E.—No. 2.

"We consent to let the Pakehas remove their cattle or their sheep (if they want to), and we leave you to decide about the rents, whether they should be paid speedily or not —because Eangitikei is now yours. It is held in your hand. On the day that the purchase money for Bangitikei is paid, we shall expect you to secure to us the payment of the rents. The words of our friend, Mr. Buller, are very clear to us, and we consent to abide by the agreement we entered into with you at Manawatu. We will not impound nor in any way interfere with the settlers' cattle. But w re leave Ihakara to speak for himself {lit. his words or thoughts are his own). Let Mr. Buller go to Manawatu, and shed some light into his heart, because he is very dark (or gloomy) about the exclusion of this land under the new law (Nat. Lands Act, 1862). Let Mr. Buller go also to the Bangitane, and talk to them, in order that their thoughts may be made to agree with ours. Ended. From your attached Friends, Noa te Eaithihi. Te Wieemu Pukapuka. ApERAIIAMA TE HuRUHUBU X. Eei te Paehua. Witness to signatures and mark —W. Buller, E.M. To Dr. Featherston, Superintendent. Enclosure 4 in No. -A. [translation.] Manawatu, June 14, 1865. Friend, Salutations ! Your friend and my friend Mr. Buller, the Eesident Magistrate of Wanganui, has arrived here. When I saw him I gave vent to my angry words in his presence. It is not right that I should hide this great grief (or gloom) I rest under, on account of our land which has been fenced in by this new law (meaning the Native Land Act, 1862), I mean all our land lying between Obau and Eangitikei. We have heard from the pakehas that all the lands of this island have been thrown open (or liberated) by this new law, and that our lands only are left in prison and that we are now just like pigs confined in an enclosure. As we view the matter our names are no longer upon our lands. Enough ! Dr. Featherston, great is my sadness, indeed all of us are sad. We are grieved with you because you did not explain to us this law. When we met at Manawatu to talk with you respecting Eangitikei, on the occasion that I handed to you my meremere (club) as a token of the absolute surrender of our land to you, you and Mr. Buller concealed from us this great matter, and I only now hear of it from other Pakehas. Now listen, then Dr. Featherston, when I had this explained to me great was my wrath, and my word went forth to Ngatiraukawa : " Now will I indeed, take back my meremere from the hand of Dr. Featherston, for my proposal for the sale of Eangitikei is completely at an end." And we have sent our petition to the Great Assembly of New Zealand to give utterance to our grief, and to get this land lying between Eangitikei and Ohau thrown open also: so that we may sell or lease to any pakeha whatever, and (we determined) that if our prayer should not be granted by the Assembly, we would then drive off the cattle and the sheep. These were our thoughts, and when Mr. Buller came I was still holding to this determination and grieving on account of the injustice of this law passed by your Pakehas. And when 1 rose to speak many were my angry words in Mr. Buller's presence. I demanded to have my club returned by you, and I declared than Eangitikei was now held back and would not be sold. For three hours did our talk last, while our two friends Wiremu Pukapuka and Noah te Bauhihi sat by listening. All your regulations were fully explained by Mr. Buller, and he told me your thoughts and his thoughts respecting Eangitikei. Enough ! Great was the clearness of his explanation and of the message which you wrote to him. Our agreement respecting Eangitikei still holds good because the land is firmly held in your hand and because the land is in dispute between us and the Ngatiapa. Listen now. The cattle and the sheep of the pakehas depastured on that land will not be seized or interfered with by us. It will be for you to decide respecting the rents. Ended. From your friend, Ihakara te Hokcwhitttkitbi. To Dr. Featherston, Superintendent. C

9

BANGITIKEI LAND DISPUTE.