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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 63

The following Letter written by a Ngatiraukawa Chief, wax published in the Wellington Advertiser. — "To the Colonists of New Zealand

page cvii

The following Letter written by a Ngatiraukawa Chief, wax published in the Wellington Advertiser.

"To the Colonists of New Zealand,

Manawatu, 7th February, 1867.

'Our Elder Brothers,—

"We wish to ask you why you thus treat us, who are dwelling in peace and quietness? For now seven-and-twenty years we have lived peaceably under the protection of the Queen, and under the law. We have been guilty of no wrong, and have always upheld the right. For what reason is justice now withheld? Your constant cry has been—'let the law investigate!' That investigation you have now denied us. You cast the law—the protector—on one side, and you 'jump' upon the land.

Is it right that an innocent man should be condemned unheard! Does not the same law apply to the land? Or is it just to treat as nought what is generally admitted to be right according to the common custom of mankind—to send a man guiltless to prison, there to dwell in darkness? Is it just that a man who has been guilty of no fault, should be driven to dwell in sadness—denied the right of inquiry?

We know that you claim Waikato and all the land that you have con quered; you claim it by right of conquest; that conquest is but of recent date. It was thus that we got possession, many years since, of Rangitikei and of the country down this coast. Now you say that it is not right that Maori usages should become law.

Our elder brothers, there is no injustice with the law; the law is impartial; man is insolent and unjust, Witness your springing, regardless alike of law and justice, upon Rangitikei. The saying is your's—'let the law decide.'

Te Waharoa came to you, he asked you to give him back Waikato. You replied, 'that cannot be, it would not be just.' Now why do you take Rangitikei out of our hands, and give it back to Ngatiapa!? Here is a Maori proverb, 'Well done, thou parent with the double tongue!'

Here is another of your precepts which we are carefully laying to heart. You have always assured us that the land of those who dwell in peace shall be protected to them by the law. Permit us to ask you where are those laws; are they asleep; whatever can have become of them?

Our elder brothers, we wish you to explain to us what you mean by living quietly—by dwelling in peace. You have told us to live peaceably; we have done so, we are now found fault with. What sort of living in peace is it that you require of us? It is but just that they who disturb the peace should perish by the sword, and that their land should be forfeited. In our case, to those who have been guilty of no fault—who are dwelling peaceably under page cviii the law—you have denied the protection of law. Why are love and merey withheld from those who are peaceably inclined, and who are always ready to submit to the law?

Look you in our opinion. On the first occasion, at Wairau, the enlightened guide was the first to fall, after him the blind. Likewise at the Waitara, the enlightened guide first fell, the blind followed. On the third occasion, at the Waikato, for the first time, they both fell together into the deep. Our elder brothers, is this burden to be constantly borne? It is well sometimes to reflect; reflect then on your own conduct; be not too hard upon that of your younger brother; he is but a poor ignorant fellow.

As the matter now stands, you have hidden away the law, lest by it your treatment of innocent men, who are constant in their respect for that which is right, should be brought to light; and you have lowered the name of the Queen by using it as a menace to a loyal and unoffending people, who are striving to obey the law, and keep the peace.

Our elder brothers, it rests with you to set this matter right. Permit the eye of the law to look into these wrongs of innocent and peaceable men. Cease from withholding the law.

From your younger brothers,

"From

Ngatiraukawa."