and even wheat, certainly at lower rates than you could either buy them from other colonies, or produce them yourselves;—consider, too, that the employment of the Natives on the road not only enables the Government to give you the advantages which that road will offer when completed, and which they could not possibly do if there were no Natives to employ, but it enables them also to put the Natives in a position to improve and extend their cultivations, and thereby probably afford to you the necessaries of life at a cheaper rate another year.

In conclusion, I would repeat to you your own expression, "that something must be done," but, my friends, it must be done by yourselves—instead of holding out for higher rates of wages than the Settlers can afford to pay, manfully submit to a change which you know must come, and at once, by working at reasonable rates, enable the employers to extend their operations, and give you more steady and constant work. Some of you have probably been in the neighbouring Colonies, and have seen that, after wages have been for a time very high there, they have as certainly fallen—and so it must be here; no one can be expected to employ labor unless he can obtain it at such a rate as will enable him to derive a profit from it; and this you know cannot be done at the high rate at which wages have lately been in this Colony; let me earnestly advise you, therefore, to reflect calmly and coolly, and to offer your services to the Settlers and other employers at such wages as they can afford to pay, and by thus doing, show that you are sensible and reflecting men, and that you are disposed to make that exertion for yourselves, which alone will place you in the position you wish for, and by enabling Masters to extend their operations, secure to you fair and constant employment.

EDWARD JOHN EYRE,
Lieutenant-Governor.

Government House,
Wellington, September 18, 1847.

Secretary’s Office, Wellington,
22nd September, 1847.

It having been brought under the notice of the Lieutenant-Governor that great inconvenience has arisen from irregularity in the attendance of Public Officers at their Offices. His Excellency has been pleased to direct it to be notified for general information, that the usual Office Hours are from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. daily, excepting only on Sundays, and such other days as are kept as Public Holidays, and on Saturdays, when the Offices close at 2 P.M.

On all other days the Public have a right to expect, and His Excellency requires the strictest regularity and punctuality in the attendance of every Public Officer at his respective Department, during the interval between the hours above named.

By His Excellency’s Command,
S. E. GRIMSDONE,
Acting Secretary.

Secretary’s Office,
Wellington, 22nd September, 1847.

HIS EXCELLENCY the Lieutenant-Governor has been pleased to direct the re-publication of the following letter from the Native Chiefs at Waikanae, to His Honor the Superintendent, with Major Richmond’s reply; which was inadvertently omitted in the Government Gazette, of the 3rd Instant.

By His Excellency’s Command,
S. E. GRIMSDONE,
Acting Secretary.

(Copy.)

Waikanae,
Akuhata 21, 1847.

E Hoa e te Retimana—Tena koe—kua rongo matou e haere ana koe ko Whakatu. No konei i puta ake ai te aroha ki a koe. No te mea kua kitea e matou tou ahua pai ki a matou, ki o runga nei tangata, i nga wa o te he kua pahure ake nei... Haere atu ra ki tera kainga ki Whakatu ki te mahi i nga mahi i karangatia ai koe. Ki te mahi ano i taua atawhai ki nga tangata o tera kainga, ki era tangata maori. E aroha ana matou ki a koe. Na tou atawhai i arohaina atu ai koe.

(Signed) WIREMU KINGI WHITI,
RIWAI TE AHU,
TE KAI WHAKAKOTAHI O
Waikanae.

Kia Meiha Retimona.

(Translation.)

Waikanae,
August 21, 1847.

FRIEND RICHMOND—Greeting. We have heard that you are going to Nelson. This has given rise to feelings of regret at your departure, because we have had proofs of your kindly disposition towards us, the natives of this part, (of New Zealand,) during times of difficulty which are past. Go, therefore, to that other settlement, to Nelson, (accompanied with our best wishes,) to perform the duties to which you have been called; to perform the same good offices to the people of that settlement, and to those natives that are there. We esteem you. Through your kindness is this our love caused towards you.

(Signed) WIREMU KINGI WHITI,
RIWAI TE AHU, the Native Teacher at Waikanae, on behalf of the people.

His Honor Major Richmond.

(Copy.)

MAJOR RICHMOND’S Reply.

Poneke, 2 o Hepetema, 1847.

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