THE GOVERNOR AND TE WHITI.
The following is the letter forwarded by Sir Arthur Gordon, Governor, to the prophet Te Whiti: —
"Friend Te Whiti,— This is thj announcement from me to you, who are living apart in a far-off portion of these Islands, whom I desire to see brought near me. lam come to assume 'he Government on behalf of the Queen in her name, to minister justice to both races of her subjects. The troubles which have existed among some of the Maori people have been known to me in the past, and now it is my duty to do the best to remove them. I know what has been done by my predecessors and General Assembly to settle the difficulties which have arisen, and I desire to finish the work of putting things right. I am told yon are desirous of seeing me, and representing your views of what should be done to promote this good end. That is very good, and if you will let me know when you will come to Wellington to see me, you will be received with fitting hospitality, and I will not only listen to whatever you wish to say to me,
but also jf you show wrong has been done 1 will do justice in accordance with the law and the will of the Queen. Should you consider the distance between Wellington and Parihaka too great to travel, then there is another way in which it would be easier for us to meet to discuss matters. I shall soon be journeying round the colony to make myself acquainted with the affairs?, European^nd Native, throughout these Hands, affd ia my journey I shall visit New Plymouth. Now if you will come, you can more readily return thence to your own people to tell them the result of our conference, or if you prefer it I will meeS you at any other place on the way between New Plymouth and Hawera by the inland road. I am told you have heard of what is proposed to be done for the settlement of differences, and when we meet I will make more clear to you the provisiou which will be made for the fieUlement of your people, and tbe plans which I have for their future welfare. 1 have lately ruled over a people very like the Maoris. I have left them happy and contented, discussing their own affairs. They make their wishes known to the Quern and to the Governor in a regular manner through duly constituted channels. Why do not you and yours in like manner avail yourselves of those channels, which, though not the same here, answer similar purposes. Why should we not talk over these matters '? I have heard that you are a man of peace, and that you have striven to prevent war. The light is still iingering on the mountain top. When you receive this letter write to me at once, so that I may know what your intentions are — whether you will come here or whether you will meet me on the journey, aDd I will then let you know what day I shall be at New Plymouth. If you explain in your letter whafc your grievances are I shall be better able to answer you when we meet.— From your fri.nd,
Aethtje Gordon.
The papers have got hold of one of Mr Parnell's leasos with his tenantry. It is found to be a document guarding in the Btrictesfc terms the landlord's iuterest.
The Postmaster General of Canada has announced that it is the intention of the Dominion Government to complete the Pacific railway by 1890.
Near sighted sportsman (who has made a succession of misses) : « Have I hit anything this time, llodgers ?" Disgusted keep r. : " Yes'er— you've hit the dog."— Fun.
The vintage of California has been estimated at 10,000,000 gallons for the Beason of 1881.
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THE GOVERNOR AND TE WHITI.
West Coast Times, Issue 3672, 11 January 1881, Page 2
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