LETTERS FROM AHURIRI CHIEFS TO DR. FEATHERSTON.

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

LETTERS FROM AHURIRI CHIEFS TO DR. FEATHERSTON.

Matahiwi, Sept. 7th, 1863. To Dr. Featherston, — Friend, Salutations to you. The report has reached us of your visit to Otaki, where you were told by Wi Tako and Heremia that they had received a letter from the Kiug, telling them to kiU the Europeans. We have doubts about this. We enclose the letter the King wrote to us, which is simply a caution to us, and which we send to you, that you may see for yourself what he says. If the letter to Wi Tako and Hereinia had been from him, he would have sent a similar one to us, to urge us also to turn upon the pakeha. Sir, we have been searching in vain to make out why our pakeha friends say that murders were the cause of the war in Auckland. Not being able to satisfy ourselves, we sent an express messenger to the seat of war to* make enquiries, and he returned last Saturday evening. His report was that the Governor's war had not been caused by murders as the Pakehasalleged. Murders could not; he heard of (i.e., preceding the war.) The only grounds that could be alleged were — first, the expulsion of the" Maoris from Auckland, from their own lands, and the .burning of their properties and houses ; and secondly, the crossing of Mangatawhiri. If you know of any | other cause, we, should be. glad., if you would point it out t&u's, that we may speedily know it. Sir, we can clearly see the error of our. Native tribes in sluing;, the pakehas at Tataraimaka. But at the^' same time we cannot lose sight of the error (or injustice) of the Governor' in not making known his decision respecting the Waitara in proper time (i.e., before any other steps were taken), that (the Waitara) being the source of the evil in New Zealand, and having made

clear what* is the root and source (of tbe evil) before following up the branches (i.e., Tataraimaka, &c.) We were here waiting iv vain to see (or hear from) the Governor upon the subject of our request to him, when he visited us*, that the Waitara should be investigated. The Governor on that occasion stated that it was Waikato that was holding it (Waitara) back (from investigation) ; to which* we replied, Give Waikato one more trial, and if they do not then consent, enough to them. Then do you fix a day for the investigation, for there are many tribes who wish for one, and let us turn and investigate that evil that it may quickly be done away with. All at once we were astounded by heariug that pakehas had been killed at Tataraimaka. The next thing is we are again astonished by the news — '• All! here is Waitara handed back to us. It was held back until evil was created (..<.., the renewal of hostilities) and then returned. Why not have returned it in a time of peace that it might have been seen whether the evil (of the Maori) would have been audacious enough to have climbed over (Jd te piliivuti) the Governor's just acts ; and if so, it would have been clear that the Maori had (independently -of the Waitara question) evil intentions towards the Europeans. Sir, use your best exertions to put down tbe evil in this Island of ours, being assisted by your friends exerting themselves in the same cause —that of drawing over the people to what ia right. That is all. From Renata Tamakihikitrangi, Karaitiana Takamoana, Te Wirihana Toatoa.