WAIKATO.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 339, 18 January 1861, Page 3

WAIKATO.

[The following document from the new " Maori King" will be read with interest; it comes out most royally, in our right truly, and well beloved cousin's style. We copy it from the New Zealander:— The loyalty of Waikatos, we regret to say, is becoming fine by degrees and visibly less. The whole of the tribes of the upper districts may be said to have committed themselves with Wiremu Kingi at Taranaki. Reinforcements from all quarters have been sent to the insurgent natives there, and it is now evident enough that Waikato is the strength of the Taranaki insurrection, and the power by which it is maintained. The following curious Maori manifesto has recently been published :— Petani, December 6th, 1860. To Mr. Fen ton, Friend.—Salutations to you, this is my word to you, it is my wish that you should send these laws to be printed in the newspapers, let these laws be printed quickly that they may be distributed amongst the people, that they all may know : that is all the word from your loving friend. From Wata Kukutai. December Ist, 1860. Commencement of words of the Chief's of the Ngatihana and Waikato, respecting the evils in Waikato, of plunder and theft, that, this evil work should cease. 1. The following rules are to promote peace in this portion of the Waikato district commencing at j the Ngaruawahia and ending at the head of the Waikato river. We have spoken that all the chiefs should settle these evils lest it should besmear this portion of Waikato, it will not be good to reject these good laws now laid down, but rather that these works of confusions should entirely cease. Let the Europeans remain on their settlements in Waikato and even out to the heads of the Waikato river : why we wish them to remain is that we may be kind to them and they to ua. Our intentions are that these regulations should be constantly upheld in Waikato. We have heard of the following words of the Governor to Watu Kukutai, " by Europeans of mean birth, and Maoris of mean birth evil will come." But we are now putting an end to sin in Waikato lest it should cause a division between the Europeans and natives. If these evils should be put an end to by us, then it shall be said that these two vaces shall become ODe under the law. This is all, we are thinking about the evil at Taranaki, the evil against the Europeans shall be there ; but our Europeans, who are living on our Maori lauds, let them be left with us, there shall be no evil from us towards our Europeans. The law respecting a man being killed by a European, if the person who caused the death be found, he shall be payment for his sin. A death caused, and the European who committed it, if he is not seen, it shall be carefully searched out, and when found that European must die; but if not found it shall be carefully searched out. By the law perhaps he will be discovered, because it will not be right that all men should die for that one man, but rather that it should be left according to the directions of the law. Raspecting a European who is killed by a Maori it shall be thus :if a European is killed by a Maori he shall be the payment for his sin ; but if the man who committed the murder is not found it shall be carefully sought out, and when found he shall die according to the regulations of the law, because it will not be right for many to die for one man. These laws of ours have been made for Waikato, commencing from Maimga Tautari, Perea, Maunga Kawn, and Tamahere, and right out to the heads of the Waikato River, because these tribes have worked according to the directions of the law. We have therefore made these regulations that good should flourish amongst us, that the principles of the law should be properly carried out in Waikato. The matter respecting Taranaki, in our going there to fight: there is no wroDg in our fighting

there, because in these days it is clear for right for the pakeha and the Maori to fight there. Respecting the Waikatos going to Auckland, it lias been made aacred, there shall be no fighting here. From Matutaera Potatau. WIREMU TAMIHANA Tk WaHAROA. Matutaera is the eon and successor of Potatau, the late Maori King; Wi Tamihana is the Maori King-maker, the native Warwick, and the originator of the King movement. In the decree it is not stated by whom the law is to be carried into effect, but the taua at Tuakau a short time since —when four hundred armed men came down to enquire into the circumstances attending the death of the native Ereata, near Auckland, and opened proceedings with a war dance—will help us to an understanding of the new process of law to which Europeans are proposed to be subjected by the majesty of Waikato. Taranaki then is declared to be the field of battle, —" in these days it is clear for right for the pakeka and the Maori to fight there." Auckland it appears is to be held as tapu.