WAYS OF EARLY WAIROA.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 10473, 31 December 1927, Page 5 (Supplement)

WAYS OF EARLY WAIROA.

TALE OF INNOCENTS ABROAD

COMPLAINT OF HARSH TREATMENT.

Concerning a journey which a party of Poverty Bay Natives made to Hawke’s Bay, Petera Honotupu wrote to "To AVananga” in May, 1877

“We went to 'Wairoa, being strangers there, we were quite unacquainted with what we saw there, as we were from Turanga (Gisborne). When at Wairoa we were asked by our friends, the Europeans, what wo would drink in a. public house. We said ‘Port wine’; when it was given to us, it was mixed with ruin. We had not seen such things done in any other public house as at that of Taira. We next went into the billiard room and wore pushed out. We did not think that there was one law at Wairoa for the white and one for the black. Hence we went to see the amusements, as we had not seen such things at Gisborne. Then I shall speak about tho punt, as the charge is more than it ought to be. They charge one shilling for crossing and the same to come back. The charge at Gisborne is only sixpence. At Mohaka we had to pay one shilling and sixpence for n horse and his rider. Who is to blame for this? 'When we got to Mohaka, our European friend- said to us: ‘Let us stay here,’ and we said ‘Yes and let us sleep here.’ But the not to be described European of the place said: ‘I do not allow Maoris to stay in my house.’ We were very sorry for tliisr One of our Maori-'party said: ‘Let us go to the other public house,’ but we said: ‘Perhaps wo shall have the same reception there.’ Our European friend went and asked and they consented to take us in and onr hearts were glad. When we reached Napier we did not see anything to equal the supreme ill-con-duct of the Europeans of Wairoa and Mohaka.”