AN ARAWA ON THE TROUBLES OF THE LAND.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XIII, Issue 548, 3 February 1868, Page 5 (Supplement)

AN ARAWA ON THE TROUBLES OF THE LAND.

The Southern Cross inserts the following letterfrom an Arawa chief, as showing us how the members of that tribe regard our efforts to manage the natives: — “ This canoe [the ArawasJ is look ing with sorrow at the doings of the Council of the Governor at Wellington, and the War Minister. We are sad, as we are trying to find out the reason why the auger of tiie Govern meat goes aside to consume the branches of the tree, ami does not look straight to the tree itself, growing in Waikato. The King is the cause why the Hauhau god is raised up, and can - j nibalism and murder renewed. The seeds of that tree, growing in Waikato, are springing up in every district of the island. The sword of the Government has been sharpened to cut the branches of the tree, that is, jto punish the hapus associated with the King and the Hauhus. But it is not sharpened to the King himself, or to the Hauhaus at Taranaki. Therefore, the Arawas say, “ Are the bran dies equal to the roots, that is, the tree itself? Is the work of the hapus equal to that of Waikato, that it should be said, ‘ Let the sword be sharp for the branches, but let it be blunt for the roots —for Waikato?’” The thought of your canoe is that the island is being wasted because of the siu of Waikato. If the King were extinguished there would he nothing for the hapus to look up to, and they would come back and live in peace.

Tlie Arawas Lave three causes of sorrow which deeply interest them ; 1. This islaud being impoverished on account of the sin of Waikato. 2. The relinquishment of habits of Indus try. o. The disappearance of the belief in Jesus Christ, wise died for the world. There are three reasons for the backsliding, but one principal reason—trouble or beguiling. The reasons why your canoe blame the Government are the following ;—There have been two Governments during the time of this evil in Waikato, and although both these Governments have been displaced, what salvation has been worked out for this island. These reasons are set out that the new Governor who is coming may see them, and these thoughts that the members of the General Assembly may see them. j Another matter which the Arawas Are looking inquiringly into is this—we have heard that several hundred pounds were given to the King and to William Thompson. To our view of this matter, looking at it by the English law, this was to keep down their hearts that they should make small the Kingship of New Zealand. According to the view r of the Arawas, it was from those hundreds of pounds that the hearts of those two men were encouraged to continue the doings of the King, and consequently set themselves above the Maori chiefs who remained constant under the rule of the Queen Those two said that it wms agreed that they should regulate the island, inasmuch as they had been paid, and had been spared from death. But if they asked what w r as the payment for the chief's of the Arawas by the Go- j vernment, they learned that it was <£3o or <£2o for the year, or £7 or £5 for the quarter for the Maori assessors of the Arawas. There w r as much jeering and laughter by the Hauhaus at the Arawas, for these salaries.

Do not imagine that this springs from envy: it is merely a showing forth of the boasting speeches of the Ilauhaus. Do not imagine it springs from hatred of the Arawas towards the King tribes, or the Hauhaus; it is a showing-furth of the reason why peace aiiu nave disappeared from this island. 0, our parents, the. disappearance of the hundred thousand pounds of the Government would have been all right if the troubles in Waikato had boon finished, XTnty find the power of the island is gone, and New Zealand and England are impoverished. It was perhaps from the poverty of the Government that it was designed to break the Treaty of Waitangi, which was the safeguard of the island, that they might lake the land from their enemies as payment hundred thousand pounds spent by the soldiers.

j These things are written for the enighteument of the Governor about to 'arrive in New Zealand.