OHINEMURI

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 249, 26 July 1872, Page 3

OHINEMURI

The following is the petition which has been forwarded by the natives of Oliineuiuri to Dr Pollen, as General Government agent, praying for means to purchase the steamer Effort. A petition regarding the same thing has also been forwarded to the General Assembly by the European inhabitants of the district:—

“ Ohinemuri, July 23, 1872. “ To Dr. Pollen, —Friend, greeting— Within the love of the tribe who are residing here in the district of Oliinemuri, in this standing-placo of the feet of our parent, Sir George Ferguson Bowen, Governor of New Zealand ; this is a place on which his words have a holding at this time, and continuing on to the year when our Saviour Jehovah said that the thoughts of the Maori tribes and Europeans residing in this district should be clear not to commit any wrong, or to provoke, or anything approaching to it. Sufficient, the things which are being held fast by the Maori tribes of this place, the placiduess of the sea of Hauraki—no ill wind has blown during the number of years which have already expired, and continuing On to this period, the waters within Hauraki and all its boundaries are still placid. Hence our sending forth word, that, is the word of the tribes residiug here on this branch of Hauraki, namely, Ohineimiri, to you Dr Pollen (as the representative of the General Government). The foundation or the root of this writing to you, at this time, is respecting our letter which was forwarded to you on the twenty-second day of June, 1872. That letter was a prayer to you trom us respecting the steamer, the running of which m our district is about to cease. That letter was a request from us, from the Maori tribes residing at . Uhiuemuri, about

the money which was agreed to by Mr McLean at Ohinemuri for the steamer, that that steamer might be employed continuously in our district, making her trips to convey hitherto the things which are desired by us. Sufficient tJiis word of ours. Phis is another word to you, Dr. Pollen :itis a question. Are the Maori tribes here, at Ohinemuri, forgotten by yourself and the Government likewise ? Our word to you ’is “this: to give the money for the steamer immediately ; be quick, because we ,are sad, the people residing here, respecting the doing of the Government. We ask this question— What is the reason of the Government consenting to the money for the steamer running to the north ? Namely this money £l5O per month. Hence our thoughts. You are looking perhaps from a deceptive point of view, namely you the Government, towards U 3 the the Maori tribes of this district of our island of New Zealand. Hence, perhaps, your afterthoughts that there should be no steamer

for these districts. Now, sire, Dr Pollen, this is a provocation of ours to you. You ask for a large thing from us that we might consent to you ; yes, we consented the telegraph, that was a matter asked publicly for by you. It was completed properly by us to you. Now. that which we request from 3’ou you must authorise, that is the money for the steamer ; let it come quickly after our letter praying for it from you, and also from the Government. Oh, sire, Dr Pollen, great is our sadness respecting the separation from here. We have been informed by the Captain of the steamer that in twelve days the steamer will be taken away from our district, the cause being for the non-pay-ment of her running hither, hence our searching for tho want of love towards us. Our looking on is this —there is no love at all towards ns, for the steamer is to be discontinued here. Ob, sire, we will persistently request you, and the Government also, to give money for the steamers, also to leave the steamer on our river running. Oh, sire, Dr Pollen, do you hearken

to our prayer to you respecting this large property, may stand before our faces. Now it is for you, for the Government, to show your love here. Now Dr Pollen be quick with 3’our letter, informing us, the Maori tribes of Ohinemuri, what 3 r our thoughts are during these da3 T s. Because in 12 da3 - s our favorite canoe (steamer) will he separated from us, these are 3 r our C( nsiderations for your Maori friends, we have seen the evils of our Maori canoes. Now our hearts are glad because yours is a canoe, hence our persisting to 3mur fasten-

ing yonr canoe here at our anchorage, but the burden for this canoe is with 3 - ou,and also the Government. Sufficient these words. This is another word of ours to you from us whose names are affixed, the statement of us. Should } 7 ou not consent to this steamer being here at once we will not consent to another steamer after this one, because we are satisfied with this steamer for this place, together with her captain. Great is our appreciation for this steamer and her commander also. This is the steamer that we approve of. We will not approve of any other. Sufficient are these words to 3'ou, to the Government. That is all. (Signed) Te Hira te Tuiri. Tan UM EH a te Moananui. llirawa te Moananui. Tin 1 Poaka. Rupene. llunia. Hone Ngatara. Taiiana Potiki. Mere Iyuru. Rapata te Poiiiha. Wikiriwhi te Hactonga. and fifty others.