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An Epitome of Official Documents Relative to Native Affairs and Land Purchases in the North Island of New Zealand

Waikato

Waikato.

  • 3. In Waikato a large portion of the Native owners hold their position outside the boundary-line traced by the Proclamation, kept from their old possessions by the presence of a large force, suffering privations, exasperated but not subdued. If we desire to comprehend rightly the state of page 14mind of these people, we must put ourselves in their place. We must also remember how widely the estimate formed by the Natives of our dealings with them differs from that which is current among ourselves. To them all the doings of the pakeha present themselves as one great whole. Englishmen are apt to accept various solutions of the public questions which cannot be accepted them. If the justness or fitness of a public measure be canvassed, we often hear it said that such a measure was adopted or acquiesced in for such and such reasons: the reason being oftentimes connected, not with the intrinsic merits of measure in question, but only with the internal working of our complicated system of government. The Natives, knowing little of our internal politics, look only at the general result. There is reason to believe that the view commonly taken by the people of the Waikato and Waipa Rivers is the following: They had combined in an attempt to form an independent Government, a movement which they had come to believe right and even necessary. They were told that the name of King would not in itself be deemed a cause of war, and the more moderate party were careful not to give their stronger neighbour any other cause for entering their borders. For a long time they succeeded in restraining their turbulent brethren, even in the face of preparations for war visibly and steadily advancing on our part. Then came the reoccupation of the Tataraimaka, and the resumption of hostilities by Rewi, and soon after the entrance of our troops into Waikato. Two vain attempts were made to withstand our advance by fair fighting. Shortly after, on the 6th December, a letter was written in the Governor's name to all the chiefs of Waikato. "Your letter of the 2nd December has reached me. Sons, my words to you are these: The General must go uninterrupted to Ngaruawahia [the King's village]. The flag of the Queen must be hoisted there. Then I will talk to you." The promised conference did not take place. The troops went forward, not indeed to follow Rewi into his territory, but to take possession of the lands of the nearer tribes. Can we be surprised at this course appearing to them severe and unjust, when they saw no distinction made between the two sections into which the population of Waikato had been divided through the whole period of these troubles: between those who had been driven to take up arms by the Natives, which they could not honourably disregard, and those whose wilfulness had renewed the war; or rather, when they saw the less offending heavily punished, and the more offending visited with a comparatively slight punishment?
  • 4. Our adversaries in Waikato believe themselves guilty of no wrong in contending for their nationality. It has not been usual for Maori tribes to yield up their lands to an invader without repeated efforts to recover them. Some may be disposed to submit, but this cannot bind or control their brethren. It may be expected that the majority may have much the same feeling as the majority of our own people would have if they could be placed in like circumstances. There appears to be ground for the apprehension which has been expressed that in case of the dispossessed Maoris actually making an effort to repossess their lands they may find allies on the northern side of Auckland. Persons who have had good opportunities for observing, report that the presence of the prisoners in that part, after their escape from the Kawau, has generated in some portions of the population a strong sympathy with their cause.

    At present there is in the way of any such attempt the obstacle presented by the English regiments, which, in conjunction with the Colonial Force, occupy Waikato and Tauranga. Whilst this advantage still remains to us, every possible security should be provided against the breaking-out of fresh troubles whenever those regiments shall be withdrawn.