AHURIRI.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume IV, Issue 10, 15 October 1857, Page 8

AHURIRI.

Pakowhai. October 2nd, 1857. Go, my letter, to Auckland, to the Governor and Mr. McLean. Friend, salutations to you, that is, to you and the Governor of New Zealand. You have perhaps heard of the evil of the men of Heretaunga. You were here talking lo them, also the Rev. T. Williams, the Rev. Regnier, the Roman Catholic Priest. Aperaliama Te Poha, Noa Huke, and myself, but ibey would not listen. We were ihe persons who went between the opposing parties, and spoke to ihem about the word of God and the laws of the Queen. Friend, Mr. McLean, I cannot give the whole account to you and to our Maori friends who are residing at Auckland, at Waikato and Rangiaohia; they are living under the laws, and in love, peace and quietness. However 1 know this is a Maori practice which is now causing the death of the Maori Chiefs: namely giving word for word, and tongue for tongue, which they cannot lame, as it is said in James, 5 chap. 8 ver. '* Rut the tongue can no man lame, it is an unruly mem* ber full of deadly poison." It is also said in the sacred book, «• Things that are impossible (o man are possible to God." One of my thoughts is, the Governor and the Bishop should come here, and settle this unhappy affair. According lo ihe Ngatikalmhunu, peace will be made if Te Hapuku goes to bis own place. Te Hapuku says

that he will not go. I say with Te Hapuku, Cease fighting; when that is ended and the men make peace, they can return to their places in peace. This is the paper containingan account of the fight on the 18th August, i 857. This was the d?y on which the fight look place. Paiaka was killed. A person came from the affray and told me that a great many men were being killed. I felt very sorrowful that the lives of the people should be so wasted and commenced praying in the chapel that God would have mercy upon them. I then went into the bush to collect my thoughts, as 1 felt very sad for the spirits of the men who were thus needlessly slain. A European, John, of Pakowhai said to me, * Paiaka is killed': F asked him if he was quite dead ;he said, "Yes." A thought then entered my mind, that perhaps I had better try whether a word from me to Te Hapuku ajiid Puhara would not induce them to cease firing; perhaps they might consent. I went in fear, as the di ead of death had fallen upon me. We lay down on the ground, three of us, and whenwearose the sister of Paiaka was going to commit suicide on account of her brother. I told her to go back, and she returned to the Pa. T then went creeping along the ground, for fear of the bullets, till I came to the breastwork,where I found ten persons; I called out to Hapata, Friend, where is Te Hapuku, and Puhara? He said, "they are behind the breastwork, near the body of Paiaka. I said, I wish to speak to them, to cease firing, that I may go and bring away the body of my son which is lying under the post,—some of the men consented, and said, yes, what you say is right. Then that lad Horomona ran along under the breastwork of the Pa to findTe Hapuku, but by the time he got there, he had gone inside" the Pa to Whakawhiti ; my word was then told to Te Hapuku, to which he consented; the lad then ran back, and called out, OFriend, Harawira, go. 1 turned round, and he beckoned with his hand, that I was to go along under the bank of the Ngaruroro river, so I ran along that way, as I was afraid of the bullets. When I arrived at Whakawhiti, I found there the Roman Catholic Priest, Regnier, and Hoani, attending to the wounded, of whom ih ire were perhaps twelve. I said to Te Hapuka, this is my word to you and Puhara, Cease firing, that I may go and bring my son. He consented and said, Yes ; and when you have brought him away we will fight again. 1 then went, carrying

a white flag, and had scarce got out when four j guns were fired off, the bullets of which flew! past me ; the guns were fired off just before! me—l called out, Friends, slop firing; upon! which they ceased at once, and the Ngati-! kahuhunu. set up a Aug; it was hoisted by a| teacher of theirs, named Noa. We met in ' ihe centre of the space between the opposing ! parties. I said to him, this (lag is for the I purpose of enabling me to get our son, Paiaka. He said, it is well; let all the dead ! be collected. I then returned, carrying with I methedeadbody. When 1 reached the* Pa, 11 said to all the Chiefs, Friends, will you not 1 agree to cease fighting? but the Chiefs did! not open their mouths. Te Moananui then | called out, Go, 0 my son, go. [ went to him and said, my word to you is, that you should I pma stop to this fighting, that it may cease, as our son is lying here; let the post be yielded to me and let this land be forsaken and remain unoccupied for this our dead. To this the Ngatikahnhunu did not consent. Te Moananui then said, Kcturnand speak tovour elder brothers, Te Ilapuku, Puhara, and all the rest. I am urging them now. the Europeans here and myself, and thev have not since fought, up to the time of my writim? this letter. The mist is still resting upon Heretaunga ; there is no light—perhaps God will give us peace, as [, a man, cannot prevail, ft was you, Mr. McLean, who desired me to write to you, and therefore I send you this letter, which perhaps vou will send to be printed in the Maori Messenger, but that will be for your consideration. We are now lamentingyour absence, and although we are ' evil, do you still send us words of peace ; Ibis is my letter to Mr. McLean. ' ! From your loving friend Te Harawira Te Tatere. These are the names of the 9 men who we killed including Paiaka Tiakitai, a young Chief, who was related to both Te Moananui and Te Hapuku's parties. Four of Te Hapuku's party, namely :-. Paora Tuari, of Te Ante Aperaniko Kiriraupa, do Patoromu Tamanoho, or Waipukurau K,n &niwha lhe '<- Te

Four from TeMoananu'fs party, namely: Ileaira Waewaeroa, from Waipureku Natnna Uira To Wakatope " " Paora To Muri, ofTanonuiarangi. Holiaia Tc Kauru, of Tutaekuri. Wounded : of Te Hapuku's parly, 8, namely : Maiki Iwikatea, a Teacher, Rota Porelm, from Te Ante Paiariki, of Waipukurau Maliu Kawhi, of Ngawakalatara Paora Noaohi, from Te Awa-o-lc Alua Taelo, from Te Waipukurau To llauwaho, of Whakatu Malia Kopare. Tiie.se al! recovered, but the list does not include lho*e who were merely grazed. Five of Te Moai-ianui's party were wounded, namely: lienala Kawepo, of Ngaliupokoiri Tioptra Te Rohe. of Te Awa-o-te Alua Powliatu, of Ngatiori Moiene Oneonc, of Ngaiiparau Teremaiaotao, of Waipureku, Should peace be made to-morrow it will only affect the living, but it cannot raise the dead.