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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 63

To our Mother the Queen of England

To our Mother the Queen of England.

This is my petition, the petition of Parakaia te Pouepa, a Maori, of the Ngatiraukawa tribe, living at Otaki, New Zealand:

In the year 1860 we wrote to your Majesty, making known to you our grief caused by the proceedings of Governor Browne at Waitara, and praying you to send a Governor to investigate that act of injustice of the Government

Our cry at that time went forth from our love to another people, the Ngatiawa, at Taranaki, and their lands.

I now cry unto your Majesty on behalf of my people and our own land, which land is being taken from us by Dr. Featherston.

We have always borne in mind that your great name alighted justly and peacefully upon New Zealand in the year 1840, through the Treaty of Waitangi, that the chiefs of New Zealand then ceded to your Majesty the Sovereignty of this island, and we feel assured that your Majesty the Great Queen of England will now on your part protect us, your children, and our lands.

I now write to you respecting the land of my people, lying between the Manawatu and Rangitikei Rivers, in the Province of Wellington.

My tribe, the Ngatiraukawa, gained possession of that country by conquest, in the year 1830, before your Majesty's Sovereignty alighted upon this island, and we have always held possession up to the present time.

I wish to make known to you the regard we showed to former Governors of yours, who came from your presence. In the year 1847, Rangitikei was sold to Governor Grey; in the year 1858, Manawatu was sold to Governor Browne; in the year 1858, also, the Ahuoturanga was sold to Governor Browne. These are large blocks of land that were ceded to your Governors. The desire to sell of those people, Ngatiapa, Rangitane, and a portion of my own tribe, was thus gratified; this portion which I and my people are retaining is comparatively small.

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I wish to make known to you our kindness and liberality to those tribes whom we had conquered, and who were spared by us when Te Rauparaha urged us to destroy them all. Rangitikei, a large extent of country, we restored to Ngatiapa; Ahuoturanga, also a large extent of country, we restored to Rangitane. Now those tribes and the Government have joined to take forcibly from us this our reserve. These are our houses and our plantations that are being taken—the means of support of my people.

In the year 1862, the Governor and the Assembly established a Court for investigating Maori lands.

I wish to make known to you that it was only the land of my people, of Ngatiraukawa, that was excluded from that Court.

In the year 1863, Ngatiapa came to disturb my people. They came with guns in their hands—my people also rose up with guns in their hands. I wrote to Governor Grey and Mr. Fox, the Minister, requesting them to send Mr. McLean to investigate (whakawa) Rangitikei. I received a letter from Mr. McLean, wherein he expresses his willingness to do so. But Dr. Featherston came instead, in the year 1864. When he came we had ceased contention, and were patiently awaiting the arrival of Mr. McLean, the pan whom we preferred as judge between us. All Dr. Featherston did in his capacity of Judge was to try and buy the land for himself, and to give his support to Ngatiapa, followed by his false statement that he saved these tribes from death.

In the year 1865, my people petitioned the General Assembly to alter the Saw excluding our lands, that our titles might be investigated in a Court of Justice, but the Assembly would not listen to them.

In the year 1866, Dr. Featherston came again, and made a determined effort to purchase our land. We did not give our consent. He then used the following threatening words to me and my people :—'This land is in my lands; 800 of Wanganui, 200 of Ngatiapa, 100 of Rangitane and Muaupoko have consented. All these tribes went with me to fight against the tribes who are contending with the soldiers of the Queen. They have all agreed that this land shall be sold to me; they are the great majority; you are but a few. You shall not hold back this land.' When my people heard his threatening and taunting words they were overwhelmed (paralyzed) with shame and fear. I replied, 'Friend, what title have the hundreds of those tribes that you have enumerated, to this land; only after investigation in a court can this land be justly sold to you.' He replied, 'Parakaia, the jurisdiction of that Court will never be extended to this land.'

After hearing these words of Dr. Featherston, a number of us went to Wellington to the Governor, to the Assembly, to the Ministers also, and page 70 entreated them to allow our titles to be investigated according to law. On the first occasion thirty-five of us went, on the second occasion fourteen, on the third occasion twenty-four. When the others became weary, I still persevered by myself alone. But they would not grant our prayer. Then I said to myself, 'Alas! for the treaty of Waitangi, whatever can have become of it [unclear: it].

In the month of December, 1866, Dr. Featherston paid money to some of my own tribe, the great majority of whom had no title to our land; he also paid money to tribes from a distance who had no title whatever to our land; he then told my people,—'All your land has now become the property of the Queen.'

Therefore, I, your humble servant, pray your Majesty to send persons to investigate carefully this wrong, to protect me and my people, and to raise up the Treaty of Waitangi, which has been trampled under foot by the Government of New Zealand.

"Parakaia te Pouepa.

Otaki, New Zealand, July 4, 1867."