MEETING AT PUTIKI.

Wanganui Herald, Volume III, Issue 496, 4 January 1869, Page 2

MEETING AT PUTIKI.

A" public meetirig, convened by I. the principal Wano-anui chiefs, was ; held at Putiki on Saturday last, for the purpose ('according to the adver- : tisement) of discussing existing relations between the paleeha and Maori. The meeting was thinly attended by the Europeans, abont thirty being present, among-st whom were Col. Lyon, Mr Buller, R.M., Mr. W. H. Watt, "Revs Nichoils and Stannard, Mr E. Wbon, Cat>t Tsaylor, and Mr R. W. Woon. The last named gentleman acted as interpreter between Col. Lyon and the natives. Kemp commenced, the runanga j by stating that the meeting had been called in consequence of certain reports in circulation among the pakehns. and which, if, not stopped, might lead to misunderstanding; the friendship which had so^long existed between the Wanganui natives and j the European settlersjhad already ; been disturbed ; he wished that the feeling of friendship and confidence between tbe two races might be restored. He would have them of one mind, and agreeing under one commander to carry out a plan of opera-: tions amongst ali*the forces against the common enemy Titokowaru. If something of this kind was not done, ■ and the whole force did not act with i [ perfect unanimity and in concert, he foresaw serious consequences. The ■ kupapa cavalry had befen told that iff they went out on "field duty they j would be shot by : the*pakehas, and ! ho was frightened for the result if such a thing- happened. Instead of these divisions, which only showed , onr weakness to. the enemy, we. shouW be united in discovering some | plan to thorougHly^and finally subdue j him. Kemp then, appealed to Col. Lyon, as commander of the forces, to use his influence to allay all feelings of jealousjy the two races, and to foster feelings of friendship. This was the first time he had known the Europeans divided in j their war councils, for now some; branches of the service were at; variance, and he considered it a! source of weakness. Referring to l Mr E. Woon, who was seated near, ■ he said that it was men like him who made mischief, and he should be, sent away; also, that the new?- j papers should not be allowed to print; articles calculated to create a feeling of irritation and hostility between the two races; if.that sort of thing was not put a stop to the Maoris would not come forward, Init. would let the Europeans act by themselves. Col Lym replied (through Mr Woon) to the effect that, he would (k) all m his power to allay any ill leeling that existed towards the natives, and he had been informed that the Governor had cancelled the commission of the gentleman who had written the offensive articles in the newspaper. Mete Kingi next came forward, and related at considerable length and apparently with great eloquence, the history of the wars in Wc,nganui;, from the arrival of C«L Lave, tbe ( murder of the Gilfillan family, and nursuit and .capture of the murderers. In past years, he said, a friendly feeling bad always existed between the Wanganui natives and tbe European settlers; they had always fought together, and the natives had declaied there slfould be no war here. War had,' however, come to Waa^ ganui, and the natives had fjtt^^l at Moutoa, and on another o^^^H had beaten the rebels withj^^^^^H pean assistance. Afte^^^^^^^H the enemy bad gatherj^^^^^^^H General Cameron's^^^^^^^^^M ganuis offered thei^^^^^^^^^H were declined; S^^^^^^^^^^^k been fighting out of their °^^^^^^^^^^^^| and Tnranaki.^^^^^^^^^^^^H der Mr Mcl^^^^^^^^^H Chute, theyj^^^^^^^^^^^^^f rear, they s^^^^^^^^^^^^^H fighting mt^^^^^^^^^^^^^^M to take co^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H by them. successful^^^^^^^^^^^^^^l which, al^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^J held by t(^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| war comn^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H called on collected,^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H after the^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H

'Mann, 1 at; whicti> the trave Yon

Tempskey and - other officers were killed./ Then Whitmore came and srave up the positions to the enemy, it this the Maoris were sorry as they looked; on it as a sign of weakness; if Whitmore had taken tbeir advice the result of the battle of Moturoa would have been different. Goveruor Bowen called on them to get up a Native Contingent, and-they had i raised the troop which had.given so ! much offence. Why was this ? they ; had only carried out the Governor's ! wishes. Why did the .Europeans ■ object to their fighting on horseback j more than on foot ? if they could not go into the field and fight like the Europeans, they would stay at home and fight no more He asked Colonel Lyon if the Queen and government disapproved of the native mounted corps, to which the Colonel replied in the negative.: ;.' Kemp said, the Maoris were experienced in fighting on foot, and wanted to acquire experience in i fighting on horseback ; in case of a close contest they could dismount and! let their horses go ; he was a Queen's soldier, and had as much right to be a cavalryman as a footman, but, speaking for his tribe, they were willing to leave the matter* in the hands of the Colonel as the commanding officer; if he said, drop the cavalry movement, they would do so ; but if he said he approved of it, they would go on.^SfSCl Col. Lyon replied that men required a long time to gain experience to act as cavalry; that the Government had-accepted the services of the natives on the understanding that they should obey orders to fight on foot or horseback, and with what weapons the Government pleased;' arms would probably arrive shortly, j when they would be property j equipped* Kawana Hunia—Neratiapa—expressed his continued friendship for the Europeans, and said he was ready to fight for them. To show that he might be depended on, he said the enemy was the ancient j enemy of his tribe; in past times; they had made war upon his tribe, and had killed many and carried away others as slaves. He and his tribe did not forget these wrongs, and were desirous of obtaining redress, which they hoped toi do by fighting against them with the Europeans. He had 200 sfand of arms, which he would keep until the enemy was completely suMued, if for five or ten years, and then he would return them to theigovernment. He called on Colonel/Lyon, Mr Buller, and the other magistrates, to assist in continuing friendly relations between the two races, and was of opinion that if th| natives wanted to be employed inlany particular service, or armed with any special weapons, the jmropeans should have confidence it^hem and gratify their wishes. Haimona's speech^^^^^^^^^H pressed the dissatf^^^^^^^^H their JJ^B^^^^^^^l as rations w^^^^^^^^^^^H Aperaniko a]j^^^^^^^^^^^fl reiteratejj^^^^^^^J^^m friendship J^^^^^^^^^^^^^^M generalh^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H parti^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H undej^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H