Page image

13

G.-2

will hold to Sir G-eorge Grey. I will not drop him. Our hearts are interchanged. When we understand one another I will then ask my child to come and sit on the crown of my head. But I say these other people are filling the place on which we are to set him. lam trying to prepare a place on which to place my child, but you are swallowing it up. It is said that you are spoiling yourselves. But who has forsaken him? It is said that we have forsaken him and he has fled. Where am Ito place him? Am Ito place him on what has been taken away ? Is that to be his platform—that there shall be no leases or sales ? I will allow him to go and seek some way to establish things on a sound foundation. I leave my son (Tawhiao) simply and solely to seek some way of getting salvation for my own people, and, when I had arranged things, I was going to place him on a sound foundation. The King party went away to the European side, and then came back again. lam carrying out my plan. I have not been bribed. lam following out my own course. It is only recently that I have begun to seek a restingplace for my elder brother. For this cause I speak as a reasonable man, and what my heart feels. All I have to say is that I will hold to Grey, because we can arrange matters, and find fi place in which, we may dwell in peace. I hold Sir George Grey, and I will continue to hold him. I will hold fast to him that he may finish the work. I have built a house here, because my days are few. When this work is completed I will turn to the matters of my soul. I will build up my spirit. [Turning to Sir George Grey he said :] This is all I have to say to you. It is the same as I told you at Waitara. The good work was commenced at Whakairoiro, then at Hikurangi, and lastly at Waitara. I will build up my district, commencing from a certain point and going right round. I will continue building up this land, and, though you die, I will still continue to work for the good of the people. Sir George Grey said : Listen ! The evening is coming on. I want to say a few words to you. I knew Potatau for many years. I knew all his children —all his friends. Between Potatau and myself there never was a word of difference, and, had I remained in this Island, I believe there never would have been a dispute between the Waikatos and myself. I look on Tawhiao as my own child. Now I say the conversations that have passed between Eewi and myself have passed openly in the presence of many people. There was only one thing that bound Eewi and myself together, and that was love for all the people in this Island, and for Tawhiao and his people, and we determined to work for good. As two old men, we determined to devote the rest of our lives for the good of the people of New Zealand ; but some wicked men have arisen to spread false reports about Eewi aud myself. They muttered in the corners of houses, and represented to the people that Manga had been influenced in some way by myself and the Government. These are untruths. No word has ever passed between us of that kind. I came here full of regard for Tawhiao. I feel the same regard for him still. I have listened to no evil word against him to poison my mind against him. If any man had come to me and said an evil word against Tawhiao, I would not have listened to it. I would have ordered him out of my house. I came here this time hoping to have settled himself and his people in comfort, and it was with delight I heard him say there shall be no more fighting in this Island. When I heard him say that, I said, there speaks a son worthy of his father Potatau. I must go to-night, because it is late, but my last word to you is that I am here still to do everything that is right, and fair, and just to Tawhiao, and for all his people ; but those persons who tell him to claim all the Island—to talk in the way he did the other day, are not his friends, as I and Eewi are. They are enemies of his and of his people, and enemies of their fellow-countrymen the Europeans, if they are Europeans who do it; and they are enemies of their country if they are Natives who do these things. Let all good men unite in an attempt to secure a lasting peace and happiness for both Natives and Europeans in New Zealand ; and when a man rises, like Eewi, to struggle to do good for his fellow-countrymen, let any man be ashamed to utter such shameful words against him as I have heard spoken to you hero this day. The truth is, that Tawhiao is surrounded bv some people who avail themselves of the present state of things to sell their land, to let their land, and get money for their land, and yet they prevent all their fellow-countrymen from doing the Bame. Now, good-night to you all. The meeting then dispersed to assemble again to-morrow. Eeferring to the invitation given to Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan, I may give the letter sent by Eewi, upon which alone they came to Te Kopua. It was as follows : —" Te Kopua, April 2Sth. To Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan ; Salutations to you both ! I shall not conceal my word, but make you both acquainted with it. It is that you and all your people come to Kopua to-morrow. —From Eewi Manga Maniapoto." When we reached Te Kopua, Tawhiao's party desired at once to fraternise with the Ngapuhi chiefs who accompanied us, and who have all great names. But the Ngapuhi stood firm and refused all advances unless the Europeans were included. Te Ngakau himself repeated the invitation to some of the younger chiefs who were about the Ministerial quarters. None of the invitations have been accepted, and I overheard a conversation in the Kingite quarters, with reference to the purport of the Ngapuhi reply, which had been read at the evening prayers. Prom what was said I gathered that they couched their letter somewhat as follows : —" We decline to go. We are held back by our Pakeha. When we go accompanied by him, then we will go." That intimated that they would not accept any invitation without Ministers were included. Te Ngakau has had several interviews with Sir George Grey and the Hon. Mr. Sheehan. The Ngapuhis and othern Northern natives have behaved very well indeed. They have emphatically repudiated the claims of Tawhiao throughout, and have done all they could to assist Ministers otherwise. Te Kopua, Monday morning. Proceedings were resumed this morning, which was bright and clear. Tawhiao was present with his guard. He sat in a group of his friends, with his back to the Europeans. He did not speak, up to the adjournment at 1 o'clock. Te Wahanui stated the points that had been raised, which, he said, had not been answered on the other side. Paul replied, and then a discussion ensued between Paul and Wahanui. Petera Tupahue (Arawa) said : I will reply for my tribe. Your first error was that you did not act in the King movement with the approval of all the tribes. Potatau was lying sick when trouble commenced. You did not look to all sides of the question before you set up the King. Potatau said, Love the Europeans. He did not hold to evil; but, after he disappeared, wrong was done. When Potatau

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert