COMMENCEMENT OF SURVEY OF WAIMATE PLAINS (REPORT FROM MAJOR BROWN, CIVIL COMMISSIONER, TARANAKI, ON).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1878 Session I, G-05

G 5.

1878. NEW ZEALAND.

COMMENCEMENT OF SURVEY OF WAIMATE PLAINS (REPORT FROM MAJOR BROWN, CIVIL COMMISSIONER, TARANAKI, ON).

Presented to loth Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Major Brown, Civil Commissioner, Taranaki, to the Under Secretary, Native Department. Sir, — Hawera, 10th August, 1878. I have the honor to report the successful commencement and prosecution of the survey of the Waimate Plains, with every prospect of its peaceful continuance and completion. Monday, the 29th July, was the earliest date that the arrangements necessary would enable me to fix for the commencement of the survey. In the previous week I caused this to be notified at the various villages on the Plains, and the notices of the Hon. J. Sheehnn to be distributed and posted on all the bridges from the Waingongora to the Otakehu, that I had found so effective at the Moinahaki survey, in deterring the Natives from meddling with the survey marks and trig, stations. In this work I found the services of Katene Tuwakaruru (on pay as one of the Native police) invaluable. He did the work fearlessly and thoroughly, and I doubt if it would have been sate for any other of the Native police to attempt it. On the Saturday (27th) previous, Katene went to tell them when the survey would commence, and distributed notices again; and when they tore up the notices given them, he took out a notice and read it to them, so that no one should plead ignorance of the notices of the Hon. J. Sheeban, or of my intention to take the survey on to the Plains on the Monday following. On this last occasion he was accompanied by Mr. "W. Williams, licensed interpreter, whose advice the Natives have a great regard for, more especially as he is not a Government officer. They failed to see Titokowaru at his place, Okinawa. He kept out of the way, and probably will continue to do so for some time. His people are displeased with him for not agreeing to the proposition of the Hon. J. Sheehan that he should meet the Natives on the Plains, and they also suspect him of having taken Government money. This last supposition accounts to them for his vacillation, and also causes them to distrust him. The Natives on the Plains had been disturbed by statements of Warerata, acting under European influence, that the survey would be supported by a strong armed force. This impression was removed by Katene, who assured them that the Government saw no reason for the law being carried out otherwise than peacefully. At noon on Monday, 20th ultimo, I reached Rangitoto, on the Plains, about a mile the other side of Waingongoro, accompanied by Captain P. Wilson, Mr. Williams, Katene. and Kaitana, the two latter both Native police and principal owners of the land I was on. Te Iki and his party, about thirty, followed us here, and he made his protest against the survey going on. I stated about a. week previous in a telegram from New Plymouth that Te Ika was to oppose the survey; but it hardly deserved the name of opposition, his protest being so mild and peaceably expressed that it migot almost be said that we agreed to differ. He desired me to go back, and I told him that I must obey the orders of the Hon. J. Sheehau, and carry on the survey, and that he had better petition Parliament about any grievance he had, as the Momahaki Natives were doing. This he declined to do, evidently his objection being that he could not acknowledge Parliament without denying the prophet Te Whiti. The discussion, good-tempered and mostly repetition, lasted about an hour; and I complimented him on his peaceable form of protest. Te Ika blamed Titokowaru for not agreeing to the meeting on the Plains proposed by the Hon. the Native Minister; said there would be no recourse to arms, as was formerly the case, that being now at an end ; and ended by asking that the pigs running on the land mitrht be spared, which I promised. He then left with his companions, none of whom took part in the discussion. Some of the surveyors and a few Hawera settlers came up before the interview was* concluded, and the latter informed me after the Natives had left why the survey men had not arrived on the ground. Other information has since confirmed it. An alarm, commencing at Normanby, had extended to Hawera, that the Natives were going to fire on the survey party, and thin deterred the men from crossing the Waingonsjoro River. I sent Captain Wilson to tell them that the interview was over, and that the Natives had retired, which had the effect of reassuring and sending the men forward, when the camp was formed about a hundred yards from Woodall's Redoubt Owing to the tempestuous state of the weather, the surveys have not progressed as much as might have been wished, but sufficiently to require a portion of the camp to be shifted beyond the Kapuni (Stream, which was done the day before yesterday. The fear of some of the settlers at Normanby led one of them to ask Major Tuke if he would issue arms and ammunition to them, which he declined. There have been reports also that the Natives were

