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Waka Maori, Volume 11, Issue 10, 25 May 1875, Page 112

To the Editor of the Waka Maori. Waimate Bay of Islands, May 3, 1875. Friend, — Greeting. Will you take this letter on board of our canoe ? A meeting was held at Waitangi on the 14th April, to celebrate the marriage of Ihaka Te Tai's daughter! A great number of people assembled on the occasion. A portion of the food required was procured .in Auckland, and conveyed to the Bay of Islands by the new steamer " Iona;" another portion was obtained at Russell, and the remainder we provided ourselves. The total cost of the provisions amounted in all to £4OO. "The Treaty of Waitangi" was the name of the house in which the marriage was celebrated; it measured 64 ft. by 20 ft., the table being 56 ft. in length. We ascertained the number of those present to be, Europeans 100, Maoris 575, children.

rfached a SO0 53 ' * P tbe num^r ,„w! °'S-° Ck tbe we decided u Pon a subject for discussion. This was commenced by Mangonui, who said,—l rise to make known my 't t0 Ngapuhi. Our parents signed the Ireaty of Waitangi, thereby placing this island TmV it sovereignty of the Queen ; nor did they act foolishly m the matter, having been made fully to understand the provisions of same. I consider that the mistake made by the Maoris was this, that they S,, ha J° afterwards given their consent to the disposal of their lands. The charge made by the ,11 Yl? t S b6S> to i be effect that Instead-of Wng Tn I«Tf T reaty <* Waitangi it should have been* called "The Treaty of Blankets," is, I consider, unjust. Therefore, Ngapuhi, I gave my house this name, as I desire to renew the treaty; because this is the second important meeting which has been held at \v aitangi. Hihiki Taiwiianga: There is nothing to discuss at the present time. I consider that the Treaty of \\ aitangi has. not become a thing of the past, because it was a binding covenant, which could not be set aside. ™,?f on ' KATENE ' M ; H^-: I rise t0 e *P lail > one matter. There » a good deal of truth in what the Southern tribes say respecting the Treaty of Waitangi, as I have heard the objections raised by them myself. Their chiefs were not included in the treaty at the time it was made, nor did they receive anything beyond a present of blankets, hence their reason tor naming it "The Treaty of Blankets." But you must bear in mind that they behaved well and respected the treaty nevertheless. ' Hare langa now read the speech made by Paora luhaere at the Kohimarama Conference, together with Sir Donald McLean's reply thereto. The meeting then adjourned to the house. Mitat Plans Taui : My opinion with regard to what has been been said by the several speakers respecting the treaty is, that the said Treaty of VV aitangi has now become a thing of the past the importance attached thereto being no longer recognized. However, it will be as well for us°to endeavour, if possible, to come to some decision on the subject now under discussion. , Marupo : It is well, Mangonui, that this subject should be discussed by us in the presence of this large assemblage of people, lest you should be accused of speaking in a secret manner. It is as well, also, that we should renew the treaty, notwithstanding' what may be said that Heke's war is a sufficient » ground for annulling the treaty. jSTo. Ngap'uhi fought against the pakehas and made peace, nor was that done through the instrumentality of any other tribe. Kkeei Mangonui : The reason why this house has been named "The Treaty of Waitangi" is on account of ihe letters received "by the ETgapuhi from the Southern tribes, inviting them to meet at their various houses for the purpose of discussing matters relating to the troubles existing in the island. It is, therefore, right that we should appoint this house a place in which to meet and discuss the question respecting these invitations. It is probably true that this island is suffering wrong; but they must work, and we should do likewise, in order that these difficulties may be overcome. There is, therefore, no necessity for complying with their request. I made use of the words when Governor Bowen and Sir Donald McLean visited Eussell sometime ago, Paora Tuhaere having at that time asked the ]N T gapuhi to consider the difficulties then existing in the midst of the island. I said, " This cannot be complied with, Tamati Waka and Mangonui having gone South on

