39

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Te Ngalcau: You may go ;it is for us to consider these proposals if it takes us ten years. Te Ngakau then said the Hauhaus should remain, and the Friendlies might go. An irregular discussion then arose. Hauauru, of Ngatimaniapoto, denounced the management of Te Ngakau shortly afterwards. The meeting then dispersed for dinner. I may say that the proposals made by Sir George G-rey are almost precisely the same as those made by Sir Donald McLean. Sir George Grey does not propose to give back to the Kingites the pieces of land repurchased by Government from Europeans on the left bank of the Wai pa, but those which have remained unsold from the first. The only new concession is the allotments in the townships of Waikato. After the meeting there was a great crowd on the small terrace occupied by the Europeans, and a strong posse of police under Inspector Perenganoa was placed on duty. Fences had to be erected. Tawhiao had dinner with Mr. Sheehan. When the answer will be given to Sir George Grey's proposals I cannot say, but probably the party will leave here to-morrow morning. Dancing took place in front of the tents, and general hilarity prevailed. 5.30 p.m. There are still several ticklish questions outstanding between ourselves and the Kingites, even supposing Tawhiao and his council agree to the proposals made by Sir George Grey or drift into accepting them. For instance, when Potatau was elected King the land and the people were handed over to him. The fact was recognized that the land would be more secure from alienation from the Maori people if in the hands of one man of high position, surrounded by a number of the most determined men, than if the separate hapus had an unquestioned right to deal with their ancestral possession. Potatau always asserted that right, and so has Tawhiao. But what will be the event under the new arrangement ? If to Tawhiao is conceded the right to forbid sales and leases of all the lands of the tribe which has adhered to him the lands of the valleys of Punia and Waipu may lie waste for many years to come. But if that power is not recognized by us, and if the Maoris no longer recognize his exclusive kingly power, and confine his mana to his own tribal lands, a large extent of land will soon pass into our possession. Then, as to the murderers, nothing was said. Most likely an amnesty will be passed for most of them, but the public feeling will no doubt be strongly against pardoning them all. It is said that Te Ngakau will appeal to the Assembly for better terms. 8 p.m. Some excellent dancing was performed this afternoon in the cleared space in front of the tents of the Europeans. We had quadrilles, polkas, and step dancing. This was done at the desire of Tawhiao. If arrangements can be made the party will reach Auckland on Saturday night. It is believed that the programme, as proposed by Sir George Grey, will be accepted by the Kingites. In fact, lam told it is practically done. Of course much detail has still to be arranged. The importance to Auckland is great, as a road will be made through the country. Alexandra, Saturday, 11th May. My last communication gave an account of the proceedings at Hikurangi up to Friday evening, when, after the meeting, affairs took a turn which must have a good deal astonished the country. The whole assembly devoted themselves to enjoyment. Dancing was kept up on the square in front of the tents of Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan till dark, and after that several sets of quadrilles were danced by the faint moonlight and candlelight. The dancing was graceful, as courteous, as decorous as in the Queen's assemblies. I can say that safely, although I never was present at a Eoyal ball. No praise can be too high to give fnr the excellent order maintained throughout the meeting. People were there assembled from many different parts, a large proportion of these being young lads. It was something like a farce, except that there was no confusion, no quarrelling, no disorder, no foul language, no drunkenness, and who ever saw so great an assemblage of Europeans without examples of some if not all of these ? At night the scene was like a diggings township in its early days. The bush around the settlement is partially felled and partially burned. The tents of the visitors were scattered up and down in the gullies. Fires burned here and there, and lights gleamed everywhere in the darkness. The likeness to a diggings would have been more complete if there had been a dozen brawls and fights going on, with drunken men reeling about, cursing and swearing, That feature, however, was absent, because, probably, drink was absent. All liquor was strictly forbidden by the Hauhau law. I have never seen a man the worse for liquor within the realm of Tawhiao, and certainly it will be much better for the Natives if that regulation be always preserved. When the darkness set in on Friday the bugle sound for the night patrols to assemble. The bugle, I may mention, is a long reed, twisted round with flax, and having a mouthpiece fashioned ; it sounds just like a military bugle. The police force, as usual, assembled at one end of tae settlement, and marched to Tawhiao's house, where they had prayers in Hauhau style. The place where the Europeans lodged was, as I have already said, fenced in at night, and no one was allowed within the fence except those of the Lower Waikatoa who were living in a big house opposite the European visitors, and the greater chiefs who came to see Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan. Tawhiao himself visited them one night, to see that the guards were properly posted. The Europeans were at liberty to go all over the settlement, and were welcome guests at every fireside. I believe the strict watch kept around our quarters was simply to prevent stragglers from bothering the Ministers with impotent talk. Ido not know whether there was really any danger or not. There were at the meeting men who had been concerned in deeds of violence and murder, and perhaps a few who knew that the law would punish them if it had them it its clutches ; but we believed that in our case the sacredness of guests made us safe, and that the most reckless and fanatic Hauhau would not have attempted violence. At Thursday's meeting practically nothing was done, as would be seen by my report of the proceedings ; but at the evening consultations Sir George Grey let them know that he would expect them to speak out like men. Tawhiao consented, but he would not come down so far as to say what he would take. He rather chose to go to business by asserting the original principle of the Kingite movement, that all the Europeans should return to the Auckland side of the Maungatawhiri Creek. He knew that could not be granted : that was apparent from the language he used. Then Sir George Grey replied in the terms you have already printed. The statement did not seem at all to take the Kingites aback, and, instead of discussing it, they fell into a pretty squabble about intertribal matters.