Port Nicholson or Wakatu 10 September 1848 My elder elder, and younger brother[?], Your letter has reached us. And we wept. Tere, listen, after you left Timoti and Miriama saw their daughter, they felt for her and all stayed together. When we heard our word went out, mine and that of Raniera, Te Meihana, Wiremu, Tikanui, and Rawiri Taita; there are two proposals, one of love and one of war. Our proposal is that they be pursued, and not be allowed the food. All the food is under the control of Raniera. The young lad is adult enough for this matter but when it came to you, to your and Timoti's plan it got buried under the ground, because there was trouble after you left. That's all of these matters. Beginning on another matter of ours for you. Listen, we were wrong in demanding Katerina's pipe. The people knew she was enamoured of you. The committee met at Whareumanga and discussed it there. I wanted to put it straight and said that your pipe should be gifted to Katerina. I said that he was lying, that Te Waitere's statement was incorrect. If I had thought it was right, I would have been supported by Ngati Tanewai and Tukekau, the two of us.[?] It is all right to use your own gains [to pay] for your sins. But if used for my sin, that would be wrong practice. I am sad about it. Well, it is all right, but in the end it is not just that we deny their knowledge [of it?]. That ends these matters. Friend, Makeare Waitere, greetings. I have great affection for you, and my love for you both will not end in the days [of our life]. Listen both of you, it was I who created ill-feelings over the food; it was not distributed as food for Miriama Tipene and Makere Rawiri. I did not consent to that, and I was very stubborn about keeping the food for myself rather than giving it to the workers. The child who should have had the food was Tuwaka Paruate, who became ill and whose body now lies in the graveyard. I am sad for you that he died. Would you give me the key to the store of ammunition that Raniera [gave?] to you. Sirs, greetings to you both. I have had great affection for you in all the years you have been serving, two or three years now. That is all. From Te Meihana