Kaikohe Bay of Islands
25th January 1883

Dear Sir,

I received your letter of the 17th November last. And I hope this letter may find you, Mrs Chesson and the good families all in good health. I am very glad indeed to hear Sir Arthur Gordon have arrived in England. I have seen in the Auckland Weekly News of last week that the government have received copies of the correspondence laid before the Imperial Parliament relative to the Parihaka native difficulties. I hope this mission of Sir Arthur Gordon together with ours may enable all good pure and honest influential persons instant of Parliament, instant of the Aborigines Protection Society, to have a good, clear, and substantial understanding, to the whole affairs what exist in New Zealand ever since her colonisation, up to the false imprisonment of Te Whiti and his people. And I am quite sure and certain it will continue to exist if not sooner remedyed; by the Imperial Parliament and Govt with the kind help of the Aborigines Protection Society. Sir Arthur Gordon correspondence on Parihaka native difficulties is will show, not only to the English Parliament Government and Public, but to all civilized nations in the world; all the truth.

1. Of all I’ve stated in both of our Petitions of which you took so much interest with them that all wars, tumults and bloodshed what exist in New Zealand, correspond exactly what the present Government done at Parihaka, and the great hope, not only of Honble Rolleston expressed wish to exterminate the Maoris, but all the land robers and land sharks.

2. And all the truth of what stated in that book you kindly gave to me in London, called the N.Z. Question.

3. The cruelty action, of the present Government at Parihaka, shows of the same bruteforce action of the former Colonial Government against the poor Maoris, this 22 years past, resulted in a most awful sacrifice of innocent Maoris lives.

Judging by Sir Arthur’s correspondence with his ministers in his despatches to Secretary of State, there is no blame can be attach to Captain Hobson for the course he pursued, the fault lies at the door of the superior authorities at Home, which seem to have altogether overlooked.

Sir, for the sake of both races, I can sure you by the tone of the speeches of the Chiefs at our meeting on 8th Dec last I told you in my last letter to you that they quite agreed to the Land Scheme of Mr [Lartworth?] but, I must go round New Zealand for to obtain the signature of all the Maori population to the same Petition which Mr Gorst presented in England Parliament, to bring it to England again. They say they will have their grievance remedyed first, before they talk about the land scheme, of course I must wait. And I am afrayed it would be a general breakout if the Maoris grievances not sooner remedyed.

Therefore I must pray and beg to the Imperial Parliament and Govt and the Committee of Aborigines Protection Society to look to this in time, let it be quickly change its entire system of Colonial policy, for it will find that the prosperity of all the Colonies is intimately associated with the welfare of the Native population whether great or small, but which, unfortunately it has too much neglected; and that one broad rule of justice applicable to Natives as well as to Settlers, is not less a political necessity than it is a Christian duty. I going to commence my tour on the first of February, and I hope to be finish about the middle of March and leave for England again about the middle of April. I am oblige to you for the books, I hope to have them before I leave for England again. Miss Weale is the greatest friend the Maoris ever had, I have been telling them how kind you Miss Weale Dr Liddon and all the good people in England was.

I am
Yours faithfully
S.D. Taiwhanga

F.W. Chesson Esq