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No. 39.
Chief Mohi to His. Excellency
the Governor.
E Hoa e Kawana,—
Akarana, 4 Tihema, 1857.Tena ra ko koe. Tenei ano ta matou kupu ki a koe. Kia whakahokia nga Pakeha e noho ana ki runga i to matou pihi i Pukekohe i te Awa nui o Taikehu, kia whakanohoia ki runga ki to Te Kuini wahi, ta te mea ko to matou kainga pumau tenei mo a matou tamariki. Kei reira hoki to matou urupa. E kore tenei wahi e tukua ki aua Pakeha; engari mo matou, mo a matou tamariki.
Ehara i a koe tenei he, ehara i a Te Raika, engari no te Pepene. Ehara i te mea no nga ritenga Maori tenei. Engari no te ture o Te Kuini o te Kawanatanga hoki o Niu Tireni, no te mea kua waiho koe hei hoa aroha ki nga tangata katoa, kia tika ai te noho a te Pakeha a te tangata Maori, ake, ake.
Na Matou tenei pukapuka,
Na Mohi,
Na Te Akitai katoa.
[ko te tohutoro i roto i te reo Māori]
Translation.
Friend the Governor,—
Salutations to you. This is our word to you (it is to request you) to send back the Pakehas who are residing upon our piece (of land) at Pukekohe, at the Awa nui o Taikehu, and to locate them upon the Queen's part, as this is our permanent place for our children; our burial-places are also there. This part will not be given up to those Pakehas, it is for ourselves and our children.
This fault is not yours, or Mr. Ligar's, it is the fault of Mr. E. Fairburn. This is not a matter having reference to Maori customs, it is from the law of the Queen and of the New Zealand Government, for you have been appointed as the loving friend of all the people, to cause the Pakeha and Maori to live properly together for ever. This letter is from us,
From Mohi,
And all the Akitai.