SETTLING THE LAND QUESTION — “THERE IS NO SURE FOUNDATION BUILT
IN BLOOD” — COLLAPSE OF NATIVE POLICY ON WEST COAST — SEALED
ORDERS — WHAKATANE — MOHAKA.
The writer would fain draw a veil over subsequent proceedings at
Poverty Bay, but important interests are at stake which would render
concealment criminal. It may suffice, however, for the present to
say that once more a settlement of the land question was attempted.
Combined with what ministers represent as Whitmore’s victory at
Ngatapa, the settlement of a difficult question might have some
effect in disposing a bamboozled colony to forget the West Coast
disasters. Accordingly, Government set to work to accomplish their
purpose at any sacrifice of principle. Between November, 1868, and
February, 1869, many prisoners known to be implicated in the murders
were captured, some of them related to professedly loyal chiefs and
to quondam Hauhaus of 1865. With the view of securing the adhesion
of the latter, their relatives were permitted to escape, after mock,
and in some cases secret, examinations. In some cases evidence was
tendered that criminated the accused, but it was refused. Again, the
assistance of known or suspected Hauhaus was resorted to in settling
the land question. The result was, that by the end of March, 1869, many
murderers had got off, of whose guilt there was no question, and men
were employed by Government who should have been committed to close
custody. Even the spies who guided the murderers to the slaughter of
Major Biggs’ family, the Wilsons, and others were set at liberty.
One of those spies was Karepa, a noted scoundrel, son to the Hauhau
chief Tamihana Ruatapu, whose influence in the land question was of
some importance. Other perversions of justice were permitted, until
everything connected with these singular transactions stank in the
nostrils of all but those who, from interested motives, shut their
eyes or looked on in silence.
In the interim, Whitmore, on the West Coast, had done little to
reverse the popular opinion respecting his merits. His notorious
infirmity of temper had disgusted our native allies, who accused him
to the Governor before his face at Wanganui. Things, indeed, had
come to such a pass that natives refused to re-enlist after their
time expired, unless unheard-of privileges were conceded; and as the
state of the colony would not permit such concessions, and ministers
feared it might be discovered that their native policy, such as it
was, had utterly broken down, they decided to denude the East Coast
of its only available force—Rapata’s and other tribes. Knowing that
the Government agent, Mr. M‘Lean, would object to a step which would
enable Te Kooti, known at that time (March, 1869) to have been largely
reinforced, to attack and destroy East Coast settlements in detail,
ministers despatched a steamer, under sealed orders, direct to the East
Cape, and by misrepresentations induced Rapata and a portion of the
Ngatiporou tribe to embark for the West Coast. The true nature of the
transaction may be understood if it is remembered that ministers are
supposed to confer with the General Government agents upon all matters
seriously affecting the interests of their districts. Fortunately, as
it proved, the steamer was forced to call at Napier for coals. At an
interview which followed between Mr. M‘Lean and Rapata, both learned
the deception that had been practised. From Mr. M‘Lean, Rapata also
learned that Te Kooti was in force, and meditated an immediate attack
somewhere upon the East Coast. Rapata, upon this, decided not to
abandon the East Coast settlements at such an alarming crisis, and
Mr. M‘Lean, knowing that mischief was impending, approved of Rapata’s
decision. For this Mr. M‘Lean was deprived of his agency, in insulting
terms; but events have since justified his wisdom and foresight.
Following hard upon the notice of his dismissal, came intelligence of
the destruction of Whakatane, and many murders of loyal natives and
Europeans. Early in April, the butchery at Mohaka occurred, in which
47 friendly natives and 7 Europeans perished, and the settlement was
destroyed. The Mohaka massacre was perpetrated only three weeks and
one day after the dismissal of Mr. M‘Lean; and the belief universally
entertained throughout the East Coast settlements—that the disasters
of Whakatane and Mohaka would not have occurred but for that ill-timed
dismissal—was speedily manifested by those great meetings held at
Wairoa, Napier, Meanee, and Waipukurau, to denounce the action taken by
Ministers; nor have those natives been backward in the expression of
their sentiments, who, aided by a few whites, won for the colony the
unexampled successes of 1865-6, and the later triumph of Ngatapa. To
them Mr. M‘Lean has been the wise counsellor and firm friend, who has
alone taught them to live at peace with the European race. The depth
of their regret has been shewn in numerous gatherings and deputations
from the most influential chiefs; unfortunately, neither are likely to
dissipate the suspicious distrust that has fastened upon the native
mind, in consequence of the suicidal course pursued by the Stafford
Ministry.
Printed and Published by JAMES WOOD, of Napier, at his Printing Office,
Tennyson-street, Napier, Hawke’s Bay.
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Transcriber’s note:
—Punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected.
—Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved.
—Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved.