NATIVE CHIEFS. 
277 
quested to adjourn to a house at a little distance, in which we 
tound a repast laid out for us in as much style as the shortness 
ol the notice and his means would allow; but when we returned, 
and the Governor began to speak of purchasing land, I strongly 
lecommended him not, as the time was very inopportune, and 
declined to act as his interpreter ; he therefore, tried to speak 
ioi himself. At first, the old Chief could not make out what 
he said, but when he did, he was very indignant, and put 
out his tongue at him, which terminated our visit, and caused 
the Governor to beat a retreat as quickly as possible. 
But this last year witnessed the holding of a very important 
meeting amongst the natives, which plainly proved what their 
sentiments were. During the preceding year, a deputation of 
Chiefs from Otaki, with one from Wanganui, went to Taupo, 
Rotorua, Maketu, and Waikato, with the ostensible object of 
getting the interior Chiefs of the island to submit to the 
authority of the Governor, but with the real intention of 
trying to form a confederacy of all the tribes, and to appoint 
one Chief as a King or Governor. The most influential Chief 
who went was Matene te Whiwhi, of Otaki, the nephew of 
Rangihaeata, a very shrewd intelligent man, who speaks a little 
English, and lives in the European style, in a very good house. 
This Chief, although much noticed by the Governor, and in 
fact by most of the influential settlers, no doubt felt his poli¬ 
tical degredation, as well as that of his countrymen. It was, 
therefore, through him that the deputation to the interior arose, 
and although he was baffled in his plans by the jealousy which 
each great Chief entertained of any native standing in a higher 
position than himself, still he did not give up his efforts. He 
brought a letter signed by the Rotorua and Maketu Chiefs, 
addressed to those of Wanganui and Ngatirua-nui, expressive 
of their desire to live in peace with all. The substance of it 
was as follows:—“We salute you all: this is our word to 
“ you,—New Zealand is the house, the Europeans are the 
“ rafters on one side, the Maori are the rafters on the other 
“ side; God is the ridge-pole, against which all lean, and 
“ the house is one.” This was all Matene succeeded in 
obtaining from them ; but immediately he returned, he wrote 
