G.—No. 1

*Hori, Paruka, *Harawira, Mangere, *Kupuha, *Te Wari, *Watene, Pirika, ♦Paranihi, Ihaia, *Pene, Taiti, *Hone Hira, *Otimi, *Tipene, *Matiu, Wi Te Arei, *Werahiko, Otene, Tamati, Hakaraia, *Wiari Heremaia, Erueti.' al iNa' ko. mat? u tenei c Piri nei ki a*e Kuini, kite ture kotahi, fa to matou matua kotahi. Ahakoa whakawaia matou etc kai whakawai, ahakoa whakawehiwehia matou, ekore matou c wehi. Ka manawanui matou ki to matou Kuini. Ka pena matou me te Tui i harihari nei ite kirikiri kohatu fa roto kite ipu wai, aka puta ake te wai, ka inu, ka makona. Ekore matou c rite kite heihei j na te parera nga hua, na te heihei i awhi. Waihoki, ekore matou c pai ma the Kin<'i matou c awhi, engari ma te Kuini matou c awhi. Waihoki, ekore matou c pai kite awhi i n"a ritenga ate Kingi, pena me te heihei c awhi nei i nga hua ate parera, ate kuihi, ate take. Kia kotahi ano ta matou c awhi ai, ko te Kuini anake. Heoi ano, ka mutu. E hoa ma, kua makatia c au te ingoa o nga tangata nona taua pihi whenua *. Engari ko Tipene ko Te Otimi, ko Paranihi Tiwana, ko Pene, na o ratou wahine i taki [take?] ai ratou ki taua whenua. Ko era atu, na to matou Runaiiga. Na Te Teira Manuka.

[translation*.] - „ _ _, Waitara, October 21, 1863. O Chief He.ujs of tiie Pakeha Kunanga,— ~ _ * I sal'.*2. y°u (assembled) there, engaged upon the duties appertaining to the work of adjusting the diflicultios of this Island, of New Zealand. Eriends, lam vainly searching for the cause which led to the unloosing of Waitara. It was perhaps the shallowness of the water inasmuch as the guardians of the canoe are being removed. I know not. Now, as to this our word sha 1 ever remain under the mana. of Queen Victoria, even until the fulfilment of our assent that our land Waitara (should be given) to the Queen. It is for the Queen to be a covering over the canoes, lest they should be split by the sun ; that they may lie sound in their lying-place This is our word, O Kunanga of the Pakehas. O friends, 0 men of the Kunanga,what we "desired (called for) was that (the title to) Waitara should be investigated. Governor Browne said Waitara must be investigated. Such also was the word of Mr. Fox, of the Bishop, aud of Governor (Trey also when he came here ; but we did not witness the investigation. Waitara was summarily given back to us p er h aps the Governor and Mr. Bell have seen the error of Te Teira and the right ot William king, and we desire that the many should see it also. Therefore we say Let Waitara be investigated j not in the room (office) of one man, whether of Mr Bell or of any other person, with perhaps three persons in it. That is a one-sided (lit. leaning) examination in our opinion. Bather let it be a public examination, that the many may hear. 0 friends 0 great Kunanga of the Queen do you attach weight to (cause to be mana) our words, because lam a Queen s man, and you also are Queen's men. _.i . '_ hi! ' . ,s *ill. our "Pinion, that Waitara should be investigated. But it was not our proposal that it should be investigated ; it was Tamihana's ;we only consented. Then we waited at that time tor the arrival here of Governor Grey that Waitara might be again investigated. But when Governor Grey arrived here it was not investigated ; then the death of the Pakehas at Wairau oocurred, whereupon .. aitara was returned to us. We knew not the cause of its being returned •we did not ask for it to be given to us, and we are still searching for the cause of Waitara being returned to us But we fully heard the words of Mr. Bell and the Governor, who said that the reason why VV aitara was abandoned was because it would not be right te expel the men who had lived upon the soil nii the time of peace—that is to say William King. I said to the Governor, 0 friend O (xovernor Ihe horse was mine ; another man leaped upon it; the horse was not his. When I saw my horse with that man on it, my hand grasped the bridle, and I said, Friend jump down ; let me have my horse that I may sell it. Now that expression had reference to Waitara. The horse is WaivPa Ait.- • i '_. he ma. to whom the land belon«s >as for William King, he is an intruder upon it. Ihis is why the word of Mr. Bell and the Governor does not apply to it / • 1 ?. 0I''-(_,r Eunang 1 a °!'. the Pakehas > we have no other thought. We have but one thought (wish) that Waitara should be taken (received) by the Pakehas. These are our names hereunto subscribed :— *Te Teira, Karena, *Paranihi, Tipene Warihi, *Hemi, Hoera,

2

PETITION OF NATIVES