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The Past and Present Of New Zealand With Its Prospects for the Future

[Translation.]

[Translation.]

“The Hokioi,” which flies abroad.
“Listen O Kings, be instructed ye Judges of the Earth.”
Ngaruawahia, Feb. 13, 1863.

The misunderstandings of the two races; a dark day, a cloudy day, the blue sky invisible, the sun’s rays cannot be seen: the things which make us suspicious, this is the subject we write about.

The Waikato river does not belong to the Queen, but to the Maori alone. The things alluded to which render us suspicious. The sending a steamer up the Waikato is the first. The bringing up a great gun in it is the second. The sending for things calculated to excite fear. Our knowledge that the steamer is made of iron, and that no notice has been taken of our wish not to have a steamer sent there. The word of the Governor likewise to Wi Tako and Heremia that the flag must be given up and the work of the King put an end to. Although nothing certain was spoken of the steamer before, no sooner did the word go forth about one, than a steamer appeared in the Waikato. Then first was the fixed determination of the chiefs expressed; “Let there be no steamer, no road.” But vain is the effort of man; Waikato agreed there should be a path for the European and Maori, and it was proper. The word was printed the river is to be open for canoes to bring up goods; and about the road, let it be open: such was the message sent about the road, “O chiefs, suffer the road to be made for us all to carry goods along,” therefore the chiefs struck out their former refusal, saying the Waikato is open, but if this be regarded as a consent for the Governor to bring up the steamer, that is to open the Waikato, be it so. Listen to the meaning of the word open: four of the messengers said, open the road for the carriage of our goods, it is for you, my friends, quietly to consider the reason why these words went forth from the Maori, let it be open; according page 251 to my idea the word is a payment for open the two, both the river and the road. But this is enough on this subject. Rather let us look beneath, that there may be joy in their paddling; in my opinion these words fully agree, three kinds of joy! three sources of it, carts, horses, men. With the paddling, there are canoes, paddles, men; look also to those things, the cart man is able to drag, the horse he is able to lead to his pasture, and the paddle he can put in its proper place. But to what part of these words can the Maori apply the bringing of the steamer into the Waikato. Although a steamer, can it reach the goods that are inland which are suitable to load it? Has Waikato invited the steamer to come? We think no encouragement has been given for its coming. But let us seek whether there is any love for your Maori friends in sending it. Why do you not bring the cart to fetch and carry what you want?

But if this arises on account of the soldiers, what is the reason when you have made the road that you abandon your carts as useless. Truly trusting to the word we have heard, that the Lord made great rivers as highways for all men, whether European or Maori, which is true, still our Lady the Queen has given us a bright word, she said to those chiefs who are not agreeable to give up the sovereignty of their land, of their rivers, of their fisheries to her, it is good, leave the mana with them: this is one of our rivers we are unwilling to give. My friends, why do you not confirm this gracious word of our Queen, which you have trampled entirely beneath your feet; but if the coming of the force to Tuakau is the reason of your thrusting the steamer into the Waikato, will this be strange if a two-fold or three-fold payment for it be sought. Truly we believe the word which our ears have heard; you are devising war, therefore you build barracks for the soldiers. Alas, this is your doing, O Governor, you do not open the oven that your Maori children may clearly see what it contains, sufficient that I bring forward the source of sorrow. Our Friend, the Governor, sending the steamer into the Waikato.

Friend, the Pihoihoi, I salute you my child, be quiet; don’t let us two quarrel, I have seen your word for me. I fly in the sky above, I am not near the earth; friend from the earth, I soar above to heaven, my bag hangs up in the house of my great ancestor Tiki; I come and go as I like. The drifted sea-weed which lies page 252 unnoticed in the courtyard of my place has a putrid smell—faugh! I From the sea is that weed,—seek that which is right from us both. Give over quarrelling with me. Open this fish; the dog Rapake has a good appetite to devour all the filth within.

The above is the leading article in the King’s newspaper, with the terminating one, an answer to an opposition one, “The Pehoi,” ‘Sparrow,’ conducted by Mr. Gorst. The Hokioi is a fabulous bird supposed to float in the higher heaven. The writer charges Mr. Gorst with being under the power of the Governor, whilst he is a free agent, and he contemptuously likens his adversary to sea-weed, the refuse of the ocean; everything relating to it refers to the European as fresh water does to the native.