TO THE NATIVES.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume III, Issue 3, 20 April 1863, Page 14

TO THE NATIVES.

Friends,—The letter of the people of Taranaki is laid before you; search you out its contents. According to our idea, there is good only contained in that letter; for the people of Taranaki have turned towards Governor Grey, and they have said, Let Taiaraimaka and all the lands sold to the Europeans, be evacuated. Many of the Maoris look with an anxious eye towards Governor -Grey, now that he is ut Taranaki; and the heart is fearful, and the "spirit fe dark, supposing that evil will come out of the visit. But we see that the Governor's views are clear, calculated to matoe mailers prosperous, and to save the lives of men. This is the Governor's desire, thai *lie Maori and the Pakeba should become friends,—should be as father and son, as elder and yonnger brethren. j Let not the minds of men be in dread ; let «ien see for theaiselves the good which is being lifted high, benefiting, the people of

many places* arid itiatiy lands or districts.' And lei not men be revengeful, returning offence for offence, and evil for 6vil; for light -has streamed upon (bis island, and it has been agreed, thai U»e works or darkness shall be sunk into the depths of night, or eternal oblivion. The tribes supposed that Taranaki would have brought war upon us again—would have ruffled the calm of our sea, all around ; but Taranaki is peaceful, its sun is shining, its waters lie still, its inhabitants are quiet, and the people have said, ihat annoying one another must here cease, and that we should hearken; to the kind voice of our father Governor Grey, so that the sea of New Zealand may be placid, ever after this. Ptfketawa, ....... March §7, 1863. To, the Governor Grey. Sir, my loving friend, salutations. We, your children have received your letter, and our hearts are enlightened thereby. Sufficient of this. Hearken: yesterday, Thnrsday, a runanga was held by Ngamahanga, on account of lhat letter [i.e., the Governor's letter] about which I wrote to them, and requested them to come, that they might hear the words of myself and my son Komene. They assembled, and Komene stood up to fix in the gronnd three sticks representing the three letters. The chief points in our speeches to the runanga were explained by Komene, and be concluded. 1 stood up then, with your letter in my band, and I called to the assembly again, saying, Listen to the word, —the Governor has restored the land of another, therefore I say, Poua&ai is ours.. My second word is, let Tataraimaka be given back to the tiovernor. I concluded ;my words here. Komene then stood up and read aloud thci letters, and explained the whole of their contents. Minarapa then stood up* These are his words—lhat he was hot willing to scale the fish of the people by himself [i.e., his does not approve of hieing made a scapegoat, which would be the case if the occupation of Tataraimaka be resisted.] Paraiia stood up, and his word was the same. Iharaira stood tip, and iiis word was the same. But Pirini's word was different; it was this,—-he was not willing that his blood should be shed on European land, on the Governor's. Ngaraahanga's last wbrds were, thai when you come to Talilra, thiey Will cohverse with you. From your loving friends, Te Matenga, Waikanae.