MONDAYS NATIVE GATHERING

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1707, 14 March 1862, Page 3

MONDAYS NATIVE GATHERING

We mentioned on Tuesday, in our report of the Native Meeting at the Provincial Government Buildings on the day previously, that the speeches of the Natives were not translated ac ihe lime. Mr. Baker, the Native Interpreter, has kindly supplied us with some notes of the speeches delivered by the Natives, and of those of Archdeacon Halfield and the Bishop, which were likewise in Maori.

Te Poni welcomed the different tribes, saying that , that he was pleased to see them and advised them to adhere to the Queen.

Tamihana Te Raupahaha expressed his satisfaction at being present and warmlyrecommended the Natives to unite themselves aa one with the Europeans and begged them to persevere in the adoption of the European customs. He also spoke in High terms of Sir G. Grey, and would warmly welcome him .back, he had much satisfaction in proposing the health of Her Majesty, the Governor, Dr. JTeatherston and the Europeans in general. Mabtene Te Whiwhi said, when I returned from Taranaki we were invited to dine with the Superintendent, we had much pleasure in doing so, now we again meet to welcome our friend Sir George Grey — there had been war at Tararnaki and we (the Natives) had petitioned the Queen to recall Governor Brown. She had done so, and sent us ,our old friend as a token of her love.

Parakaia Te Poubpa rose and said that he would adhere to the Queen, and advised the other Natives present to be firm in their adherence.

Hukiki spoke to the same effect. Hapuku (Ahuriri) said that he loved the land -and god, and that he was willing to support the Queen and the Governor.

Te Riua Pobutu said that he had lived for a long time in Wellington with the Europeans and that he would be firm in his adherence to the Queen and Governor.

Maniheba (Wairarapa) said, the first thing introduced by the pakeha was Christianity. He had accepted it. He bad never changed his opinion as to that, Next there was the Governor, Thirdly the fifaories understood that they were under the Queen's government. All went well till Sir G. Grey left the country. Soon afterwards Maoris were allowed to quarrel and fight among themselves. They then began to lose confidence in the Government. A Maori King was set up. He supported this in the hope of restoring order, Now that Sir George Grey had returned he had done with the king party. He then gave public notice that he had done with it. That he submitted to the Government. (Loud applause). _ Hobomoma said that the natives held the positidnthey now do in consequence of the Queen's having sent her clergy to New Zealand, and that if the clergy had not been sent to them that New Zealand would now be lying in the mud, that is, they would have all been killed by each other, and that the Queen after having sent her Governors to instruct them in the laws and that he was very willing to support the Governor and the .Queen.

Karanama addressing the Bishop and Archdeacon Hadfield said that he had been to Taranaki and seen Te Rangitake, that he was a Mend of Wi'Tako and pointing to his portrait said that he should not praise the Queen like him, though he got immortalised by it, aa Wi Tako had ; but he '- praised her Majesty with his heart, nevertheless. ~> He proceeded to say that he did not belong to the Governor but to the clergy, but that he was willing to support the Queen and Governor.

Te Kisgi Ahoaho said he was not willing to support the Maori King, but that ho was willing to support the Queen and Governor, he stated that formerly he had been groping in darkness, but that now his chief thoughts would in future be engaged in religion and the Queen. Nopeua said that formerly he had had possession of one piece of gr. >und (meaning the benefits derived from religion) and that now he had another piece of ground given him to occupy (meaning the laws) and that he would not forsake those things from which he had derived so much benefit.

Ropa.ua 1J urusiutu said that there wero no old chiefs in his tribe, and that he and others would not seek for another road — that the Governor and Te Rauphaiata had quarrelled, but they had made up their quarrel, and good was the result, and that he would now adhere to the law and the gospel.

Meiieta Kawekairangi said formerly he was a slave to the Natives, and that now he would be a slave to the Europeans— that is to the Queen. Wi Tamihana Te Neke said he was pleased to hear what Mr, Fox had said respecting the proposition of the Governor to settle the land question at Teranaki, that it might be seen who was in the wrong, Te Eangitake or 1 c Teira, that he would lean upon the Queen and the Clergy.

Wi Kingi said that it was not well to join the king for there was no benefit to be derived from so doing, but that all those who joined the Queen would gain permanent good : that he had joined the Queen and could not draw back if he wished, that he was a friend of Sir G. Grey's and that Sir G. Grey was a friend of his.

Manihera te Tobu said that he for one was willing to support the Queen, and that he agreed with what had' been said by VVi Tamihana Te Neke.

Hemi te Miha said that he was not willing to join in Child's play (the King movemont) but that he was quite willing to join the Queen. H kmi Pabai said that he would not welcome the Europeans, for that he was one among them, but that he would address the natives, as many of them were strangers — that he belonged to one tribe and that an important one — that he would remain hi Wellington — he would not speak of the Queen and Governor, as he was one of them (that is he was firm in his adherence to them.) Archdeacon Hadfie,ld said that he rose to impress upon all present the importance of what had been said by Mr. Fox in reference to Waitara — that he strongly recommended them to think over what had, been said — that it was only the King natives of Waikato who had refused to accept the Government proposal for the settlement of the Waitara question.

Theßishopof Wellington said that he had only a few words to say that lie likened the people of New Zealand to a bundle of sticks, and the cords by which it was bound together were the law and the gospel, and strongly recommended the natives to strive to live in union with the Europeans, and then all would be well, and further, that God was the father of religion and that the Queen aud the Governors were the parents of the law.

Matene tk Whiwhi said that he did not agree with some others in saying that when the Governor arrives, he must proceed to Otaki, as the natives had been disappointed in meeting His Excellency, that for his part he was quite willing to come again to Wellington when the Governor arrives.