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E—No. 8

I understand that there is a jealousy that I shall buy laud from a few people, and take it by force from others; you may depend on it I shall not do this. Until all that are concerned aro ' consulted, no land will be taken. I will not send people about the country teasing and troubling you about the sale of your lands. I should be a bad man if I did so, —particularly in the Waikato —as whenever I have asked you for laud you have given it to me. Did I not ask you for the land on which the Mission (pointing to it) stands, and did you not give it? Did I not ask you for land for Mr. Ashwell's station, and did you not give it? so also with other places. Now, as I have said so many hard things of you, I must say that I think, in very few countries, men would have so liberally given up land for school purposes as you have done: and in all countries it is said you have in this thing well done! Now, I will tell you what I propose to do for the future. I do not mean to say, that in as far as institutions for the maintenance of law and order have not been established in the country among you, your interests have not been overlooked. You must have seen that the Europeans have been allowed to make rules and laws for themselves, and those who made them have been paid for doing so; while the Maories have been left unprovided for, and those that did make laws were ill paid. I do not feel that I am without blame in the matter myself. When I was the Governor here formerly, I ought to have seen farther ahead, and what civilization would lead to and require. I propose therefore now, that wherever people live in considerable numbers, the island should be divided into Districts, and Runangas appointed to make laws for them, and to determine if roads are to be made, and what share of the expenses the people of the district will have to pay. They will also determine the ownership and boundaries of land, and if it may be sold, and by whom—and whether spirits may be sold, and under what regulations. In fact they will have to make laws on all subjects concerning their own interests, and when these are sent to me and I have consented to them, they will be binding alike both on Maori and European. Native Magistrates will also be appointed, and people under them, to administer the laws: and all these people that are employed will have salaries, and be paid regularly on the 1st of each month like Europeans. You will thus see by what I have said, that the way I intend to put down evil is by putting up good, not by employing force. One thing 1 have omitted to tell you. In each district a medical man will be stationed, and salaries will be provided for the Native Clergymen or Schoolmasters, aud for each " hapu" that wishes to put aside land for the support of a clergyman I will endeavour to get a minister. One of the great evils has been, that there has been no opening for the young men, Chiefs and others, who have been highly educated. Now I make all these openings, clergymen, magistrates, doctors, &c, and a young Chief may become one of these, and not have go to work (manual labor) on his laud like a common man, but live like a gentleman. Now don't you say I am not come here to conquer and kill you; I have come to conquer and kill you too— with good. Now I have done, and if any of you want to ask questions about what I have said, I am here to answer. Ruihana (Ngatitipa): There are three things of the Governor —three things to think about. I consider the evils in my presence (or path). Leave the Governor to l'eveal them; although it cuts my heart, leave him to reveal them, because goodness has appeared. Consider quietly, because of goodness and peace: he has come from abroad, he came from God, and from the Queen. Now here is another good word, wo understand the Scriptures. Look at this word, goodness, goodness; do away with evil; look you at that; let the good be established, and afterwards think of evil. His system is laid down, and it is for us to oppose (deal with) it. I shall not be destroyed by you, but rather by God if at all. Let this be clear, let it be light. Rise np and speak. Kihirini (Tainui) : Welcome, 0 goodness, welcome. Welcome Governor, the father of what is good. Welcome in love and the gospel. Bring hither the words of peace : let not the time be long. Karaka Tomo (Ngatipou): Welcome in goodness and love. There is no other word; all the korero is about peace. Arama Karaka (Ngatihine): Welcome, welcome; bring love; it is here being kept; old things are not forgotten. Te Herewini (Ngatimahuta): Welcome: whether for good or evil, Your words are good. You say in your speech that you are a Governor for both races, the I'akeha and the Maori. According to my thought, the plunder taken at Taranaki must be carefully adjudicated. There are many things lying under the " three things." Now if you see that the sin is ours, judge us ; if you see the offence was from you, enough, you will know that it is your own. Again: if you see that I slay a Pakeha travelling on the road, mine is the offence; if the Pakeha kills a man, yours is the sin. As to the property taken at Taranaki, let us be judged for it. If you see that the offence was ours, judge us ; if the offence is from you, from the Pakeha, we shall both know that it is from the Pakeha. Waikato (Ngatitipa): Welcome, Governor, in the love and kindness of God. Welcome in peace. Come and spread your garments over me : it is in affection that I say this word to you. I do not look at the length of our discourse ; when it is all collected, it will be goodness, peace. Tipene (Ngatimahuta) : What I shall speak about is the king, the flag, and the plunder. You formerly were the Governor of this island ; and as for us, we were with you. Now the things you gave us at that period were Magistrates. After your departure, we considered that we should raise up a king for ourselves, to stop blood shedding and repress the evils of the land, and put an end to wars. For two years this korero has been maintained. While the magistrates which you speak about were still residing, men were selling land throughout the island. We thought, New Zealand will be gone. We saw the land which had gone covered with cattle, and horses, and sheep, and the men employed

7

GOVERNOR SIR GEORGE GREY IN WAIKATO.

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