"To Thomas Williams,—

"Here are we in great grief and distress about our land which has been given by the Court to Muaupoko; that is about Papaetonga with all its boundaries, with the plantations, the fences, the houses, the eel pas, and the canoes. In the year 1870, Major Kemp sent 20 of his men to breakdown my fences, and to root up my crops, and to burn down my houses at Mahoenui, on my own land, across my own boundary. The land, the other side of that boundary, was Whatanui's—Mahoenui is the name of that boundary. Friend, we are in great distress, therefore I ask you to be good to us in this, our affliction; we have been murdered by this Court. There are 27 of us who have lost our land at Waiwiri. Friend, we will not move out of our houses.

"To Mr. Williams,—

"Salutations. Friend, this is to inform you of our loss, about our land at Waiwiri, which was given by the Court to Muaupoko. Muaupoko had no right whatever to the land at Waiwiri when our fathers were alive; but Whatanui was kind to his slaves, the Muaupoko, who lived near him. Whatanui's permanent boundary was between Horowhenua and Waiwiri, to Te Whatanui the side next to Horowhenua, to Te Paea the side next to Waiwiri. Horowhenua and Waiwiri are two distinct blocks—but now we have been brought to ruin by this Court, the people of Horowhenua and Waiwiri These are very mad people the people of this Court. They did not bear in mind that Jesus Christ is in Heaven, and Te Whatanui on the earth. That he (Te Whatanui) saved these people from out of the ovens of Te Rauparaha, and settled them on a portion of land. Had the object of the Court been to show its love for Muaupoko, they should have returned to them all their land, commencing from Wellington up even as far as Rangitikei, that all might suffer alike. That would be right, but they have smitten us alone.

Friend, Mr. Williams, it rests with you to take up our cause. There are a number of Pakehas who know this country, Bishop Hadfield, Mr. Wakefield, Mr. White, and Mr. Yule. These Pakehas have lived at Horowhenua formerly, when Te Whatanui was alive. That is all I have to say; do you work this matter out.