VALEDICTORY LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY SIR GEORGE GREY, FROM THE CHIEF KIWIHUATAHI AND OTHERS.
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VALEDICTORY LETTER
TO
HIS EXCELLENCY SIR GEORGE GREY,
FROM
THE CHIEF KIWIHUATAHI AND OTHERS,
Friend Governor Grey, --
Salutations to you. This is my speech to you, namely the expression of our love, because you are about to take your departure for your own land. You will think of writing a letter conveying thereby your sentiments to the people of New Zealand. There will be much amongst us of a disturbing nature in consequence of your leaving, which you will hear of at your own place, for the Waikato people have threatened to destroy us. We are anxious to bid you farewell as you are about to return to your own land, for, after you are gone, we shall be beset by Potatau's 1 people. The matter regarding our land at Whaingaroa is still in an unsettled state; and when you go to your land, perhaps there will be an opening for evil at Whaingaroa, as you are the protector of the sheep of this fold. If the sheep shall fall into the ditch, who is to take them out when you, who prevent the evils are gone? 2 You leave this with a light heart, but we are left in a state of sadness, but we must look for the grace of God to preserve us. These are the expressions of our affection for you, O Governor Grey!
THIS IS OUR SONG.
At eventide with heart opprest,
I lay me down in hope of rest;
'Tis then thy spirit lingers nigh,
And sleepless, lo! till morn I lie;
I fain would greet thee when I rise,
But other objects meet my eyes;
Thus day and night as by a spell.
My thoughts on thee, the lost one, dwell.
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But I will to the gods repair,
Who knows, but they may hear my prayer;
And bring again from yonder sea,
That constant Friend, so dear to me.
This is the conclusion of our lament for you, and these are the names of the Chiefs of "Tainui." 3
(Signed) TE WARENA KIWIHUATAHI,
And seventeen others.
Enough. The end.
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PUKAPUKA POROPOROAKI KI A KAWANA KEREI,
NA WARENA KIWIHUATAHI, ME ARA ATU RANGATIRA O WHAINGAROA.
E hoa e Kawana Kerei, --
Tena ra ko koe. Tenei ano taku korero. Kia rongo mai koe ki to matou aroha ki a koe, ta te mea, ka haere koe ki tou kainga. Mau ano te whakaaro kia tuhituhia mai tetahi pukapuka ki nga tangata o Niu Tireni. Akuanei, ka haere koe, ka nui pea te raruraru kia matou, hei whakarongo mai mou i tou kainga, ta te mea, e whakangaromia ana matou e Waikato. Na konei matou i mea ai kia poroporoaki atu ki a koe, ta te mea, ka haere koe ki tou kainga, ka waiho matou i konei pokia ai e nga iwi o Potatau. Ko tenei mahi e takoto pakeke nei, i runga i to matou wahi i Whaingaroa. Ka haere nei koe ki to kainga, katahi pea ka puare te kino ki Whaingaroa, ta te mea, ka riro koe te kai Tiaki o nga hipi o nga Kari. Ki te mea, ka taka te hipi ki te poka, me pehea ra e hoki ake ai?--ta te mea ka riro koe te kai arai mo te kino. Tena ko tenei, ka haere marama koe, ka waiho pouri matou. He ahakoa, ma te atawhai o te Atua e tiaki.
Ko to matou nei aroha tenei ki a koe e Kawana Kerei!
HE WAIATA NA MATOU KI A KOE.
E muri ahiahi,
Takoto ki te moenga;
Totoro ana mai,
Ko tou wairua tonu;
A hewe au, e,
Tenei kei te ao;
Whanake te whakaaro,
I ou rau rangi.
Me tangi atu koe,
Te tangi o Rikiriki,
Kia hoki mai ai.
Hara koe te tane,
He puhi koe naku;
He ipo ki te moenga,
Naku ra i kau.
Ka mutu to matou tangi ki a koe. Ko nga ingoa o nga Ranga tara o Tainui.
(Signed) TE WARENA KIWIHUATAHI,
Kotahi te kau ma whitu atu.
