NOTICES AND ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Waka Maori, Volume 10, Issue 6, 24 March 1874, Page 69

NOTICES AND ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We have received the letter of Hutana Taru, of Waipiro Bay, East Coast, expressing his high approval of the sentiments of Arama Karaka Haututu, as published in his letter which. appeared in the Waka of 10th February last, and bewailing the state of degradation and drunkenness into which some of the Maoris and Pakehas of the East Coast have sunk. The frightful revelation which he has made to us of the act 3 of certain parties in that district is not fit for publication. All we can say is, that if such charges can be proved against the parties, steps should immediately be taken to prosecute them criminally, and their punishment would be severe. "We cannot afford space for the insertion of the very long list of names of boundaries of land which Hoera Tiwha Ngahaupakeke informs us the Natives of Taranaki have had surveyed, and which, he says, they intend to hold for their own use. Paora Patuwhitiki, of the East Coast, in giving expression to his appreciation of the Walca Maori, informs us, in ecstatic language, that we are " the fountain head from which flow streams of knowledge through every part of the land ;" we are '•'surrounded by a halo of glory, as the sun ;" and our " appearance is like unto that of the morning stai'!" We can endure a considerable amount of flattery, but this is rather more than we can digest. He says the Arawa and Ngatiawa tribes of the East Coast held a large meeting on the 26th of January

last, at Umuhika, in the Matata district, at which it was unanimously resolved to throw open their country for the construction of- roads and telegraphic lines, and that they would lease their lands to the Government only, and not to private individuals. The feeling of the meeting was in favour of the erection of flour mills, schools, and the prosecution of any works which would be of benefit to the district. Some of the speakers thought the ground \ised for making roads ought to be paid for. This was opposed by our correspondent, Paora Patuwhitiki, who said that he and Tukehu and others were in favour of Eoad Boards being established in the district. He wished to see the Natives take part in the formation of, and participate in the advantages to be derived from,'the works of the Government now being carried on in the country; and,he thought, if the Natives had the means, they ought to bear a part of the expense of road making, constructing telegraph lines, support of mail steamers, erecting schools and mills, and other such matters. He was desirous that roads should, be made for the convenience of tourists to the hot springs. We are glad to hear that Paora takes so enlightened a view of these subjects. "We hope he may succeed in inducing his people to look at these things in the same light as he does. Horomona Hapai, of Tokomaru, East Coast, agrees with Wiremu Kingi's objections to the employment of lawyers, in his letter published in tlie Waha of the 27th of January last. He thinks in a case between a Native and a Pakeha lawyers may be employed with advantage on both sides, but where Maoris only are concerned they are not required. With respect to the question of appointing Haare Tawha as Minister for Tuparoa, the natives must apply to the Bishop of Waiapu. Kawana Hakeke, Te Eetimana, and others, of Parewanui, Eangitikei, object to a road which they say the Eoad Board proposes to make over their land. They should lay their complaint before the Eoad Board in question respecting the proposed road. In reference to our censure of the use of wine and ardent spirits at a meeting of the Natives, held at Hiruharama, Whanganui, on tbe 19th of December last, a notice of which appeared in our columns of " Notices and Answers " in the Walca of the 10th of February xilt., Eini Hemoata, of Wanganui, says : " We are not in a position to dictate respecting that beverage ; you are its lord and master. It is a child of your own {i.e., of the Pakehas). Banish your own child. It will not hearken to the voice of strangers. Knowing it was an evil child, why did you bring it-here to commit evil ? Take it back to its place of birth. If strong drink be brought to us, we have not power to resist it. It found us well in health and strength, but now we are the victims of disease. Take it back at once." We say to Eini Hemoata, it is true that the Pakeha introduced ardent spirits to this country ; but he also introduced many other things by which the Maoris have benefited greatly. He has been the means of introducing the Gospel, and its ministers have affectionately exhorted you to be guided by its precepts, that you may be profited not only in this life, but in that which is to come. The Pakeha has given you schools for the education of your children, he has taught you to live in peace with each other, and he brought you a multitude of blessings which we cannot now stay to enumerate. You know that we could not prevent the importation of spirits to this country. The Pakeha came, bringing with him both the good and the evil customs pertaining to his generation. If, in spite of warnings, you choose to adopt the evil customs, and to follow the example of evil men, you are yourselves to blame, and must bear the consequences. If you were to caution a stranger not to eat any poisonous berry growing in your country, and he were, nevertheless, to persist in eating it, you would very justly say he brought his sufferings upon himself. And so it is with intoxicating drinks. We tell you they are poisonous ; and if you persist in using them, we cannot help you. We have received the letter of Mr. Joseph Palmer. Thomas Fox, of Purehua, East Coast, says the Native Land Act of 1873 gives great satisfaction to the Natives of that district. They generally disapprove of the employment of lawyers in the Land Court, and say, " Let every man be his own lawyer." Our correspondent says that Ngatiporou have taken to gold prospecting in the bush. _ Hohaia Eangiauru, of Motueka, Nelson, met Mr. Mackune on his late visit to that place. He says that any man who has the good of his country and his fellow-creatures at heart, will agree with the arguments of that gentleman against drinking habits. He deplores the infatuation of the Natives in his district, who, he says, daily frequent the public houses, men and women shouting and screaming inside, and young children crawling about and squealing outside. His friend Mr. Joseph Baker, teacher of the Native school at Motueka, is urging him to join

the Good Templars ; but lie is awaiting the arrival of Mr. Commissioner Mackay, so as to get his opinion on the subject. He thinks the leading men of the Good Templars should cause the regulations and objects of their Society to be published in the Maori language. The letter of Himiona Ngawaka, of Alexandra, is not suitable for publication in the Waha. We have before stated that we d& not approve of letters disputing about the supremacy of one tribe over another. Ngawharau, of Waikato, says the Natives of Waikato are much pleased at having obtained some prizes for some of their exhibits at a late agricultural show in the Waikato. Tutehourangi informs us that Petera Te Huia, of Whanganui, and two others, whose names we cannot decipher, have been seriously injured by falling from a tree in which they were snaring small birds to preserve for Mete Ivingi. They had succeeded in catching some 6,000 when the accident happened. The letters of Horomona Hapai, Manahi Te Ivarawa, Paora Poutini, and others must stand over.

Subscriptions received:— £ s. d From E. Woon, Esq., of Whancanui.B.M., for 1873-4. —Wircnm Pewa ; Ilakopa, Native teach cr; Ivaioro fco Iiamuera, and Wunu Banguverohia,all of Ivaratia, Whanganui ... 2 0 0 From Major Wheoro, Waikato, for 1874. —Major Wheoro, Eatima te Whakaete, Tamati Wircmu, Anaru Maki■whara, Ngawharan, Manahi, and Tipene Te Pou, all of the Kobe Kobe, Waikato (No. 5.) 3 10 0 From Eaniera te Iho-o-te-Rangi, of Wairarapa, for 1874. —Te Eev. Ivooti te Eato, of Eapaki, Lyttelton; and Mr. W. Savage, Mitre Hotel, Lyttelton (No. 1.) 1 0 0 ,, Maihi Paraone Kawiti, of Waioruio, . Bay of Islands 0 10 0 £7 0 0