PETITION OF THE ARAWA TRIBE, PRAYING FOR FURTHER REMUNERATION FOR THEIR SERVICES ON THE EAST COAST.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1866 Session I, G-06

G.—No. 6.

PETITION OF THE ARAWA TRIBE, PRAYING FOR FURTHER REMUNERATION FOR THEIR SERVICES ON THE EAST COAST.

PRESENTED Urn SEPTEMBER, 186G, AND ORDERED TO BE PRINTED.

WELLINGTON.

1866.

G.—No. 6.

Maketu, Hurae 25, 1866. Xi te Etticaxga numri o te motu o Nui Tteexi, — E hoa ma tena koutou kua kiia koutou hei matua mo nga iwi katoa ote motu nei; aliakoa kiri ma, ahakoa kiri parauri, ahakoa tutua ahakoa Rangatira. Koia matou ara tenei iwi o koutou a te Arawa, i kalia ai te korero i to mate nui c aki nei i runga i a matou kia rongo koutou a Ida rapua c koutou tetahi huarahi c puta ai matou kite ao-marama. Kia aro nui mai o koutou ngakau, ata whakarongo mai hoki o koutou tariuga. I te 2 o nga ra o Hurae, 1865, ka kohurutia a Hemi Mautaranui me ona hoa pakeha ki "VVhakatane c te Hura ratou ko ona hoa lea rongo matou i taua mahi kino, ka tomo te pouri me te mamae ki roto ki o matou ngakau. Ka haere matou kite Tumuaki oto matou takiwa ki ate Mete, kite kimi tikauga, ka ki mai ia kia matou, me haere i runga i te tikanga o te ture katahi ka tukua to warati hopu i aua kai kohuru ka tonoa hoki matou hei tai tuara mo to kai kawe ite warati. Ka haere matou i runga i taua tono ka mau etahi o taua iwi ka rere ko Hoera ko tetahi o nga kai kohuru, karanga noa atu matou ki taua tangata kiakaua c oma, kahore i rongo, na ka puhia ka mate, ka hoki mai matou ki Maketu, c hia ako hoki nga raugi c noho ana i Maketu, ka tonoa ano matou, c ka tahi te iwi nui tonu ka haere. Kahore matou i titiro ko te takiwa tenei ote rumakanga kai kite whenua kahore matou i mahara ki a matou wahine ki a matou tamariki i whakaaro tonu matou ko te iwi pakeha, hei matua mo matou, tahuri aua matou kite whakamana kite hapai ite Ture. Ka mahi nei matou taea noatia te-mutunga. Kahore matou i whakarere ita matou mahi ite takiwa kahore ano i oti. Erangi tohe tonu matou tae ana te mutunga. Na kua hoatu c matou nga tangata kino ki o koutou riugaringa kahore i rere tetahi i a matou kahore i tukua mai c koutou he pakeha hei tai tuara mo matou heoi ano tau ko te hawhe o te kai, naku ano te nuinga, kati tera. E waru tekau o nga ra i tv ai ahau ki tenei riri kahore matou i hoki whakamuri no nga ra whakamutunga o Oketopa ka mutu ta matou mahi. 1 nga ra whakamutunga o Mci ka tae mai te Minita Maori ki Maketu ka ki ia i ana ki whakawhetai mo to tika o te mahi a te Arawa ka whakaaro matou kahore matou c ora kite kupu whakawhetai, ka tahi taua Minita ka ki ite ki rawakore ote Kawanatanga. Ka whakina mai eia te kotahi mano pauna me te rima rau i runga i tenei ka nui to matou pouri kite iti o tenei moni tangi rawa matou mo a matou wahine mo a matou tamariki. E hoa ma kia marama i a koutou to matou mate nui ko te takiwa i whakatika ai matou kite hopu i nga kai kohuru ko te takiwa o te koanga mutu rawa ake to mahi kua taea te raumati kua mahue ke te ruamakanga kai, na kua mate rawa matou i naianei. Titiro hoki ki to matou mauiui ki to matou kuhnnga ki roto kite mate, kahore to iwi a te Arawa i titiro kite ao marama. Tena koia mehe pakeha ka pai ranei ratou ki tenei utu kite £2 55., mo te tangata kotahi mo nga marama c toru ko ta matou mahi i oti rawa ma koutou c titiro nga moui i pou i a matou i runga i te mahi, oti titiro hokiki te mahi a to koutou ope i whakau nei ki Opotiki hei hopu i a Kereopa raua ko Patara, kahore i oti kahore aua tangata i mauna ma koutou c titiro nga moni i pau i tera ope kahore ranei i tae kite whatekau mano pauua. Kia matou ki ta te kuare kahore he rawakore ote Kawanatanga ma ka whiuwhiu noa ite moni i runga ite mahi kahore i oti. Titiro c hoa ma aroha mai ki to koutou iwi kua mate rawa i runga i tenei mahi nui tukua mai hoki tetahi apiti mo cnei moni kia noho tika ai matou kumea ake to koutou iwi i tenei mate nui. Heoi ta matou inoi atu ki a koutou whakamana te kupu a to koutou iwi. Na o koutou hoa, Na Te Poihipi TuKAiHANGr, Na W. Kepa te Hubintji, Na Abama Kaeaka Mokonuiabangi, Na Hoaxi Takubtja, Na Te Maptj, Na Te Pokiiia Tabantti, Na Eota Rangihobo, Na Henaee te Pukuatua, Na "W. Hikaibo. Xi te Eunanga c noho mai nei i Poneke. Na Eotohiko i tuhituhi. « [teanslatiost.] Maketu, 25th July, 1866. To THE G-ENEEAL AssEMBLT OF New ZEALAND.—FbIEXDS GeEETLNG :— Tou have been declared to be a parent for all the tribes of this Island, whether they be of white or dark skin, whether men of low degree or chiefs. Therefore we, that is to say, this tribe of yours, the Arawa, speak more boldly, in respect of this grievance by reason of which we are troubled—do you give heed and find out some way for us out of this difficulty. Let your hearts incline favorably towards us, and let your ears listen patiently.

