PETITION OF TAMIHANA TE RAUPARAHA AND OTHERS.
MINUTES OF EVIDENCE.
WEDNESDAY, 8th NOVEMBER, 1871.
Tamihana Te Rauparaha in attendance. Mr. Clarke, interpreter.
The petition having been read and the witness having been asked if he wished to make any statement, said—
That petition is mine, and it is from us. Our reason for writing is that we wish the Government to collect their guns. Their reason for being boastful is on account of their having obtained arms, and that is their reason for trying it on this way. I spoke to the Government some years ago about collecting these guns, fearing that some mischief would arise, because I knew within myself that the Natives would fight amongst themselves. There are two reasons,—one is, that the Government have given guns to Whanganui, Ngatiapa, Rangitane, and Muaupoko. The reason the Government armed these people was to have them in resisting the Hauhaus and Kingites. After the war the Government did not collect the arms they had issued. The Hon. the Chairman.] Do you know how many arms were issued P—I think there were 2,000 given to the Natives.
Has your tribe received any?—No; not one. My objection is, that these Natives have been travelling over Government land. The Government paid no attention to these men coming over Government property with their guns. I view it in this way : that lands which have been sold to the Queen are like rooms in a house, and that any one taking property from these rooms is liable to be handcuffed and put in prison. All the land on this side of Manawatu to Otaki belongs to the Natives. That is my reason for petitioning the Committee, to know what they recommend being done about these guns. If fighting commences the Government will be to blame and not the Natives. We have heard from the Arawas, and they have written to ask when fighting will commence, so that they may bring Government arms to resist these other Government arms. That letter has been published in one of the papers. This letter was written by the Arawas on the 25th September, at the same time that I presented my petition. We have also had a telegram from the Natives of Patea. The Hon. the Chairman.] What hapu of Arawas wrote this ?—Patetere, asking us about this disturbance. Locke.] They are not Arawas. Witness continued. The Natives wrote from Ohineinutu. It is really from the Arawas, though it was written by the Ngati Raukawa. We have also heard from Matatairi about it. I believe that Titokowaru would be likely to join in it too, because they wish to be revenged for former disturbances. That is why I suggest to the Committee the necessity for warning To Kepa from coming across Government lands on this side of Rangitikei Manawatu.
Mr. Locke.] Have you spoken to Mr. McLean lately on this question P—I have not spoken to Mr. McLean lately.
The Hon. Colonel Brett.] Has Mr. McLean told you that it will be all right after the Session is over P—I have not heard from Mr. McLean, but I have heard from other people.
The Hon. Mr. Chamberlin.] Have you had an opportunity of seeing Mr. McLean P—No. I tried to send a telegram to tell Te Matene to lay any information before Major Edwards, but the Goverment would not allow it to go on.
The Hon. the Chairman.] Where is Te Matene P—Gone to Matutaira, to the North of Auckland. Why did he go away P—I do not know why Te Matene went away. I believe that Mr. McLean sent him to Matutaira, so that he might leave his place, and so the country be quiet until the case is arbitrated upon. We have received a letter from Pomare, who is called a grandchild of To Hautanui, telling Te Matene not to leave Horowhenua. Let Horowhenua be their sepulchre and I believe that Ngapuhi would take part in the disturbance. Old Pomare was married to Te Hautanui's daughter, Wiremu Pomare is his son ; that land belongs to Wiremu Pomare. Kemp's and Hunia's dispute is not for Horowhenua only, but for all the lands now in possession of Ngati Raukawa ; and they wish to be avenged on account of my father having killed and destroyed most of their people. I have no wish to fight, but would rather live at peace and cultivate my lands. We wish to live at peace with one another. Rangiaihu is Te Rauparaha's nephew. The time that they took possession of this country is 40 or 50 years ago. The witness was thanked and withdrew.