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Waka Maori, Volume 10, Issue 16, 11 August 1874, Page 199

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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. Te Kohekohe, Waikato, IStli July, 1874;. Erieist), —Greeting. The duties which you are discharging are calculated to unite the two races inhabiting this country into one people, by the dissemination of knowledge, and the encouragement o£ of peaceful relations between them; thus they become as elder and younger brothers under one rule of practice. In these days the light of knowledge shines brightly upon our land. The heart rejoices in the words of Sir James Eergusson, delivered in Auckland on the education of youth, and published in a late Walca. All, great and small, were pleased and delighted beyond measure, and the paper containing the report was read with the greatest interest. Those words were as a great light shining forth upon us from an atmosphere of peace and happiness. It is to be hoped that out of these full and perfect utterances (of the Governor) an influence may arise which will crush the head of that sharptoothed monster, " Alcohol." Then would the people beyond the confines of knowledge be brought in ; the adamantean Puriri tree would rejoice in its flexibility, and the firm Rata tree in its beautiful blossoms. Now, my friends, in our parents' lifetime we cast from us many opportunities of acquiring knowledge ; and now, when left alone, we vainly endeavour to acquire learning; but what has been the result ? As the spider essayed many times unsuccessfully to climb the wall of the house, and at last by perseverance succeeded, so, in like manner, it will be matter of rejoicing for us if we, by perseverance, attain to that position of knowledge and learning occupied by the civilized nations of the world. And Schools and Christianity are the means to this end. By attention to these things, we, the rising generation, may become a happy people. There is another ready means by which we may acquire knowledge; and that is by supporting the Walca Maori, which is a great boon bestowed upon us. Ido not, in this matter, allude to those tribes of the island who largely support the Waka Maori. I refer particularly to my own people of this district, very few comparatively of whom support it; although it is one road leading to the blessings which we are all so anxious to obtain in this world. Are not days of peace and knowledge matter of rejoicing for the heart? Look at our friend Major Ropata, in Sydney, expressing his delight with that " wonderful train," as he calls it. In times of peace and knowledge are heard the songs of birds, which usher in years of plenty for every region. If Major liopata would favour us with the completion of his account of his travels, and the things he saw in that country, we should be glad, and should value it as a golden ring upon the finger, and meditate with delight upon the wonderful thing 3 of that strange land. Why should he excite our desires by revealing only a few incidents of his travels ? The course pursued by the King of Fiji and his people, in ceding the sovereignty of their country to Victoria the Queen of England, is one which commends itself strongly to the mind. They will, by that means, participate in the wisdom possessed by the educated races of the world. It is a source of anxiety to me that my people in this district have not yet honestly held fast to the law. Some years past they had excellent regulations and laws to which they adhered. A regular system was adopted, and

a Runanga was duly elected for the management of our affairs in our district, and for the entire suppression, within our boundaries, of hostile expeditions, common among the Maoris, by which men were stripped of their property and impoverished. Then, at that time also, came the power of the protecting laws of England, and the Maori practices were abolished, and did not again make head at that time. There were two persons who presided over that Runanga—Ngawharau, and H. E. Korongoi. The Runanga numbered over one hundred members. It would be well if the Runanga in question would put forth more energy in their good work, for they seem to have become lukewarm and apathetic in the performance of their duties, and old Maori practices are again beginning to make head-way here. But the Maori practices will not prevail against the Runanga, as their steadfast endeavour is to uphold the laws. On the 22nd of May last, certain hapus of Waikato, being assembled at Panehakua, in the- district of Eangiaowhia, arranged to play a game of cricket, in celebration of the Queen's birthday, the 24th of May. As that day, however, was Sunday, nearly a hundred persons, exclusive of women and children, assembled on the cricket ground, on Saturday, the 23rd of May. There were no Europeans present to witness the game, as they were all absent merry-making in the various Waikato townships. Two young men, Ihaka Takiekie and Wiremu Tamapo, were appointed scorers. The captains having tossed for innings, the Kohekohe eleven got the first innings, and the Rangiriri eleven took the field to catch the balls. The observers were greatly pleased with the activity exhibited by the young men in their flying leaps to catch the ball—they leaped like so many rabbits. The people enjoyed themselves exceedingly on that day, but I cannot fully describe the whole proceedings—scores, wickets, &c. The score of the Kohekohe eleven was 118, with three wickets to fall. The full score of the Rangiriri eleven was 85 ; they consequently lost, and had to pay the sum of £22, which it had been arranged should be spent in a feast on that day. The best players of the Kohekohe eleven were Te Ratu, Herewini, Karepe, Makiwhara, "Waka, Harawira, "Wetere, and Te Raiwhanake. They had acquired skill by playing with Europeans. The best players of the Rangiriri side were Hunia Maki, Emanuera, Te Aohau, Te "Whatu, Hiriweteri, and Taniora Te Au. I shall now conclude, lest I weary you. Erom your friend, MAJN'AHI, of the Kohekohe, "Waikato.

