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. |

2

PETITION OE THE ARAWA TRIBE.