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

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page 45

Reply from Ngatikahungunu. No. 6.

Salutations to you! I approve of what you said—that we were to look at certain words in your address. I found that in the second paragraph you mention our gracious Queen. I say that this is quite correct, for this island was lying in darkness. The Queen was there teaching the word of the Scriptures. She saw these words, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be damned." The Queen then said, "Send Missionaries to teach them, and I will pay them" These are the men whose salaries are paid by the Queen—1st, the Ministers, 2ndly the Doctors, 3dly, the school-teachers. What excites my wonder is the enlightenment of the principles. She says nothing about her substance being consumed in that way by me—that is, in instructing the Maori. There are other things besides which I cannot perfectly enumerate.

This is another thing: her keeping away evil people of other nations and causing them to remain away at their own places,—not permitting them to come to this island.

Here is another thing: it is in the third paragraph. Hearken! My Pakeha friends, the portion of land set apart by the Governor for each individual is not clear, inasmuch as be has not received any document to confirm his title. The Government merely says, "This is for you." Afterwards comes a Pakeha. The Maori says to him, "This place was given to me by the Government." He (the Pakeha) states that his money has been paid to the Government. When some person from the Government comes, that man (the Pakeha) speaks to him on the subject, and he assents. The Government officer then says to the Maori, "Perhaps your portion had better be here," but afterwards that again is taken away! This is in reply to the second and third paragraph.

This is a word of ours on the sixth. This is my suggestion: if a man steals, let him pay, and if he does not pay, let him be sent to prison. If he commit a murder, let him suffer the penalty. These are the things that so divide the Maories. If one man offends and is apprehended, the whole of his tribe rise.

This is a word of ours on the seventh paragraph. We think that the false reports came page 46 from the Pakehas. These are the men who profess to be the loving friends to the Maories. It was such doings that disturbed Wairarapa. False reports were the cause.

Now with regard to the eighth paragraph. Friend, the Governor,- When we heard that a King was elected for New Zealand our thoughts were these: this is a theft, inasmuch as this name belongs to the Pakehas. You did not say to the Maories, "Here is a name." These are the things which were freely given by you Pakehas to the Maories: first, guns,—secondly, Christianity,—and thirdly, clothing. Again: some of us have been made Ministers and others Assessors. We have been baptized and the names of our fathers have been given up. According to Maori custom each man is a Chief at his own place, or over his own tribe. It is the system of you Pakehas only to have but one chief.

This is another thing. We have seen in the Scriptures that it is not well that there should be two masters as one would quarrel with the other; and, in like manner, it is not well to have two Kings over one country, for one will teach one thing and the other another. Which ear is to listen to which? The right way is to appoint right persons to regulate matters, so that the work may progress properly.

Friend the Governor,—Do not suppose that our thoughts will even be similar to those of the men of Waikato. Our thoughts do not tend that way. There is but one thing we would mention, and that is your quickness in apprehending. O Governor,—I mean, that the Maories and Pakehas have so soon fallen (in battle).

These are my thoughts with respect to the eleventh paragraph. You say, it is defying the Queen. it, however, resembles child's play. A child attempts to build a house, another asks, "Who says that that is the way"? He replies, "This is the way." And so with the Maories who are making a King for themselves. Some say, "It is right," and others, "It is wrong" Some say, "Acknowledge the King," and others, "I will not acknowledge that King: he is a cannibal King" One finds fault with the other, and I therefore compare it to child's work.

Friend, the Governor,—The Bishop and Ministers have turned, and still continue to turn me [my thoughts] upwards, but I now look downwards and quietly offer my land to the Queen, and my oath is before God. It is this: a man offers his place and says, "We page 47 hereby offer our place to the Queen; we give it up in this year of our Lord Jesus Christ." Enough.