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Waka Maori, Volume 10, Issue 6, 24 March 1874, Page 76

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European correspondents who have a knowledge of Maori are requested to be good enough to forward their communications in both languages. To the Editor of the Waka Maori. Wellington, 12th March, 1874. Sir, —Will you be good enough, to afford me space in your open column to submit the following letter for the consideration of the Native people of New Zealand. My friends, you have seen that the Waka Maori contains a diversity of matter bearing upon various subjects. You have advice given you in a spirit of love, and you are warned against evil and vicious practices which lead to the ruin and destruction of man. Drunkenness is one great destroyer of the human race. But it is not my intention, at this time, to speak upon that scourge of mankind; because you have frequently been warned against it in the pages of the Walca Maori, and exhorted to abandon drinking habits and devote yourselves to the pursuit of such things as were intended by the Creator for the employment of his creature man. If men would but observe the laws given to them by G-od for their

guidance, they would entirely escape many of the ills which afflict mankind, and there would be no deterioration of the races. What did God say to Adam and Eve in the beginning ?—" Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it;" and again to Noah ;—" Be ye fruitful, and multiply;. bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein." This is an immutable and unchangeable law of God. Take for example, those frigid and icebound regions of the earth where vegetation barely exists; there, by the labour and care of the inhabitants, the earth is made to yield her fruits -for the subsistance. of man, that he may increase and multiply. And if men take proper care of their bodies, not indulging in vices and evil habits, but pursuing the paths of virtue and morality, as individuals they will be healthy and happy, and united as nations, they will be great and prosperous. But if men, made by. the Creator in his own image and likeness, act a3 mere brutes, not using or cultivating the intelligence with which He has endowed them in the scale of creation, the necessary consequence will be disease and suffering, deterioration and extinction. My friends, let us determine to correct our ways; let us adopt a rule of conduct which will benefit us materially and spiritually. Man cannot do this in his own strength alone; but we must seek help from God, and with His aid we shall be enabled to direct our course aright, by His strength and guidance we shall be enabled to think rightly and act rightly. The human frame has been adapted by the Creator to the duties which man has to perform. The man, is fitted for his peculiar duties, and the woman for hers. Now there is one great evil existing among you Maori people to which I wish to direct your attention. Your women are badly fed, and have to perform work beyond their strength. This is quite contrary to the laws instituted for our guidance by an all-wise Creator, and in direct opposition to his words, spoken in the beginning, that woman was to be a help meet for man. There can be no excuse for making woman do all the drudgery and perform all the hard work for man. Woman was created to be a companion and a loving friend for man, and to strengthen and encourage him in his labours. Those people who reverence and respect their women are prosperous, and increase and multiply; but those who despise and ill-treat them become degraded, and diminished. " Give honor unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel." The Pakehas treat their women with attention and respect, and great care is given to their education. Any man who does not treat a woman with proper respect and deference, is looked upon as an ignorant, low fellow. In educating the woman we are, in fact, educating the man; for from whom do we receive our earliest lessons but our mothers? Where the woman's position is recognized and raised, the character of the nation is elevated with it, for she gives a tone to society, she is a model for the people. You must not suppose, from what I have said, that I approve of the woman neglecting her own proper duties, for which she is peculiarly fitted. She is strong enough to nurse children, prepare food, and attend to household duties generally. European

women do all this, but they are not overworked; and they bear many children and retain their good looks to a great age, Native women too, who are married to Europeans have many strong and healthy children, whilst the women of the Maori settlements rarely have more than two or three. This is entirely owing to the care which is taken of them, and their not haviug to perform labour beyond their strength. Honor, therefore, your women. Prom a. d., A friend of the Maoris.