To the Editor of the WaJca Maori. "Wellington, August 4th, 1874. Sir, —As I understand that the readers of the Waka Maori have been interested in the perusal of the letters which I addressed to you from Sydneyrespecting what I saw in that place, I now, with your permission, proceed to give them an account of my experiences in Melbourne. When Mr. McLean had completed his business in Melbourne, he informed us that we were about to proceed south, where we should have an opportunity of viewing the towns and district of Victoria. He directed that X and Mr. E. McLean should precede him to that place. Accordingly, on the 6th of June, that' gentleman and I embarked on board steamer at four o'clock p.m., and forthwith proceeded on our voyage. There were no further inhabitants on the land. The great extent of country past which we sailed possessed but few inhabitants. The name of our steamer was the " Victoria." She was a large

and fast vessel, and she cut through the water with great velocity. 'Twas wonderful—like the winking of an eye ! That expression, however, " wanking of an eye, ' is more applicable to the speed of the railway train. All the great stretch of Coast which we passed, from Sydney to the Heads of Victoria, is (comparatively speaking) uninhabited—a distance of six hundred miles. Probably that is about the same as the distance from Port Nicholson to Auckland; between which places, however, there are some inhabitants, occupying spots here and there. But the population of those towns has not' yet extended to the out-districts. The total population of Sydney and Victoria amounts, probably, to S00,000; but the districts are but sparsely inhabited. There are three other large towns, situated in other divisions of this island, which we did not visit. Probably they also contain a large number of inhabitants. The population of New Zealand is not near so large as that of New South Wales ; the European population of this country being only about 300,000, and the Maori population probably not more than 46,000. That country, from its great extent, cannot be fully peopled by the Europeans (who possess it), for it'is the largest of all the islands in the world—England, New Zealand, and other islands, are small in comparison with it. r "When our steamer arrived at her destination, we beheld the '■ sea " (harbour) of Victoria. I was quite taken by surprise. There is no harbour in New Zealand at all to compare with it in extent. The expanse of water was greater than the distance from Napier to Waikawa (an island off the Mahia Peninsula), nor was there a mountain boundary to be seen on either side. As we steamed along upon this extensive sheet of water, we gazed around us with interest. The distance from the entrance to the town is thirty-five miles, and there are neither waves nor current within the harbour. At length the steamer reached the town of Sandridge, where the vessels lie. Here were a surprising number of vessels it was perfectly astounding! Their masts appeared thick as the bare stalks of corn in a field over which the fire has passed. There were steamers, men-of-war, vessels with two masts, and vessels with one mast only* There is one iron vessel of war, which stands about five feet out of the water. She is built entirely of iron, and has many large guns on board. It is said that the shot from the big guns of an enemy would have no effect on her. She was oraciously presented by the Queen to the G-overninent of the country, as a mark of her patronage and protection. So also a three-masted war vessel which is there. She, also, was given as a training ship for the children of the colony, to make man-of-war sailors of them, and the system is now being carried out. When the steamer got alongside the wharf we, and other Pakehas, took passage by the railway, so that we might speedily arrive at the chief town, Melbourne. When we arrived at that city we beheld it with admiration. Such is the beauty of level country ! Sydney, too, is a fine city ; but there are different kinds of beauty. The streets of Melbourne are wide, and all built of stone—there are no wooden houses. On Tuesday the 7th of June, Mr. McLean and Colonel St. John left Sydney, and on the I2th they arrived at the Sandridge wharf, where I and Mr. K. McLean went to meet them. I saw them, and the heart of the lonely one rejoiced. On the 13th, Governor Bowen sent us an invitation to dine with him at seven o'clock in the evening,.

