NATIVE MATTERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5952, 24 March 1880, Page 5

NATIVE MATTERS.

TO THE EDXTOB.

' SiB r —l have read with, pleasure the ' interesting accounts which have appeared from time to time! in your paper, and: sent to ydu, I believe, by your special correspondent in the North Island, whose reports, 1 feel sure, have interested many of your numerous readers; who I hove no doubt look forward with great anxiety to’ gain a knowledge of Tvhat isreally going; on Pcuih&bftj tno homo of Ta Whiti. These reports hare been somewhat severely questioned and brought into dispute by other correspondents .of news- 1 ’papers, and for this reason I, take, «pon myself to address you, having paid a visit to Te Whiti, and his followers. There is no doubt that the truth’ is not at.oU times pleasant;!and in speaking of the Native, moa of New Zealand there are. to. be tounu persons, who, if they: could,’ would not ’apeak one word in their praise. Your special has had plenty of. time since his arrival to find out and judge of the character of the Natives, and as. a man of experience should be able, without prejudice, to give to your readers a truthful account of them. Thi , feel sure he has done, and all he haswntten concerning them is true. There are numbers of* Europeans, who fully believe m , ! trash which is published by some newspapers. and who look upon the M»o n a 3 * jn01 : jbctionable And%bominab e creature .who give them credit, for being the most drunken, •debauched, : and immoral in and why? Because they have never been near them, hn of selves the mannCrsor cuitoms or tms aara race; but/have tiken’ for granted the wretched" reports which’ find room in pahers khdwn as. “ tags,! or penny buyers. Thaso lirndjOF pepple"cannot enterinto the

spirit of jour " special's ”report, .when he speaks ofthe Maoris'/as'an 'orderly,' sober, 1 .gqod-nafcured, and hospitable community. This is too much for them, and they think that it is only the white man who is gifted with these traits of civilisation and , Christianity. But, Bir,. bad ibey visited To' Whiti on the eve or . during this, great meetiiig which took place (Wednesday, have been astonished and brought to their ‘senses, and may be . have, remarked, like I heard several European visitors do yesterday, that their hospitality “ was beyond all expectation.*’ To give you some idea of how they treated me, and some 40 or 50 others who visited them, I will just mention that we left Taranaki (Rev Mr Cameron, Mr Hyde, and myself) soon after 7 in the morning, and reached the pah at half-past 4. As soon as we entered wo had quite a mop of Natives around us, extending to utf eir hospitality, but this could not bo accepted, as I hod already a letter of introduction from Mata Kahui to bis brother. ' This I explained to them, and they then directed ua to his wharo, He read, the letter, sbdok hands with us, and ’incited, us to follow him, This we did,’after asking what was to bd done 1 with thd horses; /** Oh, never mind that,’* he said, “we will look after them.” 9<i saying, Be ordered one of his bbys to look to, them, water and feed them, and. also fix them for the night. Wo’soon found ourselves in a comfortable whard, where we had a wash, which was very acceptable after our hot, dusty, and long drive. Here he left us for a few moments, and bn' his return ; brought with him plenty to eat and drink, which it ’ seems ho had obtained from Te Whiti j wp sat upon the matted floor and helped ourselves, This over, he walked us off to a wharb, which he said Te Whiti Had placed at our service. Here we found a clean, wellmatted room, with plenty of good blankets. This, he said, Was to be our quarters so long as we liked to stay; as Kahui said, “ A week! two weeks! three j there, as long as you like., We give you plenty food, and also your horses, and you stay long as you like.” I then asked him if wo could see Te Whiti, as I should like to see him. Oh, yes, comp on, me show you him. So saying, we followed pur’guide to the chief VwhareT Wp entered, each taking a seat upon the ground, I sitting beside the chief, who is a fine-looking middleaged man, very affable and. pleasant, but very retired.' He shook 'hands with us very heartily, and after a short conversation, |which was interpreted by young William Fox (who during the last war was, with two other boys, captured by the Native allies, and afterwards adopted by Sir William Fox, who gave .him a good education), left the whare and sent us in some refreshments,.he going on to the large wharie or meeting; house to address the visitors (Native), who had come from all parts of the Colony to’attend this great meeting. This Maori youth is ip the office of Duller arid, De'wis, lawyers, Wellington. There” were about 1500 Maoris and between 40 and 50 .Europeans’present, in-, eluding two ladies. After having a look found, arid watching the young inembers of the tribe enjoying themselves with music and dancing, wo turned in. I must not forestall' your special in giving particulars of the meeting, as I • know he was present, and feel sure he will send you an interesting account of, the meeting, but will’ follow up by giving particulars of the hospitality shown to us. In the morning we were soon about, arid had a’’good breakfast prepared for us, and a hag of feed for the horses, and during the feast, we, in common with the other Europeans, had our share.’ After the great speeches, of'the day, delivered by Te Whiti and Tohu, wo made a move for our ’ return to New Plymouth.' During the time, of getting the horses, &0., ready for a start, we were waited upon most attentively, and' all being ready, started towards the town which we reached just before midnight, well pleased with our trip, and the great hospitality of Te Whiti and his people. Some of your readers will perhaps ask themselves what it cost us, and I in return would inform them, not a single penny r ?ofli first to last. When your corresponden writes, or speaks well of. the Maoris, when he says that their hospitality and good nature is superior to any European community of a similar size existing under similar conditions, he tells the truth, and it is not right to think that because their faces are black, so must their hearts be the same. Your readers must not think that because I corroborate your correspondent’s statements or reports, lam in any way. concerned or connected with him.. Far from it; he is a stranger to me, and Ito him. True I saw him at Parihaka and; passed the time of day, but nothing , more. I only write to inform your readers that what he has already written is true, and his future reports can be relied upon as facts.; He also says that the “ great hindrance to. the peaceful solution of the Plains difficulty is Fakeba-Maorism personified in every possible form, and ramifying in every conceivable direction.” This 'B true, and could be' seen very forcibly during the time I was there, and if this class of men could he kept away, matters would be very easily arranged, and all become quiet and peaceful with the Maoris. .1 could, Sir, write much more, but will not intrude upon your valuable space, as I feel sure you have other matters of greater interest to record.—l am, &c., HOWARD HAYWOOD. Taranaki, March 18.