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Waka Maori, Volume 12, Issue 2, 25 January 1876, Page 14

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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. Waiapu, 24th December, 1875. Feienu, —Greeting. This is for the information of Pakeha and Maori friends throughout the country. "We had a great feast here at Akuaku, on the 16th instant, and a large gathering of both Maoris and Pakehas, on the occasion of an entertainment given by the teacher (Mr. Browne) of the Akuaku School, and Tamati Tautuhi, the Chairman of the School Committee. A number of prominent European settlers from the coast honoured the ceremony of " cutting up the fish " with their presence (i.e., were present at the feast). Among the visitors were J. H. Campbell, Esq., R.M., of Waiapu, and his two sons; Mr. Greene, the teacher of the Waiapu School; Mr. G. Walker; Mr. R. M. Skeet; Mr. H. D. Levinsohn, and a number of others too numerous to enumerate. The tables were laden with a variety of delicacies for the use of the children, their parents and friends, and the European visitors. We must however speak of the gratifying evidence given on that day of the progress of the school children. Their skill in reading English, their knowledge of the doctrines of Christiauity, their acquaintance with the maps, and general knowledge of geography and history, were pleasing proofs of the progress they were making and their aptitude for acquiring knowledge.

At the conclusion of the examination the Europeans present and some of the Maoris contributed a sum of money for the benefit of the school, as a mark of their appreciation of the management of the institution. The Europeans, the Chairman of the School Committee, and the teacher, sat down together, at a table set apart for their use, to partake of the good things provided. Some of the European gentlemen stood up and addressed the company, expressing their appreciation of the efforts made by the teacher (Mr. Browne) to provide for the accommodation and comfort of the visitors ; .T. H. Campbell, Esq., R.M., especially, complimented him very highly on the success of his efforts to impart knowledge to the children under his care. Mr. Browne then, in answer, said, " My Pakcha friends, I beg to return you my heartfelt thanks for your kind appreciation of my humble exertions in connection with this school. It must not, however, be supposed that by my own unaided exertions the children have been brought to their present satisfactory position. lam proud to acknowledge that I am greatly indebted to my worthy friend, Tamati Tautuhi, the "Chairman of the School Committee, for the active assistance and support which he has ever afforded me. I have also to express thanks to Mr. Campbell, R.M., on behalf of my self and the other teachers of Native schools in this district, for the assistance and encouragement we have received from him, and for the interest he has always evinced in the education of the Maori children." In conclusion, Mr. Browne expressed a hope that Her Most-Gracious Majesty, Queen Victoria, and her children, might live long in the enjoyment of health and happiness. Other Pakehas also gave expression to similar feelings of loyalty towards the Queen. After the feeding was over a number of games were introduced, such as climbing a pole, skipping, racing, jumping, &c., and fun and frolic reigned supreme throughout the day. From your Pakeha Ebiends.

To the Editor of the Walca Maori. Native School, Parikino, "Whanganui, 11th. January, 1876. Sir, —Upon commencing school duties after the holidays, I gave my senior pupils, as an exercise in English composition, the task of writing a letter describing the Christmas School Festival at Parikino. I thought the enclosed so good that I made the lad recopy it as a letter to you. I think, if inserted in the Walca, it will at least show that the Maori youth are capable of acquiring a knowledge of the English language. I gave him no assistance except in the punctuation. The translation is entirely his own. I am, Sir, &c., Henry Nickless, Master of the Parikino School. To the Editor of the Waka Maori. Native School, Parikino, January 11th, 1876. Sir, —I have some few words to say about the Christmas School Festival at Parikino. On Friday all the Jerusalem children came down to join in the Christinas festivities, and a multitude of people also from different places, in all about 800

or 900. In the evening the Parikino children came together in the school-room, before Mr. "Woon, Rev. Taylor, and our Schoolmaster, and recited several pieces of poetry, and the school was full of people, and the room was very clean, and was beautifully decorated by our Master, Mr. Nickless, and intermingled with the evergreens were a number of pretty devices, both Maori and English, as follows: —" God Save the Queen," " A Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year," " Success to Whanganui Native Schools," " Christ was born in Bethlehem," " Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards men." On Saturday morning an assembly was made outside the school, and R. W. Woon Esq., R.M., gave out a number of prizes (which were sent from the Government) to the children of both schools, and the School Committee were also present. I then came forward to thank Mr. W oon and the Government for giving the school children prizes. When this was finished, we marched to the dining tent, and the grace was sung by the Parikino school children in English, and afterwards repeated in Maori by the Rev. B. K. Taylor. After dinner we had a game of cricket and some other games. Sunday, Rev. B. K. Taylor held services in the Mananui (a large wharepuni), and also in the school-room, all of which were well attended. After the services he baptized fifty children. On Monday he married twenty couples. In the afternoon we collected eleven of Parikino school boys to play the eleven of the Jerusalem school boys, and the Parikino school boys won the match by 39 runs. So that altogether we spent a very merry Christmas, for which we have to thank both our Pakeha and Maori friends. I have no more to say. —I am, yours truly. Walter Williams Hipango.

