Kaikohe Bay of Islands
Auckland New Zealand
29 December 1882

Dear Sir,

The results of our meeting at the Treaty of Waitangi Hall, on the 8 inst as I have wrote to you last mail.

1. That in the opinion of this meeting is under the operation of ‘the Crown and Native Land Rating Act 1882’
(a) That no objection for all roads and railways going through Native Lands, but without our consents
(b) That we will not pay no rates on our Native Lands, as contrary to all Laws and English Constitution more especially contrary to the very Provision of the Treaty of Waitangi.

2. Under the operation of the above Act in Waitangi Country our committee send four of our oldest chiefs (Hori Hongi Hika, Maiti P Kawiti, King Hrikua, and Hori Huina) to Whanganui’s Native Roads dispute against the Government to advice them to let the Roads and Railways through maoris Lands, but not to consent to it. Whanganui chiefs oblige to agreed to our old Chiefs proposal.

3. That the whole of Ngapuhi tribes collecting (£100) pounds to defrayed my expenses for travelling to each tribe of New Zealand to consult with them to signed a petition which our committee intended to present to the Queen and to her Imperial Government, and also to consults about the Land Scheme, and if I succeed with the signing of the petition, then we going to have a great meeting of all the head chiefs of each tribe, into one place to appoint one or more of our numbers for bearers of the petition to England and after this is done, we will collect money enough to defrayed their expenses, as soon as this is done, myself and two or three of our Maoris members will go with me to the Governor and the Government to ask for authorities for the mission so that might be no more excuses.

My mission to the Chiefs of New Zealand is on the 20th January 1883.

The great meeting early on March 1883.

The mission to England about April 1883.

Will you be so good to let Miss Weale hear this letter as I have so very little time to spare.

Please remember me to Mrs Chesson and families, and to Miss Weale.

Believe me to remain,
Yours faithfully,
S.D. Taiwhanga

F.W. Chesson Esq
17 King William St
Charing Cross Strand W.C.
London