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Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume VII, Issue 8, 30 April 1860, Page 1

The fullest information with respect to the disturhed state of Taranaki has been published in the "Messenger" for the special perusal of our native readers. If those publications which contained an exact and true narrative of the origin of the present question between the Government and W. Kingi le Rangitakc, have been carefully read by right thinking natives, the recent hostile demonstrations on the part of «ome of the Rangiaohia and Kawhia natives may well occasioa them feelings of uneasiness. Calm and deliberate, consideration must, however, make it apparent to ail that there can be little to gain but much to lose by countenancing W. King's folly, or endorsing the murders recently committed by Ngaliruanui'and taranaki natives. What harm had the pakehas done to those tribes ? The answer is, not any. We repeat it—not any, and challenge contradiction. Without the slightest provocation those mean people invaded the pakeba territory, plundered and burnt their houses; stole their cattle, devastated their farms, and cruelly murdered three unarmed settlers and two little boys! The latter were literally hacked to pieces. By whom were the little boys hacked to pieces? By men? Yes, by men, nearly all of whom have hitherto regularly assembled for Christian worship on the Sabbath clay.

We invite (he attention of oar Maori readers to the following letter from Wi Tako Ngatata addressed to the Waikalo Chiefs by whom he was requested to inquire and report. He says, " This wrong belongs to W. Kingi." " Another wrong belongs to Taranaki, greater than all the evils of the world." Waitoki, Taranaki, April 10,1860. This is my message to Waikalo, that Waikalo may understand the character of this foolish work at Taranaki. I arrived here and have ascertained the causes of this war. Enough of this. Another word: my message is to Tikaokao, chief of Tongaporutu, to te Wetini, chief of Tarariki, toTakerei of the Kauri, to Hikaka of Papatea, to Reihana of Whalaroa, to le Wetini of Hahgatiki, to Eruera of Mohoaonui, to te Paetai of Huiterangiora, to Heuheu of Taupo, to Paerala of the Papa, to te Ati of Arohena, to Epiha of Kihikihi, to Ibaia of Hairini, to Hoani •f Rangiawhia, and Hori te Waru, to Tamihana of Tamahere, to Rewi of Ngaruawahia—to all of you. .You requested me to investigate the subject and send you the truth. Friends, this wrong is .William King's. Another wrong has been committed by Taranaki greater than all the evils that have been done in the land. (This re r ers to the murder* committed by the Taranakis at New Plymouth.) Let your thoughts be true to the words [or pledges] given to me by you and which we considered to be right. Friends, the work which you have to do is that which is right and that only. Don't you look towards the fooliihworksof this land. Friends, listen to me.—Former days were days of error, tie days that succeeded were days of truth; let this be your, only work to obey the word of the Great Father in Heaven, which is a line that has one end above and the other reaching down to the earth. That is the fighting for us, be true to your agreement with me. Friends, littan to me. The cause of this war is the land only.

Let not the evil Spirit lead you into temptation. From your true friend in the Lord, from Wi Tako Ngatata. Now read the letter written by Mahau Turakino, Pairama, Ihaka, and Wikawaho, in which fhey also censure in the strongest manner W. King's interference with the piece of land sold by Te Teira. These men live in Taranaki, and well know the merits of the case. Taranaki, April 24, 1860. Go away this our letter to Auckland. When you arrive seek out the Governor, and when you find him salute him and weep with him. Friend, beloved friend, the father, we salute you, your body, your face, our love to you is very great. Enough of this. We have a word to you, because we have seen the map that William King has deceitfully prepared and sent to the King and the runanga of Waikato, of Ngatipaoa, of Ngalimaru, of Ngatihaua, ofNgatipakura, of Ngatimaniapoto, of Ngatihikairo. Let all those tribes listen to us. The representations of William King respecting this piece of land in question are wrong, very wrong, altogether wrong, according to our knowledge, and we are the men who lived on that same piece called Onatiki. He [W. King] may know something about Waitara, t. e., about the place he has seen and cultivated, where he was bred and grew up to manhood, about that place he may be allowed to know something, but let him not Sablish that which is error only, lest nothing j|t evil be'all him and all the tribes he is calling

