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An Epitome of Official Documents Relative to Native Affairs and Land Purchases in the North Island of New Zealand

Enclosure 1

Enclosure 1.

Tautoro, February, 1854, Office, of Korongohi and Kuao.

O Chiefs of Whangarei,—

Let your deliberations be guided by wisdom, and do not let your thoughts be averse to our word. The reason we so address you is because we have fought together (against the Europeans) for the land, which was the reason of the message we sent by the Maremare. Let the hill of Manaia stand for ever. Let the hill at Whara remain untouched for ever: vessels are broken, money is lost, but the land does not fade away. If we were wishing this land for ourselves, you might be displeased with us, but we wish you to keep it for a hearth for your own fires. It is the possession of our land which makes us esteemed. Whether a child, a woman, or a man, if the land goes into the possession of the Europeans, we shall not be so regarded; one man may be esteemed, and another may not. If the land is not given away, even the lowest among us can till his ground, and obtain tobacco and clothes, and all the other articles of the Europeans; but there is nothing that can be obtained from them without payment, nothing at all. Perhaps to the chiefs they may give something. What else have we to depend upon? Therefore we say—hold fast the land,—bye-and-bye we shall find what value it is, as we have been told by the Europeans who formerly lived amongst us. All the sea birds return to the dry land to hatch their young under the cover of their wings. It was never intended that they should be brought forth on the sea—not at all. Likewise the vessels, they return to the shore, and obtain their freight, potatoes, and corn, and pumpkins: thus this description of canoe obtains its cargo. Therefore we say the land is more of importance than us: it is above us, and we are its children. Pohe thinks otherwise,—these sentiments are wrong in his idea. Therefore we say to you, do not be angry with Sydney: these opinions are the grounds of his conduct, good or bad—hold the land, hold it fast; therefore he says—

(Here follows a popular War Song.)
To Maunsell,
To Stephen Hari,
To Amo,
To Kare Kare,
To Pohe.