VISIT OF THE GOVERNOR TO THE NORTH.

A.—No. 7,

11

Haueaei Kaipo said: Welcome, welcome, welcome, Governor ! There is nothing that I can say to you. It is the old people who have to talk to you. Welcome, welcome, welcome, to Mr. McLean ! There is nothing to say to you but what has already been said to you and to other Governors. Welcome, Governor, to the canoe now floating. Welcome to Hokianga, where our hands have never been stained with the blood of Europeans. I have shed my blood to avenge European blood ; that is why I now speak before you. Welcome, Governor, to Hokianga. Tio said: Welcome, Governor ; welcome, Mr. McLean, welcome ! I have only one word to say to you. My word is, good-will to the Europeans. Welcome all; my word is good-will to the Europeans and peace. Welcome, Governor. Eewi Kene Papahis said : Welcome, Governor ; welcome, Governor ! You are the right hand of the law, which has been brought from England to this country. I have nothing to say to you. My word is good-will to you and the Europeans. Be kind and considerate to your dependent tribes living here. Welcome ; I have nothing else to say to you. Whaeekeeeru said : Welcome, Governor! lam now one of your children. This is not mere words of mine, as lam a child of yours. I have fought for you. That is why I say that I have joined with you from the commencement up to the present time. I have always adhered to the laws and I do so still. I never shall have anything to do with any other strange tribes who are creating disturbances ; let them follow out their own evil courses. If they in any way interfere with us I will then be quite prepared for action. Now, Governor, father of the law, I want to have all the knowledge connected with the laws given to me —who am but a child—that I may know them well. That is all I have to say to you at this time. Ngakuku said: Welcome, my father, the Governor, and Mr. McLean! Welcome, come and see your children—your children who are now defending the laws, and abiding by them. There is nothing to say to you. Our ancestors have desired us to be friendly to the Europeans, and we have continued to be so up to the present time. There is nothing here but good-will among this people —good-will to the Europeans. Our only word to you is peace and good-will. Come, that we may speak to you. We have good-will towards you in Hokianga ; and what we want is, that our district be filled up with Europeans. What causes confusion and mischief is the waipiro (ardent spirits.) Ido not know whether the same good feeling will always exist, as strong drink may be the cause of evil. Our wish to you is to stop the sale of spirits in our parts. We do not want rum brought here; let it be taken to the towns. The death of two men has been caused from spirits being sold on land that I gave the Europeans. Let there be no rum sold in Hokianga ; let it be sold only at Bawine (Hurd's Point.) Let there be no public houses. Let there be no rum disposed of at any of the places lower down than Eawine (Hurd's Point), so that I may in sincerity carry out my feelings of friendship to the Europeans. lam anxious that this district should be full of Europeans. These are all the words I have for you to consider. Whare Toe Toe said : Welcome, Governor, welcome ! I have to speak to you of my adherence to you which shall be for ever and ever. I will attach myself to you for ever. Come and see the children of the Queen. What shall Ido as her child ? Come and see your children. That is all I have to ask. lam hungry ; lam hungry for pigeons. (This was a slight hint that he wanted some powder and shot to shoot pigeons.) Maeaeena Wahaeoa said : Welcome, Governor, from England to your children here. Welcome hither. Ido not know whether you consider or care anything about our talk or not. Welcome, Mr. McLean. We are attached to you and to the Governor, but Ido not believe in the restrictions of the law towards us. Our object is straight, and you turn it aside. The mind of the Maoris is not clear yet. They do not always know what the Governors are, or what are the views of the sixth Governor. There is no use in our talking falsehoods to each other, or misleading each other. Let us understand each other. Let Europeans be brought to Hokianga. Let us have the laws made known to us ; let there be no restrictions upon the waipiro (i.e. the sale of spirits). We are living according to your laws. Our fathers did not know sufficient of your laws to understand and appreciate them. Welcome, Governor, welcome ; that is all I have to say. ToHEROAsaid: Welcome, Governor ! Welcome, Mr. Mclean ! Salutations to you both. Welcome the fathers of our Chiefs. I have nothing to say but to welcome you. Come and see this fatherless tribe. Welcome. Come and bring me life or bring me death. If you have come to bring life to us, welcome. He concluded by singing the following song of love and welcome : — Tera te Kawana ka tae mai ki Hokianga c hiahia tia ana c toku ngakau te Kawana c manakitia ana c nga Iwi katoa haere mai kite Horoi i nga kino o tenei Iwi o te Earawa, i mua hoki c kotahi ana te Ture Atua me te Ture Kuini na aua Ture i au ai te moe, kua tae mai nei te Kawana he Tinana he tinana korero atu he mangai he mangai kua tae mai nei koe c te Kawana ki Hokianga kua kotahitia te Iwi Maori me te Pakeha i tou taenga mai te ra wharahi hapai ana mai kia muturangi c te ia whenaka atu kite tahu a te rave whakaihia nei kia mana te tohunga hei whehe kite wai kia hemo nga tapu o tau hau wahine he moe ra naku kia uru Tautini tenei te Wairua te hoe i te tinana no taku hokoitinga i au ai ko te moe whaka tata rawa mai te kiri o wharaiti ka tv i runga i te tapu hei aha ia au to tahu c rua i rere pae mai ai tau atu ko Tawhiti tuku tonu i te Wini hoe hipi o karahe ai runga kia whaka v mai te makau a ti pango i manako range au he kanonga tawhiti c nave Kawana c kore rae nuia he tahu kariparahi whai tupua he nui te tupiki kei raro c tohi tenei te wehi c te Tuiri i toku he auaka motu hia kia iri mo maua te tihi huaki riri liuihanga tana tia kia Poroa c tv tata c te Iwi te motu kai watuai. [Teanslation.] Lo ! now the Governor haa at length arrived at Hokianga ! My heart, alas! has longed to see Him —whom tribes, far and near, have united to acknowledge and recognise, in terms of friendship and love. Welcome, O Govornor! come now, and remove the stigma which still attaches to the Rarawa's name (having reference to Nuku's death, and Te Wake's capture and escupe). In days gone by the laws of God and the laws of the Queen stood side by side. Under the shadow of those laws our tribes take sweet repose, free from danger and surprise. Now, at length, the Governor has appeared. We see him in person. We speak with him face to face. Now, 0 Governor ! this, your presence at Hokianga, will be the means of cementing, in one bond of unity and fellowship, the tribes of the Pakeha and the tribes of the Maori, so that they shall henceforth live in peace and friendship together, under one law and under one Governor.