E—No. 2

26

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO

went on increasing. Some important and well-considered plans for the future arrangement of Native affairs were framed by the Governor, and sent home ; but in the meanwhile, from orfe cause or another, but especially from the absorption of the Native Secretary into the Land Purchase Department, the government of the Natives was gradually slipping out of our hands. In the district where guidance was most needed, that of the Waikato river, one practical and visible proof has remained of the interest taken by the Government in the advancement of the Native population : I mean the yearly aid given by the Government to the schools conducted by the Missionaries. That has tended strongly to produce confidence, where so many influences have been tending the other way. Whilst the proper functions of the Colonial Government have been slightly or not at all exercised, one accidental function has been ever active ; and that a function naturally tending to produce disputes and jealousies amongst the Natives themselves, and irritation against the Government. Acting Governor Shortland truly represented to Lord Stanley, in 1843, that "the Government, by becoming a purchaser of land, is placed in a position which tends to weaken its influence and lower its dignity in the eyes of the Natives generally : and the high situation of Her Majesty's Representative is classed in their minds with that of any other buyer of land ; a most disadvantageous association, but one nevertheless which actually exists, as can be gathered from the remarks they frequently make on the subject." (Report, New Zealand, 1844, App 340). During the interval of which we are speaking, there was little to countervail this disadvantage. In many parts of the country, there was no indication of the Queen's Sovereignty ; the Natives scarcely knew the Government, except as a purchaser of land. 10. Over and above these more obvious causes of distrust, fresh causes have arisen of late years, smaller in themselves yet scarcely less powerful. Immigrants arriving in great numbers have been led to believe that the only source of difficulty in this Colony, the only barrier between them and wealth, is the Native population. Hence has arisen in a section of our town populations a very unfriendly feeling towards the Natives. If the language, which has been occasionally used, were translated and generally circulated amongst the Natives, any cordiality, or even friendliness, on their part would be scarcely possible. They have more reason to fear us, than we to fear them. They mingle with us on every side, and are very quick to discern the signs of such a feeling. Rumours of our evil intentions are carried from village to village throughout the country. Thus a chronic disquiet and suspicion have been widely spread. Can we wonder, if the Natives, finding that our system has conferred on them so little good, and threatens them with so much evil, have taken it into their serious consideration, whether they cannot do better for themselves than we have done for them? Can we wonder that, under all these circuni" stances, the King movement and other forms of jealous and unfriendly combination have arisen and gained strength ? 11. Moreover, it has unfortunately happened that the inability of the Government to discharge its own proper function and duty, the protection of life and property by the enforcement of law, has been most conspicuous in the very district where the present disturbances have taken place. The difficulties besetting the Government have been no doubt exceedingly great. What is here said is not stated with any intent of blaming the Colonial Government or any member of it. The only object is to shew that the Natives could not, under the circumstances, acquire any clear or true apprehension of the nature and benefits of the Queen's Sovereignty, or any confidence in the Colonial Government as a protecting power. The long series of atrocities, committed of late years in the New Plymouth district, commenced with the murder of Rawiri Waiaua, in August, 1854. The circumstances of that murder are stated in the following Report to the Government from the then Native Secretary, Col. Nugent:— "From inquiry, I found that the first affray, in which Rawiri, the Native Assessor, one of the most respected Natives of the Pnketapu tribe, and six others [were killed] by Katatore, partly arose from Rawiri attempting to cut the boundary of a piece of land which he had offered for sale to Mr. G-. Cooper, the Land Commissioner of the Taranaki district. It appears that Katatore had long ago stated his intention of retaining this land, and had threatened to oppose any one who should offer to sell it ; Rawiri, however, on account of some quarrel with Katatore, proposed selling the land, and was desired by Mr pCooer to cut the boundary. "Rawiri proceeded accordingly with twenty two others, on the morning of the 3rd August last, and had succeeded in cutting some part of the boundary line, when Katatore and party rushed down from his pah, and, after warning Rawiri twice without effect to desist, fired and killed him and six others ; four were severely wounded and four slightly wounded." "I fear that further bloodshed may be expected : and, as unfortunately it has arisen about a land question, Katatore will have all the sympathy of those who are opposed to the sale of land. The relations and friends of the deceased Chief Rawiri, who are principally resident within the settlement, and who are called the friendly Natives, as being in favour of the sale of land, are determined to have revenge for the death of their people." At the end of more than three years, the murder of Rawiri was avenged by .Ihaia in the manner stated in the following letter from Mr. Halse, Assistant Native Secretary to the Native Secretary, dated Jan. 11th. 1858:—■ '' I have to report to you that Katatore was killed last' Saturday, under very atrocious circumstances. On his return from town towards sundown, with three Natives, named in the margin, all on horseback, he was waylaid by Tatnati Tiraurau and a party of five Natives, on one of the main roads of the Bell district, and shot. His relative Rawiri Kanra, fell at the first volley, and was literally hacked to pieces. "Tamihana pushed on ; but Katatore dismounted and, whilst leading his horse away up the cross road towards the Huira, was overtaken and pierced with several bullets, then beaten about the head