and we went. He was pleased to see us and greeted us most cordially. We found a number of gentlemen of the town and heads of the Government and the Ministry had assembled at his house. At dinner the Pakehas kept up a conversation, which, of course, was quite unintelligible to Maori ears. There were a number of Mr. McLean's countrymen present. Some of them are members of the Government. On Monday, the 15th, Mr. McLean and Mr. K. McLean went by train to some of the inland towns. I was unwell, therefore I did not accompany them. The place whither they were going was 150 miles distant. They arrived there safely, and beheld the beauties of that district, which is open and level, without any hills or mountains whatever. There is a large swamp or fen there however, some ninety miles in extent. Mr. D. McLean returned after a week's absence. I accompanied the Governor to a Government Music Hall (Town Hall, containing a large organ),, and also to a building for the Exhibition of Arts. In this latter building there are some shocking things—images. Really, the Pakehas are a most extraordinary people ! They are shocked if a button fall from a man's shirt collar, and exclaim —" Mind ! Mind the button of your shirt! It has fallen off! The ladies will see your throat! " And yet they manufacture nalced images of stone, and exhibit them to travellers ! Who can comprehend the mystery of their ways ! A large residence is being erected for the Governor, which will shortly be finished. We were unable to see all the sights of the country, or to avail ourselves of all the invitations and kindness of the people of Melbourne, owing to the near approach of the session of the New Zealand Parliament. And here, my friends, let me say, that of all features of the Pakehas' character, their industry is the most important and the most valuable. Industry will produce wealth, but what will idleness produce? You know the Maori adage—"lndustry produces food ; indolence produces nothing." I went to see the reptiles and beasts of which we have heard accounts—the lion, the bear, and the snake. I could not consider them with attention, from the dread with which they inspired me. I trust such things may not be brought to this country ; let them remain where they are. I strongly deprecate their introduction here. I also went with Mr. McLean to the Mint, where money is coined. I there saw the process of melting it, dividing it, making it into square bars, flattening it, shaping it into round pieces, and stamping it. In the space of one minute they can stamp £64, and in a single day £16,000. This business I observed attentively. The rapidity of the process was equal to that of an adept at dealing cards. jSTow, my friends, it is probable that we might see these things carried on in this our own country, were it not for our dissensions and obstructiveness, and our retrogression and return even to the ignorance and stupidity of our forefathers on board the Arawa and Tainui, when they came hither from Hawaiki. (The Arawa and Tainui were two of the canoes in which the early inhabitants migrated to this country.) They brought from thence a " Ivura" (valuable ear ornament of red feathers), and when they arrived at Whangaparaoa, north of Waiapu (East Cape), on the coast of this country, they saw the scarlet blossoms of the rata trees there, and exclaimed to each other: " Priends, this is not the real Kura which we are bringing with us ! See, there is the genuine red article on shore." Some said, "Yes, indeed! Let us cast away this whi?h we have with us." And they cast it into the water. Afterwards, they collected

some of the scarlet rata blossoms ; but the sun had not long shone upon them ere they withered and died. Then they said, "O ! this is not the real Kura. Hi at- which we have cast away is the real thing after all.' But when they looked to find it again, it appeared that it had been cast on shore by the waves and found by Mahinaiterangi. Tauninihi, the real owner of the Kura, hearing in whose possession it was, went and asked that it might be given up to him, but he was refused. Mahinaiterangi said to him, " It is a wait of the waters cast on shore, and therefore mine." Hence the familiar Maori adage : " This is Mahinaiterangi's Kura—a waif of the sea cast on shore." So they cast away the reality and grasped the shadow; and thai? is Just what we are now doing. Again, long after this Captain Cook visited this island. He brought up his ship at Turanganui-o-Kiwa, and went in his boat on shore to purchase provisions for himself and his sailors. The natives of the place, with taiahas, meremercs, tokotokos, and huatas, (wooden and stone weapons) advanced to attack him and his sailors. He then said to his people;—'' Let us return to the ship, lest we be killed." He said he supposed there was nothing to be got in that place to eat, and that the people lived on human flesh. (This he himself subsequently toid the people at another place.) Therefore he called that place " Poverty Bay." Then he sailed to Uawa, and there he saw the chief Whakatatareoterangi. He called out to him; —"Tatare! Tatare ! give me some provisions," and a supply of provision was given to him accordingly. Then said Captain Cook; —"Tatare! Tatare is a chief!" (words which afterwards became a provcrbialism). Captain Cook then gave to "Whakatatareoterangi a bright red scarf, a musket, a keg of powder, and a flat lump of lead, and told him to make trial of his skill by firing olf his musket. The gun was then loaded and the chief held it close to his cheek and fired it off', but he was so alarmed at the report that he dashed it down upon the stones and it was broken, then he threw it into the water. Afterwards they broke open the keg of powder, and came to the conclusion that it was turnip seed. So they cleared away the bushes and prepared a plot of ground and planted the supposed turnip seed. Then the people rejoiced and said ; —" Our women and children will be satisfied (fed), for the seed of food is in the ground." Others said ; —" Yes, true. No wonder if we rejoice. It is so very jolly." And when it afterwards rained, they said, " This will bring up our seed." Out of the lead they formed an adze, which they sharpened carefully, and put a nicely-made handle to it. And the fame of this adze, possessed by the Whakatatareoterangi, spread far and wide among the tribes. At length «they assembled in numbers to examine it, and witness the trial of its capabilities. On the first blow being struck upon the wood, lo and behold !it bent and doubled up! Then all the people, as with one voice, exclaimed, " O ! it has not been subjected to the influence of fire! If it were heated in the fire it would become hard." Then said they, " Hight! Bring some wood for a fire. Let it be green wood, that the fire may burn long and the adze be well hardened." So they lighted a fire, and cast the adze upon it; but, wonder of wonders !it melted! Then arose a shout, " Drag it from the fire! AVe must consider some plan to perfect this adze." Quite a number rushed to the fire and attempted to pick it out with sticks, but it separated into many parts, scattered about, and was abandoned. And so ignorance came to its natural result.

