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Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 1, Issue 17, 16 August 1849, Page 3

Waikanae, May sth, 1849. O Lady the Queen, Greeting,—This is our second address to you. This is in consequence of a rumour (from England) which lias readied us to the effect, that Exiles or Prisoners are about to be conveyed from thence lo do the work of labourers here. These tidings have cauacd us much alarm :—it has suggested to our minds that we should address a letter, to pray that people of this class may not bo sent here —that they may remain in those places which have already been appointed for their reception. There are white people here, and we also, the Maories or natives, who are able and willing to perform the labour required here. We have long since heard of tho evil propensities of that class of men from those of the white people here who are our friends, as well from those of our own countrymen who have visited Port Jackson and Hobart Town. If they are allowed to come to New Zealand, this Island will become like unto Port Jackson and Mobait Town—they (the prisoners) will escape to the woods and to the mountains, nod there they will carry out their evil designs j they will corrupt our children and our elder men in the ways of wickedness, in opposition to to the teachini; they derive from the Ministers of Religion in the Schools and in the Christian Faith. Some of these prisoners have already come to Kapiti, or Cook's Strait. When we began to embrace Christianity at this end of the island, that class of white people represented the Missionaries to us as bad men, and upbraided us for embracing their doctrine, pointing to their lack of food and clothing. This hardened the hearts of some of us, so that they would not Worship tho Great Cod. Thus it is that we earnestly supplicate that prisoners may not be allowed to come here. There are persons siillicient already to causa mischief here, although there is no foundation or temptation lor concealing their crimes, —when this is the case, those of us who are addicted to the crime of murder and various other crimes are easily delected, and, when detected, are handed over to be tried by the new or English law. Should you condescend to grant the request of this our address, our hearts will be gladdened and our fears dispelled. This is the adtln-ss of the undersigned loyal

subjede of the Queen, from among the tribes called Ngatiawa, the Ngatiraukawa, Paueiri, and the Ngatitoa. Here follow the three hundred and two signatures printed in the opposite column.