TAWHIAO'S LETTER.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1034, 26 March 1869, Page 2

TAWHIAO'S LETTER.

(From the " Wanganui Times," March 18.) We can assure the Government and supply them with proof beyond dispute, if necessary, that the following letter, said to be written by the Maori King, is a gross forgery, and that the impostor who fabricated it is Rihari Rupahu, or Richard the humbug. When this "Richard the humbug " was on his way down he called on Topia — Pehi's son — but did not and dare not tell him that he had a letter from the King, although Topia asked him if he had. A gentleman was present to whom Topia said, after this "Richard the humbug " had withdrawn — " That man can't be depended upon ; the King would not employ him to do anything; sometime ago Tawhiao ordered the fellow to be hanged, but let him off for that time." Our informant was present at the next native settlement, on nis way down the river, where " Richard the humbug " told the natives that he had a letter from the King. Our informant saw him write the following letter on a sheet of common note paper : — He tomnga ripgaringa i te t&u ki nga hoa i te motu c inanakohia nei c au. l. If. iwi, c moe, kei tahuri znai ki ahau, iei te moo te motu. 1. Te iwi i roto, c rooe, maaku koe c kawe ki te whare o tou tapuna o Iharoira. 2, Tera c hoki te ia ki toona Marinotanga. Na TAAT7HIAO. [translation.] ' •••■-• A stretching forth of the hand during the year to the friends in the island which I love. ■. 1. Oh ! people, sleep ! do not turn round upon me ; the island sleeps. 1. Qh! people within thepaleofKingi&m, sleep I I will conduct you to the house of your ancestor,— of Israel.' 2. The wave of the rapid will hereafter return to its state of calm. Tawhiao. In proof of the genuineness of his mission " Richard the humbug" handed the letter to an influential native who handed it to our informant to read aloud to the natives assembled. He did so and then said to them — " I saw Rihari write this letter since he came here. In proof of what I say look at the paper upon which it is written and you will see that it has never been folded, was never in an envelope, and is a pure invention of his own. As a further proof the hand writing is his own large scrawl, and the forged signature "Taawuiao" is wrongly spelt, as are several other words in the letter." The unfolded sheet of paper, the fact of Rihari having been seen writing the document, and. the other proofs then adduced by our informant to the natives there assembled, almost induced them to Lynch " Richard the humbug," but he passed on and succeeded in imposing upon Meti Kingi, in Wanganui, and through him upon the Government. Such scoundrels as Rihari should not be allowed to roam throughout the country poisoning the minds of natives, both friendlies and others, by reading an ambiguous document concocted by himself, and whilst so reading interpreting mysterious sentences to mean anything that may, for the time being, suit his convenience. The police should be instructed to take care ot this gentleman. Perhaps as an old policeman he knows that there is no law under which they dare molest him.

In Memokiam.— -We are glad to see that steps are being taken to raise a fund for the purpose of erecting a monument in the Cemetery, to the memory of the Her. John Whiteley, Lieut. Gascoigne and family, and the other settlers who were so treacherously murdered by the natives at the White Cliffs. Although it was agreed last night by the Committee appointed, that the towu should be canvassed for subscriptions, we are authorised to state that the lists which are lying at the stores of the different gentlemen named in the advertisement, will not be removed, and that donations can be paid either to them or the collectors appointed. We feel sure that all the settlers in this Province will cheerfully contribute to such a praiseworthy cause ; and although the times are such that can afford to be as liberal as they would wish ; yet a small sum from every individual will be the means of amassing a large amount for carrying out the above object. — Ibid,