RANGITIKEI.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 30, 23 January 1862, Page 6 (Supplement)

RANGITIKEI.

The Pakapakatea Case. —We understand that a letter regarding this case has been sent to Major Dnrie, R.M., by a number of the chief king natives in this district, including Heretia le Tibi, \V. Take Ngatata, If ape Paneiti LTohepa Apcrahnma. Te Huruhuru, Nepia Winintu, Kawana liunia, Ac., representing the king runanga ofTaitmi. The document is interesting from the coolness of its assumptions and the aulhoi ativencss of its language. It is dated Pukekaraka, District of Otaki, December 24, 1861, and runs as follows :

“ Friend, salutation to you, your summons for my children residing at Pakapakatea, district of Kangitikei, has reached me. Friend Major Durie, you must cease to summon my children, because the work performed by them is good. Their selling the cow of Samuel was not a maori (unlawful) selling, nor was it a robbery. Said property was taken on account of a summons taken out by a native woman of Horowhenua, called Tiripa. The cause of her summoning was a debt he owed her. That woman made frequent demands upon Samuel, a teacher of Ngatata, for payment of the money, but he did not pay ; and therefore that woman summoned Samuel before the runanga of Governor Junior, residing at Pakapakatea, who upholds the work of the Maori king. Samuel said he would on no account obey a summons coming from the runanga of Governor Junior. After two summons Tiripa took out a warrant under it, the policeman appointed by the runanga so to do, brought away one cow and calf belonging to Samuel, and they were afterwards sold for £5. The persons who sold the cow were 40 in number. Ropata has said that the cow taken away was his property. Friend, Major Durie, that case (tuakaicaj has been finally disposed of by us the great men of the runanga. If you per-ist in re-opening the case, we will not permit you to do so. The offence shall not be opened up again, as it has been finally disposed of. We have nothing further to say.”