E—No. 8

SPEECHES OF GOVERNOR SIR GEORGE GREY AND THE WAIKATO CHIEFS AT THE MEETING HELD AT KOHANGA, DECEMBER, 1861.

Kohanga, 12th December. Waata Kukutai (Ngatitipa): Welcome, Governor. Welcome to Waikato. Welcome to the house which is injured, to the path which is overgrown, to the fence which is broken down. Welcome to the scattered sheep. The sheep have no shepherd, and so they are scattered abroad. It was I who fetched you from the forests of Taane. Welcome to your old resting-places. The roads are filled up. Come ashore. Enough. Aihepene Kaihau (Ngatiteata): Here are my fathers and younger brethren carrying the treasure into the house. The likanga is with you. Enough; it has appeared in your presence. The Governor to Herewini: Will you answer a question if I ask it? Te Herewini (Ngatitamaho): Ask it. His Excellency: I wish to know what Waikato wants. Herewini: What I desire is to show my love, and cry to my friend the Governor, Welcome, Welcome. Come in the name of goodness and affection, and the words of Potatau; although he is dead, his sayings remain. Welcome, Governor, to see us in peace, and that we may see you. O Governor, Welcome. I also call to you; reply to me. I have finished what I have to say, I have said it. This is my question, that you may say your say. I have answered your question thus, because such is my love to you. I did not understand your enquiry, and so I speak my own thought. I question, and am questioned in return; questions are put to me, and I question in reply. And so I say, answer my words of good-will. His Excellency: It is impossible for me to speak until I know what you want. I am come here as a stranger, and so I seek to know what it is which is desired by you. Do you want to know if I am come here in peace? Yes. I have come in love and regard for you all, and I wish to find out what I can do for you. Herewini: Friend the Governor, listen to me. There are three things that I think of: love, peace, and Christianity. There are also three other things which I think of: the king, the flag, and the roads. His Excellency: I am a stranger here, and should like it to be made clear what all these things mean. What is the king, according to your thoughts? Herewini: This is the interpretation of it. There are three things which I consider: the king, the flag, and the road; this is my explanation. His Excellency: Well, what is it that you mean by the king? Herewini: He is a king belonging to us, to us of this Island of New Zealand, belonging to (or over) us the inhabitants of New Zealand. His Excellency: Is he a king for the Europeans? Herewini: If you, O Governor, are willing to accept my king, it will be well. His Excellency: Is he then only a king for those who wish to have him? Herewini would not answer at first; then he said: He is for us, the men of New Zealand. His Excellency: What about those who do not wish to have him? Herewiui: All the men of New Zealand wish to have him. His Excellency, repeating the last question, said: What about those who refuse him? Herewini: I do not not know that there are any; there are none who have fled beyond the bounds of New Zealand His Excellency: But I know there are many. What about those? Do you intend to force them to have him as a king? Herewini: Ha! There are none unwilling; all are consenting. His Excellency: Have the Ngapuhis consented? Herewini: All, all belong to New Zealand. His Excellency: Have the Ngatitipa consented? Herewini: Yes, all belong to New Zealand; and Waikato belongs to New Zealand. His Excellency: What power is the king to have? What is he to do? Herewini: His work. You know that wars have been the constant practice in this Island of New Zealand. The Scriptures having come to me, I search, and in the Scriptures I find: Hence I build up this enclosure as the means of stanching my blood; thus I have considered in the years that have passed. His Excellency: Have you thought of no other plan for stopping war and bloodshed, in which all the country could join? Herewini: The destroyers of this evil are Christianity and love: these are its destroyers. Speak, O Governor, about evil and good; I thought that love should be joined to love, and hence I spoke about the three things.

SPEECHES AT THE MEETINGS HELD BY GOVERNOR SIR G. GREY IN WAIKATO.