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erecting lighting pas on the Plains. It is difficult to trace the originators of this and other reports, but I believe them to be due to the same source that led the Natives to believe I was to take a strong armed party to support the survey ; and that they were originated with the mischievous intention of producing mutual distrust between the two races, and hampering my proceedings. The same parties I hear have induced the Natives to sign a petition for my removal, on the ground that if I were removed everything would be undone that I have carried out. A day or two after the survey commenced, Kokiri Patuwairua and a few others went to Parihaka to seek counsel of the prophet Te Whiti. I understood at the time that Titikowaru also went. It however appears that he stopped with his immediate following at Oeo. Te Whiti told them not to oppose the Government survey ; it was not advisable that blood should be spilt a second time upon the land ; but that any one taking the compensation Takowha offered would be as bad as Judas in taking the thirty pieces of silver. In answer to the question of what he would do if the survey went to Parihoka, he replied that he should not oppose it; the time would arrive when it would be all set right. Ho also declined to sanction the proposition of Kokiri that Katene should be killed. The effect of this interview has been very beneficial in producing submission to the survey on the Plains. Arrangements have been made with the Natives for the supply of pigs and potatoes to the surveyors; and a party of Titokowaru's followers on horseback, some twenty-five, visited the advance camp at Ivapuni yesterday. They good-humouredly said it was their first visit to the surveyors, and that they expected some one to " shout." A bottle of whiskey was found and handed to them, which they disposed of and then left. That the opposition to the survey has been so very much less than I anticipated is, I believe, due to the firmness shown by the Hon. J. Sheehan in dealing with the whole question, and that of the Momahaki confiscated land in particular. The advice of the prophet Te Whiti at Parihaka has no doubt materially assisted in promoting the general submission of the Natives on the Plains. But the prophet is a farther seeing man than most of the Natives, whose existence as a race he is anxiously promoting. It is reasonable to suppose that the interviews lie had with the Hon. the Native Minister satisfied him that resistance would be hopeless, and that in the interest of the Native race submission was the only course to be adopted. The feeling also exists on this coast that Natives who oppose the Government are now isolated by the action of the Maori King and Manga (Rewi) in making terms with the Government for themselves and their tribes. I am employing a Mr. It. S. Thompson to accompany the surveyors as interpreter, and enclose his last written report, since which Native feeling is very much improved. I have, &c, The Under Secretary, Native Department, Charles Bkown, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

Enclosure. Mr. E. 8. Thompson to Major C. Bhown. Snt, — Waingongoro, sth August, 1878. In accordance with instructions I received from Captain Wilson, I proceeded to Waiokura yesterday (Sunday) morning, in order to interview Patu Kopa with regard to the men pig-hunting. L found no one at his whare, and returned to camp. In tlio evening I went to Normanby, and returned at daylight this morning. I was sorry to find the people of Normanby, especially the female portion, in a state of ferment with regard to the Natives. They appeared to anticipate trouble, and I hear that Mr. Brett has applied to Waiiu for arms. Of course I cannot vouch for the truth of this, as I had but an hour or two at Normanby, and at night; but any such appearance of alarm, and disposition to meet trouble half-way, should in my opinion be put a stop to, as likely to inspire the Natives with confidence should they bo disposed to be troublesome. I consider it my duty to inform you of the turn affairs have taken on the Plains since the occupation by the survey party of their present position. On Monday last Titosowaru was at Okaiawa, but during the day lie was sent for by Tairuakana, and proceeded to Taikatu. Of course the survey was talked over, and Waru is reported to have said, " In the days that have but lately passed my sword was rusted (para) and dirty (waikura), but as I stretch forth my hand it is as bright as of old." These words were reported to To Whiti and Parihuka, and he said, ""Waru is a man of the sword (Jcaore he ritenya)." To Whiti also said, when he heard that the survey had crossed, "He paJciha, Ma marcma me Maori moe atu," which plainly shows what would be the fate of any Maori who should lead the surveyors on the Plains. The Natives of the Kopanga are keeping close to their kaingaB —some at Aruuturangi and Taikatu, and some at their plac< B at luata and elsewhere. The only Natives who have visited Normanby during last week are from the Kanitu and Okatu hapus. They represent the Natives as being engaged in weeping for their land and in a state oipouri and mamac. They appear to bo anxious that Te Whiti should bring his work to a conclusion, and sny that, if he is long about it now, bad may become of it. The only Natives who went to Parihaka are Patuwairua and Kokiri. The report that Titokowaru and party had gone there is untrue. I would suggest that measures should be taken to learn all that transpires at Parihaka on the 17th. Such is the gist of the information I gathered during my short stay in Normanby. My wife, 1 believe, wishes an interview with you ; and, should she go to Hawera, you may learn further details from her, as I told her she is to trust to Government. Awaiting any instructions you may have for me, I have, &c, Major C. Brown, Civil Commissioner. It. S. Thompson. P.S.— Should you see my wife, question her with regard to the petition got up by McDonnell, Dalton, and G. Briar.

By Authority: Georgk Diesbuey, Government Priuter, Wellington.—lB7B. Price 3d.]