AHURIRI.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 522, 4 November 1857, Page 3

AHURIRI.

"We have received.by the ITjrathe. third and other numbers'of the Hawke's- Bay Herald. An article.on the'native question, which .appeared in.the first, number, was "replied to by jyTi\ Gr. S- Cooper) the Land Commissioner of the'district, in the second number, and in the third by the following interesting letter from gome of the maligned natives:— To the Editor of the Hawke's Bay Herald. "We have heard that an article has appeared in your paper, relative to the war in which we are engaged against Te Hapuka, and its probable effects upon the Pakeha, you say that from our quarrel may arise danger to yourselves and insecurity to your property; you allude to the conduct of Te Moana Nui towards the Pakehas, as if we were all answerable for the actions of one man; and you desire that soldiers be brought here for your protection. Well! These are your ideas but ours are different. Hear us. You have nothing to fear from us. Pa you suppose we are so fond of fighting that we are anxious to have two enemies, the Pakeha as well as Te Hapuka. No! Our quarrel is sufficient.' Let the Pakeha remain in peace amongst us. We would not act treacherously towards the people who have brought good to our country. The Pakeha found us in a state of ignorance and depravity; •he assisted v* to emerge from, that state, and to him we owe whatever improvements there may be m our condition. Our old men, during their lifetime,Used to advise us as follows: "Should the Pakeha wish to purchase land here, encourage him; no matter how small the amount he may offer, take it without hesitation. It is the Pakeha we want here. The Pakeha himself will be ample payment for our land, because we can only expect to become prosperous through him." Now these old men are dead, yet they live in our memory; and we cherish the white settlers of this country, as a memento bequeathed to us by them; they have become as a part of ourselves _; they have been looked upon by our fathers, and we love them in consequence. Should we turn against the Pakeha, who has been as a father to us, whence are to come benefit and instruction to ourselves? Moreover, were we to commence hostilities against you, who can say that we should be successful, for you have plenty of ; men, guns, and ammuni- " tion P No! Our choice is that we should all live together on the spot that, we have chosen as a'common home; that we should follow together those pursuits that will tend to advance and improve our condition; such as the erection of flour mills, the production of Ifood, the breeding of sheep, and so forth. Were we to turn upon the Pakehas, we should be shutting up the road by which we receive all these advantages. There is one other point which we wish to notice—your condemnation of Te Moana Nui. It is correct, but Te Moana Nui is simply Te Moana Nui. We are ourselves. If he misconducts himself towards you, let the consequence fall upon himself; if we misconduct ourselves towards you, we alone must be responsible for our good conduct; the chief who conducts himself properly will be supported by us, but if he depart from what is right, we will not adhere to him.

Do you not know that the cause of the conduct of Te. Moana Nui was rum ? You yourselves supplied him with the noxious drink; you have made laws against offences committed as well by us a 9 by yourselves. Should Te Moana Nui or any other man persist in an aggression towards you, let the law examine and decide. Should any one of you be guilty of an aggression upon us, let the law also examine and decide. For instance, when Mohi Kokiri was struck by a white man at Waipureka, and killedj it was said that rum was the cause, and we suffered it to be ascribed to rum.

In conclusion we say, be not alarmed. If any one of you or us transgress the law, let all join in having him judged according to law. We do not wish you to suppose that you alone •regret the outbreak that has occurred amongst us j but it cannot be helped, as our lands are being usurped.by To Hapuka. If any of your territories were being seized upon, you doubt-, less would defend them; we are merely defending ours. This is all we wish to say to you. (Signed) Tareha. Karaitiana Takamoana. Benata Kourpo. . Porokoiru Mapu. Te Kararua, and several others .