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Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XII, Issue 826, 4 February 1868, Page 3

Sir, the writer says, “A little less heat, a little more common sense, on the part of the representatives here of the British Societies —whose works Mr Williams informs us are being trampled under foot — would have prevented the Waitara war, and the terrible consequences of that “ wrong.” Prevented the Waitara war ! How ? By ordering Governor Browne not to enforce the .purchase —not to fire upon the Maories ? He of course would have obeyed, or would he have told them to “mind their own business,” as they were repeatedly told afterwards. The Waitara was a “wrong;” to blame the agents of the “British Societies,” with that “wrong” is adding “wrong” to “wrong.” Has the writer forgotten that the Waitara war was the front of the “ grand desire of the British colonists in respect of the natives, to see the Maori people rendered amenable in their dealings with the settlers to the British law .... that all the inhabitants of New Zealand should be subjected in their mutual dealings to the control of one equal law.” That it was in respect to that ‘ ‘ grand desire” that his Excellency and his Ministers enforced the. Waitara purchase and opened fire upon the Maoris. Has lie forgotten that Sir George Grey and a Middle Island Ministry afterwards investigated the Waitara “wrong,” that they admitted to the Maoris that the Government had been in the wrong and gave back Waitara to Wiremu Kingi, but not till after the Oakura murders, not till after his Excellency the Governor, General Cameron, and the Ministry had determined to invade the Waikato. The writer also says, “but Dr. Featherston by the influence he had acquired by his connection at that time with ‘British Societies,’ succeeded in excluding the Manawatu block from the operation of that most righteous and common sense principle.” Good. “Hearken you ! her Majesty’s representatives, with your assemblies and councillors.” The Manawatu exception clause was inserted in the Native Bands Act through the influence of the British Societies so saith a writer in the Wanganui Times. I should imagine if ever your correspondent is troubled with the nightmare he must have nought but visions of horrible monsters in the shape of “British Societies.” A gentleman who was in the Ministry in 1862, when the first Native Bands Act was passed, told me that the exception clause was “ an iniquitous job”— that they were “ compelled to insert the clause ” —that it was the price paid for the general support of the Bill of the members for Wellington, amonnr them the member for Wanganui but I now find he was in error, that it was the work of “British Societies.” A plague upon the “ British Societies. ” Sir, your correspondent says, “Under that system the appeals of the Manawatu natives intended for the Assembly have been intercepted by the Native Office officials, and it is only at last by the kindness of an independent member, Mr Carleton, that they have made themselves heard. Well, the response was prompt and kind, though not so decisive as it might have been.” This would be all very well were it true, but it happens to be the reverse of the truth. Why did Mr Mantell have to leave the Weld Ministry in 1865 1 Why did Mr Robert Pharazyn lose his seat in the Assembly ? A petition from the natives was presented to the Assembly in 1865 ; was printed and distributed amongst the natives, a large majority of members were in favour of the petition, but Mr Fitzgerald introduced a bill for cutting up the - Province of Auckland into Maori provinces. Mr Fitzgerald’s bill was thrown out —the Manawatu exception clause was retained. Numberless petitions were presented in 1866. The natives also had interviews with his Excelleny and his Ministers before the purchase was concluded. All the petitions and protests presented in 1866, that I have published, are copied out of the blue books from among “Papers presented to both Houses of the Assembly, by command of his Excellency.” The Natives’ petition in 1865 was presented to the House by Mr Mantell, at the request of the Colonial Secretary. In the parliamentary papers I read “ (Return to an order of the House of Representatives, of Thursday the 3rd day of August, 1865) That there be laid on the table a copy of the correspondence that has taken place since the Ist of January last, between the hororable the Minister of Native Affairs and the Resident Magistrate at Otaki and Rangitikei, relative to the Rangitikei land dispute, and to the petition recently presented to the House from Ihakara and other natives (Dr Featherston).” It is worse than nonsense to say, “ that the natives only at last through the kindness of an independent member, Mr Carleton, have made themselves heard.” The government had determined what to do before Mr Carleton had distinguished himself by his kindness. The Natives had then (weary of petitioning his Excellency, his Ministers, and the Assembly) sent some half dozen petitions to the Queen of England. Let us hope and pray for a more “ decisive response.” Sir, in conclusion, I have endeavoured to reply to your correspondent’s statements as well as my patience would allow me, but I would beg to remind him that my pamphlet deals not with the Waitara “ wrong,” but with the Manawatu purchase. I therein simply urge that the purchase be investigated. He surely does not object. I am, &c., Thomas C. Williams. A Native of New Zealand.