NOTICES AND ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Waka Maori, Volume 10, Issue 26, 29 December 1874, Page 319

NOTICES AND ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

The young men of Purehua, East Coast, says Horomona Hapai, at a Runanga lately held by them to investigate the causes of their failure in business speculations and efforts to acquire wealth, have adopted the following resolutions, to which they have pledged themselves in writing : —" (1.) To abolish the custom of entertaining and feeding staingers. (2.) To abandon the practice of calling at Native settlements by the way and partaking gratuitously of food; any refreshment received must be paid for, lest it be expected that we in our turn should entertain travellers gratuitously. (3.) Being an association of young men devoted to buying and selling and accumulating wealth, no man can eat or sleep in our houses without paying. (4.) We abjure the use of intoxicating drinks altogether." It was further agreed that any one who failed to observe the above resolutions should be expelled from the association and forfeit his interest and share in the profits of the sheep, and in whatever profits might accrue from other business undertakings. The last resolution (No. 4) is the only one with which wc can agree; and we suspect the habit to which it refers is more damaging to the prosperity of our friends in question thai* any other thing. The other resolutions are selfish in the extreme. The Maoris have ever been noted for their hospitality to strangers, and wc do not for a moment suppose that these young men are naturally more inhospitable than their fellows. But seeing the want and distress resulting from the practice, so common among the Maoris, of squandering large sums in feeding idle wanderers, who travel for the express purpose of feasting at the expense of others, and noting the European custom of paying for travellers' accommodation, they have thoughtlessly rushed into the extreme of selfishness and illibcrality—thinking it no doubt the "correct thing," and that they are only doing what a proper and judicious economy demands. They would be shocked if they thought they were laying themselves open to a charge of inhospitality. There is a proper

hospitality which becomes every man ; but the cxlravagauco and prodigality usually displayed by the Maoris in receiving strangers is very reprehensible. It is doubtful whether it arises so much from a large-hearted liberality as from ostentation and vanity. Our Pureb.ua friends must not suppose that, because they are set upon " making money," they are at liberty to disregard the claims of hospitality, and that "no man may eat or sleep in their houses without paying." Let them remember the old Maori proverb—" Come, follow the footsteps of Uwenuku, that you may eat." The paper to Paora Pene, of the Armed Constabulary, shall be sent to Ohinemutu, Eotorua, in future, as required. We would not soil our pen by writing about the practice to which he alludes. With reference to a notification, which appeared in WaJca No. 23, from certain Natives of Whangaehu, declaring that they would not sell any land at Taangarakau, Paratene te Wheoro and Neta te Wheoro, of Whanganui, write disputing the rights of the above-mentioned Natives to the land in question. They say that (in times past) all invaders of the said land were beaten and driven off by Te Kapanga, a powerful and influential Whanganui chief. . Neta te Wheoro, Paratene te Wheoro, and Paiura, are the direct descendants of Te Kapanga, and they are prepared to support their claim by law. The Ngatihaunui and Ngatipoutama tribes, of Whanganui write that, at a Eunanga held by them on the sth of December instant, it was determined that their lands should be surveyed early in the year 1875, in order to prevent the encroachment of other hapus thereon. The following are the blocks referred to :■—Pukenui-o-Kahu, Te Ahu-o-Eaikapiki, Tuhirangi, Moumou, Otarahuru, Okahupane, Ohotu, and Eangitahi. They invite all hapus interested in the above lands, or lands adjoining thereto^ to be present at Karatia at the end of February next, as they intend to commence cutting the boundary line in* March next. Hata Pokiha, of the Awanui, Waiapti, should write to the Wananga. as his strictures have reference to that paper. _ Tamati Eeina had better write again, and in a more intelligible style. Let him finish one subject fully and clearly before he commences another, and we shall probably be able to understand his production. The subject of his letter is an interesting one, but he has written in so confused and desultory a manner that the sense is incomplete. Eeihana Tarahaea, of Waimate, Bay of Islands, says the people should not blame the Government, nor the free 'sale of spirituous liquors, for the evils resulting from intoxication in the country. The people'themselves are to blame ; they rush to " embrace the bottle," and then blame the Pakeha for their own foolishness. These people who now cry out so much, he says, have always known that the " Pakeha brought rum, together with Christianity, to this country," but it appears they have only now discovered that it (rum) is a bad thing, although they have long used it. Eaniera Erihana, of Otago, writes that the Natives of Waikouaiti have this year sold their wool for £7OO, and their wethers for £6OO. With respect to the children, the fosterparents, under such circumstances, cannot claim payment unless previously so arranged between the parties. Letter from Eru Nehua received. We will rectify the matter of which he speaks. Tamihana Aperahama, of Kaipara, is angry with us because we do not publish the price of cattle, sheep, and horses, and of marketable commodities generally. We regret that we have incurred the displeasure of Tamihana, but we cannot, nevertheless, undertake .to give the prices of such things in various parts of the country, as they vary in different places—there are no fixed prices applicable to the whole of the colony. Tamihana must inquire at the stores in the district, and look into the local papers for the information he seeks. Will Captain Preece be good enough to give us the names of the Natives for whom he has forwarded subscriptions, so that we may acknowledge the receipt of the money in the usual way. We beg to pass the compliments of the season to our numerous readers, and to wish them a happy and prosperous New Year.

Subscriptions received :— £ s. d. From E. Woon, Esq., R.M., Whanganui, for 1S73.—Pirimona Te Eahu, of Tc Ihupuku, Waitotara 0 10 0 1874. —Pirimona Te Kaku, of Te Ihupuku, Waitotara 0 10 0 1875. —Iloani To Anini, of Maruata, Whangarci, Auckland ... 0 10 0 1874.—Eru Nehua, of Taharoa, Whangarci, Auckland ... 0 10 0 1875.—Hutana Taru, of Waipiro Bay, East Coast 0 10 0 1873.—Kereama Herangi, of Wairau ... 0 10 0 1874. —Kereama Herangi, of Wairau 0 10 0 £3 10 0