Baldwin. — Early Native Records of Manawatu Block. 9 



This they at first declined, and matters looked as unpromising 

 as before. Eventually, however, as the result of considerable 

 exertions, Dr. Featherston arranged with the more active chiefs 

 of both parties that the Government should give them the 

 sum of £25,000, and that the money should be subsequently 

 divided as a tribunal to be appointed should consider fair. The 

 consent of the tribe, which Ihakara pointed out was essential, 

 and the signature of the deed, was left for another time. The 

 three tribes having, however, consented so far, it was felt that 

 hostilities were averted, so by consent all rents were impounded, 

 and Dr. Featherston returned to Wellington. 



During his absence, however, and before the deed was actually 

 signed, steps, and very active steps, were taken to embroil the 

 whole matter again. A cartoon was the most effective weapon 

 used. To quote Ihakara, ' ' The tribe sent a petition to have 

 the land investigated in the Court. The Assembly refused — 

 Kaiongi told me, on account of Buller and Featherston. I 

 replied to Kaiongi' s letter, and in return received a caricature 

 representing the three tribes as pigs with Maori heads being led 

 and driven by Featherston and Buller." The Natives were 

 also informed that Dr. Featherston and Mr. Buller had been 

 instrumental in putting a fence round their lands to fence it off 

 from the benefit of the Native Land Act. The ever-ready sus- 

 picions of the Native mind sprang up. Each tribe demurred, 

 and so incensed in particular were the Raukawa that they 

 promptly repudiated the whole deal between them and the Go- 

 vernment. The position was, to a certain extent, conduced to 

 by Mr. Mantell, the then Colonial Secretary, who, in addition to 

 flouting the Maoris in every way possible, and discounting the 

 work which had been done, removed and apparently degraded 

 both Mr. Buller, who had been very active in effecting the settle- 

 ment, and the then Resident Magistrate, Mr. Noake. 



Dr. Featherston, however, with characteristic energy, was 

 not to be thwarted in his attempt to acquire for the Government 

 such a valuable asset as the Manawatu Block, and he accord- 

 ingly called together a very large meeting of the Natives, and 

 again addressed them on the subject. The meeting took place 

 at Scott's Ferry, and was very largely attended by the Raukawa 

 Tribe. Dr. Featherston first listened to their grievances. They 

 dwelt bitterly upon their being represented as pigs, also upon 

 the way they considered they had been flouted and betrayed by 

 Dr. Featherston, and still more on the exclusion of their lands 

 from the provisions of the Act. His reply was on the same 

 lines. He pointed out that if they were compared to pigs, he, 

 on his part, and Mr. Buller, might be compared to sheep 

 driven away by the tribes off the land ; that the fact that am 



