ROTORUA.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume I, Issue 15, 15 October 1861, Page 7

ROTORUA.

Te Motatapu-a-tinirau, Feb. 11. 1861. This is an account of the journey of Te Waiatua, and his companions, Te Awekotuku, Ropata Korokai, Temuera Amohau, Peiera Te Pukuatua, Uluha, Te Wiremu Te Kohika. This was the desire of that chief, lo go to the Rotoili and make known his thoughts to the Ngaiipikiao, because that people were dark, in consequence of the desire of the chiefs and a portion of the Arawa, who wish in vain to bring a herd of Pakehas to Makelu, and lo cause the Arawa lo cease showing kindness to the place where the carved and ornamental head piece has been set up, namely, Auckland. The chiefs and a portion of the Arawa wish to dispose of Makelu lo the Pakeha, the other portion wish to hold it, and this desire to sell and desire to hold has been the cause of their becoming estranged, and of a division in the Arawa tribe. Te Waiatua and the great committee therefore looked at the advantage and disadvantage of selling or holding, and they decided that it would be bad to sell Makelu to the Pakehas. Hence the desire of Te Waialua towards the word of the Governor, who had said to him—" Friend, Te Waialua, go; and when you reach your own place, deliberate well, lest anything hurtful should touch your people." Te "Waiatua therefore decided lhat there should be no Pakehas at Makelu, that ihe hearts of other tribes of the Arawa who are now angry might be at rest. The great committee of Roiorua and Tarawera confirmed the words of that chief Te Waiatua, lhat there should be no Pakehas at Maketu, and that the men should live. For this, therefore, Te Waialua and his companions embarked on board their canoe, the ' Waikalohu'—she was a carved canoe. On ihe 12th February they started from Te Motu-tapu-a-tinirau and pulled towards Te Rotoiti. They had left the island but a short lime when "they were met by a letter from the Ngaiipikiao. The words in that letter were—"Friend, Te Waialua. If you are coming to us about

Makelu, stay away." Te Waiatua and his companions did not agree to this; they landed at Mourea, one of the Ngatipikiao pas, and as soon as they had reached the door of the house Te Awe Kottiku arose. Call and bid our friends j welcome ; here they come, here they paddle in our sea. They were making us strangers to each other at the lime that Maketu wns offered to the Pakehas; your word was, 0 i friends, that the land should be held. Te Awekotuku ceased, and Tft Pukualua Te Whatapoto, of Ngatipikiao, arose and said,—l have nothing to say, O friends, only one word, and that is, to hold the land. You sell it to the Pakehas, and I will hold it. Te Waiatua arose, and said, —That is the cause of our coming. I and the great committee of Rotorua andTarawera viewed both those questions, the selling and the holding of Makelu, and we saw that there would be death in it: we therefore concluded that there should be no Pakehas upon Maketu, and that the men should live. Their hearts were rejoiced at this, and they said to Te Waiatua —lt is very good, 0 friend. We are satisfied. As you are united with us in holding our Makelu, we have no objection to your coming, as now we are of one mind. Te Waiatua, and Temuera Amohau said, —lf you, 0 friends, Te Wala, Te Ratapu, and Hapeta, desire to dispose of Makelu for what you like, to ihis one or to that, it will not be lei go, for it is fast in the hands of Te Arawa; Maketu, and all ils parts are lo be held. f - The talk at Mourea being ended, they embarked in their canoe on the fourteenth, and paddled to Pukeko. The only words spoken by the Ngatipikiao there, were, " Friend, Te Waiatua, return from hence, there is no one there; those you wish to argue with are at k Wiwi and Wawa' (a proverb). They are at places far distant from Makelu." Te Waialua and party did not listen lo the Ngatipikiao, in trying lo stop them. They again embarked in iheir canoes on that lake, and landed at Komuhumuhu, they found there were men in that pa, twenty in number. They went lo Te Mapu Te Kanewa and Matene Te Iwaiwa, and slept. On the following morning, the loth, they commenced lo talk. Te Awekotuku arose (and said), Here we

