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Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume IV, Issue 11, 31 October 1857, Page 1

We have much pleasure in publishing in the present number of the Messenger, several speeches made by Ngapuhi Chiefs at a meeting held at Mongonui, Mr. Commissioner Bell and the Resident Magistrate, Mr. White, being present. It is gratifying to observe that the Ngapuhi, who were the first tribes in the Island to welcome the Europeans to their shores, still continue to manifest the best feelings towards them. Some of them have quarreled with the English, and they have not failed to regret having done so. Both, however, are forgiving nations, and all angry feelings in connection with what is past, are now dead and forgotten; and the desire of both is to reciprocate offices of friendship and good will. We cannot speak too highly of the honesty of the Ngapuhi in all their land transactions with the Europeans. Having sold a piece of land they never attempted to ask for second and third pay-

nicnis. neither have ihey ever removed the land-marks of their fa; hers. We wish all olhcr tribes would initiate their example in this respect. The tribe* of the Thames ore a! present on a visit, to Auckland to arrange a s-'it!c:neiu o! their claims to the i'iuko district. Aiosi of these, lands have been previously sold lo ;he Europeans, but thi* tribe, in earning out the last request of ihfir H:iuRi;ru Te Otalu, is anxious ihal lh.it district should be '5:■ a■ Iy transferred to tbe English and occupied by ihem, instead of remaining an unproductive waste. The following Chiefs were f resent at the Bali which was given on the 28i.Si of October, by His Excellency the Governor and Mrs. Browne, in commemoration "of the Queen's birthday: Koiuaki Tipa, Poihipi Taiko, Ihaka Takaanini, Aihepene Kaihan and bis wife, Hori Tauroa, Te Kaiipa's wife and niece, Waata Kukutai. The Chiefs and their wives appeared much pleased with the bail, the dancing, and the entertainment generally.