Auckland, Te Tuihana 26 April 1847 My dear father, Wiremu Kawaho, Greetings to you. I have great love for you. And I am grieving greatly for you. But what can I do? Your letter came to me, I read it, and I urged Te Patara [Buddle?] to let me return but I was not allowed, I could not. However, the Governor and I have spoken. He has seen the words you wrote to me that he had forgotten. He says he does not have control over most of the land that he has secured. He did not say that the mountain be taken. When I gave your and Hone Ropiha's document to him, he saw the names of the lands - at Ngamotu, Taranaki, Waitara, Te Taniwanoa[?], and right over the mountain. The Governor says that he does not have these parts, it's the first time he has seen this. I said what about his saying that our land was taken for a town, and saying that Te Henui is the land for the Maori. The Governor said to me that it would not be right for it to be taken by the Pakeha [or to say] that Te Kawau be reserved for the Maori when there are so many locations within the district. You said that the land was taken without right, without payment, but it was paid for and yearly payments were given. The Governor's proposals are good, quite right, and his thinking is excellent. You suggested that I come back but I cannot do that. Te Tatana wrote to Buddle[?] that I should not go back. So don't be thinking to depend on me over that land. I am only one man, there are a hundred people who reside there. It is not I alone who has that land, very many occupy it. We will consider that proposal. Don't you listen to the silly talk of Pakeha who say all the land will be taken. It is up to the Governor himself, and his proposals are excellent; he will decide. That is all. From me, from your loving son, W. Kingi Kawaho To Wiremu Kawaho and Hone Ropiha Wareroa, at Ngamotu, Te Kawau, Taranaki.