are, friend, our errand is lo preach. « : In those days John ihe Baptist went about preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, Repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is "at hand," and so on to the end. Te Waiatua arose, and said,—Friends Te Mapu and Malene, do not wonder at our visit to you. I thought, when I proposed to bring Pakehas to Makelu, that all would have been favorable alike, but of the Arawa one portion is in favor of it, but you, 0 Ngatipikiao, are against it. I have therefore thought, 0 Te Mapu, that the matter had better rest, and lliat Maketu had better be left in accordance with the views of the other portion of the Arawa, lest when life returns to the world he finds the man dead. Therefore, friends, let there be no Pakehas at Makelu, that your mind may be at rest, 0 Ngatipikiao. This is my thought and that of the great committee of Rotorua and Tarawcra, "that you may obtain life, joy, and peace, and that we may secure permanent safety. These are my thoughts, 0 friends. Te Mapu, Chief of Ngatipikiao, arose and said,—Friends, it is correct. Friend Te Waiatua, it was you who were in such a hurry lo sell your land, and it was yoH who saw that there was death in so doing. Your own knowledge brought life. Friend, it is good. You have said that there shall be no Pakehas at Maketu. The thoughts of the Ngatipikiao, 0 friend, are like the sun now shining. Friend, Te Waiatua, I salute you and your good thoughts. That Chief, Te Mapu, then look off his cap, and the Chiefs bowed to each other. They were also appointed as arbitrators in any future dispute that might occur amongst the Arawa. The friends of each merely assented, saying,— Yes, 0 Chiefs, be strong, and let your thoughts regarding Alualahi, the star of Heaven, be alike, lest Te Mangoroa ascend above it, so that long life may result, a life of joy and peace. Matene arose, and said,—lt is you, 0 friends, that have decided that there should be no Pakehas at Makelu. I merely approve. I salute you and your good thoughts, OTe Waialua. As for me, 1 say that we should enter into an agreement on the subject. Petera and Temuera Te Amohau said—Yes. And so it was decided. This was the end of the talk at Komubumuhu. On the d6th day of that month they returned to Rotorua, andTe Waiatua remained at Te Motutapu-a-linirau, with his thought,

that be would go on to the Ngaiipikiao residing at Maketu and Wailaha. On the 22nd the Ngatipikiao held a meeting at the place of Te Puehu, the old Chief of the Ngatipikiao; a great number attended. Te Puehu arose to ask for information. He said,—"Speak, 0 Waiatua, and tell us the cause of your visit." Te Waiatua arose, and said,—Yes, 0 Puehu, I supposed when the heart desired to have a parly of Europeans amongst us, that the thoughts of all the Arawa would liave been the same; but when I came amongst the people and upon the land, alas! I found that you had two words, 0 Arawa, one to sell Maketu to the Pakehas and one lo hold it. Which of these two is right and which wrong Ido not know. No good can come of disputing, there is death in it I have come to you now that you also may liear that there are to be no Pakehas at Maketu. The matter has been carefully considered by me and by the committee of Rolorua and Tarawera, that our thoughts at this time may be quieted, 0 friends. Te Puehu arose, and said,—You are not in fault. Your thoughts when vou came here were very correct, and also "your explanations at the different parts of Rolorua and Maketu, that all the Arawa might hear. The only cause the Ngatipikiao had for an* soyance was the speech of the Tutanekai, your tribe, that they were like sand-flies or weeds in their estimation. Although you may say that it was for another man, that word was intended for me. And now, OTe "Waiatua, I have heard the word of your committee at Uotorua, that you are to bring us to trial. Ido not agree to it; belter let us come under our ancestors, Kangitihi Upokowhakahirahira, Hei and Tia. When the road is made across Kawa let the road be laid down, then let the land be divided, for the whole territory belongs to Rangiiihi. In my opinion our lands in Rolorua should be tried in this way. This is my decided opinion. Friends, it is good. You, 0 Waiatua have taken your'thoughis to all pans of Te Arawa. The companions of Te Waiatua did not agree with that old chief's word for a Maori Trial (or investigation), they were undecided. 7he great committee of Uotorua are decided in their opinion that the great law and the Ngaiipikiao should settle the matter. Hakaraia arose, and said,—Come, OTe Yvaiaitia, and make known your many thoughts: you expressed them at Tarawera, and they were viewed by those other tribes, the Ngaiiai, Te Urewera, Te Whakatohea,

iheTuwharetoa, Ngatiwairangi, Ngaiterangi, and Ngaiiawa, and by you also le Arawa. Herein is ihe goodness of your thoughts, Makelu is lying on the heap. These are oar sentiments and also those of the Ngatipikiao. I have been taught from the Scriptures, and I therefore say : hold the land. I have regard for our children. This finished the conveying of our thoughts to the different places of Te Arawa. Friend the Governor, after these thoughts the Arawa were again united. Enough. It is ended. From your loving friends, Pini Te Korekore Te Hiwinui, Tamati Te Kaharunga, Henare Te Pukuatua.