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Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume II, Issue 14, 20 September 1862, Page 1

"Good books are like true friends; they will never fail us; never cease to instruct—never cloy."

The Mangonui Runanga, being the second Maori Council held in New Zealand under th system of Native Government introduced by Governor Sir George Grey, was opened by the President, S\. B. White, Ksq., in the presence of a highly interested audience, on the 29th of July, 18<J'2. The popularity of the assembly was demonstrated by a large concourse of visitors, there being from 400 to 500 >atives present, besides man} 7 warm hearted Europeans. . The Mangonui District extends from Herekino Harbour, or False Hokianga on the West Coast, to Whangaroa on the East, being a coast line of 160 miles. The lands within this territory are considered to be of superior quality, abounding in cultivated grounds, tbr the most

part, possessed by the Aupouri and i Karawa tribes. There are many excellent farms, too, the property of enterprising Europeans, forge flocks of sheep, and herds of cattle. The Natives concentrated parts of the District, at Mangonui, to witness the proceedings of its first Parliament, and the visitors returned to their respective> settlements, much pleased with so w&riy a mode of regulating Native affairs. Mr. in his opening address, suggests that the Natives should bear a portion of the expense attendant upon their local selfgoverninent. We deem it of importance to accustom the : Natives as early as possible, to contribute to the funcL set apart for their moral and political training, and when they are able, we hope that they will be willing and proud to defray the whole of the expenses, which are so generously borne at the present time by their European brethren. By a reference to the President's speech, it will be found that the sum 6f £49 175., being "fees and fines of the Courts in the District," was placed by the Government at the disposal of the Runanga, which suni it voted as a contribution towards the erection of a Runanga Ilouse on a Native reserve in the valley of :actes of land having bef&i .£iven for the purpose above fiamed, by the: Chiefs. coiie how to notice a matter of important consequences; and we Begio. cairespecial attention to it;--

"The Mangonui Fencing Act, ls62 f " There have, been constant heart-burnings between: neighbours, both European and Maori, in regard to, cattle, trespassing on cultivated grounds* 1 beyond the boundaries '] of their owners. >Ye hope that this Act will be assented to by His Excellency,; and that it will put an end to all future annoyances' ffcojn thisqquarteri r the tory occupied' by the \ fearawa. \ We would ur^e;:our.Native friends to set about fencing their cultivated landsjbefore the importance of doing so, which has lately been warmly impressed upon their minds in the Runanga, cool, and they become indifferent. ■. The various; papers which we now lay before our readers, were kindly forwarded by tbe President of the Mangonui Runanga; and we have tb express our obligations to Mr. Commissioner Kemp, for their translation into Maori.' We cannot, close these remarks without referring to the. advantages of good government which the Natives are now exercising. • Their former government was carried on through fear and horror, —not, as now, by: the pen, and just laws,— but by the Mere or battle axe, the Poupouwhehzcd or club, the Taotoa or spear, the Mirqtuatini or flesh knife* and in later times, by the tomahawk and gun, all which weapons —if not turned into ploughshares and pruning-hooks—we sincerely hope have been laid aside for ever, not only by the District Runangas of the Bay of Islands and Mangonui, but ;by every tribe throughout New Zealand.-