Tawhiao’s Petition to the Queen.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1737, 23 September 1885, Page 2

Tawhiao’s Petition to the Queen.

Lohc Derb\' has sent a despatch to His Excellency the Governor, finally dealing with “ King Tawliiao’a Petition to the Queen for the redress of alleged Maori grievances. In effect, Lord Derby asks his Excellency the Governor to inform the natives and make them fully understand that the Imperial Government cannot interfere with the management of native affairs by the responsible Colonial Government. At the same time the Imperial Government is always willing to use its good offices with the Colonial Government to secure due and fair consideration for the natives. This is exactly what we have always said would be the result Kina IfttVhiao'u mission to England. But indirectly, good S s< ?2

to England by King Tawhiao and his retinue of chiefs. That curious old Maori 'i'awhiao —who isn’t a King at all, save in namehad an opportunity of finding out what was the power, wealth, and resources of the British nation, and came back to his home profoundly impressed with the conviction that it would be hopeless to oppose the pakeha and the advance of colonisation and settlement in New Zealand. No doubt Tawhiao has spread his new ideas amongst the Maori people, who will gradually ha induced to come to the conclusion that their best course of action is to regard the onward march of the Pakeha as something inevitable, and to let the Europeans have their own way, always provided that they do justice to the native race. That such justice will be accorded there is no doubt at all. In the past the native race has been fairly and even generously treated, alike by the Government and the colonists, and so will it be in the future.