LETTERS FROM RENATA AND OTHER CHIEFS OF AHURIRI TO DR. FEATHERSTON.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1863 Session I, E-11

E.—No. 11.

LETTERS FROM RENATA AND OTHER CHIEFS OF AHURIRI TO DR. FEATHERSTON.

(ORDERED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO BE PRINTED NOVEMBER 4, 1863.)

(Dr. Featherston.)

AUCKLAND.

1863.

E.t-No. 11

No. l. Ngaruawahia, Waikato, Akuwata 21, 1863. Kia Noa, kia Kabaitiajta, kia Kenata, kia Paoba, kia Tabeha, ara, kia koutou katoa. E Tai ma Te Iwi,— Tena koutou. He kupu atu tenei naku kia koutou, kia tupato kia koutou kei poto, kei penei me nga rangatira o Waikato, kua poto nei kite whare herehere i a te Kawana ;no te mea ka peneitia tonutia nga tangata ote motu nei. Ko etahi, ka whiua ; ko etahi, ka hopukia kite whare herehere. Kia mohio nga tangata o kona ki nga tikanga ate Kawana, —nga tangata o Heretaunga, o "Wairarapa, Otaki, o era atu wahi c noho kuware nei. Heoi ano tena kupu. Kia rongo mai koutou. I te 9 o nga ra o Hurae ka tae mai te reta ate Kawana ki nga tangata o Manukau. Ko te kupu tenei, kia whakatika atu ratou ki Waikato, ki tera taha o Mangatawhiri. Whakatika ana ratou, waiho ana o ratou ake pihi. 10 o Hurae kua tae nga hoia ki runga i aua pihi, ka mahue a Mangere, a Pukaki, a Patumahoe, ate Kirikiri. 11 o Hurae ka tae nga hoia ki Pokeno, ki Tuakau. Ko nga taonga o enei wahi pau katoa atu ite ahi. Ko etahi o nga tangata i pejpei atu i runga i aua wahi. 12 o Hurae, ka whiti ki tenei taha o Mangatawhiri. 13 o Hurae, katahi a Waikato ka tae atu kite Koheroa. 17 o Hurae, ko te whawhaitanga. 17 o Hurae, ka whawhai kite rori. Kotahi tonu te ra i oho ai. 22 o Hurae, ka whawhai kite Kirikiri; no reira to pa horo. Kia rongo mai koutou ; ko te taiepa tenei ote Motu nei. Ekore c tukua kia wahia. Xi te mea ka pakaru, ka taeanga taonga katoa ote whare. Ekore c tukua mai te waipuke kia huri mai. Eta ma, ehara ianei inaianei te whakamau ote Kawana. I timata mai ite haere oku ki llauraki. Ahakoa haere noa ia ki Taranaki, ko tona whakaaro c mau tonu ana ki Waikato. Heoi ano. Na Matuxaeba Potatau. [TBANSLATrON.] Ngaruawahia, Waikato, August 21st, 1863. To JfOA, To Kaeaitia>-a, To Ke>ata, To Paoba, and Taeeha, but to you all. Fbiends, People,— Mutations to you. This is my word to you. Be watchful of yourselves (i.e., of your own persons), lest you all be imprisoned in a similar manner to the Chiefs of Waikato by the Governor, because the people of this Island will be treated in a similar manner. Some will be punished (lit. flogged) ; some will be imprisoned. Be aware of the proceedings of the Governor, the people of the Hutt, Wairarapa, Otaki, and other places, that are not knowing (on the alert, suspicious.) Enough of that word. Hearken all of you. On the 9th July, a letter from the Governor to the people of Manukau arrived, telling them to go to the other side (i.e., South side) of Mangatawhiri, in Waikato. They left their land at Mangere, Pukaki, Patumahoe, and Te Kirikiri, which was occupied by the soldiers on the 10th. On the 11th July the soldiers arrived at Pokeno and Tuakau. The property at those places was consumed by tire. Some of the people were driven off those lands. On the 12th July (the soldiers) crossed to this side of Mangatawhiri. On the 13th, Waikato went to Koheroa. On the 17th July was the engagement. On the 17th

LETTERS FBOM CERTAIN CHIEFS OF AHURIRI TO DR. FEATHERSTON.

E.—No. 11

July (they) fought on the road. These engagements took place on the same day. On the 22nd July was the engagement at Kirikiri. There the pa was destroyed. Hearken; this (the present war) is the fence of this Island (for our protection). It will not be allowed to be broken. If it is broken, all the goods in the house will be burned. The flood will not be allowed to roll in (upon us.) Friends, —the Governor has not only now made up his mind. He commenced (determined) when I went to Hauraki (the Thames) ; and although he went to Taranaki, his thoughts were upon Waikato. (He had already determined upon invading Waikato.) Enough. Na Matutaera Potatau.

