PEACE-MAKING AT TARANAKI.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume VI, Issue 20, 30 September 1859, Page 2

PEACE-MAKING AT TARANAKI.

Taranaki. Friend, the Editor of the newspaper at Auckland, —Let this article be published that the Pakehas may know that we have fully determined upon adopting English law so that one and the same good law may prevail in INew Zealand. A meeting, however, will soon be called for the purpose of devising some means of uniting the two races under one law, under the law of England, by which all matters may be investigated. WAIWHAKAIHO. Tht Otaraua tribe. From Ihaia, Nikorima and others, to the men of Waitara and Kaipakopako. Peace Is now made for the first time. It was concluded on the 27th day of August, in the year of our Lord 4859. More Watiboro, a Wesleyan monitor, said to Ihaia Parareka : Speak your thoughts that this people may hear. Ihaia ilien arose and said: These are my thoughts: I will not return to evil nor to murder at any future time. I will not touch Te Mangara, his things are sacred with me, lest I be blamed by the law of God and of the Queen. If you return to evil, who is to suffer for your fault? Myself. By whom will you be delivered up to death ? By all the people of the world. I shall be taken by them to be dealt with by the law of the Queen, and by that law shall I be put to death. Tamati Tiraurau, it is for you now to state your sentiments: They are these: Ali the ■world has beard of my faults, but now I intend to cast aside evil.and quarrelling. The fresh wa'cr 'bur, flows onward towards the;

sea returns not to the spring from whence it came. I liken this to my sins. See here this filthy head; cleanse it at Huiterangiora. I have been sheltered by the owl lest the katipo should bite me. Let the love of my relatives be given to me.. 0 Tio. Tamaii Tiraurau, do you intend to live in peace? Yes, in truth, as a sign lo the generation that shall succeed us. Nikorima Ngahaupakeke of theNgatirahiri tribe, Nikorima Pukere, Wata Te Kiri, and all the men of that tribe.spoke as follows: It is written down that it may be seen by all the tribes and by all the Pakehas. Our consent is given in truth. Yes, it is quite true, and will be for a sign to the generation which shall succeed us. Nikorima arose and said: I greet you, 0 people. Cause the sun to shine ! let life be given. Hearken, 0 friends. I will not, 0 people, go backwards. This is Huiterangiora, Ora (life or health) is its name. Let truth save me. Hearken, 0 people, from the North and from the South, from the coast and inland. I have henceforward forsaken evil and given up quarrelling from this 27th August, 1859. I do not intend to return a second time to evil, for our hands have touched good. More then asked : Is your word true ? He answered, Yes. If you lie to the law what will the law do to you? It will cause me to be put to death. By whom will you be put to death? By all the runangas of New Zealand, and also by the law of the Queen. Pukere arose and said: I will not again return to killing men, for lam afraid. The savour of death is unpleasant to me. Hearken, 0 runanga. I will be like the oyster shell, attached firmlv to the rock. At any future trial, who is to try you? The runanga of the Queen in New Zealand. Tamaii Pawa arose and said : Hearken, I will not climb inio the sacred place, lest I be swallowed by a ' Taniwha,' that is, by the law; lest I die. Who shall put you lo death? The runangas of the Queen and of the Maori; the laws of God and of man. Wata Te Riri arose, and said. It is true, 0 people, and, 0 runanga. I have come to Huiterangiora. I have seen the sun. I have become warm and my heart has returned. Throb, throb, revived heart. Is your ' haka* true? Yes. You will not return to evil? 1 will not. If you return lo deeds of murder, what shall be done lo you by the law of the Queen? I shall be tried. Who shall consent to this? All the runangas of the Queen. Would your people not be angry with you? No, for the murder will have

been committed by me, and let me be the payment. I should be punished by the The Ngatiawas have solemnly agreed to this rule, it is also approved of by the tribe of Ihaia and Nikorima. This is all. Witnessed by Tikaokao and Welini, and bv 400 of the Ngatimaniapoto. The making of peace between the men of Waitara and Kaipakopako, and Nikorima, luaia, Pukere, and those of the Ngatiawas who fought against us. Let the feud be brought to an end. It is now only ended this 27th day of August, in the Year of our Lord, 1859. The account of our peace-making is written below, wilh the determination of the runangas of Huiterangiora and of truth. r Jc lahana Papawakn, Native Assessor, arose and questioned the men of Kaipakopako and Waitara. Paene Mange arose and said; The feud is now at an end, avv protect me. If I kill a man, I myself shall suffer for my offence. You and who else besides? I alone. Who. will consent ? The law of England and also all the runangas of the Queen. Tamihana Te Arohi arose and said : This is my word: I will now cast aside my sins and my bad conduct, that is, fighting. The sun, shall be my refugc.anrl God and the law shall be my protection. If I commit a murder, I alone shall suffer. And who will vou be tried by? By all the runangas of the law. Te Mangaraaroseandsaid: This isroy word: My hand shall hold fast to all the rays of the sun lest I slide back into evil; evil is hateful to me. The law shall punish me if I return to it. Who shall be punished besides yourself? Mjself alone. And who shall consent to this? All the runangas within my boundaries. Te Hapimana Tolieroa arose and said: These are my words: I will cease to fight. If I "fiend, I alone shall suffer for my offence. Who will give you up to death ? The law or God and the law of man. You and who else? I alone. Maliu Te Whare Reretawhangawhanga arose and said: I have a word to saw It is the sun which enables me to sec. If I rise to take hold of the sun I shall become possessed of the good works of God's law. I shall now forsake sin. If I offend, I alone shall suffer for my offence. Who shall give you up? All the runangas. Henare Te Waokauri arose and said: It is right. I shall forsake evil. The law of God will protect me. If I offend I alone must suffer for my offence. By whom will

you be given up? I3y all the people who are under the law. Ihaia Te Wharepa arose and said: This is my idea. Hearken. I will not return to evil lest Ibe punished by the law. If I sin I shall be punished. Who will give you up 10 death,? All-the people. These words have been adopted by this people the Ngatiawa as their guide. Written by j Kerei, Mokena, Kipa, Natahira. Turanga, September 8, d 859. My Friends, — Salutations to you. I have seen your newspapers which are sent to this part, inviting inquiry into the cause of the decrease in the Maori population. I agree with the statements made in those papers, and add my testimony to their correctness. New clothing and new habits are the causes of the decrease. From what 1 have heard from our sires aud men did not die ofT so rapidly in former times. They were visited by one fatal epidemic, only, which was called "Rewharewha." In those days women not only bore children but reared them. And now, my Pakeha friends, I feel assured that the decline of the Maories is caused by the introduction of European clothing, in this manner: one day the Maori is very warmly clad and the next he is without clothing at all; he takes cold, and this becomes a cause of disease. Another cause is, bad food, eating rich food made up with fat, the fat contained in the food kills the people. Our ancestors had only two kinds of food, kumaras and fern-root, this being solid food did not cause disease or death. Other causes may be mentioned, such as the use of spirits, licentious practices, &c. These things are forbidden by the law of Formerly the law was held sacred, but now it is disregarded, and the law that is thus trampled upon turns upon the transgressor and punishes him. This word is contained in Matthew, 7th chapter, 6th verse. Do not my friends, seek to ascertain the cause of men's death ; it is not right that they should live It has been said, my friends, that the land remains entire: the race of man disappears piecemeal. It is ended. From Petera Kaiiutja.