Papers Past | Letters and Diaries | The Papers of Sir Donald McLean | Series 2 Inward letters (Maori) | 3 pages written 1 Aug 1853 by d Te Hapuku in Waipukurau to Sir Donald McLean, related to Ngati...

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English

Maori

my son and I stole it, that is, your friend Te Wiremu said that you put the idea to him that I and Hori told you to reduce the payments for that land; you did not say that you yourself reduced them, you rather said it was us two, so we remained the example for that man. That was the reason for the reduction in payments, but, friend, I see your error in this, your failure to have an arrangement for Te Kuini, Hori and Puhara to go and collect the payments for their land. By the time they heard, you had gone back to Port Nicholson. So I am very upset that you would discuss this letter with so few, for it should be discussed publicly before the majority. Here is a song [waiata text follows].

ko taku tamaiti, ara, to hoa a Te Wiremu, nana i ki nau te tikanga ki a ia, i ki mai na maua ko Hori i ki atu ki a koe kia iti nga utu mo tena kainga, te ki koe nau ano te whakait, i ki ke atu koe na maua kia waiho ai hei tauira mai ma tera tangata. Na konei te tikanga kia iti nga utu, erangi, e hoa, tenei to he i kitea ai e ahau, ko to korenga kaore e whai tikanga mai ki a Te Kuini raua ko Hori, ko Puhara hoki, kia haere atu ki te kohikohinga o nga utu o to ratou kainga. Rongona rawatia ake, kua hoki atu koe ki Poneke. Heoi ka pouri noa iho te whakaaro naua e korero pakutia e koe tenei pukapuka, erangi korero nuitia ki te aroaro o te tokomaha. He waiata tenei: Kaua ia ahau he pare awaha na, ma i pehi ka poroa no ro ka rerete waitohu. Heoi ko kare wai na te eke nui o te moana.

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