No. 2. Mataliiwi, Hepetema 7, 1803. Kia Te Petetone, — E hoa, tena koe. Kua tae inai nga korero oto taenga ki Otaki, ko te kupu oWi Tako raua ko Heremia, kua tac atu to pukapuka a te Kingi kia ratou kiapatu Pakeha raua. E polic ami matou. Ina te pukapuka ato Kmgi kia matou. He pukapuka whakatupato kau kia inatou, koia tena ka tukua atu na kia kite tonu iho koe i aua korero. Meheinea hoki nana taua reta ki Wi Tako raua ko Heremia, kua penatia mai lioki te reta kia matou, kia tahuri inatou kite patu i nga Pakeha. E hoa, i te kimi lioa inatou i te tikanga c kiia nei c o inatou hoa Pakeha he kohuru te take o te whawhai ki Akarana. No te korenga c marama i a inatou, tonoa ana ta inatou karere kite putake ote riri, vi ai. No te po ote Hatarei nei i tae mai ai. Kaore tonu te take kohuru ate Maori c kiia nei etc Pakeha, na reira i timata ai te riri ate Kawana. Kahore tonu i rangona ; heoti ano nga take i mohiotia, ko te panapananga mai o nga Maori i Akarana. i runga i o ratou kainga ake, ko te tahutahunga i o ratou hanga me o ratou whare, katahi ; ko te whakawhitinga i Mangatawhiri, karua. . Xi te mea kei te mohio koe tena ano tetahi take, wfaakaaturia mai, kia wawe te mohiotia atu c matou. E hoa, tenei matou te titiro iho nei kite he o o matou iwi Maori, te patunga o nga Pakeha ki Tataraimaka. Heoti, kahore hoki c ngaro i a matou te he ote Kawana, nona kahore i whakamarama wawe i te kupu mo Waitara ite tuatahi, ite take otehe ki Niu Tireni. Marama rawa te take, hei reira ka whai atu ai ki nga peke. I konei matou c tatari noa atu ana kia te Kawana, kei te ritenga o ta inatou korero ki a ia i tona taenga mai kia kite i a matou, mo Waitara kia wliakawakia. Kiia mai ana etc Kawana i reira, ko Waikato kei te herehere. Ka ki atu matou, Kia kotahi hoki whakainatauranga kia Waikato ; ka kore c whakaae, ka oti ki a ia. Karangatia c koe te ra hei whakawakanga ; c nui ana nga iwi kei te whakaae kite whakawa. Ka tahuri ai tatou kite whakawa i tena he, kia wawe ai te mutu atu. He oho mauri tonu ko te rongo matenga o nga Pakeha ki Tataraimaka. He oho mauri tonu hoki i te rua o nga oho mauritanga, E, tenei ko Waitara, tenei ka hoki mai; tukua rawatia kia kino, katahi ka whakahokia mai; te whakahoki mai ite wa marama, kia kitea ai te whakatoatoatanga o te kino kite piki mai i te pai a te Kawana, kia mohiotia ai na te Maori tonu ano ana kino i hoatu kite Pakeha. E hoa, kia kaha koe kite patu i nga kino oto tatou Motu. Na o hoa aroha c mahi nei ite mahi kotahi, kite kukume mai i nga tangata ki runga kite pai. Heoi ano. Na Rex at a Tamakihikuranch. Kara iti ana Takamoana. Te Wirihajs'a Toatoa. [translation.] Matahiwi, September 7th, 1863. To Dr. Peatherston, — 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 King, telling them to kill 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 Heremia had been from him, lie 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 pakelia 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 Pakehas alleged. Murders could not be heard of {i.e., preceding the war.) The only ground 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 course, we should be glad if you would point it out to us, that we may speedily know it.

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LETTERS FROM CERTAIN CHIEFS OF AHURIRI

E—No- II

Sir, we can clearly see the error of our Native tribes in slaying 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 the evil) before following up the branches (i.e., Tataraimaka, &c.) We were here waiting in 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) bade (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 hearing that pakehas had been killed at Tataraimaka. The next thing is we are again astonished by the news—"Ah! here is Waitara handed back to us. It was held back until evil was created (i.e., 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 (ki fe pilci mai) 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 the evil in this Island of ours, being assisted by your friends exerting themselves in Hie s;ime nuise —that of drawing over the people to what is right. That is all. Prom EEXATA TAMAKTHIKimAXCiI, Karaittaxa Takamoaxa , Te Wirih.vna Toatoa.

