WIREMU TE WHEORO TO THE HON. MR. FOX

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 7, Issue 447, 19 December 1863, Page 3

WIREMU TE WHEORO TO THE HON. MR. FOX

Taipauri. December 4, 1863. ! Friend, Mr. Fox,— Salutations. This is my communication to you, that you may hear what was said when I went up to Ngaruawahia, on the 3rd day of December. I did not see any men anywhere except at Ngaruawahia. When we arrived there they assembled, and fired from both sides of the road. We were between them while they fired, as we went along. When we reached the house of Matutaera, which has a. carved verandah, he and his people stood up (to receive us). Ngatimaniapoto were on the Waipa side, and Waikato on the Horotiu side. They stood for a while, and then sat down. Paora Te Ahura stood up to make a speech, — " Welcome my child ; welcome all of you, your ancestors, and,j r our fathers. Come to see your fallen tribe, and .your broken cause. My fighting has caused peace to be made." After him Tikaokoa stood vp — "Come, my child, come to see your fallen tribe, and your broken cause." Then Patera te Tuhi stood up—" Welcome, my brother. Come to see your fallen tribe, and broken cause." Then I, Te Wheoro, stood vp — "Welcome me, O my father ; welcome me, omy brothers. lam come here to see the fallen tribe, and the broken cause. It cannot be helped. It is right, omy fathers, that peace should be made. I have nothing to say. I did not come to speak ; but the speech is in the letters. Do not let us make speeches; but be quick and answer the letters." They sent to Tamahere for Tamihana. They met in Council. They came to me, (and said) — " If we give up the guns we shall perhaps be made prisoners.. We don't clearly see how to answer the Governor's letter, because we are afraid of the steamer and of the soldiers, which are coming this way. For this reason, we oame on here from Paetai." I said to them — " I have nothing to say to you. I was not sent here to deliver a£message." In the morning, Ngatimaniopoto came out to cut down the flagstaff at Ngaruawahia ; Waikato would not allow them. The quarrel was great. Both sides fired without aiming. Then Tamati Ngapora, Mohi Te Ahiatenga, Patara te Tuhi, Paora te Ahuru, and W. Thompson gave it (the flagstaff) to me with these words : — " Wi ; we give over this flagstaff to you, with those buried here, and Ngaruawahia, for you to give over to the General and to the Governor. Especially, let not the remains af the buried bo ill-treated by the soldiers. As for Ngaruawahia, the cultivations, leave them alone, we are going away though fear." Moses gave his "hoeroa" for the General for a pledge of peace, and the flagstaff for a pledge of peace. I returned with the letters for the Governor. These were all the chiefs, .who were present : Tamati Ngapora, Mohi Te Ahiatenga, Wi Tamihana, Tikaokao, Paora Te Ahuru, Patera Te Tuhi, Kai-Ngarara. Enough. From your friend, Wi Te Wheoro. i