After Dr. Featherston's formal acceptance of the block, in 1860, the Ngatiraukawas paid repeated visits to Wellington, for the purpose of protesting against the proceedings of the Land Purchase Commissioner; they also petitioned the Governor, the Assembly, and the Ministers, to have the title to the land investigated in a court of justice. Their prayers were wholly disregarded. These Natives have now petitioned the Queen of England for justice and protection—besides Parakaia's petition, there are some five others from men of different hapus. The petitioners represent some two hundred and fifty men, who with their wives and children will number at least seven hundred Natives. It has been repeatedly stated by the Wellington Independent, the organ of the Provincial Government, that Parakaia and a few Natives at Otaki are the only opponents to the sale of the block. Parakaia and some thirty men with him own 11,800 acres which they have surveyed. A large portion of their land consists of sand-hills, the other hapus own much larger blocks, consisting mostly of excellent land. The greater number of these men are living upon the block. There are many of the Natives who have a far larger interest at stake than Parakaia, and though every effort has been made to bribe and intimidate him, he has fought manfully and well for his people's rights. Parakaia, unlike the New Zealand Land Purchase Commissioners, is a noble-minded man.

So far from these petitions being attended to, the General Assembly passed a bill authorizing the raising of a loan of £30,000 for the purchase of the Manawatu Block. The debentures not having been disposed of in time, His Excellency's Ministers supplied the money which was paid down by Dr. Featherston in December, 1866. These unfortunate Natives were then told that "their land was all gone to the Queen; that it was all 'fighting ground;' that the six tribes had all met together and sold the whole block to Dr. Featherston; that there would be no further investigation as to title; that they had better sign the deed of cession and take what money was offered them; that whether they did so or not the land was gone." The above is well-known and can be proved in any court of justice—I have heard the story from many of the Natives. The following is an page 25 extract from a letter to myself from Akapita Te Tewe, a Ngatiraukawa native:—" Mr. Buller offered me money and asked me to sign the deed of cession of Rangitikei. I replied 'I will not take any of your money, none whatever.' Mr. Buller replied, 'You will not like being passed over in the distribution of the money, for the land is in Dr. Featherston's hands; you had better take some money at once lest it be all gone, and you be missed.' I replied,' What do I care about your money being all spent, my land will be left.' Mr. Buller replied with a laugh. That Pakeha said, 'have you not heard that Rangitikei has been publicly handed over to Dr. Featherston and the Government; that there will be no further investigation?' "The following is an extract from a letter sent to me by Henere Te Herekau:—"These are the threatening words used to me by Mr. Buller on the 4th April, 1866. Mr. Buller said to me, 'I saw Ngatiapa armed with guns and cartouche boxes; they were coming to set tire to your nouses on this side of Rangitikei. Ngatiapa said to me, "Buller, keep Ngatiraukawa away from Rangitikei or we shall fire upon them." Buller said to me,' You must give your consent and sell this land to me, lest you be killed by Ngatiapa.' On April 14th we asked to have the title investigated. Mr. Buller replied, 'The title to this land cannot he investigated in the Supreme Court. Your opponents will not agree to investigation, nor will Dr. Featherston and I allow it; better sell the block, and when we have got it we will mark off reserves for you.' On 6th March, at Puketotara, Mr. Buller said, 'It is all nonsense your opposing my work; this land is in our hands; the laud belongs to the Queen; you had better take the money; whether you take it or no the land is gone to the Queen.'"

These Natives, who are among the most loyal and peaceable men in New Zealand, petitioned the Assembly and the Ministers. (See Appendix.) They might as well have petitioned the east wind. What care the General Assembly for the character or the" grand desire" of the New Zealand colonists? What care they for the Christianity or for the welfare of Her Majesty's subjects of the Maori race? What care they for Great Britain's Treaty? What care they for the honour of Great Britain's Crown? Perish the character of the New Zealand colonists, perish their "grand desire," perish the Christianity of the Maori, perish the Maori race, perish Great Britain's Treaty, perish the honour of Great Britain's Crown.

Those Natives went to Wellington to see the Governor; they also wrote several letters to His Excellency protesting against the proceedings of the Land Purchase Commissioners. (See Appendix.) A few days before the purchase money was paid down by Dr. Featherston, Sir G. Grey sent a special messenger to Otaki to fetch Parakaia and Rawiri, two of the principal non-sellers. The notes of what passed at their interview, as written by the two Natives a day or two after the interview took place, are here subjoined. I am told that Mr. Puckey, who was pre- page 26 sent, questions the correctness of some of their statements. Parakaia and Rawiri are well known — they both bear high character. Sir G. Grey sent for them, knowing them to be thoroughly trustworthy. So satisfied was he with the assurance they gave him that, there would not be any fighting, that he next day left on a tour of visits to the settlements in the Middle Island. Parakaia published their account of the meeting in the Wellington Advertiser. I believe if the Europeans and Natives who were present could all be examined upon oath, there would not be very much difference in their statements. Two young men who are Maori scholars say what Parakaia published is word for word what the Natives repeated to them a few hours after the interview closed. Doubtless Sir G. Grey was right in allowing these people's land to be excepted from the Native Lands Act, and their rents to be impounded. Doubtless he was right in denying to these men the protection of law, in telling Parakaia to "Consent to the sale of Rangitikei—give it up to Dr. Featherston; if you persist in retaining it you will quarrel amongst yourselves about it," seeing that Dr. Featherston is prepared "to make them an award in land to the extent of such claims as are admitted by the sellers," Doubtless he was right, having satisfied himself that these men would not fight, in leaving them, with the Treaty of Waitangi, to their fate. Sir G. Grey is no ordinary man; he is Governor Sir G. Grey, K.C.B., England's model Governor and famous dispatch writer—who came all the way from the Cape Colony to New Zealand to restore peace to this distracted land. Doubtless he was right. Doubtless it is right that there should be certain islands, by name called the Chathams, to which are sent New Zealand's political offenders and defaulters.

"Otaki,

May 11, 1867.

"To Thomas Williams,—

"Dear Friend,—

Will you publish the enclosed, being a report of what was said by Governor Grey and myself. I wish it to be read by both the Pakehas and Maoris. I was foolish enough to suppose that when he sent for me it was to tell me something good—that he would instruct Dr. Featherston to keep back his money; but when I saw him he only told me to give up the land; that if I persisted in holding the land the Maoris and the Government would fight. I assured him there would not be any fighting, No sooner did he satisfy himself upon this point than he forgot all about our being brought to grief by this dishonest land purchasing of the Government of Wellington. This is all from your friend,

"Parakaia te Pouepa."