CORRESPONDENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 70, 23 March 1914, Page 7

CORRESPONDENCE.

• • THE PROPOSED PARNELL PAF.K. I (To the Editor.) Sir,—l think that greater stress should be laid upon-the fact that the beach frontage to Judge's Bay k part of the Gillies Estate. For several years past, yachtsmen have been paying the owners for the privilege of hauling up their craft above high-water mark. Unless j we carry the proposed scheme for acquiring the estate ac a Public Park, the people of the city will probably be deprived of a popular seaside resort, and yachtsmen compelled to look elsewhere for a safe anchorage for their boats.—l am, etc.. JUDGE'S BAY. SEA ASD SUNBATHING. (To the Editor.) Sir.—lt seems to mc high time that the «idgels were taken up against the ruinous and harmful spirit of wowserism i and prudery that, alas! has sprung up in this fair city of oure. We hear and see complaints as to sunbathing cropping up every now and then. It is stated as I a most shameful and shocking thing that- bathers lie on the beaches attired only in bathing costumes, and. horror of horrors, that the sexes actually lie about together! Why on earth shouldn't they? It seems to mc that the much-abused bathing costume is by Tar the most sensible, healthy and comfortable attire on the beach for the hottest parts of our summer days. I venture to say that the real reason for the consistent visiting of our young folk to the beaches is the excuse thus furnished for getting rid of all uncomfortable superfluous clothing. It is stated that no self-res-pecting or modest person would lie in the public gaze attired in such a fashion. That is all bosh. In my opinion there is much more proper feeling about a young person who is absolutely without self-consciousness, and doesn't think for an instant of how he or she is dressed, than about the prude wtiose mind is full of one thought, namely, that the lines of his or her figure are visible—the human form divine, of which surely there is no occasion to be ashamed. If a young personals quite happy and devoid of selfconsciousness in a bathing costume (thns evidencing true modesty) why should anybody else come along with their morbid minds to try and make harm of the most delightful and healthful of the summer pastimes of our young folk.—l am, ***••-, PATERFAMILIAS.

ORAKAU. (To the Editor.) Sir, —Your correspondent '-J.C," in giving his "Real Story of Ake Ake" is on very unsafe grounds. Fortunately there are several leading Maoris still alive who heard Rewi Maniapoto use the famous words the first time he-used them at Ngaruawahia in 1863. after he drove Mr (now Sir John) Gorst from Te Awamutn. One of those wio heard him use them, Tupu Taingakawa, the son of William Thompson, the "kingmaker," gave them to mc lattely,.as follows;—"Kaore aha v c whakaae kia mutu te whawhai, ko taku tohe aho tenei ake, ake, tonu atu." 11 will not afgree that the fighting shall cease, I will maintain this foi*«ver and ever.) And these words were well known to all the Maori fighters during the Waikato War, and acted as an inspiration to them; and I have, yet to hear from a single Maori that Rewi was not the author of the words when spoken at Orakau. Major Mair has given the credit to Hauraki, seemingly for the only reason that Hauraki said "so. I knew old Hauraki well for years, but I never heard him claim having replied to Major Mair's request to surtender. Lately I paid a visit to one of the survivors of-the Orakau fight—Te Huia, son of Raureti, wrongly mentioned by your correspon- ' dent as a brother of Rewi. Te Huia married a daughter, or niece, of Hauraki, but when I asked in the presence of Captain Mair, if Major Mair was correct iri giving Hauraki the credit for the famous reply at Orakau. he and all the others present laughed ont loudly, and said they had never heard of it before. Lately I . have sent round several letters asking Ngafituwharetoa, and Xgati te Kohera, to attend at Orakau. on the Ist April and support Major Slair's statement, if they "' think it true that one of themselves j (Hauraki) was the author and spokes man at Orakau. I have received one '■ reply from Matotoru Taroaira, one of the , leading chiefs of these tribes. He says, r "Ko Rewi Maniapoto te tino Tianara nui y i ruuga i nga rangatira. o roto i Orakau, , nana hoki te kupu Ka Whawhai tonu f matou ake ake." (Rewi Maniapoto was t the great general, and above all the c chiefs in Orakau. Th%y were his words, "Ka Whawhai tonu matou ake ake.") This man was one of the party that hoy- t erer round the fight at Orakau, arriving ( too late to get inside. He writes mc he was there to the end, bat did not get inside. I have heard claims made "by one or two that relatives spoke these splendid words, but they always say by direction t of Rewi. the undoubted commander of the pa. I There are other points in the article'n that 1 should like to touch on. hut this I ! letter is already lone, and all I ami anxious tor is to get at the real truth of P.ewi's authorship of the reply given to Oewral Cameron, and we may well leavp it to the Maoris that will gather at Orakau to decide, especially nd I have myself sent round many invitations to leading Maoris to attend at Orakau and support Major Mair's statement if they believe that Hanraki wag the author and " utterer of the famous words.—l am, etc., " j J. W. KELT!.. [TOls correspondence ii- doeed—-EG '