LETTER FROM THE MAORIS TO THE PAKEHAS.

Albertland Gazette, Issue 5, 1 October 1863, Page 4

LETTER FROM THE MAORIS TO THE PAKEHAS.

We have received the following1 letter from our friends whose names are attached thereto, the chiefs of the district, we pub]ish it with great pleasure, the more so as so many of our friends in England will see ■what little ground for fear exists with us.

OruamJiaro, ICaipara, Sept. 18, 1863. This is a word to our beloved friends, the Pakenas of Mangawai, Oruawh'aro, Paparoa, Matakohe, and all in Kaipara. Some of you may have heard false reports concerning the Maoris and their plans for the future. Do not -think we have forgotten our promises made •to you in the beginning at the feast of Otamatea. We have united ourselves to you -with feelings of love and good faith desiring that justice and truth should over-rule all our -transactions, and discouraging anything like oppression either on the part of the Maori or the white man. We wish to live at peace with all men. We do not share the feelings , of those foolish tribes who are sending away their Pakehas and with them all wisdom and ■useful knowledge. We do not wish to return to those customs of ignorance and and darkness which we.have left far behind, but rather to reach to those heights of knowledge which our friends the Pakehas point out to us, If there be confusion in the North or South of this island, we have no sympathy with these things, but desire to live as in the days that are past, that is, in the light. It causes us sorrow that sometribes will walk in the darkness of war, but our determination is to keep this trouble far from the people of Kaipara. In the days of the first Gov. Hobson, we took the- Queen of England as our parent and protector and have always remembered our word. In the days of Gov. Fitzroy, Gov. Grey, Gov. Browne, and now in the days of Gov. Grey, who rules over us, we remember the,m still, and take refuge in (he name of Victoria, and always do we pray that she may have wisdom given to her to govern us according to the law of God. This is all we have 'to say to our friends the Pakehas, let us dwell in peace. , . ' From your loving friends, Paikea te Hekeua, Wiremu Tipene, Arama Karaka, Paretene Taupuhi, Pairama te Roru, Rupuha Tahukai, Matikikuha Taiki, Manuka, Hemana Whiti, Tamati Reweti. Hepana, And all the Chiefs "of Kaipara.