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English (ATL)

New Plymouth

Oct. 1. 1870.



My dear Sir,

I have received your note of the 20th. and I think the course you have concluded to adopt in dealing with the remaining applicants for the Patea Loan will be quite satisfactory.

I regret to hear that the Manawatu Natives are again likely to be troublesome and that Travers should have advised them to resist the surveys. It shows how a few ill disposed persons can so work on the natives as to effectively neutralise for the time the action of the Govt. in settling a difficult question. The large native gathering at Pariaka has at length come to a conclusion, no definite result has been arrived at. Ti witi the native chief of the place has the character of being a great prophet and as a consequence has a singular and widespread influence among those who profess the hau hau faith. This singular creed if such it can be called is effecting a marked change in the tribal relations of the natives. Their tribal distinctions are dissappearing and the race appears to be diverging into two divisions. Th Hau Haus who are opposed to European institutions and the friendly natives who cling to the Govt. Te witi is not very explicit in his utterances but the conclusion which he seems to have come to is that the attempts of both the Queen and the Maori King to govern the natives have failed. Under the rule of both all sorts of evils have arisen and flourished. They are now gone for ever. A new era is now to commence and Ti witi is to be the saviour of his race. How this is to be accomplished he does not state. He waits I suppose for inspiration. The singular part of it is that the Waikato delegate seems to think that what Ti witi says will be brought about. That is, respecting the Maori King. The utterances that the Maori King shall cease will be accepted at Tokagnamtu. Time will show, nothing was decided by Ti witi about the road, though most of his people are favorable to it, Tito Kowaru left the meeting dissatisfied with the talk. He expected some practical result with regard to peace and the disposal of the confiscated lands. There will be no settled peace while the man roams about with armed followers uncertain of his position. I think it is a pity that Mr. Parris had not some authority to come to some arrangement with him on behalf of the Govt.

I was fortunately at Opunaki when Tito Kowaru and his followers passed on their return from Pariaka. They crowded into the mill and dwelling houses on the Wownship and were very civil and friendly but they could not refrain from committing a few thefts of small articles lying about.

A correspondence took place between myself and Tito. He sent a letter requesting a few articles from the store, I replied by sending him a few of the things he required and informed him that his men were taking things belonging to my people. He replied that his followers were large in number but that he returned what he considered the article of greatest value the Key of the Mill. I enclose his two letters. He did not behave so well with the friendly natives some of his party plundered a whare but the articles taken were subsequently restored. On their departure from Matakaha they killed some 10 or 12 sheep belonging to the resident natives and drove to Oeo some 29 others and resisted all efforts to recover them. Tito's excuse for this act was that one of his dogs was poisoned. The native owners were so insenced by the conduct that they resolved to obtain utu by shooting some of Tito's tribe or plundering them and I have little doubt they would have put their intentions into practice regardless of the consequences to themselves or others as they considered a challenge from Tito given in a hostile spirit. I however succeeded in persuading them to refrain from any act of violence and submit the case to the Governor and Mr. McLean whom it was reported were in New Plymouth. They consented to the course provided I accompanied them. The next morning I went with three of their party to town but found that His Excellency had departed and that Mr. McLean had not arrived. The danger is now over the crisis has been avoided and the natives are now in a better temper. The friendly natives wish to be armed. I think the better course would be to station 25 of the constabulary at Opunake to take charge of arms sufficient for the European workmen stationed there and some for the natives in case of emergency. This would satisfy all parties concerned and ensure the peace of the district. If such a course is adopted by the Govt. I should be willing to act in my capacity as Magistrate to advise with the person in charge as to the course of action to be adopted in any difficulty.

Your prompt action with respect to the dispatch of the Constabulary to this place has been fully appreciated here. The presence of the Blanche at the right time was not without its beneficial effect on the native mind. The natives have a profound respect for the ''Jack a tar'' as they call the sailors. I am obliged for your intimation as to the time of the elections.

I am my dear Sir,
Yours truly,
T. King.
The honbl. W. Fox,
Wellington.