To the Editor of the. Waka Maori. Timaru, Canterbury, February 13th, 1874. Friend —Greeting,—"Will you insert this letter in the Waka Maori, for the information of our friends who read the newspaper. It will be well for the Maoris of the North Island to give careful consideration to what I have to write about the Maoris of the Waipounamu (Middle Island), and to follow the example set by these people. Therefore do I write. During my rambles among the settlements of these people, on and after the 7th of February, I found that they would not touch intoxicating drinks. Whilst in other tribes not only the young, but old men and chiefs, are led away by its allurements, these people exhibit extraordinary energy and determination in suppressing the use of it throughout all their settlements. It is true that some few do still indulge in its use, but very few. I think I did not see more than two persons at Otago and two at Kaiapoi who use intoxicating liquors. But they are nothing in comparison to the .numbers who entirely abjure its use. My friends, this-fact is a pleasing surprise to me, because so much has been written in the newspaper by the people (Natives) of the North Island against drinking habits, yet without effect—those habits still remaining. Therefore I write, in the hope that some may be induced to consider this matter. These people who have attained to this state of blessedness —the suppression of drinking habits among themselves—are merely mortal, like other men. This is not a matter of which I have merely heard; I have seen it with my own eyes. During the time I was among them, although I felt an inclination to take my glass, I was restrained from doing so from very shame of breaking through their rules. If these people persevere in their present course, to what greater good, I ask, could they attain ? None whatever. This state of things has not been brought about amongst them by the exponents of teetotalism, but by their own experience o£ the evil of intoxicating liquors. They themselves say that at one time they were greatly addicted to drinking, but, seeing the evil of it, they made a determined effort to withstand the temptation; they held fast to the Christian religion to aid them in overcoming their enemy, strong drink. I will not pretend to say whether their religion be genuine or not; one thing is plain: they have been enabled to resist the temptation to drink, which is in itself an inestimable blessing. I shall now say something about this (Middle) Island; its soil, and the general appearance of the country. I saw no inferior country in the districts which I visited. There may be some poor country in some parts, but I did not go everywhere. What I saw was most excellent. The most mountainous part is from Otago to Moeraki. From Moeraki to Oaniaru, and on to Christchurch, is all level country. To me, a stranger, it was most pleasant to look at the extensive farms, and cultivations of wheat, oats, barley,

and potatoes.. Some of these cultivations, the property of one man, probably exceeded a thousand acres and some less. I was very much pleased and interested with the work performed . by. the reaping and threshing machines of the Pnkehas. The whole country appeared teeming with grain, whether on the hill-tops or the plains, the reaping machines were at work everywhere. The country from Moeraki to Christchurch is level as the surface of the sea. The old saying:—" Land, the sweep of the hawk," is very applicable to this country. I travelled, I suppose, some 200 miles over this country, and I found it everywhere cultivated. I imagine," were it not for the quantity of grain raised in'this Island, we should not have sufficient for our own consumption, in New Zealand. I had heard before of the large amount of food produced in this Island, but now seen it. 'The only uncultivated country is that which is occupied by sheep. Much fine country is thus occupied. If the sheep were kept on the hills, and the good land which they occupy cultivated by man, there would be more grain grown in this land than could be disposed of. The two Governments are together carrying on the construction of public works, such as railways for the conveyance of the productions of the interior to the coast for shipment. When the railways of this Island are completed, no doubt its harbours will be filled with the ships which will come to carry away the abundance of the fruits of the land. Prom yours, William Katene. [The Hon. William Katene is desirous that the people of this Island should follow the praiseworthy example of temperance set by the people of the South Island. The people, as a rule, will not abandon their drinking habits unless the chiefs set the example, and use their influence to promote sobriety in their respective tribes. We trust the Hon. William Katene will take the lead in this great work amongst his own people; thereby setting an example which many other chiefs will not, we thinkj be slow to follow. There is a great and a noble work before him ; and the path of duty is open which leads to it, and to a fame which will not be lost to succeeding generations. Let him follow it. and we earnestly wish him '• God speed."]

To the Editor of the Waka Maori. "Wellington, 3rd March. 1574. Sik, —I do not know whether our Maori friends are aware that they can become members of the Wellington Horticultural Society just the same aa if they were Pakehas. I think it would be well if thev were to avail themselves of the opportunity. "Without becoming members, they can exhibit at, the snows, and contend for prizes, by paying an entrance fee of Is. for each thing, or lot of things, entered for competition. I know that the Maories living at the Hutt supply the town with vegetables ; and, s. me that I have seen brought into market, I believe they could compete favourably with European competitors. At our last show a Chinaman competed for some of the prizes, and came oft' successful.

There is to "be a show on the 12th.of" March instant; and I shall always be happy to give any of our Maori friends such information as they inay desire. The corning show will be the last of the season. I am, Sir, Tours respectfully, C. K. Jeffs. [We received the above letter too late for insertion in the last WaJca ; but we publish it now for the purpose of bringing the subject before the Natives. We trust they will take an interest in this matter, and be prepared to exhibit some vegetables and fruits of their own growing next season. The objects of the Horticultural Society are to improve horticulture in all its branches, ornamental as well as useful, and to discuss the systems of cultivation best adapted to the elimate of Wellington. Mr. Jeffs has kindly offered to give any Natives who may call upon him such information as may be necessary; we, therefore, refer them to him for further particulars. He* resides next door to the Chinaman wood-carver, Lambton Quay.]