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Waka Maori, Volume 9, Issue 19, 10 December 1873, Page 180

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European correspondents who have a knowledge of Maori are requested to be good enough in future to forward their communications in both languages. To the Editor of the Waka Maori, Greeting: Waikouaiti, Otago, November, 1873. Friend. —If you think this letter suitable for the Waka Maori, take it on board; if you do not, cast it away. This is the second year of my residence in this Island—that is to say, the "Waipounamu, or South Island. During my stay here I have closely observed the position of the Pakeha and Maori of this land, in their relation to each other with respect to the laws and other regulations and customs of the Pakeha, and I pronounce it very good. Both conform to the same principles and submit to the same laws. The Natives follow closely the example of the Pakehas. Their customs, personal habits, language, and general topics of discussion, are one and the same. I greatly admire the course this people are pursuing. It is very pleasant to me to observe and hear them; and lam constrained to exclaim, " These people are in a good condition: they have escaped the ills and troubles of this life." And I ponder these things in my heart. Then I look at the fine appearance of the children, who are more robust, better looking, and altogether different to those of the old times of Maoridom. They speak English altogether, arid their language is similar to that of the children of English gentlemen: no bad expressions come out of their mouths, they

are unaccustomed to sucli words ; their parents are respectable, aud their respectability has descended to their children. The excellence of the Maoris of this place consists in their earnest piety, and regular performance of religious duties every day and every night. They have two services every day, and one every night. They do not drink spirituous liquors, nor have they done so, I believe, for seven years past —that is to say, the people of this place. They have laws for the punishment and suppression of various offences, such as swearing, lying, fornication, adulterv, and other vices, which the}'* are anxious to keep without their borders. This is all I have to say. Prom your friend, N. W. Paetai.

To the Editor of the Walca Maori. Shortland Town, Hauraki, 16th October, 1873. Friend—Greeting,—l beg to request that you will take this letter on board of our TVaka, if you have stowage room for it. I am induced to write this letter because I see that our [Native friends who reside in or near our towns labour under certain disadvantages. It is an evil which does not proceed from themselves, but from us —we have put it upon them. It is this. "We have neglected to give them in their own language the laws appertaining to towns, so that they may know clearly what is required of them. I see Maoris of this district continually breaking the laws of the Pakeha, for which they arc taken before a Magistrate and fined; not because they have been guilty of any wilful wrong, but simply because they were ignorant of what the law was, and were unaware that what they were doing was wrong. I do not refer to drunkenness; they know the law against drunkenness—some of them have tried it so often that they are pretty well acquainted with it. But there are other laws in force in towns, in respect of which the Natives are totally ignorant. It is only when they break some law that they become aware of its existence. The following are some matters of the laws respecting which they are ignorant, namely: — I. Furious riding or driving in towns. 11. Driving horses, oxen, pigs, &c, on the side paths. 111. Obstructing the road paths with goods or other matters. IV. Horses, oxen, &c, wandering at large in towns. _ V. Shooting birds which are under the protection of the law; and the proper months for shooting such birds. VI. Chimneys on fire. There are many other laws for things of this nature with which we are familiar, but of which the Maoris know nothing until they break them, and then they find them out to their cost. Now, Mr. Editor, I consider we are inflicting a wrong upon the Natives in this matter. We should give them the laws in their own language first, and if they do wrong afterwards it will be their own fault. I think the Government should have all the laws translated into the Maori language, and copies sent to the Native Office in each district for the information of the Natives, or they might be sent to the Chiefs of each tribe, who could read them to the people. The Acts which ere now were translated into the Maori language, were sent to the Native assessors only. Some of those old Acts are not now in force ; the Parliament have made some new ones, and are continually making them. It would be a very good thing if such laws were published in both languages, when made, so that the desire of the

Government may be carried out, namely, that there be one law for. botb races—the Maori and the Pakeha. This is all. Prom your friend, Geoege Wilkinson, Licensed Interpreter. [The laws to which George Wilkinson refers are provincial or municipal laws, and it is for the Provincial authorities to take measures to have them translated. The General Government laws which affect the Native race are now being translated, and will be circulated in Native districts.—Editoe ]

To the Editor of the Waka Maori. Port Nicholson, December S, 1573. Fbiend,—l have read tho letter of Eenata Paraire Kawatupu, m the Waka Maori of the 12th November kst, condemning Poari Kuramate, of Whanganui. That letter contains a very great many words, but no common sense. A man is not to be beaten by merely boastful language ; neither have Poari's words been overcome by that letter—to my mind Poari's arguments are incontrovertible. Eenata's answer contains no argument whatever; nothing but mere assertion, the offspring of his anger at the justice and truth of Poari's letter. Therefore he used such words as the " uncircumeised Philistine of Whanganui," and other rash expressions. Again, his comparison between Poari and a cat looking for food, was foolish and puerile in the extreme. He himself' scratching fruitlessly at Poari, better represents the cat. When a man writes to the Waka Maori, let him write sensibly, so that people may have pleasure m reading his effusions. But he (Eenata) is a child, only a " boy," as he calls himself ; what better production could be expected from him. I have done. Prom Newspapee Eeadee.