| p.1 | Editorial |
| Criticism of the undesirable habits of Maori and complaint about the lack of progress in civilising of Maori. Introduction to the following transcriptions of meetings held between the leaders of Waikato and Ngāti Whātua with Governor Robert Fitzroy. | |
| pp.1-4 | Letters to the Governor |
| From Te Wherowhero and four others [named], Auckland | |
| From the elders and people of Waikato welcoming the Governor and informing him of the good and bad actions of the Waikato people, and of the attempt to conform to the practices of the Pakeha since the arrival of Governor Hobson. | |
| Discussion of an understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi, of attitudes of the Crown towards Maori, of Waikato perceptions of the Governor's duties, of Waikato attitudes to colonisation, and the Crown's pre-emptive rights to buy land. | |
| Response to the leaders and people of Waikato from Governor Robert Fitzroy, Auckland. Acknowledges Waikato's attempts to conform to the practices of the Pakeha; informs that the Governor will be a `father' and friend to Waikato; advises that to become like Pakeha takes more than one day; discusses the Governor's authority, the process required to negotiate land sales, and the response required from Maori to live peacefully with Pakeha. | |
| From Te Kawau and seven others [named] | |
| From the leaders of Ngāti Whātua welcoming the Governor. Discusses the significance and Ngāti Whatua's understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi; requests time to learn the practices of the Pakeha; submits that if the negotiations for land sales by the Crown are not satisfactory then Maori should be able to sell directly to settlers. Correspondence written by Te Kēne. | |
| Response to the leaders of Ngāti Whātua from Governor Robert Fitzroy, Auckland. Explanation of his concern about Ngāti Whatua's desire to sell land directly to settlers; asks for patience for the implementation of laws relevant to land sales and satisfactory to Ngāti Whātua; informs that the Governor will be a `father' and friend to Ngāti Whātua. | |
| pp.4-5 | Friends |
| Discussion of the benefits for Maori to become like Pakeha and to adopt Christianity. Discussion of the necessity for the drive to propagate the benefits of agriculture; critique of the resistance by Maori to adopt Pakeha methods of cultivation; discussion of the connection between the need for cultivation and the Garden of Eden and Adam. Discussion of the relationship between work and survival; critique of Maori procedures and equipment for cultivation; critique of the unsuitability of seaside residences and the unsuitability of fishing as a livelihood. Discussion of the benefits of the plough, the usefulness of contracting the plough to other groups, and the status that will be gained by those who own a plough. The writer uses one line from a waiata [song] to illustrate his discussion. | |
| pp.6-7 | Response from Te Whaitere [Rev. John Whiteley], Kāwhia, to Te Haeana's [Octavius Hadfield] correspondence [Vol. 2, No. 10:40]. Discusses the relations between Maori and Pakeha, and the perceived purpose of colonial settlement. Prescribes answers drawn from the Book of David. Questions the origins of inappropriate behaviour. Questions the prescriptions and directions of the newspaper. |
| Address to Te Rauparaha warning that continual disputes with Pakeha will produce the strength of the Pakeha military forces. | |
| p.7 | Notice of reward for the apprehension of the thief who burgled Mākareta Te Ponarua. |
| p.8 | Letters to the Editor |
| From Paori [Pāora] Te Iwi, Auckland | |
| Reports the arrival of the Governor, the arrangement of the audience, the attendance of Te Karaka [George Clarke Snr], Te Pōtete [Thomas Spencer Forsaith], Te Wherowhero, Te Tawa and Te Ara, and Te Hōterene [Willoughby Shortland], and the order of the proceedings. Criticism by the author of Pakeha protocol. Reports the use of Te Karaka [George Clarke Snr] as translator for the Pakeha audience of the communications from Maori groups to the Governor. |