A FAREWELL ADDRESS TO GOVERNOR GREY, FROM THE CHIEFS OF NGATITIPA, AND FROM THE SCHOLARS OF THE SCHOOLS UNDER THE SUPERINTENDENCE OF THE REV. R. MAUNSELL.
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A FAREWELL ADDRESS TO GOVERNOR GREY.
FROM THE
CHIEFS OF NGATITIPA, AND FROM THE SCHOLARS OF THE SCHOOLS UNDER THE SUPERINTENDENCE OF THE REV. R. MAUNSELL.
WHEN the sun retires to its rest, the heart ponders as to what kind of a day the morrow will be! In like manner have we been reflecting among ourselves, since we heard that our friend whom we esteem is about to remove to the opposite side [of the ocean.]
We supposed that your love would have been continued to these your children; and that you would have remained to defend them from evil, and to implant within them that which is good.
The first Europeans who visited these islands gave us good seed; nor were the Europeans who came after them less good to us.
When you go into the presence of Queen Victoria, say to her, that we Natives think highly of the administrations of the Governors whom she has sent to these islands. And be you mindful also, in regard to the good you have planted in this land. We, the Natives of this River, will not soon forget your labours.
When you first came, our hearts were desiring to learn the usages of the Europeans; and you leave us advanced as a people. We have learned how to plough; we have many mills, and much property; and our children are receiving instruction in the schools which you have established.
Go, O Governor Grey!--: Return to the land of your fathers! And may the Almighty One preserve you while voyaging on the great sea! These are our sentiments, and this is a song of our forefathers:--
Come airs from the West,
Where the purple-tint crest
Of the cloud rises high o'er the strand;
Or let the mild breeze
From the cold Southern seas,
Bring the frost and the ice
1 on the land.
Go to England.
(Signed) PATOROMU,
And eighty-four others.
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HE POROPOROAKI KI A KAWANA KEREI
NA NGA RANGATIRA O NGATITIPA NA NGA KURA HOKI O TE MANIHERA.
Ka rere te ra ki te ana, ka whakaaroa te ngakau he rangi pewhea ra te rangi apopo!--koia matou i rapu ai i a matou ano, ka rongo nei, e haere ana to matou Hoa i whakapai atu, ki tawahi.
Ka hua matou ka aroha tonu mai koe ki enei tamariki au, a, ka noho tonu ki te arai atu i te he, ki te whakatupu i te pai.
Ta te Pakeha i tae tuatahi mai ki tenei motu he homai i nga tinaku pai ki a matou; kihai ano hoki ta nga Pakeha i muri iho i iti iho i tana.
E tae koe ki to tatou Kuini, ki a Wikitoria, mau e ki atu, e whakapai ana matou nga tangata Maori, ki te whakahaere tika o ana Kawana e ngarea mai ana e ia ki tenei Motu. Kia whakaaro mai ano hoki koe ki enei tinaku kua oti nei te whakato e koe, ki enei wahi. Ekore ano matou nga tangata Maori o tenei awa e wareware wawe ki tau mahi. Rokohanga iho e koe e minamina kau ana o matou ngakau ki nga mahi a te Pakeha. Haere rawa ake koe, kua kake matou, kua mohio ki te parau, kua maha o matou huri kua tini o matou taonga, a, e whakaakona ana a matou tamariki ki nga Kura i whakatupuria nei e koe.
Haere e Kawana Kerei! Hoki atu ki te whenua o au matua. Ma te Atua Nui koe e tiaki i a koe e rere ana i te moana nui. Ko to matou ano tena, he waiata na o matou tupuna:--
Whakataka to hau ki te Uru,
Whakataka to hau ki te Tonga
Kia makinakina i uta,
Kia mataratara i tai,
Kia ao rawa ake te ra.
He tio,
He keho,
He hauhunga.
Haere ki Ingarangi,
PATOROMU,
Me ara atu ewaru te kau ma wha.
