Ki te tino Runanga Nui o Niu Tireni e noho nei ki Poneke.

Ko te inoi tenei o o koutou tangata pono, o o koutou tino hoa, o etahi o nga tangata o Turanga e mea ana, kia tirohia e koutou e te Runanga Rangatira tetahi o o matou pouritanga, ko to matou taonga nui ko to matou whare whakairo kua mauria huhua koretia, e te Eawanatanga, kihai matou i whakaae; ko nga korero pono enei o te mauranga o tana whare, ara; i te taenga mai o te Ritimona, ka tono mat kia hoatu e an te whare, kahore au i whakaae, mea atu ana ahau ki a ia, kahore, kei te iwi katoa te ritenga, ka mea mai ia ki au na ratou ranei te whare ? mea atu ana ahau, kahore naku ano te whare erangi ko te mahi na matou tahi. Ko te whakahokinga mai a te Ritimona heoi ano ra, ka mutu taku tohe atu ki a koe: ka haere atu te tima me taua Pakeha, e hia ranei nga ra e ngaro atu ana taua tima ka hold mai ano ki te tiki mai i te whare, ko Kapene Piki i haere mai, ki te tiki mai i te whare, ka mea mai ia ki au kia hoatu te whare mo te Kawana ki Poneke. Ka mea atu au ki a ia, kahore au e pai. Tenei ano etahi o nga kupu a taua Pakeha kei au, heoi ano, haere atu ana taua Pakeha ki te pakaru i te whare, mauria atu ana, heoi ra kahore aku kupu whakaae ki a ia: ka peke ra nga korero. He inoi tenei na matou kia whakaarohia tenei to matou mate, ka inoi tonu matou ki a koutou. Ka huri.

[Translation.]
To the General Assembly of New Zealand in Session at Wellington.

This petition of your true and faithful friends, some of the people of Turanga, prays that you will look into one of our troubles. Our very valuable carved house has been taken away, without pretext, by the Government: we did not consent to its removal. This is a true account of what took place in reference to the removal of that house: at the time of Mr. Richmond's visit here, he asked me to give up the house; I did not consent, but told him, "No, it is for the whole people to consider." He then asked me if the house belonged to them all. I answered, "No, the house is mine, but the work was done by all of us." To this Mr.Richmond replied, "That is all; I will cease to urge you."

The steamer left with Mr. Richmond. After having been away a short time, the steamer cam back again to take away the house; Captain Biggs came to fetch away the house. He desired me to give it up for the Governor, to be taken to Wellington. 1 told him I did not agree to it. He said other things, which I have not forgotten. He then went to take down the house, and carried it off, but I did not give my sanction to it. This is all I have to say about it. We pray you to consider this our trouble.

And your petitioners will ever pray, &c.