This is a Petition to the
Honourable Legislative Council.
Friends,—
This is a word from us, the whole of the Native chiefs at Wellington, to you all, with reference to this new Act, the Short Title of which is called "The Native Reserves Act, 1873."
What we have to say to you, to the Great Council, is, that we the Native people of this Island do not like that these Acts be allowed to stand, but that they be thrown out, and be all allowed to fall through; because they will be a great injury to us, the Maori people of this Island. This Act may be compared to the affliction of the Israelites, on whose necks Pharaoh placed a great yoke, pressing them down in Egypt. Therefore, if these Acts be allowed to stand, the Native people of this Island will then be entirely annihilated; therefore we earnestly pray that this Act be entirely thrown out, that the whole be done away with, and the Commissioner too.
Enough from us, the whole of the Native chiefs who have assembled at Wellington, and who have sent in this Petition.
He inoi tenei ki te
Runanga Kaumatua katoa.
E hoa ma,
He kupu atu tenei na matau na nga Rangatira Maori katoa kei Poneke nei, ki a koutou katoa, mo tenei ture hou kua huaina nei tona ingoa poto ko te Ture Whenua Rahui Maori o te tau kotahi mano waru rau whitu tekau ma toru.
He me atu tenei na matau ki a koutou ki te Runanga nui, kaore matau nga iwi Maori o tenei motu e pai ki enei ture kia tu me turaki atu kia hinga aua ture katoa, notemea he mate nui mo matau mo nga iwi Maori o tenei motu, tenei ture pera ano tenei mate, me te iwi o Iharaira i hoatu nei e Parao te ioka nui ki o ratau kahi peehi ai ia ratau i Ihipa. Heoi, ki te tu tonu enei ture katahi ano, nga iwi Maori o te motu nei ka tino oti atu ki te mate. Heoi koia matou ka tino inoi atu ai kia whakakorea atu tenei ture katoa, me kore rawa atu aua ture katoa me te Komihana hoki.
Heoi ano na matau na nga Rangatira Maori katoa kua hui mai nei ki Poneke nei tenei tono atu.
Hoani Meihana Rangiatu, and 28 others.