LETTER FROM TE HIRA TE AWA.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume III, Issue 6, 18 July 1863, Page 16

LETTER FROM TE HIRA TE AWA.

Kaikohe, February 18th, 1863. Elder Friend Mr. Clarke,— Saluting you. I am going to Mangakahia, is my journal; please to look wrong, reject it ; but if some or toe words are correct, do you write

(meaning to tbe Governor) and have it printed as & journal of oar voyage here. " This is all I have to say. From your Son, TB Awa.

Kaikohe, February 11, 1863. Hearken all people to this letter, which was written after a case which was settled in Auckland by the Ngaputijs. Tbe government engaged a vessel for the Ngapubis to return. One party went by a steamer to Whangarei, the other by a sailing vessel, tbe " Victoria." The steamer left at 6 o'clock p.m., and the " Victoria" left at 2 o'clock a.m. The day. began to dawn at Motuhurakia, this was tlie 12lh of February. About sunrise we were about lialf way to Tiriiirimatangi. About 9 o'clock a.'m. we were opposite Tawbaranui. The breakfast we rat down to consisted of twenty*nine worm thirteen biscuits, a piece of bedfibout one pound weight, and a small bason of sugar. Five breakfasted in tbe nineteen in the hold, including all tbiere were twenty-four. About 1 o'clock a.m. we wer6 opposite Ngatuturu, when we had dinner, wbicb consisted of nine biscuits, sugar about i lb., and the same weight of beef. Thirteen did not take any dinner, only eleven sat down to eat as there was not sufficient to feed twenty-four. There was plenty of cold water, we put long faces on it, and looked at each other and laughed. If the wind bad been against us we must have perished, and still more fortunately she was a fast sailing vessel. When we were opposite Kaione the wind began to die away, and the vessel began to roll about. This is tbe last'meal we bad on board, which consisted of 31 potatoes, 12 biscuit, and a few crumbs of biscuits, a pint of sugar, a piece of beef as before about 1 lb, no lack of cold water. About sunset we were off Tutukaka. Owing to the master being a stranger in Russell, he lay to till day dawn, when we saw Cape Brett about 10 o'clock, a.m., when we bad a fair wind, which took us to Russell, where we anchored, tbe boat was lowered, seven of us were landed. TSgapuhi then sent two whale boats for us 1 and invited us to their bouses, where we were met by a large party that had congregated at Russell to receive tbe Sacrament. Jhey prepared a fine meal for us, of wbieb we ate very heartily; after which Hakuene (the Chief Wbai) asked how we had settled our dispute, wfieriWi Pirihongirelated how

it. was settled. When he had concluded we left: Russell in their whale boats, and landed all Mr. Kingston's, then started for Wi Pirihongi's place called the Puke, where we bad something to eat, we left his place and slept at Kawe Maheno. This was Friday. On Saturday the 16lb of February, we arrived at Kaikohe). This is all I have to say to all people. Na Te Hira Te Awa.