a former occasion for the purpose of restoring peace • but without avail." Therefore Ngapuhi would not be justified m acting for them on another occasion • but rather let the Southern tribes attend to their own affairs. Paora Kahi: I object to the statement made by bir Donald McLean, as it appears in the Kohimarama proceedings. He said that Hongi Hika was included m the Treaty of Waitangi. Now, this is not correct. Hongi Hika was dead, the treaty being signed some time after his death. The chiefs included in the said treaty were—Te Waka, Makoare, Eangatira Moetara, Moihi Tawhai, Hone Kingi Eaumati, and others. W. Pirihongo: I maintain that Sir Donald McLean was quite justified in making use of Hongi Hika's name in connection with this treaty Although Hongi was dead, he identified himself with the treaty m former years. Do you hearken and permit me to explain. On Hongi Hika's arrival in England he went to King G-eorge and said, " I have come to ask you for some soldiers to fight against the tribe who have caused me trouble.'' The Kind's answer was, "Soldiers will not be given you; but rather let the missionaries you take with you act as your soldiers." These missionaries came, and it was they who brought about the Treaty of Waitangi. I consider that the treaty should be renewed thus, by endeavouring to prevent all further trouble and suppressing any evils which may exist within the boundaries of the Ngapuhi,Earawa, and Ngatiwhatua. This would be the sort of treaty for you to consider. m Te Hatt Takiri: I consider the treatv has been ignored through the issue of Crown grants; it having become lawful to sell the land to other people, whereas the treaty prohibits such sales. Notwitb.l standing this, however, the Crown sold certain lands to the French and other foreigners. Hori Karaka : I cannot agree with you, Kerei, that we alone should renew the words of the treaty, and attend only to matters immediately concerning ourselves. Although the Southern tribes refused on a former occasion, we should give them another opportunity. Ihaka Te Tai : I object to some of your words, Hori Karaka, because the treaty is mine ; and would I not feel it an afront to have it called " The Treaty of Blankets," and of no effect in the island ? Therefore I consider the affairs of the Ngapuhi should be left to themselves in their districts. Let JNgapuhi look for evil or good for themselves. But what does a man want beyond quietness ? Mr. Williams, Eesident Magistrate, Bay of I greatly approve, my friends, of your thus calling to remembrance the names of our fathers aud their deeds of old. Tour fathers are long since dead, as also my father, Archdeacon Henry Williams. Those are their works that you have just finished calling to mind. It is well, my friends, that you should name this house " The Treaty of "Waitangi," as it is a sign that you have recognized and added weight to that treaty, which is the garment provided by the Queen to cover and protect you. Do not accuse the old chiefs of being foolish; they acted very properly in signing the treaty. I recollect the time it was signed, having accompanied my father and acted as interpreter when he took the treaty to the tribes in the various parts of the island, extending as far as Foveaux Strait, for the purpose of explaining it to them. It was this Treaty that saved us; because, when I accompanied my father on that occasion, we had to race down the coast, for shortly after our man-of-war sailed from the Bay, we were followed by two of the French, who were endeavouring at that time to obtain possession of the island; but we succeeded in reaching Akaroa some time before them.

The treaty had the effect of driving them off, and iBla S d PreVentmg their takiDg P ossession of the twoHon. Wi Eatene, M.H.E.: I have risen to speak to you about the statements which have been made, thatit was through Hone Heke's war that the Treaty ot Waitangi was broken; also with regard to the objections made to that treaty. In my opinion, if it had not been for this treaty we should have been in a bad position, and it could not have been referred torn objections made by all the people in case there was anything for us to object to. We should also remember, that although Hone Heke fought against .therakehas, the treaty was still in existence; although ttangihaeata fought against the Pakehas, the treaty was still in existence; and so it was during the war at laranaki and Waikato. The love of the Queen tothe Maori people was conveyed to them through thetreaty, which was the property of her ancestors, in like manner as we describe the treaty as being theproperty of our parents. The love of the Queen cannot be separated from this thing; but should shedie, and a new dynasty succeed her, then, perhaps, a change may occur; but the treaty was not madetor the purpose of giving property to individuals, patience is, I think, the protector of property. If it is said that things have gone wrong through the treaty it is not correct; all the objections arethrough the love of silver and gold. The principal speeches ended here. They then commenced to talk about the election of a member by and by; they said also that they did not in the newspapers see the words spoken by the Maori members. Some of them approved of the people, and said, "If I were elected the Maoris would be right.""