E.-tfo. 2i

may hear and understand lny reasons for giving up kingism The meeting will take place in July or August. "When the people hear my reasons they will all approve. It was I who commenced kingism here. I meant no evil to the pakeha, and if Waikato had followed my advice there would have been no trouble now. I made no secret of my kingism. When the Governor was here I told him what was in my heart, and I refused to yield. From the first time my kingism was clear and good, but "Waikato put it wrong, and now it is crushed and dead. My advice was always set aside, and their plan took a different shape from mine. I declared against the fighting at Tataraimaka, but they would not listen I declared against the Ngatiruanui Toll-gate, but they would not listen. I invited Eewi and Thompson to meet me here, but they declined, and sent Porokoru instead. My plan of kingism, if carried out, would never have led to mischief; it was intended solely to secure good for the Maori people, but "Waikato made it a cause of fighting. "When I saw these things—when I found that they would not listen to my words and that their plan was a different one to mine—l at once foresaw the end. But I had consistently supported kingism from the first, and I would not desert it then. I contented myself with restraining my people from evil, and keeping them back from the war. I said I will not desert the cause now, but I shall wait till the Governor has crushed and killed the work of kingism. When I heard Wi Hapi's account, I found the fulfilment of my words to the Governor (Otaki, September, 1862), " Tear up the root and the branches will wither; dry up the fountain and the streams will vanish!" Mr. Fox, my work is now crushed, and lam virtually dead. This is my position now! (reclining his head on the sofa). Colonial Secretary—That is true Waikato, and I come to give you life. Wi Tako—Tes, lam crushed, and the king work is ended—but through no fault of mine. My kind of kingism would never have ended thus. It was calculated to bring forth good fruits only. But Waikato would not listen to my counsels, and departed from the plan. Behold now the end of it. Colonial Secretary—l too was a kingite once ; that is to say, I looked favourably on the movement and hoped that it might be turned into a proper channel, and made productive of good to the Maori people. But when I found that it took the shape of antagonism to the pakeha and defiance of law, I condemned it. And when it developed itself into something worse, and the Waikato people began to murder women and unarmed men, then my anger was roused, and I determined to crush it. Wi Tako—All you say, Mr. Fox, is true—perfectly true. The fighting is no longer for the king. The fighting at Waikato is for Eewi and Thompson—the fighting at Wanganui is for the mad prophet— and if there should be fighting with Ngatiruanui and Taranaki after this, it will not be for the king, bnt because they are stiff-necked and proud. Colonial Secretary—l am glad you see it in that light. That there will be fighting at Taranaki, and much of it, I fully expect; not that we are anxious to fight, but because those tribes are proud, and rebellious, and refuse to submit. Therefore, if you hear by and by that all that land is redivith soldiers, don't be alarmed. Don't suppose that the fighting will be brought into districts where the Natives are peaceful. If the Ngatiruanui and Taranaki tribes humble themselves, even to-morrow, and come in and make their submission, giving up their arm's, all the past will be forgiven, and none but the murderers will be taken. Eut all the lands of these tribes are forfeited to the Government as payment for their rebellion and fighting. Wi Tako—That is all clear. If Taranaki and Ngatiruanui refuse to submit after they hear that kingism is given up, then they deserve to be pursued by your troops ; but I shall do all in my power include them among the saved. Colonial Secretary —We can do no more than offer them the same terms. Tf they refuse them their destruction is of their own seeking. Wi Tako—l have talked with Heremia, and with all the leaders. They have all consented to give up kingism. When the tribe assembles there will be one general "vvhakamutunga" (finishing up). My profession of kingism was heard all over New Zealand ; I am anxious that my renouncement of it shall be as widely known. When I explain to the assembled tribes what my views were when I helped to establish kingism years ago —how earnestly I desired the good of my people, and how I laboured to accomplish it—when I tell them how Waikato scoffed at my counsels and turned kingism into a different thing—when I tell them how consistently I stuck to kingism, through good report and evil report—when I tell them how Waikato is crushed and conquered —when I tell them all this, they will understand why it is that I now submit to your rule, and they will all agree that kingism is over. I have nothing to be ashamed of when I meet the tribes. I was faithful to kingism till it died, and I had no hand in its death. Colonial Secretary —I am satisfied Wi Tako with your words aiid I believe them. The conditions as you are aware, require that you should give up your gun. But I shall treat you as I would an English gentleman. You are a great chief, and the principal man in your tribe. lam satisfied with the tender of your arms. I accept your word, as the word of a chief, that you will never use your gun against the pakeha, nor turn it into any unlawful purpose. 1 shall therefore uot degrade you by depriving you of it. Bnt the Ohau and Otaki kingites I don't know, and I shall therefore expect them all to surrender their guns. Wi Tako —Mr. Fox, your words are full of kindness. You need have no misgiving about my sincerity. While I was a kingite I was true to the cause. The Governor urged me to give it vp —Mr. Buller urged me —many urged me, and for many years —but I was staunch to the last. The word has been spoken: and I shall now be as faithful to you as I was to the King. There is one thing, however, I must ask. I want nothing for myself, but I want employment for my people. I want you to find some employment for all of them. Colonial Secretary —Very well. We shall probably soon be making great roads all over the country. There will then be work for all your people, and the Government will pay them wages. The Chiefs we will appoint assessors and give them salaries. Wi Tako—l am satisfied. Colonial Secretary—l shall now request you to make the usual declaration' of allegiance, and to sign your name to it, in order that I may lay it before the Governor when I get to Auckland.

75

PAPERS RELATIVE TO NATIVE AFFAIRS.