Statement from a Native, a teacher, since ordained a Deacon of the Church of England.

"To Thomas Williams,—

"Dear Friend,—Will you publish what I have to say respecting Rangi- page cvi tikei, for the information of the Pakehas. We, the Ngatiraukawa tribe, held it by our own strength till such time as the law came. Ngatiraukawa are still in possession of Rangitikei. Do you listen! It was Rauparaha who first conquered the inhabitants of this country; after that, Ngatiraukawa conquered them. It was Rauparaha's wish to have killed them all—not to let any escape. Ngatiraukawa saved them from death—made slaves and servants of them. They, the original owners, were very humble and submissive to Ngatiraukawa, viz., Muaupoko, Rangitane, and Ngatiapa, dwelling in subjection. Listen! Only when the Gospel came did the original owners begin to hold up their heads and exalt themselves, and so on till Governor Grey's time, in the year 1848, when Ngatiapa attempted to hand over to Governor Grey and Mr. McLean all the land from Rangitikei to Manawatu. When Ngatiraukawa heard that Rangitikei was being sold, they assembled to stop the sale of this side. They agreed to allow the other side to be sold, on condition that Ngatiapa should abandon all claim to this side, to which Ngatiapa agreed. Ngatiraukawa did not receive any of the money payment for the land, though it was through them having given their consent that the land was sold, and Ngatiapa got the money. Next came Governor Browne. When Hirawanu, of Rangitane, tried to sell Ahuoturanga, he tried in vain; for Ngatiraukawa would not permit it to be sold, they alone having authority over all the land—Rangitikei, Oroua, Manawatu, Ahuoturanga, as far as Otaki. Afterwards Ngatiraukawa, out of love to Hirawanu, chief of Rangitane, returned that land, formerly his, to him. It was done quietly; at the same time they told him that he must give up all claim to this other side. To this Hirawanu agreed. When the land was sold no money was paid to Ngatiraukawa. Thus those two blocks of land—Rangitikei and Ahuoturanga—were quietly and peaceably restored to the original owners by Ngatiraukawa. We did not fight about it, as other tribes have done; all that Ngatiraukawa cared for was to retain a portion of the land. It was so in the olden time before the law came, and we are doing the same now that we are living under the law; for yon see that the greater portion of the land we have restored to Ngatiapa and Rangitane, we made them a present of it. This is the smaller portion which we are retaining. These people have no gratitude (koha) to Ngatiraukawa in return for their kindness to them. As to this last sale by Ngatiapa and Rangitane, it will never be assented to; never! because the only people living upon the land are of the Ngatiraukawa tribe, and they only have any authority over and title to the land.