Maori Correspondence.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume I, Issue 18, 16 December 1861, Page 16

Maori Correspondence.

Wakatane, May 10, 1861. Friend the Governor,— Your messenger of Ist March reached us. Harken to my welcome to that Manuhiri Tuarangi "Welcome stranger from afar. There is no food in the village; the food for you is at a distance. Welcome." Welcome the thoughts from those great Mountains (Hikurangi and Edgecumbe.) Come and see this canoe, the Mata-alua. She is lying in a shed and those who have the care of her have thatched it with toetoe, hstthe rain should drip, and the wind blow upon her, and lest the canoe should be broken. Enough. From the runanga of Wepiha APANur.

Rotoiti, June 19, 1861. Go my letter to the Governor, Friend,—Salutations to you. Hearken to my thought. Formerly we were in ignorance; when the sun shone, then only were we warm, that is, we knew what that word warm meant. Hearken, our land affairs will not resemble those at Waiiara. That land will not be an example for our land, for the plan pursued at Waiiara is a wrong one. According to inv thought you got the land, and the Chief of the land got the money, and afterwards went to fetch the land which you had acquired, and now both Pakehas and Maoris, have died (through it). This is the error that I have seen. St. Paul says to the Romans that " the wages of sin is death," but that God gives us life everlasting in Jesus Christ our Lord." Enough, 0 friend. In my opinion, men do not think to choose life. They prefer death, thus making good the words of Paul. According to my thought, God gave knowledge to the world; why then do men trample upon the laws of God ? The root of this death is the Maories. Friend, when this korero reaches you, if you see that it is correct send it to be printed, that my Maori friends may hear this thought. Enough. From Hapeta Tk liukau, Teacher of Mourea. To His Excellency the Governor, Auckland.

Hauraki, July 11, 1861. Friend the Governor,— Salutations lo you. This is what I have to say to you. Hearken: on the 9lh July an entertainment was given at Kauaeranga by the Pakehas of Hauraki, by Mr. John Priestly <uid by Mr. C. Priestly. This Hakari was given in consequence of their being about to leave Kauaeranga; 300 persons were present at the feast. Rhvai arose and said, come 0 Taraia, welcome. Taraia then stood up and said, I will not forsake my parent the Governor, that is, the Pakeha —I will not listen to the words of lying men. This is my word to you, the Queen, the Queen! Friends, turn to our parent the Pakeha. When he ceased, Te Hoterene Taipari arose and said, Taraia and I unite in saying, the Queen, the Queen, do not let us heed the talk that we hear. Let us keep to this word, the Queen, the Queen. Riwai again arose and said, This is right, my friends, this is right. This is what I say. Hearken, at Kokopu let there be no soldiers —ai Upukeko let there be no soldiers,—at the Kerepehi let there be no soldiers. This is what I propose in regard to what you two have said. They consented, and said yes. Hauauru arose and said, at the same time taking up a stick, this is Kokopu, the Governor, has one part and we have the other. I( the voice of the Governor touches his own part, it will be right, his word will be right as regards his own portion, and the arrange* ment of wv portion will be with us. l)o no.t let us listen to what we hear, that the Governor intends sending soldiers, he will not send soldiers to this pari, but if the men of Hauraki go to Waikato then perhaps the Governor may decide upon sending his soldiers here. If we hear Queen! Queen! then it will be right; we will keep lo this. Hearken. I will send this korero lo the Governor, that he may hear it, and let it also be sent lo the Editor of the Maori Messenger, Enough. From your friend, Hauauru Taipaai, To His Excellency the Governor, Auckland.

