (meaning Ohinemuri). Look around Hauraki and its people — they are happy and contented ; but, alas, look at Waikato and its people, how different—their evil deeds have caused tbeir destruction. Hauraki reaches on to the Aroba, which has been declared to belong to us. It is for you, Mr McLean, to say the word what is to be done within our borders ; but we cannot allow any foreign interference to interrupt our peace and prosperity (this allusion is to the King's delegate, Hunia, who caused Te Hira to stop the passage of tbe mail). It now remains with you and us to protect intact the peace of Hauraki. — Karaitiana, an influential chief of Ohinemuri, addressing Taipari, said:. Your remarks are just and true, and are the sentiments of a real chief. Hauraki has long declared to remain in peace. Siill there are evil spirits within our borders (meaning Te Hira). Come, let us talk tbis matter over in a quiet manner, and devise some means to root out tbis evil. lam dumb with continually talking this matter over. — Hotereni, the principal chief of this place, then rose, and, addressing Mr McLean, said : You are welcome to the shores of Hauraki. Come to Hauraki, and if you see evil forebodings around us let us in a quiet manner talk over tbe matter and come to a right judgment, and then all will be right. Let us not allow foreign influences to interfere : if we do so, there will be evil. My friend Te Hira is doing evil ; he must not be allowed to disturb our peace, or death will ensue. It ia not the question of mail service that has brought trouble amongst us ; it is Waikato influences, tbe same evils which brought trouble into the colony. Forbid these evil influences that they may not trouble us, as our object all along has been for the peace and prosperity of the colony. — Karaitiana again roße, and said: The fire has been burning in various parts bf the Island, but not inside Hauraki. Te Hira is and always was an obst nate man, and his conduct has been the source of trouble to us and the tribe.— Wi Hopihana, an elderly chief of the old stamp, a near relative of Te Hira, from Ohinemuri, addressing the Ngatimaru chiefs, said : Your sentiments are good, but the doings of Te Hira are evil ; he is preparing a rope for his own neck, and in the end the result will be tbe land will go from us. But it is not Te Hira; it is other influences, who are putiing tbe rope round his neck. (Here followed a Mf-ori song.) This is my day and yours. Your word is good on that account. lam one with you in sentiment. I told you before, if I go wrong, to tell me of it. If I bring evil among you, tell me. My days of evil are gone. Hi'.uraki is a pah where evil cannot dwell, nor must evil proceed from it. — The Hon. Mr McLean said : My words are not many ; they are no new thoughts. I have always heard of the good deeds of HauxakL_ Don't speak only, but act. I told you this in Auckland, lf I had met with Te Hira I would have made him prisoner, and put him in gaol. I heard that there was a person at the Thames who had token part with Te Hira in obstructing the passage of the mail. If the authorities should succeed in taking him, I will see him punished. There is no evil in the mail. Don't listen to the doing of Te Hira, for he is doing the work of Waikato. Look at the deeds of Waikato and Taranaki. Waikato is gone out of their hands ; Opotiki and Poverty Bay also ; and the land of Hauraki may yet go if evil should ensue. I tell you this in time. You have always been good to Europeans. My word to you chiefs is : It is for you to act. If Te Hira was here, I again teir you T would put him in gaol for his conduct to the mail. — The venerable and respected chief Rapana 6aid : I am not young ; lam now old ; my head is grey. The old race of chiefs is dead, but their dying words of peace and goodwill remain in our hearts. "Hauraki is right ; but Waikato iB wrong, and suffers for its evil deeds. I will not allow foreign influences to dwell amongst us. Come, Mr M'Lean, and look upon ns. You are the great chief ; our destinies are in your hands. I would not listen to you if it were otherwise. The natives are not all here ; but come amongst .us. .and look at us. as we are. In December last I was in Auckland,, md "■' heard of the doings of Waikato (meaning the murder of Mr

Todd). Now, I say, let us all go to Ohinemuri, and if we should fail in our object let our failure be a consolation that we were doiDg good. Mr McLean, if evil befalls U9 then you must go, but not till then. — Te Whare Xi, an intelligent chief, addressed Mr McLean in the came strain, and spoke plainly of the evil doings of Waikato : The King party opened (sanctioned the mail line) and afterwards wanted to close it. The Aroha dispute is settled, and that breaks down (King's) obstacles. I shall take Europeans np to the Aroha an settle them. This is Shortland ; there is the Aroha (meaning it is one block). — Eru, an influential chief of Ngatimaru, said: The native there who wants to speak comes from Piako, where evil dwells. Hunia, the King's delegate, is an evil man. Have you forgot the evil deeds of Kereopa, who was a stranger, which resulted in the confiscation of Opotiki, Whakatane, and Matata? Mr McLean, don't you go at present to Ohinemuri, but leave this matter with us. The mail service was going all right until influence (foreign), the Bame as Kereopa, was allowed to interfere, wbich was the cause of death and desolation. — W. H. Taipari again rose, and said : The Government never confiscates land without a cause, and it is for us to look what Government did to the Waikatos. Let us think of this, and let us, reflect and look towards Tauranga and Opotiki. Is it Te Hira's land that will go (meaning if he persists) ? Ah ! no, oura will go with it. Let ns then look at Waikato. How would we like Xt- Aroha to go ? But my word is, it will go if evil should come over us. Then let us go and try and do good. — Mr M'Lean then informed the natives that he was returning. He had nothing more to say to them, only that he should not permit the mail to be carried clandestinely, that is, in the dirk only. The mail must be permitted to go.