MOKAU RIVER OPENED TO EUROPEAK TRADERS.

Wananga, Volume 5, Issue 8, 23 February 1878, Page 91

MOKAU RIVER OPENED TO EUROPEAK TRADERS.

(From the H. B. Herald.) New Plymouth, February 9. One of the greatest triumphs of the Premier's visit to the King Natives occurred to-day, in the opening of the river Mokau to European trade. Te Wetere, the famous Mokau chief, accompanied by the chiefs Epiha Tekerau and Taiaroa, and a half dozen other principal Natives, and Messrs. Jones, Shore, senior and junior; and Macmil lan, of Mokau, waited on the Premier and Native 7 Minister as a deputation. Wetere, who has not been over the border for fifteen years, and on whose head was si reward of five hundred pounds till a year and a half ago» on accouut of his alleged complicity in the White Cliffs massacre, was induced to come by Mr. Jones, who went down on Thursday, for the purpose. The deputation was; introduced by Major Standislx and Mr. Kelly, M.H.R. Wetere, on being introduced, told Sir George Grey that he remembered seeing him when he was a little boy, and he spoke of the great friendship between his father and Sir George Grey, whom he remembered his fattier carrying orer the river on his back, when he was himself a child. On being seated, Wetere said : " I have not much to say, as I came only with a strong desire to" see Governor Grey." Epiha said : " I have received a letter from Manga (Rewi) ; he has said, Leave the matter for the present. When you and he arrive at Mokau all matters will be talked over ; that is what I have been wanting for the Native Lands Court. I spoke to Mr. Munro, but nothing was done ; he said that the land should be surveyed. I said, ' No ; don't survey it.' Ho said, 'There is nothing to be done now ; mv superior has the management of it.' That is all I "said to Judge Munro. What Manga said is,' Here, my friend Wetere has a letter.'" Sir George said, " What do you say respecting: vessels entering Mokau ?" Epiha said, "I am, quite willing." Wetere said, " I told him to go to Manga to get instructions with respect to the Native Lands Court." These are the words of Manga. (Reads Rewi'a letter as follows) :—" I have given to Epiha the power to lay down regulations for Mokau ; secondly, there are no sales of land, for the land is mine. I have the management of it. That is all from Manga. Dated Kuiti, January 28, 1870." Sir G. Grey asked, " Wh.-it did Rewi sny about the Land Courts for titles ?" Wetere said,' " .Manga says not to hold any Land Courts fur the prcseut, but leave it for the future. We are hare solely for talking about opening the river for vessels." Sir jleorge Grey inquired if anything was said about leasing. Epiha said that was not talked about, but Wiremu te Wheu said, u I have nothing to do with respect to the lease, and with regard to the Land Courts—leave that to a future time." The Native Minister asked, "Do you know about the meeting to be held at Hikurangi, in Waikato, in March?" Wetere replied, " Epiha thought that perhaps it would bo held at Mokau, but now you say it is at Hikurangi, I know it is so." Sir George Grey said, " My" friends, should I wish a small steamer to come to Mokau to make soundings, what do you think of it ?" Epiha replied,'' There will be no objection whatever. I make no objection to that. It is very good." Sir G. Grey asked if they had any requests to make to him. Wetere said, " I will ask a question. I will ask you respecting the word that was said that you are coming j u March to* Mokau."' Sir G. Grey replied, " If I am Well and strong' I will come that way from Hikurangi." Wetere'said, ""It* remains with you to do as you wish." Epiha said, ; " Could you start'from here and go that way ?" "Sir" George Grey said, " I am afraid I cannot do.that, as it would be epsier to come by way of 'Auckland, as the fail-' ways are there." Wetere said, " It is two days from

Ifiktrrangi-to the navigable part of Mokau; It is a very <b#ljrsadi ifv.iaen. vjtr»^".plowly ♦ it, is two days if- they travel hard. On© day .there aire boggy creeks on the road and it is very Sir George* Grey said, " I have heard that in that road are lines where moa bones lie." <LaUgbter.) .Epiha said, '«I have a question to ask. I s^*™ 'rVkf* J? 11 to coxrie.to- Mokau shortly, just to see us can come in your own vessel." "Sir George Grey ,yiait:..-ybii frqm this side." Epiha said, ajl the questions I have to ask you. I will have more to say to you when yon go to see us." Sir George. Grey said, tl I. am going to ask you a question. Is the road to Mokau really made a good road', so that coaches can go ?*' Taiaroa said. «* I wculd not wish that road made." Epiha said, "I think that road might be made, because the horses suffer greatly crossing the Jrater." Wetere said, " All that I wish is to see you, but if you leave that to Manga it remains with you. With respect to the question about the road, I formerly said there is to no road, no leasing, no selling, no tele-graphs—-that is what J said. Formerly the people wished to.sell, but there was great trouble m that; the people Wished to have a road, but there was trouble in that; the people wished lots of other kinds of work, fcut there was trouble in all. 'As to what Epiha •ays, that the road should be opened, there is a great deal Of trouble in that; if he persists that the road should be opened, I have nothing to do further, for there is great Vp.oM* in that._ Listen to my words. The part that is Jpven to Epiha is the Mokau river, but anything respecting .meddling with land is retained by Manga." The Native Minister asked : " What do you say regarding the Native Lands Court ?" Wetere said, „ I will tell you exactly what I mean regarding roads and the Native Lands vP nrt - T© a have said you «re going to Bikurangi in ■larch ; vou should ask for all these things there. I wish *o.explain to you the meaning of what I said. You are speaking about White Cliffs ; I have nothing to do with that part. I have returned that land to Ngatitama." Sir George asked," Bow is the road to be finished at White S*?£?t?" ere Baid » *' I have told you that when vou go to Bikurangi Manga and others will tell you what "to do. £*fN y° u wh y I say this, because I wroto a letter to Dr Pollen with respect to the Native Lands Court, and he told me it remained with Rewi. I wrote to you, to which letter you replied that Manga had the power of dealing With those matters, and now why is it asked that I should do those things ? Are you perfectly clsar about this ?*' Sir George: Yes." Wetere said," These lour are my Fakebas. I allowed them to settle at Mokau, and it is tor them I agreed to open the river in order to carry goods. , What do you say to what I have said ?" Sir George replied/* I am glad to hear what you have said. I know you will treat them as your friends, and I would like to nee Europeans living among you, and if good men, would like to see you guard and befriend them." Wetere said, " That is just what I wish. Ido not wish the Mokau river fo be stopped to navigation ; it is Europeans, and not ourselves that stop the river now (meaning in not sending steamers)." A general conversation ensued between Ministers and Messrs. Jones, Shore, and MacMillan,.in which the Premier eoggestod.that authority should be given to one of the y^.V^ B * o ™ B *»* general matters, and the Mayor, with and Carrington, members, were requested to make suggestions as to the regulations of OpOTun* .up the river to traffic. This was a satisfactory this matter, so long looked forward to with *■*??*& ** ,Ja gratification to the people ofvHTew,Hymonth as.being moßt nearly concerned *fi^ M ? !, *?? l £ Bn °JJW onß tor § ir George Grey and theconMeace which he hae inspired in the King natives.