RELATIVE TO THEIR LANDS

11

A.— lfo. 16,

Hutana Tumoana Tanara Kutukutu Tanara Pitiroi Pikopa Pita Kapiti Kaingapure Harawira Karaha Matiwira Tihore Wheoro Wiremu Huihui Paraone Peneti Pera Tahua Wiremu Pahuru Katene Ngatoko Himiona Konia Peta Toenga Munu Taita Bapia Hakiri Hapeta Mahuo Noa Tapore Tiwana Turi Timotiu Taiheru Baora Hoturangi Tutekohi Tiopira Akawhi Baharuhi Tapore Hakaraka Taihuka Mita Hikawera Miritene Whaita Hatara Tirau Apirana Mane Maika Kakiwha Petera Taipara Tamati Karaha Anaru Whakareia Pirihi Hoturangi Bawiri Waikare Hari Kairongo Hohepa Kaihe Peneha Puere Petera Karapaina Te Horo Hori Taunga Piripi Pohe Miritene Mataku Te Beweti Kewa Poihipi Whakarcwa Akuwhata Kawa Piripi Kaiwaru. Ahipene Tihirua Kereopa Te Nge Hutana Korau ■ Matenga Whakarehu Kereama Pai Watene Korau Kawakawa. Aperira 4, Wirihana Maoa Pehikuru Waikapa Pera Hauiti 1868. Piniera Hake Wi Paki Tauhapai Henare Tuhera Butene Batapu Baniera Horopohatu Henare Kawa Poharama Toroa Ihaia Ingoa Tipene Manawa Hoani Kopu Biwai Kahua Hori Ngangaro Bota Huna Ahipene Papahia Tipene Toroa Henare Kaaka Hare Tawhena Himiona Taunu Maaka Toroa Hoani Te Aute Hone Waitoa Maki Hori Toroa Hemi Tawhena Peta Tipuna Honiara Tutu A pirana Hauiti To Eei Huna Makena Kohere Bota Tupuke Wi Kuru Ihaka Te Kahu Wiremu Tahaia Mohe Wharepoto Kerehona Tarawa Heta Kotete Bupuha Ta Paora Keka Taimana Paratene Maomao Henare Tuporaka Hohepa Hete Kiriona Turi Eeihana Papahia Wakana Tawhena Pita Manuka Hemi Tauaru Akapu Pariohe Wiremu Tote Wiremu Mahunu Hori Mahue Pita Horuhoru Wiremu Huripara Pine Huihui Bawiri Whatanui Benata Tihore Hunia Tui Ihaka Whakarori Mohi Korau Irimana Te Whare Kone Mokoera Timoti Moti Piripi Bold Wirihana Hautao Hohepa Waiheke Hoani Te Baro Piripi Kiwara Penetana Tutapu Eanapia Te Hau Paora Te Baro Hemi Waiapu Hemi Paroa Popata To Kauru Nopia Kahue Piripi liata Wiremu Makoare Tuatai Pehimana Marupo

[translation.] To Sir George Bowen, Governor of New Zealand, &c, &c. Sic,— Tolaga Bay, 24th March, 1868. Greeting to yourself, to your lady, and to your children. Welcome to regulate the affairs of this country; welcome to search out some law which will unite the two races—the Pakeha and the Maori -in order that they may both live together in peace and love, the one with the other, for the evil which strife brings has become apparent (to all). We sum up our good wishes towards you in this, namely, May the blessings of the Almighty rest on you and yours. O Eriend, do listen to our prayer. This is the injury done to us of which we complain to you, namely, relating to the lands on this side of the island. We are grieved on account of the Government persisting to take our lands as payment for the offences of some of the people of this coast having joined the fighting. Eriend, listen. That fighting took place in times past; two years and a half have now elapsed since the conclusion of it. All the people did not join the fighting, but we, the Maoris, crushed that rebellion ,—the Pakeha, unaided, did not. There were many of the people on this coast who rose up to crush that evil, and but for the energy (or determination) of the Maoris to smother the war spirit, and to lift up the sword on the side of the Government, the evil would not have been so easily suppressed, —in support of which did not Governor Grey tell us that because of the strength of the Maori chiefs to stamp out the evil the lands on this side of the island would be preserved, as well as Mr. McLean saying to us at the end of the war —" Go and fetch back your relations who have fled into the bush, for if there should again be any disturbance in this district, I will take possession of the lands," —from which we knew that the lands were preserved to us, for there has been no second offence committed, and no word was spoken at the termination of the war about confiscation ; on the contrary, we proceeded about leasing our lands, and even the Government themselves sent one of their officers hero to purchase land. The owners of the land were not willing to sell to them, then thoy endeavoured to find out some means whereby they might take the lands. The Court which had been advertised for the hearing of our claims was suppressed by the Government. This is the second year during which we have made repeated requests that the Court should be held, and on each occasion on which it has sat it has been suppressed, up to the present day ; and during all these months in which they have been suppressing the Court, and preventing it from sitting, they have been constantly endeavouring to persuade us to agree to give up our land to them. They have left no stone unturned to effect this purpose ; they have tried coaxing, intimidation, and innumerable other artifices ; yet we do not know why we should be so punished in consequence of our lands, for the war has long ago been ended. All of us trampled out the evil; the Pakeha, unaided, did not do so. Suffice it, our sole desire is to live under the rule of the Queen. 4