The South-western Tribes.

• 5. From the beginning our relations with the Ruanuis have been unfortunate. The visit of the "Alligator" in 1834 could not [gap — reason: illegible]leave on their minds any favourable impression. Since we have entered the land fewer reclaiming influences have been brought to bear upon them than on most of the other tribes. In Governor Browne's memorandum on Native affairs, dated 25th May, 1861, it is stated that "even up to that time many districts, such as Taupo, Ngatiruanui, Taranaki, and the country about the East Cape, have never been visited by an officer of the Government. The residents in these districts have never felt that they are the subjects of the Queen of England, and have little reason to think that the Government of the colony cares at all about their welfare." The Ruanuis, like the other Maoris, had seen their own need of being aided and raised. In 1853 they were urgent for a missionary, but none could be found. At this very time the Bishop of Wellington is building his cathedral church on a site which was given for the purpose by Governor Grey in that year as a memorial of the earnest desire of these very Ruanuis for Christian instruction, and of their readiness to give annually a tenth part of their produce for the support of ministers of religion.
• 6. A strong feeling is commonly entertained against the Taranakis as having rushed into the Waitara quarrel without any immediate provocation. In fairness it ought to be remembered that circumstances, to them very alarming and irritating, had occurred at New Plymouth a very few years before (in 1855), and had wrought strongly on their minds, and that they then openly declared their apprehension of an attempt by the pakeha to dispossess the Maoris of their land, and their fixed determination to resist any such attempt. I do not seek to extenuate their misdeeds. I only say that there had been no concealment of their determination, and that there was every reason to expect them to act upon it. (Parl. Papers, July, 1860, p. 170, and March, 1861.) Warea, the chief settlement of that tribe, is the place where we now meet the most determined and unceasing resistance. May it not be that in our recent measures they believe they see the verification of the suspicions they expressed in 1855? I do not say that when these small nations voluntarily come into collision with a great nation they ought not to suffer for their temerity. I only point out facts which cannot properly be overlooked in estimating the amount of punishment to be inflicted.