NEW ZEALAND

GOVERNMENT GAZETTE,

(PROVINCE OF WELLINGTON.)

Published by Authority.

All Public Notifications which appear in this Gazette, with any Official Signatures thereto annexed, are to be considered as Official Communications made to those Persons to whom they relate, and are to be obeyed accordingly.

J. WOODWARD,
ACTING-PROVINCIAL SECRETARY.

VOL. XI.] FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 1864. [No. 25.

Interview between the Hon. Mr. Fox and Wi Tako Ngatata.

Provincial Secretary's Office,
Wellington, 22nd June, 1864.

HIS HONOR the Superintendent directs the following report of an interview between the Honorable the Colonial Secretary and Wi Tako Ngatata, at Waikanae, on the 3rd instant, to be published for general information.

J. WOODWARD,
Acting Provincial Secretary.

REPORT OF INTERVIEW AT WAIKANAE, ON THE 3RD JUNE, 1864, BETWEEN THE HONORABLE WILLIAM FOX, COLONIAL SECRETARY, AND WI TAKO NGATATA, A LEADING KINGITE CHIEF OF THE NGATIAWA TRIBE;

Walter Buller Esq., Resident Magistrate, interpreting.

Wi Tako—(after mutual greetings) For three days I have waited for you, Mr. Fox, in order that I might see you and talk with you.

Colonial Secretary—I should have been down sooner, but I have had much to do at Wanganui and along the Coast.

Wi Tako—What are your thoughts?

Colonial Secretary—What they always were.

Wi Tako—Are they full of love to the Maories?

Colonial Secretary—Of course they are.

Wi Tako—Before we go any further let me explain to you what Kingism is down here. Wairarapa is one side of the house, this coast is the other side. One roof covers all. I hold the key. Those whom I lock in, remain inside the house—those whom I lock out, remain out. I come to you now bearing this key. You have said that your thoughts are full of love towards the Maories. Does this include all Maories—the bad as well as the good?

Colonial Secretary—Yes, in one sense; but I have no love for evil itself.

Wi Tako—Our Lord Jesus Christ loves all men—the wicked as well as the good.

Colonial Secretary—But He will punish the wicked unless they repent and turn to Him.

Wi Tako—True, but He desires to save them.

Colonial Secretary—Exactly so. But if they refuse to be saved they must perish.

Wi Tako—Is your love extended to me only or to all on the wrong side?

Colonial Secretary—To all.

Wi Tako—Is that the Governor's feeling towards us as well as yours?

Colonial Secretary—Yes, the Governor's heart is full of love and compassion for the Maories.

Wi Tako—Are you willing to save all without distinction?

Colonial Secretary—All except the murderers, if you will comply with the conditions.

Wi Tako—I have heard the conditions and know them, but let me hear them again from your lips.

Colonial Secretary—Then listen, and I will explain them. The murderers—those who have killed women and children and unarmed men—will be handed over to the civil authorities to be tried. If convicted, they will be hung as murderers.

Wi Tako—That is clear. It is right to hang the murderers.

Colonial Secretary—Those who have killed Pakehas in fair fight will not be treated as murderers. But their lands have all been taken in payment for their rebellion. When they give up their arms and return to their allegiance they will be received into friendship again, the past will be forgiven, and the Government will give to each of them a piece of land secured, by Crown Grant. Those who have been hoisting king's flags, drilling soldiers, and committing other acts of that sort, are all rebels, and are liable to have their lands confiscated. But the Governor is not obliged to take the lands of such, and if they voluntarily come forward, declare their allegiance, and endeavour by future good behaviour to atone for the past, their case will receive every con-