The Treaty of Waitangi; or, how New Zealand became a British ColonyBuick, Thomas Lindsay
History
The Treaty of Waitangi; or, how New Zealand became a British Colony
Buick, Thomas Lindsay
New Zealand -- Politics and government; Treaty of Waitangi (1840)
The turn which affairs had now taken proved too much for the
excitable Te Kemara, who had been the first speaker. He had patiently
heard out Heke, Nēne, and Patuone, but unable to longer restrain
himself he at this point jumped up and in his lively, breezy manner
proceeded to counter the flow of pro-British oratory: "No, no," he
shouted. "Who says stay? Go away, return to thine own land. I want my
lands returned to me. If thou wilt say, 'Return to that man, Te
Kemara, his land,' then it will be good. Let us be all alike. Then, O
Governor, remain. But the Governor up, Te Kemara down, low, flat! No,
no, no. Besides, where art thou to stay, to dwell? There is no place
left for thee."
This exclamation of Te Kemara's drew from Mr. Busby the remark that
his house would be occupied by the Governor until a suitable residence
could be procured for him, which piece of information served to
produce a marked change in the chief's demeanour.
Crossing his hands as though they were locked in handcuffs, he ran up
to the Governor, and with eyes flashing with anger, he exclaimed:
"Shall I be thus? Say to me, Governor; speak. Like this--eh, like
this? Come, come; speak, Governor, Like this--eh?"
Here his manner became distinctly offensive to His Excellency, and one
of the chiefs sitting near-by reproached him for his insolence,
whereupon he turned one of those violent mental somersaults which all
extremists are at times apt to do. Leaping forward, he seized hold of
Captain Hobson's hands and shook them heartily, grinning gleefully,
while he shouted in the best English he could command, "How d'ye
do--eh, Governor? How d'ye do--eh, Mister Governor?" This enquiry he
repeated over and over again, the Governor evidently enjoying the joke
as much as any one. "This," says Captain Hobson, "occasioned amongst
the natives a general expression of applause, and a loud cheer from
the Europeans in which the natives joined."
Thus the business of the meeting closed in the most amiable spirit,
the further consideration of the momentous question being by general
consent adjourned until the following Friday (the 7th), in order that
the natives might have one clear day during which to reflect upon the
Governor's proposal.[83]
When Captain Hobson and his escort left the meeting they descended the
rude pathway cut in the side of the hill, and as they walked towards
the beach where their boat lay, the Governor was discussing with Mr.
Colenso the printing of the treaty and other kindred matters. They had
just reached the boat and were preparing to enter, when their
attention was directed to a commotion not far off. They had not
discovered the cause of the excitement before a chief, very much out
of breath, burst in upon the viceregal party, and, standing directly
before the Lieutenant-Governor, gazed intently at him for a few
minutes. Then in a loud shrill voice he cried out in wailing tones,
"_Au e he koroheke! E kore e roa kua mate_," and at once fell
back into the crowd.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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