The Wairarapa Natives.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1870, 13 August 1886, Page 2

The Wairarapa Natives.

Mr Maunsall, (ho officer in charge, thus writes with respect to t io U'aimrapa N.. lives ; The social slat 'of the Mi"ria is irnpr uing, and good dwellings are taking the place of the Maori wharc. At the principal villages, Te Ore Ore, near Masterton, and l‘apawai, near Greytown North, very good houses have been built—at I’apawai especially - timber being purchased trotn sawrai Hers with the proceeds of the sale of tutara and other timber, of which large quantities abound. The houses btvoheen erected by themselves in a very creditable manner. A carved house is now in course of construction by a party of tht Xgatiporou from near Gisborne. Tho carvings have occupied about six years ia execution, and are of a most elaborate kind. The building will, it is believed, eclipse any similar one in the colony. Much money baa been wasted over this bouse. It cannot be said that the Natives are lest indolent. They look to rents and sale of whatever can be conveniently disposed of to supply temporary wants ; cultivation and honest cocups'ion is neglected. Thdr improvident habits often re ult in uoaetaiy difficulties, and compel them to raise money on crops and timber to satisfy the claims of creditors. What they will do when they have nothing to sell it is difficult to pm je>. ture, unless they part with laud. This at present they are most reluctant to do. However, in most cases their lauds are " restrictsd from sale ; ” but where th y are free to sell they prefer to go to gaol when pressed by creditors rather than do so, yit at the laat moment escape imprisonment by taking extraordinary means to obtain the money.