G.—4b

1882. NEW ZEALAND.

LETTER FROM REWI MANIOPOTO TO SIR G. GREY.

Laid on the Table by Sir Q. Grey, with the leave of the House.

Rewi Maniapoto to Sir G. Grey. Sir, — Whatiwhatihoe, Alexandra, 15th May, 1882. Greetings. On the thirteenth day of this month Tawhiao made known his opinions ta the meeting at Whatiwhatihoe. You may have seen his speeches in the newspapers. He spoke with reference to the bringing of the Parliament to Auckland so that we might also be able to join in. I support this, because it is similar to what I proposed when I went to Auckland in the year 1879, for that was my word; but I will explain the meaning of this proposal, "that the Parliament be brought to Auckland so that we might also be able to join in." This is the meaning: it was not that the whole Parliament should come, but that some able men should be selected by the Parliament and power given to them to inform us of the intentions of you Europeans towards us Maoris, such persons to form a Parliament at Auckland, so that we could go there to Auckland on the day appointed and could deliberate together with the said Parliament as to the best means of settling all troubles existing between the two races. I now ask that you may strongly support this idea, because I think that by this means our tree of good will grow —that is, the tree we planted at Waitara. Perhaps our wishes that the troubles between the Maoris and Europeans should cease may thus be fulfilled, and that we may leave the two races in prosperity, love, and tranquillity. We look to you to befriend us in this work, for you know us and our wishes and our customs, because you are not of to-day. No, you were in my day and the days of the elders who have passed away, and we are few who now remain. Another reason why we look to you is that yours were the great works in this Island. Friend Sir George Grey, do you lay this matter before your Parliament, and may it be carefully considered by you all. Sufficient. From your friend, Sir George Grey. Rewi Maniapoto.

[Translation.] E Pa, — Whatiwhatihoe, Arekahanara, 15 Mci, 1882. Tena koe. No te tekau ma toru o nga ra ote marama nei ka puaki nga whakaaro o Tawhiao kite hui i Whatiwhatihoe. Ko ana korero tera koe c kite ki nga nupepa. Ko tona kupu mo tc Paramete kia haria mai ki Akarana kia uru tahi utu ai rnatou, taku ka hapai, te take i rite ana ki taku kupu i whaka-puaki ai i toku taenga ki Akarana i te tau 1879, naku lioki taua kupu, engari me ata whaka-marama atu ano pea c au te ritenga o tenei kupu, "Ko te Paramete me hari mai ki Akarana kia uru tahi atu ai." Koia tenei te ritenga, c hara ite mea ko te Paramete katoa me haere mai engari ko etahi tangata matou me whiriwhiri c to Paramete me hoatu lie mana kia ratou hei korero kia matou i nga ritenga a koutou a te Pakeha mo matou mo te taha Maori, ko aua tangata hei Paramete ki Akarana a ko matou me haere atu hoki ki Akaraua a te ra c whakaritea ai ki reira matou ko taua Paramete whiriwhiri ai i nga ritenga c oti ai nga raruraru katoa i waenganui o nga iwi c rua. Ko taku kupu ake tenei kia koe kia kaha to hapai i tenei ritenga ki taku mohio hoki ma tenei c tupu ai ta taua rakau o te pai ara te rakau i whaka-toria c taua ki Waitara, a tera hoki c rite o taua hiahia ko te raruraru i waenganui o te Pakeha o te Maori kia mutu, kia mahue iho ai i a taua nga iwi c rua c noho ana i runga ite pai, ite aroha ite rangimarie. E titiro atu ana hoki matou ki a koe hei hoa mo matou i runga i tenei mahi, te take c mohio ana koe kia matou, ki o matou whakaarOj me a matou ritenga, c hara hoki i te mea no naianei koe, kahore, ko koe no nga ra i ahau me nga kaumatua kua ngaro atu, a he mea kotahi nei tatou c ora ana i naianei. A. tetahi take ano i titiro atu ai matou ki a koe, nau nga mahi nunui ki runga o tenei motu. E hoa c Hori Kerei whakatakotoria tenei mea kite aroaro o to koutou Paramete a ata •whiriwhiria a koutou. Heoi ano, na tou hoa aroha, Kia ta Hori Kerei. Na Hewi Maniafoto, tona x tohu.

Authority : G-80838 Didsbtjby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB2.