That, my friends, was the outset of our ignorance in Pakeha matters. From that time, European usages and customs gradually advanced in regular order down to the introduction of Christianity; and we were saved by that law (Christianity), which came from England. The first laws sent to us by the Queen were the ordinances of religion, to save us and to subdue our evil passions and revengeful natures, and the oppression and spoliation of one tribe by another. By the influence of religion we were taught to love our relations, and to know that we are all related. But we afterwards relapsed into our old state of ignorance, like the ignorance of our forefathers, related above. Religion, the thing of real value, we have cast aside and trampled on, and followed other strange devices; therefore, trouble has gone on increasing among the people generally. The Europeans of the lands which I have visited have but one rule of conduct and one tendency of thought. They live together in one country, and are united in following industrious pursuits. "Whether they be English, French, Chinamen, Scotch, or of any other nationality, it matters not, they live as one people ; and, although they are so mixed together, I did not observe any disagreement or trouble among them. On the contrary, they live together in harmony and in obedience to the laws passed by the Parliament of that country, in the same manner as our Parliament here in New Zealand make laws for our guidance and welfare, which laws we condemn and trample underfoot. Sometimes such condemnation is fair and reasonable. We may propelry object to a law which all are unanimous in condemning. But laws which are just and proper must be acknowledged as such, and may not be condemned. As a rule, your condemnation of the law will have no effect; and, if you condemn the law, by the law you will be condemned. If any part of this letter be applicable to any of you, then give heed to it. On Wednesday, the 15th of July, Mr. McLean and I embarked at Sandridge on board the steamer " Otago," bound for New Zealand. The steamer " Rangatira " had preceded us, and was nearly hull down when we started. But we were not long in overhauling her, showing that she was deficient in speed. It was by her we went from Auckland to Sydney. Our steamer continued on her course all night, and next day we got a view of some part of Tasmania. Heavy weather now commenced, and on the third flay it blew with great violence, and everything on board fell over to the (lee) side of the vessel. A heavy sea washed over the masts and down the companion-way, filling the cabin with water and setting everything afloat—passengers' boxes, boots, and clothing. The berths in the cabin were flooded with water. The horses were thrown down, unable to stand from the violence of the gale. But the skill exhibited by Captain John McLean, gave the passengers confidence and courage. After four days and a half had passed away, we entered a fine harbour on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand, north of the Bluff (one of the West Coast sounds). We penetrated right in among the mountains for a distance of about two miles from the sea,, and then brought up among the trees. We were perfectly sheltered from the wind. The next day we directed our course south again, and by night we were off the Bluff. In the morning the steamer entered the harbour, and we proceeded by the railway to see the town inland (Invercargill). After we had satisfied our curiosity we returned to the steamer,, and at 4 o'clock p.m., we were off again. Next morning we arrived at Otago harbour, and went by railway to the principal town inland (Dunedin). We passed under the hills in the dark for a time, and then again emerged into the light, and so we reached the

and frost and snow plentiful. The inhabitants of that place must be verv hardy to be able to get through their work. "We slept there that night, and the next evening returned to the steamer, which proceeded to sea the same night, and the next morning arrived at Port: Cooper. Here again we went by the railway through a tunnel, two miles in length, to Christchurch. which is a large town. Here 1 fell in ■\\ith some ot my relations, who were engaged executing some carving after the style of our ancestors, upon a Maori house which, is being erected there by order of the Government, to show the stvle of the old Maori works of art in New Zealand. Two short posts of the house have been sent to England to the Queen, by the Government, as a sample of Maori work. There are only two engaged upon the work, but they are both skillful hands of Ngatiporou. Their names are Hone Taahu, and Tamati Xgakaho. Leaving Christchurch we returned by the railway to the steamer, and arrived in "Wellington 011 the 2Gth of July last. 1 have given your readers a somewhat lengthy account of my travels, but it would require many loiters to tell them about everything I saw in the places which I visited. From Major Ixopata, of JNgatiporou.