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Petition Relative to the Native Reserves Bill.

This is a Petition to the Honourable Legislative Council

[i roto i te reo Māori]

This is a Petition to the Honourable Legislative Council.

Friends,—

This is a word from us, the whole of the Native chiefs at Wellington, to you all, with reference to this new Act, the Short Title of which is called "The Native Reserves Act, 1873."

What we have to say to you, to the Great Council, is, that we the Native people of this Island do not like that these Acts be allowed to stand, but that they be thrown out, and be all allowed to fall through; because they will be a great injury to us, the Maori people of this Island. This Act may be compared to the affliction of the Israelites, on whose necks Pharaoh placed a great yoke, pressing them down in Egypt. Therefore, if these Acts be allowed to stand, the Native people of this Island will then be entirely annihilated; therefore we earnestly pray that this Act be entirely thrown out, that the whole be done away with, and the Commissioner too.

Enough from us, the whole of the Native chiefs who have assembled at Wellington, and who have sent in this Petition.