FIFTY YEARS AGO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21109, 17 February 1932, Page 6

FIFTY YEARS AGO.

EXTRACTS FROM THE HERALD. MAORI CHIEF'S INVITATION. The following are extracts from the New Zealand Herald of February 17, 1882:Tawhiao, the Maori King, who recently visited Auckland, has sent the following invitation to Aucklanders to attend a meeting at Whatiwhatihoe, near Alexandra"To Mr. J. M. Clark, Mayor and the chief of Auckland. Greetings! Publish to all towns of this island and across the ocean. I have appointed that all chiefs, law-makers, lawyers, farmers, storekeepers, publicans, shoemakers, blacksmiths, carters and the whole people are to come. Let them come here to Whatiwhatihoe. May 1 is pointed out as the day. Whether whites or Maoris, let them all be at that place on that day. Welcome! This is my own word. A band contest is shortly to be held on the North Shore. Entries received up to the present are those of Hobson's the Artillery, the City and Engineers • and the Thames Scottish bands. Such contests have been aIL the rage in England and also in the Australian colonies. Mr. Thompson, who is handling the competition, recently came from Australia to Auckland. A telegram from Wellington bears a curious commentary on our remarks about the probability of colonisation from Australia. A contractor has sent to New South Wales for a number of workmen. It appears that wages in New Zealand are higher than in New South Wales, the hours of labour shorter, and the climate is more congenial. When once it becomes generally known that New Zealand offers more advantages to the working man and small capitalist than do any of the Australian colonies, we do not doubt that before long there will not be any need to inquire for working men.