E--No. lc

TO NATIVE AFFAIRS

No. 7. Whatawhata, July 2, 1857. Friend Mr. Fenton, — Salutations to you. Great is our love for you. Friend, we have heard your word to Wireiru Nero and Hemi, they say (that you desire us) to construct a Court-house, to which we consent; but we are busy now with our mill, which has been broken, and has caused delay, but as it is, the lower part of the house is finished, but not the upper ; had it betn finished we would have written to you (and let you know), that is, to the Governor and yourself. When it is finished, we will write to the Governor and yourself. Friend, be strong to maintain our regulations, as we also are strong. We are greatly perplexed with the work of investigation. Ihis is all on the subject. Friend, here is another word to you, if you approve write us a letter, that we may know the Governor's thought, to say whether we are to go there (i.e., to Auckland), or what we are to do, jf you desire that we go there we will go. This is all. From Reweti, Panapa, Mom. Mr. Fenton. No. 8. June 15, 1857. Friend Mr. Fenton, — Come here and investigate rr.y crime. Friend, do not stay away ; come and look to ray offence. I had no knowledge that I had committed any offence, but 1 have been accused by that woman. The house belonged to my wife and myself. She came into my house to sleep. I did not request her to come into my house ; the payment named was one pound ten shillings, and from the woman as payment for her offence, five shillings. This is all. From your friend Tumuhuia, of Te Rapa, To Mr. Fenton at Taupiri. No. Ba, August 7, 1857. Friend Mr. Fenton, — Salutations to you. Friend, if you approve, come and look to the evils of our place. There are two offences not yet settled —the one is a murder ; the person who committed it was an insane person. The second respects property. These have not been concluded by me. Friend come here on the 14th day of this month. From Tioriori. Mr. Fenton. No. 9. August 16th, 1857. Friend Mr. Fenton, — We, the men of Waikari, Rangiriri, and Waitutu, now for the first time take part in this work of forming assemblies (or councils). We consent to this work. Friend, a man has been appointed by our council to investigate the offences of the people ; his name is Te Wi Panawaka. It will be for you to decide ; but he has been selected by our council. Here is another matter that has been mooted in our council: it is for our council to send a man to you, to have him instructed in the work of blacksmithing, that he may know how to make our things. The man's name is Te Tutere Weta; he is a good man, and understaeds all Maori work. Do you consent to this. Enough. From us, the Assembly of Rangiriri. Mr. Fenton. No. 10. August 19th, 1857. These words are from the assembly at Paetai. The words are these, —to allow Paora to be a companion for Kereihi as a head for our assembly. These words have been fully decided upon by us. Here is another word of ours, or rather, of Paora and Kereihi. We say, friend Mr. Fenton, that is the assembly and ourselves, that Wiremu Te Wheoro be appointed as our agent for the purchase of powder, shot, and percussion caps for us, when we desire those articles. The reason for this is, lest we be

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