Oruanui, August 24, 1861. Go my loving letter to meet Governor Grey, and see whether he .has arrived in Auckland. Friend Governor Grey. Salu- (

talions to yon*- you have come back to your place, to New Zealarrd, to be our Governor, to carry out good regulations for your Maori people in all parts of New Zealand. Friend, J greet you with affection, because you have returned to us and to the Pakehas. Enough. From your loving friend, HOHEPA TAMAMUTU, ._ ofTaupo. To Bis Excellency, Governor Grey, Auckland. Puliki Waranui, September 4lb, 1861. Friend, Salutations. Are you in Auckland, or where are you? This is a letter of ours to seek for your love for us, because you have come back to be our father. Come and take your stand in New Zealand. Welcome. Come quickly, to make light the parts of New Zealand that are in darkness. On the Ist September, Mr. Taylor held a meeting at KaniHinihi on the subject of the Gospel of God, for the'uniting of both raoes under the protection of God and of the Queen. From your loving friend, Te Kawana Tawitorangi, Hori Kerei Tr Naeroa. To Governor Grey*

Waitara, September 14 tb, 1861. Friend) the Governor, ■ ■ Salutations to you. Great is my love for you. The words you spoke to me are as life to my heart, to tbem will ray heart and I cleave day and night; they shall be as a Rata (tree) to shelter me; they shall be as a wall to shelter my body. If winds blow, you, 0 Governor, will be the bouse of shelter for the orphan, the true and loving father Who will build a house for'us, your children. 0 friend, the Governor. You have caused joy in my loving heart. Convey, 0 Governor, my love to Queen Victoria, that she may know that her mam is still over me in Ibis world.. Let your love for me continue, as my body and your loving thoughts are united in one. From your loving friends, Hapurona Pukxrihu, Tb Waka Te Hdka. To Governor Browne, Auckland.

Orakei, Hepetema 26,4861. This is a letter of welcome to our visitor from afar. Welcome father, the Governor, parent of all the tribes in New Zealand. Welcome, the eyes of those who are dead. Come Whaingaroa, come Hoete, come Hainionn, come Hauraki, come faces of the old ctiiefs who have died, come to the standing place of your feet. Come, father, the Governor. Great is our love for you. Do not suppose that we are trampling upon your rules, upon those of the former Governors; from your first arrival up to the coming of Governor Browne, those rules of yours are still being kept by us, by your people residing at Orakei, at Kaipara, and at Mahurangi, for these are your real people, the Ngatiwbatua. No evil has ever been in our presence, in that of all the Governors. What we approve of is, one law for the Pakeha and Maori, and living in peace. The plan for peaceful life is, working at wheat, oats, corn, potatoes, and pumpkins; growing food for the body. This is the war we have been engaged in since you left, warring with the land; and now that you have returned to your and our place, you find us still engaged in the same warfare; fighting with men is a work we do not approve. This is another warfare we approve of, striving with the Great God of Heaven for life for our souls. For there are two laws in the world; one is the law of God, and the other is the law of man. This is the law of man, the law of the Queen; it is for the protection of the orphan, the widow, the poor, the lowly, the chief, the Maori, and the Pakeha. Wei' come back to your people. This parent of ours, Governor Browne, is going away from before us, and you have arrived, returned to us from a distant land, to be a father to us. The word that we spoke to you when you first arrived, we repeaPto you now. We will adhere to you for ever; and now we shall never be separated from you. Also, if you bear anyone condemning your tribe, the Ngatiwhatua, do not listen. This was also our word to Governor Browne, and be listened to our word. In like manner listen you to our word, lest we, that is, you, should be perplexed by the different tribes. Governor Browne knew this, you however, are a wise man; you are not a stranger to this land, you are an old resident. And therefore we repeat our "Tangi" for you:— Thine 0 sua, so soft (o the skin, I am waiting for the second and third (month.) Friends, look at me.

What is tbfe that is wasting me ? (Uopk at) (be young moon and weep; * Ttie heart grew, wild, fondly dreaming, (hat there might be (wo spouse in (he house.. I thought, 0 Grey, that thy visits had ceased, But thou contest stealing hither. I'start> and And myself in the house, Perchance it was the voice of prayer that brought thee. .To move the heart to ulter.ils deep love. From yonr loving friends,. Apihai Te Kawau, Hikiera Te Tinana, Paora Tubaere, Te Keene Tangaroa, Te Wiremu Te Whenua, te Reweti Tamabiki, To Governor Grey.