PETITION OF THE ARAWA TRIBE.

G.—No. 6.

On the second day of July, ,1865, James Eulloon and his Pakeha friends were murdered at Whakatane, by Te Hora and his companions ; we heard of that evil work and sorrow and anguish entered into our hearts. We went to the Civil Commissioner of our district, to Mr. Smith, to ask his advice. He told us to act in accordance with the law, then a warrant for the apprehension of those murderers was sent; we were also sent to support him who was sent to execute that warrant. We accordingly went and captured some of the people of that tribe. One of the murderers, Hoera by name, ran away ; we called after him to stop, not to run away, but he paid no attention, so he was shot at and killed, and we came back to Maketu. We did not remain there many days before we were again sent; then the principal portion of the tribe went. We paid no heed to the fact that this was the time of putting seed into the ground, we thought not of our wives and children, but only that the Pakehas were to be our parents. Wo turned to for the purpose of giving weight to, aud carrying out the ends of the law. We worked ou until the work was ended ; we did not leave our work unfinished, but we strove on till it was done. Now we have given up those wicked men into your hands, not one escaped from us, neither did you give us any Pakehas to assist us; the only thing you did was to supply one-half of the food, I myself finding the greater portion. Eighty days did we stand up to fight; we did not make any retrogressive movement; towards the end of October our work ended. Towards the end of May the Native Minister came to Maketu; he expressed his words in recognition of our services, but it occurs to our minds that thanks expressed in words only will not keep us alive. That Minister then pleaded that the Government was poor, and told us of a sum of fifteen hundred pounds. We were much troubled because the amount was so small, and wo wept for our wives and children. Friends let the circumstances of our trouble be clear to you ; the time when we got up to catch the murderers was the time for planting, and when the work was done it was close on to summer, the time for putting seed into the ground was long past, and we now are in great trouble. Look also upon the fatigue we endured, and our having plunged into the midst of death regardless of consequences. Suppose it had been Europeans instead of us, would they have been satisfied with this pay, two pounds five shillings per man for three months ; we did our work well. Do you look upon the money spent by us in this work as compared with the army which you landed at Opotiki for the purpose of capturing Kereopa, aud Patara, which did not accomplish its purpose, for those men were not taken. Do you look at the amount consumed by that army, does it not come to forty thousand pounds ; to us, those who are ignorant, it appears that the Government is not poor, inasmuch as it can afford to throw money away upon work that does not attain its objects. Look friends, and show compassion to your tribe who are placed in great difficulty by reason of this great work. Send also a further sum to*supplement this other amount so that we may dwell comfortably ; draw your tribe up out of this difficulty. That is the end of our prayer to you ; consider favorably the word of your tribe. ' Your loving friends, Written by Eotohiko. Poihipi Tukaibangi, and eight others. E Hoa c Te Kebeama— Maketu, Hurae 26, 1866. Tena koe ka tukua atu c matou kite Eunauga Nui o nga motu nei mau c whakatakoto ki to aroaro o taua Eunanga, mau hoki c hoatu tetahi kupu tautoko i ta matou korero kia rongo mai koe he korero tino pono rawa tenei. Kei te mate rawa matou i runga i tenei mahi. Heoi ano. Na Eota Rangihoeo, Na Rotohiko i tuhituhi. Na Henaee Te Pitkuatua. [teanslatiox.] Feiend Me. Geaiiam, — Maketu, 26th July, 1566. Salutations. We send you a Petition to present to the General Assembly, please to do so and add a word of favorable recommendation. Do you give heed; what we say in this Petition is exactly the state of the case. "We are in great distress because of this matter. That is all. Rota Rangttioeo, Written by Rotohiko. Heuaee PusrATUA. |

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PETITION OE THE ARAWA TRIBE.