THE Wellington Independent. Tuesday, March 11, 1862. THE MAORI GATHERING, YESTERDAY.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1706, 11 March 1862, Page 3

THE Wellington Independent. Tuesday, March 11, 1862. THE MAORI GATHERING, YESTERDAY.

Yesterday afternoon the natives who had come in from all parts of the Province to be present at the landing of the Governor, partook of a farewell dinner in the Provincial Council Chamber. At the time fixed, or rather long before, a large number of natives had mustered, including several of their wives, and at a little after 3 o'clock, sat down to a plentiful supply of roast and boiled, pro* vided by Mr. Freeman. His Honor the Superintendent, who was in the chair, was supported on the right and left by E Puni, His Honor the Judge, and his Lordship the Bishop of Wellington. Grace having been said, it was not long before the edibles began to vanish, the joints beiug carved by numerous gentlemen (most of them being the members of the Provincial Council.) The contractor had so liberally calculated that although the guests were more numerous than was anticipated, nearly 200, there wits yet, not only enough, but to spare. Dinner over and concluded by Grace from the Bishop, the wine was handed round for a toast.

His Honor the Superintendent asked for their attention while he called upon them to drink the toast he was about to propose. All present were loyal subjects of Her Majesty. It was the custom of loyal subjects on all suoh ocoa-

sions to drink the Queen's health. They had always done this on similar occasions with great heartiness, and he was sure they would do so now that the Queen had sent back to them Governor Grey, (tremendous cheering.)

j On the glasses being again filled His I Honor said he had one more toast — that of their old friend Governor Sir George Grey. He believed Governor Grey was personally known to almost all of them, and almost all of them to him, fur he was a governor who went riding about the country among pakehas and maories, ascertaining their wants, and doing his utmost to remedy them. (Cheers .) When Governor Grey was about to leave them their hearts had been dark, and they had expressed in many addresses their best . wishes for his health and prosperity. Sir George Grey had not been away long before troubles arose, not between pakehas and maories, but between various tribes of their own race. A war was commenced which lasted for more than a year, in the course of which, valuable lives, both among pakehas and maories, were lost, and a large amount of property was destroyed. Many of them had sent a petition to the Queen asking her to send out Governor Grey again, When the Queen first received it she did not understand how the war arose, and the petition was not at once answered. When the Queen had enquired into the war she determined to put a stop to it as soon as she could, and sent back Governor Grey to bring about harmouy between pakehas and maories. Now Governor Grey had come to do certain things he. Had come to inquire into their grievances, and if any existed to redress them. He had come also to confer the same privileges on them as were possessed by the pakehas, by giving them powers of self-government. But while the Queen had directed Sir George Grey to do these things she had also instructed him not to allow rebellion on the part of either Natives or Europeans ; for while ready to redrevs grievances and give the power of maintaining law and order, yet at the same time obedience to authority would be required from both races. This was the great work Governor Grey was sent to do, and it was to be hoped that pakehas and maories would alike assist him in doing it. He (the Superintendent) had hoped that Governor Grey would have been present ; why he was not, Mr. Fox, who was the Governor's right hand man, would explain to them. Tn calling on them to drink the health of Governor Grey, they would sincerely wish him every happiness and prosperity, (great cheering.) The toast was drank with a hip, hip, hurrah, like

the previous one.

Mr. Fox, who was received with cheering, said he was sorry that so many had gathered together and that Sir George Grey was not present. He had intended coming down the East Coast and going down to Wanganui in one of the men of war, but two of them had been, ordered to Australia by the Commodore there, and the one which remained behind (the Fawn) had burst her boiler, so that the Governor was obliged to stay sometime longer at Auckland. He was sure it would not be long before the Governor came, for he had not forgotten old faoes and was still full of affection towards the Maories 'of Cook's Strait. Perhaps he could not do better than tell them what the Governor had been doing since his return to New Zealand. He determined first of all to go and visit those native who desired him to do so. Th« first who asked was Tamate Waka, and therefore the Governor paid his jfirst visit to the Bay of Islands and Hoki&nga. The Ngapuhis were first called upon to assist the Governor in upholding law and doing good. He sent them a Commissioner and Magistrates, and they had chosen thair Assessors. All the Ngapuhis were now helping the Governor to carry ou t the law. Large meetings had been held amongst them at whioh the Natives were delighted to see him and be to see them. The next place he went to was the Lower Waikato. Waata Kukutahi had begged the Governor to send them Magistrates, and he, with Wirirau Nera and other chiefs were now helping the Governor to carry out the law. The natives at Rotorua had asked for Magistrates and they had been sent. The Taupo natives, those at the North end and East side of the lake, were strong for the Queen. He (Mr. Fox) had the other day attended a' meeting of 1000 natives at Hawkes Bay, and they all desired that Magistrates should be sent to them, and therefore, they would be sent shortly. The Governor had not

gone to the Upper Waikatos because they had not asked Him, but he had sent him (Mr. Fox), because he heard they were dark about the Waitara, and the Governor had directed him to assure them that he was desirous of ascertaining the truth about Waitara,. whether it belonged to Teira or William King. The Governor had directed Mr, Fox to pro* pose that the matter should be investigatee. The Maories were to appoiut one Europeau and two Natives, and the Goveruur to appoint one European and tiro Natives. If they found that the land belonged to Teira, then it should be given to the Governor. If it should be found that it belonged to King it should be given to him. If part of it to Teira and part to King then the Governor should take that which belonged to Teira and the remainder should go to .William King? The Waikatos did not at once consent to this, but as W. Thompson was away they wished him to have the opportunity of considering it Thompson had since written, but he did not say jas or no. _ was a like ohilds answer, neither ene thing nor the other. $ome of the pakehas when they heard this, said the Waikatos did not want an investigation. They said where is the truth of the Waikatos who have talked su much about the Waitara. The natives could now. see that it was the Waikatos who stopped the road, and not the Governor. When they consented to abide by an investigation, that grievance would be got rid of. H a (Mr. Fox) hoped that it would not be very long before the Governor arrived in Wellington and saw them face to face. If the natives would all come round the Governor and assist him tv carry out the law, then there would be no more war, no more trouble, no more angry differences between pakeha and maori, but a long continued, permanent peace, (cheers.) Some 14 or Id Natives of the Ngate Kahungunu, Ngatitama, Ngatawhmkura, Ngatihaumia, Ngatitoa, Ngatiawa, and Ngatiraukawa tribes then severally addressed the meeting. We are unable to report their speeches in detail in consequence of their not being interpreted at the time ; but their general purport was an expression of satisfaction at the re appointment of Governor, Grey and the introduction of the Runanga system. The healths of she Superintendent, and the Europeans generaally having been toasted, the Bishop, Archdeacon Hadfield and Mr. Ebenezer Baker the Interpreter, severally addressed ; a> few words of compliment, advice, and encouragement, and the gathering dispersed about six o'clock, well pleased with the warm reception that had been given to them.