E—No. lc

TO NATIVE AFFAIRS.

and therefore I went to Aotea. I saw a European, and he said to me, Friend, were you sent here by the Governor to investigate. I said no, it was they who sent for me to Whaingaroa, and therefore I came; hs then said, who appointed you? I said I was appointed by the Assembly to look to the evils of my people, and I am to investigate those evils ; one is a place which has been returned to the person who owned it; this place is by the side of Warihi's place. That place was a disputed piace, mid I have given it to the person who owned the land. Friend, lam greatly confused on account of the number of cases of adultery at Whaingaroa. From your friend, Hemi Matini. Mr. Fenton. No. 14. Whaingaroa, Friend Mr. Fenton,— July 20th, 1857. .Salutations to you. Your letter has reached me. Do you hearken. My heart is carefully considering the contents of your letter, because it was you who gave us the light of the laws, and my work at the laws will not go on a steep road, lest they fall, but by the road pointed out by you, because some of the Maories have adopted the regulations of the laws, and Europeans and Maories are living united as one people. Do you hearken. The hearts of your people are rejoicing on account of this your word:—" You are the principal people, and Whaingaroa is the spring." Do you hearken. My thoughts when William and party were there were that the commands of the laws had been carried out. Do you hearken. They are thrust into the thick scrub because the eyes of the blind did not see. Do you hearken. In the days of August I will look to the light, that I may carefully perform your requests. My work is lying here: but, do you hearken. This work I performed during my great illness, and therefore I was delayed from doing anything according to our first word. My body was on a bed for two months, but now I have recovered. And now this urging of yours with respect to the offence of Karaka and Honatana. It is true about the theft of the European's goods, but it has not been investigated in these (past) days. I now commence, and although it may be long I will fully see the great error of these men, because I have now fully recovered from my illness, and will be able to perform the other work lying at Whaingaroa. Wiremu and party came and said to me that you blamed me for not listening, but when your letter came I did not see it. This is my word:—A letter of mine has*been sent to Mr. McLean. I thought that he was there; aud there is a great deal said in it. Some person told me that you were staying at Rangiaohia, and therefore I wrote to Mr. McLean. Do you search, and search quickly. Do not suppose it is a small thing, there are a great many words in it. Do you search for it speedily that you may see it. This is my word, do you desire me to go there. If you say that I am to go by myself, it is well ; but I will wait some days that you may know, that it will be for you to take me to the Governor, that he may express his good words to you and me, and also mine to him. Do you listen friend. The house is being built. This is all. From your friend Hetaraka. Mr. Fenton. No. 15. Kohanga, August 24, 1857. Mr. Fenton, — I have to inform you that my wife Ilepa Euini bolted from here to Auckland on the 22nd of August. You must return my wife to me here. If she refuses to attend to you, I transfer the power of her husband to you, so that the authority of the husband may be added to that of the magistrate. By Ruini Ngaingai.

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