A LETTER TO SIR GEORGE GREY FROM THE NGAITIRANGI TRIBE RESIDING AT TAURANGA, IN THE BAY OF PLENTY.
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A LETTER TO SIR GEORGE GREY FROM THE NGAITIRANGI TRIBE RESIDING AT TAURANGA, IN THE BAY OF PLENTY.
O FRIEND GOVERNOR GREY,--
Our letter was written on the 19th day of March, O Governor.
Do you hearken; we will address you.
Salutations to yourself and lady. O Governor, saluting you. Friend this is a word of a proverb, "Thou who represents the shell-fish taken in the shallows goest hence, but we who represent the shell-fish taken from the deep water remain here." This word is in reference to you. Do you hearken, O Friend the Governor, and await in yonder place the evil tidings that may arise in New Zealand; evil will grow because you have gone to England your own land.
We write to tell you that we are being beset by the tribes of New Zealand. The winds of Hauraki, the winds of Maketu, and the winds of Whakatane are sweeping along the coast of Tauranga, 1 therefore we write to you.
(Signed) NGAITIRANGI.
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HE PUKAPUKA AROHA KI A KAWANA KEREI NA NGAITIRANGI E NOHO ANA KI TAURANGA.
No te 19 o nga ra o Maehe i tuhituhia ai ta matou pukapuka ki a koe e te Kawana. Kia rongo mai koe; he korero, ta matou ki a koe.
E hoa, e Kawana Kerei,--
Tena ra ko korua ko tou hoa wahine. E te Kawana, tena ra ko koe. E hoa, tenei ano he kupu whakatauki mou, --"Haere ana koe ko nga pipi o te aria; ka noho matou ko nga pipi o te whakatakere." He kupu whakarite tenei mou. Kia rongo mai koe, e hoa, e te Kawana. Hei kona whakarongo mai ai ki nga he o Niu Tireni. No te mea i hua ai te he kua riro atu koe ki tou kainga ki Ingarangi. Ara tenei ano i tuhituhia atu ai ki a koe, e pokia ana matou e nga tauiwi o Niu Tireni. Ko nga hau o Hauraki, ko nga hau o Maketu, ko nga hau o Whakatane, e pa atu ki Tauranga. Na konei matou ka tuhituhi ki a koe.
NGAITIRANGI.
Ki a Kawana Kerei.
