A.— No. 21
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND MAORI CHIEFS.
No. l. Tamihana te Bauparaha to the Hon. Mr. Fox and Mr. M'Lean. Wellington, 20th July, 1869. Now, look at these words, and see if they are clear to you both. Write to me whether they are good in your opinion or mistaken, that I may be able to write to the persons whose names are attached to the enclosed document. From me, your friend, Tamihana te Bauparaha.
Enclosure in No. 1. Friends, Mr. Fox and Mr. M'Lean, — Wellington, 20th July, 1869. Salutations to you both. I now write some words for you to look at. It is seriously considered by the Northern portion at this time that there should be a European at their head. All the tribes who live at the tail end of the island are seeking for means whereby they may become prosperous. I will soon receive some letters, and I will send them to you. I will copy here the letter which was sent from Auckland on the 14th June, 1869 :—- -" Friends, all the Maori chiefs of this island, —Hearken all of you. This is an impulse of the mind, caused by the sadness of the heart on account of the troubles which have not been solved during the year which is passed, even up to the present day to the time of the arrival of the ' white crane flying once in a lifetime,' the son of our Queen at our island—Aotearoa. Therefore, we have thought on this the 14th day of June, 1869, to go back to and revive the good system laid down by the meeting at Kohimarama in 1860. The reviving of it is this, that all the wise chiefs of each tribe should meet in order that Kohimarama may be commenced again in this year which is coming, because the course of action of our friends who have been selected to carry on affairs relating to the Maoris is not clear to us. We have not heard what they did during the session of Parliament when they first took part in carrying on affairs. On that account we have thought that there should also be an Assembly for the Maoris. When the subjects have been dealt with by the Assembly of those chiefs who have met they should be submitted to the General Assembly of the Government of New Zealand, that the justice and propriety of the matters laid down by the Maori Assembly may be considered by them. " But the Maori tribes should collect money to sustain that Assembly, that it may grow up. " Sufficient from us, the Maori chiefs, whose names are hereunder written. " Tamihana te Baupaeaha and others." There were many other persons who wished to, but did not sign.
No. 2. Mr. Halse to Tamihana Te Baupabaha. To Tamihana,— Wellington, 24th September, 1869. Friend, salutations. Your letter dated 20th July, suggesting that another conference should be held similar to the one held at Kohimarama in the year 1860, has been shewn to Mr. M'Lean, and I am to state that the Government will take the matter into consideration. From your Friend, Tamihana Kauparaha, Otaki. H. Halse.
No. 3. The Hon. D. Pollen to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey. General Government Offices, Sic, — Auckland, 11th August, 1869. I have the honor to transmit herewith a letter from Aihepene Kaihau, of Ngatiteata, relative to recent events at Tokangamutu. Aihepene was not present at that place, but had sent his people with a present of dried fish to the King previously to the meeting. I enclose also a memorandum handed to me yesterday by Mr. Mellsop, 8.M., of certain statements made to him by Bopata Kaihau, brother to Ahipene. He has just returned, and is the man who brought the message from Tawhiao to Wiremu Te Wheoro which that chief reported in his letter transmitted with memorandum No. 368, of date August 7th instant. I beg leave to direct your attention to the statement of Bopata, relative to the mode in which the Seitiki of greenstone, said to have been worn by Te Kooti, came into the j>ossession of Mr. Searancke. I have, <fee, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Daniel Pollen.