A.—No. 21
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT
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No. 28. Te Eanapia Kahukoti to Mr. H. T. Clarke. Friend Mr. Clarke, — Hairini (Tauranga), 4th December, 1869. Salutations to you. Friend, here is a word I have heard, which I send that you and Mr. M'Lean may see it. On the Bth November, Pomare, a Hauhau, left this for Aotearoa. When he arrived there, there also arrived Te Kani, a Hauhau, from the southward. He came from Taupo, from Te Kooti, to bring the news of the arrival of Titokowaru, of Taikomako, of Tohu, and Whiti at Taupo, in order that Ngatiraukawa and Waikato may hear. He was sent by Te Kooti to watch Taupo, so that he (Te Kooti) might be free to go elsewhere, for that God had cursed Tauranga. Now, Te Kooti has said that Tauranga has been given into his hands by his God. It is an established fact that his people are at Taupo. Now this is another word ; it proceeded from the presence of the King. That word declares that peace cannot be made. Another word is that the sword will be uplifted. The King sympathises with Te. Kooti. The King has said to Waikato, what harm is there in righting 1 The day upon which Pomare came down to bring this information was on the Ist December. It was for the purpose of placing me in possession of these facts. Friend, Mr. M'Lean, salutations to you, whose every endeavour is to clear away the troubles that surround us. Te Eanapia Kahukoti.
No. 29. Moim Tawhai and Others to the Hon. Mr. M'Lean. To our Friends, the Governor and Mr. M'Lean, — Waima, 16th October, 1869. Salutations to 3 tou under the protection of the laws of our Queen. This is a request from us, from the Chiefs whose names are attached to the last paragraph hereof, that you and the Government should give effect to the rules (laws) of our settlement of Wamia and Te Taheke. The reason of our making this earnest request is the persistence of some Natives, and Europeans also, in trampling upon the regulations of our district, agreed upon by the whole tribe in the year 1862. The fault of the Europeans is the sending of sjiirits to the natives of our district to sell, leaving behind the places allowed by the law as deposits for that bad drink—spirits—coming to Waima, to the place where we are laying down plans, by adopting which we may increase and become prosperous, and benefit our children, under the laws of our Queen, and in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is but a short time since spirits were brought to our district as if to trample on the laws of Waima. Those people, when they came, went straight away to break the windows of the house of our minister, Mr. Bowse. We had an investigation according to the system of Native runangas, and punished them by imposing a heavy fine, in order that they may know in their hearts that the just laws of the Queen take cognizance of their evil doings. Our second request is tbat you should recognise the judicial proceedings of our Native runanga. The judicial proceedings of our native runanga are the carrying out of the laws given forth by Governor Browne ; that were translated by his direction, and those that were translated by Sir William Martin, and printed at Taurarua. The reason why we desired the whole tribe to take part in this administration over us all is from our desire to include the men who are inclined to be troublesome, that they may take part in administering the laws over the whole tribe, and that they may know in their hearts that the just laws of the Queen can subdue their proud hearts. There are many upstart men in our three hapu of Te Mahurehure, of Ngatipakau, and of Ngatihau, who have become peaceable. They now know that making disturbances is an evil work. There are but few upstarts left. Should you, that is to say the Government of New Zealand, grant this request, those upstarts will greatly fear. The crimes which are beyond the power of the Native runanga to settle can be referred to our Besident Magistrate (Mr. Williams) for his judgment. That is all we have to say. Moihi Tawhai. And Seventy-one Others.
No. 30. The Hon. Mr. M'Lean to Moim Tawhaj. Auckland, 16th December, 1869. To Moihi Tawhai and to those others of his friends who addressed the letter to the Governor and myself,-— My friends. Salutations to you. Your letter dated the 16th of October has been received, in which you represent, and at the same time condemn, the practice of selling spirits within your districts. Your condemnation of this practice is truly correct, for the use of this drink is in itself the source or •cause of much suffering and trouble with all men. My mind has been anxiously engaged in devising means whereby the excessive drinking of spirits amongst the people can be stopped. It has been said by some that the Natives drink to excess in ■consequence of the restrictions that have been put upon the sale of it to the Natives while the use of it was being permitted to the Europeans, and that if the restrictions were removed there would be less drinking among them. Others again say that the only way to stop it would be to impose very heavy penalties upon all persons who sell spirits without the sanction of the law, who sell, in fact, illicitly, and in defiance of the law.