THE MAORI GAZETTE. To the Editor of the Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 15, 29 July 1843, Page 3

THE MAORI GAZETTE. To the Editor of the Southern Cross.

Sir, — In the Government Gazette of July 12th, No. 28, is a proclamation from one of the Dromio's of New Zealand literature, said to be a translation of what was published in the Native Gazette of that date, but which, if printed on that date, was not published (at least to the Auckland public) until tho

37th instant, of tho nature of this precious document, or rather the effects to bo apprehended from it, I leave you to -handle m whatever way you deem best ; while 1 propose to myself to make some comments on a translation of the Native Gazette, not made by Mr: George Clarke, or any of the family of the Great Protector. I enclose therefore, for your amusement, a literal and true copy, in the commencement of which you will perceive, that Victoria has arrived in Auckland, not the government brig, or any vessel of that name, but Victorial God bless her Majesty, say T, although Mr. Geo. Clarke, Chief Protector of Aborigines, appears either to say, or think something else, as he tolls us, she has darkened the heavens and the •day, through her arrival ; and that wars are coming from Heaven, (above.) A sentence or two further, wo are told " both are wrong by the laws of man and God ;" as we are at the antipodes, and things are consequently •upside down, I presume we may transpose words also, and make man take precedence of the Almighty. A question is then asked, "if tho land is greater than the people? which, with great truth could be answered, yes ; as the lives of tho poople are not mentioned in the question ; by the writers of land, I suppose are meant Surveyors ; could not the Chief Protector of Aborigines have said, " kai tohu kotinga," (the markers of boundaries) as the words at present used might imply, parties who were going to write on the land : it appears the " men holding guns' wero of some miraculous description j. as when they sounded " some fell on each side" by which I presume they were made to shoot round a corner, or both ways at once. Tho next happy blunder of the Great Protector are the lines, "thisjs the European. talk, is it true, is it false !" Was this too glaring to be put into the English Government Gazette* and is it really the Oreat Protector's fault, ov tho Great Dromios ? We now come almost to the cream of this proclamation ; vide the words from "it is right according to their righteousness," down to " they were excited," was it the Surveyors ? or was it tho natives ? or who in Heaven's name, is intended by the four " theys," four " theirs," and two " thenas ?" Further on again, the Europeans are cautioned against arraying themselves, but not a word said to the natives ; so we ' may sit down quietly and be tomahawked. The proclamation lias now arrived nearly at the end, tho cream lias come, the Great Protector's " heart enlightening letter," appears full before us, and our hearts are completely overflowed with joy at the "heart enlightening" news it contains ; _ coupled with the promise of Dromio's, "laying down righteousness book ! " What kind of a book this is* will perhaps puzzle the lawyers. Perhaps we shall have, to send to Ilonkong to Dromio's brother ; the imperial brother of the Sun and sister of the Moon. But no, I give- you a 1.50 a trsaaslaticm. o£ the " laying down righteousness book," by which it appears after much nonsense of holding fast the talk ef the Queen, instead of to remember her talk,, that all persons, that is, of course, whether European or Native, are not to do any thing on disputed lands, " not lougM" (not said to be bought) byEuropeans, <md not let go by the natives !" Tho. natives will take good care not to let us settle, en lands which, we hayo not bought ; but it is rather hard to prohibit them from doing what they please with it, having already stopt them from selling, are we now going to stop them from cultivating ? Will the Great Protector be kind enough to inform me if the word hara is a native word for color, or if makatia i» a native word for marking ? The words may certainly express aa much as, " nga kai Tuhi wenua" means " Surveyors*" or any other made-words which it is the fashion to make use of, to save- a little trouble- in refreshing one's memory for, proper words ; the time is however, not far distant, when every copy of the Native Gazette will be translated for the benefit of the public, if the publication is not stopped thro' this hint. Now, Mr. Editor, is it not shameful that a sum of six hundred pounds per annum, should be paid one man, and about four hundred pounds per annum more, to two subs of the samq great family,, for translating nonsense into bad New Zealand? If Protectors are wanted, ( why not make men of education Protectors? His honor the Judge, is said to be a capital native linguist ; could lie not give Mr.. Chief Protector of Aborigines a few lessons for a con-si-de-ra-ti-on ? "Oh where and oh where is the young Dromio gone ?" he again, is said to be a grammatical linguist ; but trading for pigs and- potatoes is a more profitable employment ; there are a few young men belonging to Mission families, who have had liberal educations in England, and' who have sucked in the native language with their mother's milk ; why are they not employed? Is it because they are too independent in spirit, and consequently refuse to receive lessons from those who are not able to teach,

or, is it, that they will not stoop to the dirty work that is required of them ? This is a subject, Mr. Editor, which with others I will touch on, on the arrival of a New Governor, and when " DroimVs occupation's gone." ' I am. Mr. Editor, «fee., : m — .