Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Petition of the Arawa Tribe

[Translation.]

[Translation.]

Maketu, 25th July, 1866.

To the General Assembly of New Zealand.—Friends Greeting:

You have been declared to be a parent for all the tribes of this Island, whether they be of white or dark skin, whether men of low degree or chiefs.

Therefore we, that is to say, this tribe of yours, the Arawa, speak more boldly in respect of this grievance by reason of which we are troubled—do you give heed and find out some way for us out of this difficulty. Let your hearts incline favorably towards us, and let your ears listen patiently.

page 2

On the second day of July, 1865, James Fulloon and his Pakeha friends were murdered at Whakatane, by Te Hora and his companions; we heard of that evil work and sorrow and anguish entered into our hearts. We went to the Civil Commissioner of our district, to Mr. Smith, to ask his advice. He told us to act in accordance with the law, then a warrant for the apprehension of those murderers was sent; we were also sent to support him who was sent to execute that warrant. We accordingly went and captured some of the people of that tribe. One of the murderers, Hoera by name, ran away; we called after him to stop, not to run away, but he paid no attention, so he was shot at and killed, and we came back to Maketu. We did not remain there many days before we were again sent; then the principal portion of the tribe went. We paid no heed to the fact that this was the time of putting seed into the ground, we thought not of our wives and children, but only that the Pakehas were to be our parents. We turned to for the purpose of giving weight to, and carrying out the ends of the law. We worked on until the work was ended; we did not leave our work unfinished, but we strove on till it was done.

Now we have given up those wicked men into your hands, not one escaped from us, neither did you give us any Pakehas to assist us; the only thing you did was to supply one-half of the food, I myself finding the greater portion.

Eighty days did we stand up to fight; we did not make any retrogressive movement; towards the end of October our work ended.

Towards the end of May the Native Minister came to Maketu; he expressed his words in recognition of our services, but it occurs to our minds that thanks expressed in words only will not keep us alive. That Minister then pleaded that the Government was poor, and told us of a sum of fifteen hundred pounds. We were much troubled because the amount was so small, and we wept for our wives and children. Friends let the circumstances of our trouble be clear to you; the time when we got up to catch the murderers was the time for planting, and when the work was done it was close on to summer, the time for putting seed into the ground was long past, and we now are in great trouble.

Look also upon the fatigue we endured, and our having plunged into the midst of death regardless of consequences. Suppose it had been Europeans instead of us, would they have been satisfied with this pay, two pounds five shillings per man for three months; we did our work well. Do you look upon the money spent by us in this work as compared with the army which you landed at Opotiki for the purpose of capturing Kereopa, and Patara, which did not accomplish its purpose, for those men were not taken. Do you look at the amount consumed by that army, does it not come to forty thousand pounds; to us, those who are ignorant, it appears that the Government is not poor, inasmuch as it can afford to throw money away upon work that does not attain its objects.

Look friends, and show compassion to your tribe who are placed in great difficulty by reason of this great work. Send also a further sum to supplement this other amount so that we may dwell comfortably; draw your tribe up out of this difficulty.

That is the end of our prayer to you; consider favorably the word of your tribe.

Your loving friends,

Poihipi Tukairangi, and eight others.

Written by Rotohiko.