NOTICES AND ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Waka Maori, Volume 10, Issue 7, 7 April 1874, Page 81

NOTICES AND ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Rutene Tainguru, of the Wairoa, Hawke's Bay, states that Rapaia te Apu has fallen under the ban of the Natives of that place as a sorcerer. They ascribe the death of a number of persons, who have died lately in the district, to the operation of his magic arts. A public meeting was convened on the subject, at which he was charged by several individuals with having brought about the death of certain of their relations by witchcraft. His indignant denials were disregarded, and the meeting, with one exception, came to the sage conclusion that he was guilty, and that he was a pest in the district, who ought not to be suffered to live. He was then informed that it was only out of consideration for the law that his life was spared, and warned to be careful not to move about from the place where he was born, otherwise he might come to grief. Rutene Piwaka alone dissented from the decision of the meeting Ho said the deaths charged upon Rapaia arose from natural causes; the Lord had said unto Adam, when he and Eve sinned, " Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return," and so it had ever since been. We thought the Wairoa Natives had more sense than to encourage such ideas—the growth of a past age of superstition and ignorance. The belief in witchcraft and necromancy has long been discarded by the more intelligent tribes of New Zealand. If the Wairoa people were to take the life of Rapaia, they would be guilty of murder. Rutene Piwaka appears to have been the most sensible man at the meeting. The papers of Hoani te Amorangi, of Horowhenua, have been regularly forwarded to Mr. Hector McDonald, as requested.

The paper has been duly posted to Abraham Taonui, of Te Aratapu, Wairoa, Auckland. We cannot explain why he has not received them. "We now forward others from the Ist of January last, addressed to the care of H. T. Kemp, Esq., Civil Commissioner, Auckland. Tuhakaraina of Cambridge, Auckland, states that Hemara and Ngatau exhibited two horses, their own property, at the late Agricultural Show at the Awamutu, to each of which was awarded a prize; but the other natives, being jealous of the successful exhibitors, declared the horses were the property of Pakehas, and the prizes were withheld in consequence. We have posted the Waka for Tuhakaraina, from Ist January last, to the care.of W. Searancke, Esq., R.M., of Waikato. The letter of Paora Poutini, and others, of Whanganui, will appear in our next. Manahi Te Karawa, of Te Niho-o-te-Kiore, Taupo, would liko to see the native people of this country embrace the Christian religion in sincerity. He fears the Arawa people, in particular, have sadly fallen away from their Christian profession. In days past they were very attentive to their religious duties, and large buildings for public worship were to be seen in every part of their district. Now they have no ministers, neither European nor Maori, and the places of worship have disappeared, excepting only one at Maketu, where there is a minister, and one at the Wairoa, Tarawera, where there is also a minister. Some places which once possessed churches have erected public houses in their stead. Horomona Hapai informs us that, on the 9th of March last, some 300 Maoris assembled at Tokomaru to celebrate the birth of a grandchild of Henare Potae. In recognition of the birth of this child they determined to amend their ways, and the following subjects therefore were the topics of discussion at the meeting, namely,—the prosperity and safety they were experiencing as a people this year ; the extension of hospitality to strangers j support of the schools for the education of their children; establishment of churches in the district; suppression of rum drinking, as counselled in letters from their Pakeha friends; obedience to the laws ; and, lastly, fair and equitable arrangements in regard to leasing of lands. A great variety of edibles was provided for the' use of the meeting, as is usual in such cases. We trust our Maori friends of Tokomaru may faithfully carry out their good resolutions. If they do so, the birth of the grandchild of Henare Potae may be compared to the rising of the sun —shedding light, warmth, and happiness, throughout their district. We have been unable to continue our account of Dr. Livingstone's travels in this issue of the Waka, but we shall return to it in our next.

Subscriptions received:— £ s. d. From R. Woon, Esq., of Wlianganui, R.M., for 1874. —R. Woon, Esq., R.M., Major Kemp, Edward Broughton, Esq., Mete Kingi, Aperahama Tipae, Pehi Taroa, Poma Haumi, Hone Hira, Aperahama Tahunuiorangi, Himema Huriwaka, Haimona te Ao-o-te-Rangi, Pama Poutini, Remi Raupo, Pehira Turei, Te Rangihuatau, and Hone Tumango, all of Wlianganui 8 0 0 „ From H. R. C. Wallace, Esq., of Poverty Bay—For Apiata te Hame and Kerehona Piwaka, both of Whangara, Poverty Bay (No. 5, 1874) 1 0 0 £9 0 0