(o his aid. O thou designing deceitful man, William King! whatgoodwill result (hat thou shouldst bo guilty of such deceit? Oh man! Oh William King! . With you the Governor is the thought to for ward Hh is ietter toPotalau and the runariga of rWaikato. • '■■■'.'"".' ■"■'■ - ;''••' :•'.::: ■FromMahau Tcrakino, ; " : PaIRAMA, '* .'.. lIIAKA. '.'.'" Wi Kawauo. In addition to the above the following 9ipW#l@ is submitted for the further reformation of our native readers,.many of whom wiU likely recollect the names o'* the former pccopants-ofWaUara: - This is the genealogy of the ancestors who hayMwned Waitara.from the beginning. Friends, men of the North, of the South, of the distant coast, hear what I have to say. My land is my otoi, say not His land I have stolen, i. e.<nelandloffe*red t$ the Governor. Say not that it belongs to William King. No, it is mine, He [W. King] never had a claim to this piece of land. It was mineV it came to me from my ancestor Kahttitu—from Kahuitu came Poutina —from Poulina came* Pouwhenua—from Pouwhenua came" Pauananga—from Pouananga, Poukorcro~fromiPeukorero, Poutea, Poarangabua,PouwaraarandMaurirangi. Te leira descended from Pourangahua, From .Pourangahua came Tuporangi, From -Tuporangi came Tumokopuna, From Tumokopana came Poitokino, From Poilokino came Mataukino and Mounuika, From Mounuika came Tarare, From Tarare came Marangaikino, From Marangaikino came Rangikaoiu and Whetuc teao, - From Wbelu o te ao came Torona. From Toroha-catne Ikapungapunga,

From Ikapungapunga came te Kahu, From le Kahu came Manalahi, From Mauatahi came Tamili Tarepa, From Tamiti Tarepa came te Teira Manuka, Ko Weierere, Ko te Mangaili fona Whare. was a woman named Maarirangi. She was married (o Tnaparua pc a moe i a Tuaparua], a fisjnjhat drifted hereyithoutacanoe—[meaning that his ii*me''i(raS'"ft6Theara among those of the immigrants whose names have been handed down ini their traditions, as those who landed first on the Island.] Maurirangi had a son.by Tuaparua called Rangiroa— From Rangiroa came Pourewa, From Pourewa came Rangiroa, From Rangiroa came Tataupiri and le Uoro, FromiTataupiri came te Mawhe, From Mawhe came Mihij From Mihi came From Reretawbangawhanga came William King te Eangitake. Here are we, the men who owned this piece of land which has keen justly disposed of to the Governor. Tamali Tarepa, Uawiri Rauponga, Te Teira Manuka, Te Ritimana, Hemi Pataka, Paranahi, Rewiri Kaiuri Eruera Rauponga, : Weterere, Epiha, Hori Kokako. There are other men who have equal claims to that piece of land and who join with us in offering it to the Governor, they reside at Arapawa and Kapiti, Ropoama; and others. This communication, however, is fromall of us of the Ngatihinga and Ngatituaho. I Will it be believed that some of the men supporting W. Kingi have admitted the land in' (jjspule to be Te Teira's, and could assign no better reason or their opposition than the fact o their having allied themselves wilh natives who have agreed upon retaining all (he unsold land! Incredible as this may appear, it is nevertheless strictly (rue. Even though land should be offered by the rightiul owners o> it, these men say they will oppose the offer with force if necessary! Is (his right? You all know ilis not, and that to such unjustifiable conduct the troubles now overhanging Taranakr are to be attributed.

%Tho course taken by His Excellency in reference to the Waitara purchase, was not entered upon hastily. In the Maori Messenger of March 31, 1859, page 5, the following paragraph will be tound : "In reference to the second subject, the Governor said he thought the Maories would be wise to sell the land they cannot use themselves, as it would make what they could use more valuable than the whole; but that he never would consent to buy land without an undisputed title. He would not permit any one to interfere in the sale of land, unless he owned a part of it, and on the other hand, he would buy no man's land without his consent. 1 ' Gould any thing be more just and reasonable? Certainly not. The above was published and widely circulaled amongst the natives more than twelve months ago. On His Excellency's arrival at Taranaki, he gave W. Kingi an opportunity to withdraw his opposition, which the latter rejected The Governor still avoided doing anything that might wear the aspect of a desire tor hostilities, and no action was taken by him until W. Kingi caused a pa to be built on the Queen's land—that pa could not be permitted to stand, and was there'ore knocked to pieces, but its occupants were allowed to retire. What was the return made for this, generous treatment of an enemy by W. Kingfs friends and allies? .It was this. The Ngatiruanui and. Taranaki natives invaded the Omata district,* twelve miles south of Waitara, plundered and burnt houses, murdered three unoffending settlers, and two little boys. These are the facts, we leave our readers to •orm their own conclusions.