✨ Correspondence and Reports
186
vernor Browne left because his term of
office had expired; Governors only hold
office for six years; Governor Browne is
now Governor of Tasmania; he is not, as
is reported amongst you, dead and buried
at Taranaki—but alive and well in Tasmania. Governor Grey was appointed
by the Queen because he was known to
be a warm friend of the Maori, and to
possess their love and confidence more
than any other man: he left a much
higher position to come here to assist
and befriend you. Before long, you will
all agree to these words. After the korero had lasted some three hours, the
Superintendent said that he could not
stop longer. That before parting he
must express a hope that they would
consider well the words he had uttered
at the several meetings;—that which he
said would be carried out. That while war
had been waged in other parts, peace had
been maintained in this Province. And
he felt quite confident that, in spite of
the threats and bounce during the present disturbances, peace would not be
broken in the Province. " I will guaran-
tee that my Pakehas and Maoris shall
be good boys. I ask you to do the same,
and make and keep your people good
boys. Good-bye." "One word more" said
Karaitiana—"Friend Petatone—We have
known you a long time; you never de-
ceived us. We know that you would
never injure us; and if we knew that
everything was in your hands we would
not object to any of your measures."
The Superintendent then assured his
friends—Kingites and Queenites—that
the Government will not act in Native
matters in this Province against or without his advice. And thus ended the
conferences of the Superintendent with
the Wairarapa King Natives:—his
meetings with the Queenites have been
scarcely alluded to.
The following are the translations of the
letters above referred to the above re-
ports:—
No. 1.—Matutaere’s letter to Wi Tako, Here-
mia, and Hopi.
Ngaruawahia, 25th June, 1863.
To WI Tako, to Heremia, to Hapi
Sirs (friends),—Salutations to you. That
(this letter) is to caution you to be careful, to
be thoughtful (knowing)—that word to you
(this is the word to you). The people are
collecting percussion caps for Taranaki, for Nge-
tiramauni, for Whanganui, and for Ngatiraukawa.
O, hearken! The (body) Pu of this Wheke
(Waikato King Movement) will be burnt with
fire (will blaze in war.) Enough. Will arise
(arise.) Affix the figure-head of the canoe,
soon it will be paddled (soon it will start for
action.)
To Wi Tako. Salutations to you. Enough,
Kino POTATAU,
Hekene.
No. 2.—Letter from Ngairo Apuroa to Wi
Tako and his Runanga.
Grey Town, June 26, 1863.
To WI Tako Noatata AND ALL YOUR RU-
NANGAS.
Friends—Salutations to you friend, this is
the word—the letter of the King has arrived at
Heretaunga (Ahuriri), it has come to Te Wiremu, it has been sent to the Runangas here and
will be sent to you. The letter is to inform of
the King’s visit to Kihikihi on the 14th of May,
1863. He said adhere to religion, love, and
law—his second word was—that is word of
love—be loving to the Natives and Europeans
travelling in our districts—his third word was—
hearken, O people, one law for the people and
for the land (i.e. the same law). Attach the
head and stern pieces (of the canoe) the sides,
put in the thwarts of the canoe, affix the figure-
head and the sternpost, and leave it (the canoe)
floating—the fourth word was—if the people
split up the flax leaf I will hold the butt end,
i.e., if the people sell their land that he (the
King,) would retain it.
He commenced his song—
(The song here quoted is a portion of a wom-
an’s lament for the death of her husband.)
Here ended his words for the perusal of all
his Runangas.
Friend—we have answered with our words
from Tainui (formerly), i.e., from the setting up
of Tainui to the present time with these words
—the head-piece has been attached, the thwarts
have been put in—it (the canoe) is left afloat,
but we are awaiting the King’s word (orders),
we are awaiting the springing (assault) of the
evil spirit—we are awaiting the great scourge
of the opponent. I turn (Ka huri); will you
either approve or disapprove of these words?—
they are from Tainui (i.e. from the setting up
of Tainui) to the present time.
I turn (Ka huri)
NA NOARO APUROA.
Friend, what is doing at the present time—nothing is heard there—or any place on the
earth.
No. 3.—Wi Tako’s letter to Ngairo and his
Runanga.
Waikanae, 10th August, 1863.
To Ngairo AND ALL HIS RUNANGA.
Friends—Salutations to you all who are
living in the midst of the sufferings of this
world and of the evil tidings which come, that
is the reports of murders. This is a word—Dr
Featherston has been here to us spitting his
spittle at us, but he turned to his own spittle
and licked it up.—Friends, let the eye watch
well, let the ears listen—do not permit the
sword to ascend Paiatirangi and Rimutaka.
That was my word to Dr Featherston; he replied that he had licked up his own spittle at
this time. Hearken! on the 14th of August the
soldiers will come there (to you) and to Wai-
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✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🏘️
Superintendent's Visit to Waikanae, Otaki, and Wairarapa
(continued from previous page)
🏘️ Provincial & Local GovernmentSuperintendent, Visit, Waikanae, Otaki, Wairarapa, Native Relations, War
- Governor Browne, Former Governor of New Zealand
- Governor Grey, Appointed Governor of New Zealand
- Karaitiana, Spoke at the meeting
- Petatone, Spoke at the meeting
🪶 Translation of Matutaere's Letter to Wi Tako, Heremia, and Hopi
🪶 Māori Affairs25 June 1863
Letter, Matutaere, Wi Tako, Heremia, Hopi, War
6 names identified
- Matutaere, Author of the letter
- Wi Tako, Recipient of the letter
- Heremia, Recipient of the letter
- Hopi, Recipient of the letter
- Kino Potatau, Signed the letter
- Hekene, Signed the letter
🪶 Translation of Ngairo Apuroa's Letter to Wi Tako and his Runanga
🪶 Māori Affairs26 June 1863
Letter, Ngairo Apuroa, Wi Tako, Runanga, King Movement
- Ngairo Apuroa, Author of the letter
- Wi Tako, Recipient of the letter
- Te Wiremu, Mentioned in the letter
🪶 Translation of Wi Tako's Letter to Ngairo and his Runanga
🪶 Māori Affairs10 August 1863
Letter, Wi Tako, Ngairo, Runanga, Dr Featherston
- Wi Tako, Author of the letter
- Ngairo, Recipient of the letter
- Dr Featherston, Mentioned in the letter
Wellington Provincial Gazette 1863, No 41