No. 8. Pawakairo. Oketopa 19, 1863. Kta Pktetoke, — E boa, tens koe. Kia rongo koe ;he nui te tangata i hnihui kite tatari ki a koe ite Hatarei lv 1 Pawakairo. Hiahia ana nuitou kia rongo i o kororo, kia korero atu hold matou i a matou korero, kia rongo koe. No to korenga c tae mai, he potcri anake matou. Heoti, whai atu uei te matou pukapuka i a koe. E hoa, kia baha koe tc kimi ite take ote whawai ate Kawana. c whawai mai ra ki Waikato. Ko te whawai ka rongo matou, ko te take kaore c mohiotia atu. Ko te Pakeha kei te ki mai kia matou, He kotikoti, he kohuru te take ; ko te taha Maori kaore ano matou i rongo ki aua kotikoti, kohuru. Tenei ia ta matou i rongo ai, ko te whakahnunga a Bewi kia riri i mui'i iho ite maunga o Aporo kite whare herehere. Ka karanga a Eewi i reira kia riri. Ka whakahengia c Matutaera, c Tamehana, eTe Paea, c nga rangatira o Wnikato. No te kahanga o te whakahe, ka whakamutua ta Eewi, haere mai ana ki Taupo kite tangihanga mo Te Heuheu. Ko te hokinga atu, ka tutaki kite huarahi i te rongo o te pananga mai o nga Maori i o ratou wahi, ite whitinga mai hoki o nga hoia i Mangatawiri, ote hinganga o te Huirama. No te hoki mai o ta matou karere i tono atu ai kite whakarongo i te riri a Waikato, ka tutaki kite huarahi, katahi ano ka haere atu ki Mereinere a Eewi tonu me tona iwi hoki, me Ngatiinaniapoto. Ko te huihui o Taati Te Waru raua ko Porokoru Titipa i haere atu ai, ehara i te mea pokanoa, he mea tone mama Mohi kia whakatakina atu ia i muri iho i tona j>ananga mai etc Kawana. Ko te panapananga o te Kohi ma, o nga pakeha katoa, na Eewi tonu i karanga kia Ngatimaniapoto kia panapana ia. Ko te timatanga tena ote whakahe o Waikato i a Eewi. Na ko te tunga atu ote H nirama ma kite Koheroa, no te kitcnga atu ka whiti mai nga hoia i Mangatawiri, c hara mai ana ki te'riri kia Waikato, no kona i tv atu ai kite karo i tona rakau. Ina tenei rongo o matou kite Pakeha, c kohurutia ana a te Kawana c Eewi i tona haerenga ki roto ki Waikato. Kei te whakaparautia c matou, ma hoki rangona katoatia c matou ki nga Maori nga korero o te taenga mai o te Kawana ki Ngaruawahia, o te kitenga o te Kawana i te urupa o Potatau, te tangihanga o te Paea, te whainga atu o Matutaera kia kite i a te Kawana ki Ngaruawahia. Ahe aha rate kohuru a Eewi mo te Kawana i kore ai c korerotia kia matou ? He hoatu ia tenei i nga mea i rongo ai matou kia kimihia iho c koe te totikatanga, te henga ranei, ka whakaatu mai ai kia rongo atu matou, wakaatu rawa mai i nga kupu nana i whakahe. Heoti ano. Na o hoa, Na Eexata Tamakihiktjrangi, Na Katcattlvna Takamoana, Na Te Wiiuiiana Toatoa.

[translation.] Pawhakairo, October 19th, 18G3. To Dr. Featiterston, — Friend, Salutations to you. Hearken. Many men assembled on Saturday, at the Pawhakairo, to wait for you, as we wished to hear what you had to say, and to let you hear what we had to say to you. When you did not come, we were all dark (much annoyed). Enough

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TO DR. FEATHERSTON.

E.—No. 11

We now send our letter after you. Friend, exert yourself to discover the cause of the war, which the Governor is now carrying on in Waikato. The war we hear of, but the cause we do not know. The Pakehas tell us that the causes were ambuscades, and murders on the part of the Maoris. We have not heard of those ambuscades and murders. This was what we heard of. Bewi's demand for war, after Aporo had been apprehended and imprisoned. Eewi proposed then to fight, but it was disapproved by Matutaera, by Tamehana, by Te Paea, and the Chiefs of "Waikato. In consequence of their strong opposition, Eewi desisted, and he came to Taupo to the inngi for (the death of) Te lleuheu. On his return, he was met on the road by the news of the driving away of the Maoris from their land, of the crossing of Mangatawhiri by the troops, and of the death of Te Huirama. As our messenger, whom we sent for information about the Waikato war was returning, he met them on the road, and then they went to Meremere —fiewi himself, and his tribe the Ngatinwniapoto. The going of Taati te Waru and Porokoru Titipa's party was not an unwarrantable act. They had been requested by Mohi to follow him, after he had been expelled by the Governor. As for the driving away of the Government and all the Pakehas. it was Bewi who called upon the Xgatimaniapoto to drive them away. It was then that the Waikato commenced to find fault with Eewi. As for the stand made by Te Huirama at Te Koheroa. When it ma seen that the soldiers had crossed Mangatawhiri, and that they were coming to fight the Waikatos, he stood forward to ward oft" the blow. We heard from the Ffckehaa that Eewi intended (or attempted) to murder the Governor, the time that he went up the Waikato ; but we disbelieve it, for we had from the Maoris a full account of the Governor's visit to Ngaruawahia, of his viewing Potatau's grave, of Te Paea's weeping, and of Matutaera being followed, that he might come and see the Governor at Xgaruawahia. How comes it then that we were not told of Eewi's murderous intentions towards the Governor ? We inform you of the things which we have heard that you may enquire and see whether they are correct or not, and then inform us, and show us what words caused the wrong. Enough. From your friends, Eexata Tamakiihkubanoi, Kabaitiaxa Takamoana, WIBIHANA TOATOA.

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LETTERS TO DR. FEATHERSTON.