A.—No. la.

10

DESPATCHES EROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE

Zealand, the common home of both, who have both been equally in fault. Therefore it is not right for either side to sit in judgment on the other. Rather let this be done in your island of England. Do you, 0 Queen, consent to this. According to our idea the present way of judging is one of hatred, proceeding from the hostile side, which continually views us as being in fault, and therefore makes this the pretext for taking away our land. Great is our confidence in the judgment of England, which crosses over the surface of the vast ocean to us here. In this Island is constant rain, thunder, and hail (war), proceeding from the want of the fear of God in the hearts of both Natives and Europeans. It is for you, 0 Queen, to make clear what is right. This was Governor Browne's word which was written to us from Auckland on the sth March, 1861, to the men of Wellington, of "Wairarapa, and other places : "Do not alarm yourselves; do not think we want to seize your land. No, keep your lands, your lakes with their eels, and your fisheries, I shall never meddle with them. Do not listen, to what low Europeans say, but only to what I may communicate to you." Afterwards quite a different counsel prevailed, which entirely destroyed the former one. Another system arose which was one of confusion and quarrel. This, therefore, is the anxious thought of the Native, who shall save our race from destruction, ? Wo look to you, 0 Queen, to show grace to your Native subjects. It is for you to see what is just. The wrong cannot proceed from you. We lay our sad state beneath your feet. We salute you, your people, and all your house. This is all. From Hori Kingi te Anana, „ Tc Mawae, ~ Kapane Kepa te Uangihiwinui, ~ Mete Kingi Kangawenua, „ Arama Thiirau, ~ Kawana Tawitorangi, ~ llakaraia Marehua, ~ Aperaniko Uangihikitia, and all the Wanganui chiefs. Do not think wo have any bad feeling to Governor Grey. No, wo are altogether satisfied with him ; we bear goodwill to him. It is his Ministry we disapprove of. Wanganui, New Zealand, 24th February, 1867. Go, O our letter of love, to our beloved mother, to Queen Victoria. We salute you, the grand ruler. Great is our joy in you for your goodwill towards us. Behold our minister leaves us, sent by the chiefs of Wanganui to carry our grievances to you. Eirst, about our land, which came down to us from our ancestors —it is being taken away by the court of decision of New Zealand ; next, to express our desire to have seats granted us in the European Councils. O Queen let your love for us be expressed, because we have ever dwelt under your laws. You have heard perhaps of our fighting against those who took up arms against us and the Europeans. We have ever been one with our friends the Europeans. Do you therefore devise a law for this island, because the evil continues. If you behold this letter, let your reply float over the ocean to us, to your loving children, to Iloani Mete, Matene Takaorangi, Mete Kingi Pairangi, Paora Keke, Haimona Te ao o te Rangi, Ha Kerei Kiwakiwa. Aperaniko Rangihikitia, Wanganui, 21st February, 1867. Go thou our letter to the Parliament of England, that is to the Queen. 0 Lady, we salute you and all the members of your Council. 0 Lady, our most gracious Queen, let your love be manifested to us the people dwelling in extreme darkness and sin, who have nevertheless sat in peace in your presence and in the sight of God, who made heaven and earth, and gave us New Zealand as our dwelling-place. This is all, our European friend has reached your country. We have fought, the cause was the land, and our land has been taken away entirely by the Europeans, and we are like the morning mist which floats away in the space between heaven and earth, when the day is fine (time of peace) that mist entirely disappears, this is our simile for us who remain. 0 Lady, the Queen, wo strive to find out the practice of the law (Court) which takes away our land, whether indeed it comes from England or only from thin country, this is our inquiry. Does it come from you, O Queen, or from the Europeans here only ? All our land has gone to the European, from the Waitotara to Whenuakura, thence to the Patea, as far as Tangahoe, as Waingongoro, as Kaupokonui, and inland to the backbone of the country, all has passed to the European. To you, O our Queen, and to your whole Council, belong the decision whether our land shall be restored by the European for our support, for the cultivation of those things which sustain the life of the European. This is a song — The presence of Rehua (God) is above, and thine is below ; 1 fasten my love to my land, this is the staff to which I bind it. This is all; from your loving children in New Zealand — Aperahama Tamaiparea, Matiu Matai, Pehimana ITamarama, Ngahuia, Te Wopu Rurangi, Te Watikini te Hanataua, Rihari Ngawakataurua, Nane, Paraone Korako, Wiremu Nakani, Ihaia Wakarua, (From all the chiefs of Ngarauru of Ngatiruanui, that is from all your children.)