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Kohimarama Conference Tuesday 10 July 1860 Extract from “Delving into the Past of Auckland’s Eastern Suburbs” by Elizabeth T. Jackson 1976. Reproduced with the kind permission of Beatrice Sullivan, the author’s daughter. During the winter of 1860 while the staff and scholars of St. Andrew's College were in Melanesia, the Mission buildings were lent to the Governor, Colonel Thomas Gore Browne, as the venue of the historic "Kohimarama Conference". This was an assembly of native chiefs of New Zealand convened by the Governor for the purpose of discussing with him various matters connected with the welfare and advancement of the two races in this colony. The Conference was unique in that it was the first opportunity the Maoris had been given of holding a “runanga" with pakeha officials - their first step towards representation in the Government. In March, four months prior to the opening of the Conference, the Taranaki War had broken out as the result of a dispute over the sale of the Waitara block north-east of New Plymouth and it was feared by the Government that the trouble would spread to the Waikato, the centre of the "King movement"; hence the Governor's decision to try to come to an understanding with the natives over land and other matters which led to disputes. The measure was severely criticised by many who thought that the calling of such a Conference after hostilities had broken out would be construed by the natives as a confession of weakness; moreover it was thought unlikely that the chiefs of hostile tribes would accept the Governor's invitation. Press comments of July 6th and 10th were that, with the continuance of the Taranaki War, every chance of the Conference's usefulness was extinguished but the main object now was "to prevent it becoming worse than useless." The populace of Auckland, and of Tamaki in particular, were becoming very alarmed at having such a large gathering of chiefs in their district and prevailed upon the Governor to fortify the area in case of treachery. The following is an outline of the precautionary measures taken:"The town", stated the Governor, "is divided into five districts, each of which is to furnish a company of militia. Those who have arms of their own will form an inlying picket, and the remainder will be required to ballot for such arms as the Government is able to supply. At the present we can furnish sixty stand of arms to each company.... In addition to the militia, a volunteer force of nearly 400 men, a mounted volunteer troop of about 43 men, 110 (men) of the 65th Regiment and 40 marines will form the garrison of the town. Blockhouses, or houses rendered musket-proof, will be established round the town... and H.M. frigate Iris is now anchored in the harbour. The outer defences are as follows: - H.M. steam frigate Niger, attended by a gunboat furnished by the local government, is anchored in the Manukau. Lieutenant-Colonel Kenny... has been placed in command of the settlement of Onehunga, and has been directed to protect the Whau portage and river.... At the portage itself a blockhouse is in course of erection... Lieutenant-Colonel Nixon...has been placed in command of the pensioner settlement of Otahuhu, Panmure and Howick, and has been directed to protect the line of the Tamaki from the Waitemata to the Manukau. A blockhouse is in course of erection on the narrow neck of land leading to the village of Otahuhu. Five hundred stand of arms... have been supplied to this outpost and three hundred to the outpost on the west...." At Mission Bay two new buildings, about 100 feet by 16 feet, were erected and were to become the property of the builder after a lapse of two months - a kitchen of corrugated iron and a wooden store for supplies. Provisions, mattresses and other articles of necessity were ordered and a cook and steward were engaged.