Title: Proceedings of of the Kohimarama Conference, Comprising Nos. 13 to 18 of the “Maori Messenger.”

Publication details: Auckland

Part of: He reo ture nō te taha Kāwana / Language of the Crown

License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 New Zealand Licence

Share:

Reply from Ngapuhi. No. 2.

Salutations to you. O Pakehas and Maories, listen! I am seeking to find the page 9 fault of the Governor, and have not seen it, night nor day, during the whole term of this meeting. Is he in the wrong about land? No, it is a falsehood to say so. Mr. McLean and Mr. Henry Kemp have been appointed as purchasers of land. It is the same thing as buying and selling at a store. So it is with these lands. The Maories themselves desired to part with their land to the Pakehas. It is not taken from them by the Governor, or by the Pakehas—no. So, also, it is their own thought to set up the Maori King, but it will not succeed. Its origin is boastful pride. It is wished that the sovereign power of the Queen should be lessened; but no, it will not be lessened, for there was no King of this island in the olden time—all chiefs were equal; and now at the present time they are trying to find some means of putting down the power of the Queen. It is playing false, as they did when Governor Hobson arrived at the Bay of Islands, at Waitangi. He proposed returning to England, but every one of the Chiefs said, "No, but come and live at the Bay of Islands." Hone Heke also consented, but afterwards Satan entered into his heart. He cut down the Flagstaff, and attacked the Europeans. Waka then rose against him. Afterwards the Pakehas, with Waka and his people, fought with him. Before long, peace was established. It was not like Te Rangitake's proceeding. His plan is to murder. This is very bad. My heart pronounces this a great crime, and my head aches with disgust at this work. It is like the sin of Ngapuhi to the Pakehas by Matetakahia. When the Pakeha was killed, Waka rose against Matetakahia, and Ngapuhi did not resent it. Before this, a long time ago, another tribe committed an offence, and then absconded. The Pakehas visited it upon my ancestors, and Moira was killed. I then took vengeance on the Pakehas. My ancestors also avenged themselves on the Pakeha. Waka next rose against Kiri, and Ngapuhi said nothing against it. These are all ahe crimes I know of. The fault was with the Maories, with Ngapuhi, not with the Pakehas. Enough of these words.

Friend the Governor, I do not approve of this Maori King; but I wish to honor the Queen and the Governor. I understand your words. You wish peace to be maintained under the Queen's rule, and that we may all live in an orderly manner and in quietness under one protecting power. It is well to wipe away your offences. This is my idea about this page 10 meeting We wish to swear truly to our words. Look well at these words. If you and Rangitake fight, and if any man from this meeting joins Rangitake in the war, he will have broken his word now spoken. I don't speak of the Ngapuhi. We mean to sleep [remain quiet] for ever and ever. Amen.