1855 - Davis, C. O. Maori Mementos...[and a] Collection of Laments... - FROM TE AO, CHIEF OF NGATIWHAKAUE, OF ROTORUA.

[Image of page 108]

A FAREWELL ADDRESS TO SIR GEORGE GREY, FROM TE AO, CHIEF OF NGATIWHAKAUE, OF ROTORUA.

Go, O my newspaper in quest of Governor Grey and Bishop Selwyn, the Ministers also, Mr. Burrows, and Mr. Shortland, the parents of the native people.

Go, O this love to Governor Grey, to England, to his own land, where he now resides. Yearn over your people, the natives, and weep over them, though you are far distant, --the people for whom you evinced so great a regard, and are cared for, by the Queen also, the chieftainess of us all.

How great is my love to you who looked upon the countenance of my friend Hone Heke Pokai, and upon our fathers Kawiti and Hikitene, and our relative Pomare. Salutations to you-- the affectionate friend of my fathers Hikairo, Te Wiremu, Te Puku-atua, Moemoe, Korokai, Ngahuruhuru, and many other friends, both living and dead. On this account is there a constancy of love to you. Although you did not see me, nor did I see you when leaving, my love towards you is great, and I greet you in spirit, though you are far distant in England.

Father! Salutations to you. The reason why I did not witness your departure was, owing to my mourning for the people who were wrecked in the sea at Te Paneohoroiwi.

Do you hearken, both the Queen and yourself, to the word which Heke uttered to his people, the Ngapuhi, when he was dying, and to the whole of us. He said--"After I am gone be kind to the Europeans. I shall pass away; the rebellious man, the evil man, the man who killed the Europeans. Do not break that peace which exists now between the Governor and me, but deal kindly with the Europeans, and let them become your fathers after my decease." This was the sentence of Heke and of Kawiti also;

[Image of page 109]

and this sentence is greatly prized by the Ngapuhi people. They have passed away with you all to Paradise, 1 the land of the Lord. This is my song of affection for you O friend:--

This pining heart the livelong day, O Governor is turned to thee; And who will bring thee back to day, From yonder land beyond the sea? O Grey, I'll patiently await, Thy wish'd return from Britain's Queen, Perchance I may again relate, That thou upon our isle art seen. May nought be here to give thee pain, O friend, in yonder sacred land; Since thou art not allowed to reign, O'er Zealand's isles and Zealand's band.

This is another song of affection for you. Do you seek out its meaning:--

Lo, o'er the sea, the northern breezes sweep, While I in sadness turn aside to weep For thou, O Grey, whose loss I now deplore, Art gone, alas! to some far distant shore. O Nugent. 2 hear my wrongs and give me ease, But who can such a god as love appease? O launch my bark that I may cross the main. And swiftly the famed shores of England gain; I'll sit me down to bale our frail canoe, No matter where I sit so I may view, The friend whose home was with us for awhile, But who is summoned to another isle. What evils shall befall us who can tell? Since we must interchange, the sad--Farewell!

These are the whole of my speeches to you.

From TE AO,
a young Chief of the Ngatiwhakaue tribe,
who was loving towards Heke, and who was in the war of you both. 3
This is the end of mine to you.

[Image of page 110]

HE PUKAPUKA POROPOROAKI KI A KAWANA KEREI, RAUA KO TANA RANGATIRA KI TE KUINI WIKITORIA

Haere ra e taku nupepa ki te rapu atu i a Kawana Kerei raua ko te Pihopa Hereweni, ko nga Minita, ko Te Para, ko te Hotereni, ko nga matua o te tangata Maori.

Haere ra e tenei aroha ki a Kawana Kerei, ki Ingarangi, kei tona kainga, e noho ana. Mihi mai i kona, tangi mai, ki tou iwi, ki te tangata Maori:--tou iwi i matenuitia e koe, e te Kuini e to tatou rangatira katoa.

E rahi taku aroha atu ki a koe, ki nga mata i toku hoa i a Hone Heke Pokai, i ou tatou matua i a Kawiti i a Hikitene, i to taua whanaunga i a Pomare. Tena ra ko koe. Ko te hoa aroha o aku matua, o Hikairo Wiremu, o Te Puku-Atua o Moemoe, o Korokai, o Ngahuruhuru, o te tini noa iho o hoa aroha, i te mate, i te ora. Koia ka mau ai te aroha ki a koe. Ka nui toku aroha atu ki a koe; ahakoa kahore koe i kite i au, kahore au i kite i a koe i tou haerenga, me mihi taurangi kau atu e au i konei ki a koe, i tawhiti i Ingarangi.

E pa! tena ra ko koe. Te mea i kore ai au e kite i a koe, i te whakamamae ahau i to maua tahuritanga i te moana, i Te Paneohoroiwi. Kia rongo mai koe, korua ko te Kuini, i te kupu a Heke ki a Ngapuhi, tona iwi, i tona matenga ai, ki a matou katoa. "I muri i au nei kia atawhai ki te Pakeha. Ka pahure ano ahau te tangata tutu, te tangata kino, te tangata patu Pakeha. Kei tapahia ta maua maungarongo ko te Kawana; engari, atawhaitia te Pakeha hei matua mo koutou i muri i au nei." Ko tena kupu na Heke, na Kawiti. Ka waiho tena kupu hei rangatira mo Ngapuhi; ko ratou kua riro tahi atu koutou, ki Pararaiha, noho ai ki te kainga o te Atua.

E hoa, he waiata aroha tenei hoki ki a koe:--

[Image of page 111]

Tenei ano tetahi o aku waiata aroha ki a koe. Mau e titiro iho nga hua o roto.

Heoi ano aku korero ki a koe.

Na Te Ao, na tetahi rangatira tamariki o Ngatiwhakaue i aroha ki a Heke, i tapoko atu ki to korua whawhaitanga. Ko te mutunga tenei o toku ki a koe.