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Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 2, Issue 34, 11 April 1850, Page 2

In February last, the principal chiefs of the Ngate Raukawa and Nga te Awa tribes addressed a letter to the Queen, expressive of

their attachmeni to the person, and of their confidence in the adminisration of Sir George G r ey;- r equesting that His Excellency might not be removed to any other territory. That letter, which was duly transmitted to Her : Majesty, has been most graciously received, ' and has elicited a very gratifying reply. For ' the satisfaction of our readers, we publish the subjoined copies of the correspondence.

Waikanae, February 22, 1849. Oh Madam—the Queen, -. This is a letter from us to you to express our gratitude to you for your good selection in sending here, your Governor and nur loving friend Governor Grey, as a Governor for New Zealand. On his arrival here, ho InOIUi the natives and white people divided against each other. The white people were contending to obtain possession of the lands, and we also made this a cause of quarrel with the white people. We had also our own civil wars Bmongst ourselves. By his Government nil these quarrels were put an end to. He brought into force, that there should be but one law for us, aud for the while people, anil we now live in love with the white people. He made us acquainted with your good intensions towards us, the natives. He joined us to the works ol Chris*, his Ministers and his Bishop, and now lor the first time good works are the Faith in our Father that is in Heaven, and in our Saviour Jesus Christ, and the doing those worldly things which God thinks good for the body. Another benefit of his' has been the building of Hospitals, by which many of us have been restored to heal h. He is continually coming hither to induce us to lay out towns in order that we may a'siini/atc ourselves to the while people. We are now growing wheat, and breeding cows and horses. We, the natives, look upon the first and second Governors as good ones,—but we now for the first time clearly perceive the intentions of your Majesty towards the natives. We have now adopted him as our father, and our loving friend, and we consequently look upon you as our permanent mother in the love of Jesus Christ, —therefore we reflect upon the words of the Prophet Isaiah 49ch. 23v„ —and KinL'S shall be thy nursing fathers, and lln-ir Queens thy nur>ing motheis. Wo therefore ask you (will you not consent to our request?) to leave Governor Grey always here—:i Governor for us and for New Zealand ; because we are well disposed to this Governor. If you should send him away to sum • "'tin r country, you will cause us—who love him, — much darkness. This is from us, from the people of the tribes ol Nga te Raukawa and Nga te Aua, who are obedient to you. Here follow the signatures-.

(Copy.) No. 56. Downing-street, 2nd October, 1849. Sir, .. I have to acknowledge the receipt of youMJespßtch No. 20, of 22nd of March lasl, and of the letter which it encloses, signed by the "principal chiefs of the Nga te ltaukawa and Nga te Awa tribes and addressed to the Queen. You will inform the writers that I have laid that document before Her Majesty, who has been pleased to receive the same very graciously, nor can I omit to notice the very gratifying testimony which it bears to your administration of the Government with reference to the native population, and which is as complimentary to yourself, as it is creditable vo the feelings of the purties by whom such tentiments have been expressed.

I have tlio honour, &c, &>: , (Signed) Gr.EY Governor Sir George Grey, &c, &(.-., &c-.

Colonial Secretary's OlKce, Auckland, April 3, 1850. In pursuance of the 20th clause of the " Resident Magistrates' Ordinance," I do hereby Select and Appoint the following Persons of the native race to he Assessors along with the Resident Magistrate, at New Plymouth, for settling disputes between persons of the native race ; that is to say : Honi Kopiha Ngamotu, a chief of the tribe of Ngamotu. Polniraina, a chief of the tribe of Ngamotu. 15 '.Yaka, a chief of the tribe of Ngamotu. Iloni Kopiha Utuhia, a chief of the tribe of Ngamotn. I(a>\iri Waiana, a chief of the tribe of Puketapu. Te Tahana, a chief of the tribe of Puketapu. G. Grky, Governor-.in-l.'hief. IJy His Excellency's command, Andrew Sinclair, Colonial Secretary.