[We have given insertion to the above letter with very great pleasure, and we venture to express a hope that the more advanced pupils of other Native schools also will follow the example of our intelligent young friend, WiremuHipango, and let their Pakeha friends of New Zealand see that they are benefitting by the opportunities of acquiring knowledge which are afforded them in the establishment by the Government _of schools throughout the country. Such a practice would create a spirit of emulation among the boys, and thereby materially assist the teachers in their endeavours to impart knowledge to their pupils. Let our young friends observe that here is a youth ("Wi liipango) who, by acquiring a good knowledge of the English language, has passed the wall which, it may be said, intervenes between the two races, preventing that interchange of thought and feeling which is so essential to the harmony and wellbeing of both. Having overcome the difficulties of the English language, he will now be able to avail himself of all the advantages which the Europeans enjoy, and a thousand avenues will be opened up to

him by which he may attain to knowledge, wealth, and position. "We congratulate him on the progress he has made, and we congratulate his teacher, Mr. Nickless, on the efficiency o£ his teaching.]

To the Editor of the TPaka Maori. Napier, 9th January, 1876. Friend,—Greeting. The friends of Maungapohatu have requested me to transmit to you the following account of his death, and his lineage, for publication in the WaJca Maori that his relatives throughout the island may see it:— On the 25th of December, 1875, at six o'clock in the evening, Maungapohatu, the son of Te Wanakore Te Uamairangi, departed this life at Tauranga. He was a youth of high rank of the Ngaiterangi and Waikato tribes; and he was connected with many other tribes in this island. He was directly descended from those distinguished ancestors who came in the canoes (from Hawaiki) which brought to this island the progenitors of the northern tribes and those on the East Coast. His death is greatly regretted by all the tribes to which he was related. The following are his lines of descent from various ancestors who came in those primeval canoes, — From Kokako, a chief of the canoe named Taintji,— Kokako, Tamainupo, Wairere, Karaka-Tutahi, ISTgakur a-Tu- k i-te-Wao, Irikaraka, Kairua, Tarahuka, Moke, Hou, Te Uamairangi, Te Wanakore. and lastly Maungapohatu. From Hot.uroa, another chief of the canoe Taintji,— lioturoa, Motai (in allusion to whom we have the jNgatiraukawa saying,—" Motai of the numerous progeny "), Ue, Eaka, Ivakati, Tawhao, Uetapu, Te Mania-o-Eongo, Te Aopiki, Te Aorere, Te Aotetauria. Mauriowaho, Eawahoterangi, Te Paripari, Whatihue, TJenuku - Whangai, Kotare, Tamapango, Koperu, Tiwaewae. Kura, Tawhanga, Wharaurangi, Kairua, Tarahuka, Moke, Hou, Te Uamairangi, Wanakore, and lastly Maungapohatu. From iJAE"GiTiHi, a chief of the canoe named Te Arawa, — Eangitihi, Hinerangi, Te Ihorangi, Taunga-ki-te-Marangai, Tamure, Kura, Tawhanga, AVharaurangi, Kairua, Tjtrahuka, Moke, Hou, Te Uamairangi, Wanakore, and lastly Maungapohatu. From Tuptjhia, a chief of the canoe Matatua, — Tupuhia, Pohuhu, Waewaenga, Te Eakau, Tarahuka, Moke, Hou, Te Uamairangi, Wanakore, Maungapohatu. From Tupaiiahaki, another chief of Matatua, — Tuparahaki, Te Iwi Eoara, Kura, Pora, Te Eua, Te Whawhati, Ngapeita, Wanakore, Maungapohatu. From Eomai, another chief of Matatua, — Eomai, Tamapahore, Te Uruhina, Taraika, Te Haaki, Hinepare, Te Pae, Te Uamairangi, Wanakore, Maungap ohatu. From Ron go whakaata, a chief of the canoe Takitimu, — Eongowhakaata, Hakopurakau, Marukorakau, Eangitehuiao, Kakenaao, Tamawa, Te Haaki, Hinepare, Te Pae, Te Uamairangi, Wanakore, Maungapohatu. He was also connected with many other tribes in the island, therefore this notice is sent for publication in the Walca Maori to excite the commiseration and pity of his friends in various parts of the island. Sent by me, one of his relations at Napier, for publication in the Walca Maori, Cranmer Williams Hadfield.

[We have inserted the above letter in full because the relations of the deceased youth are earnestly desirous that it should 15e published, and because it sheds a glimmer of light upon the question of the number of generations which have existed from the first arrival of the Hawaiki canoes down to the present time. But our friends must not look upon this as a precedent authorizing them to expect the publication of the genealogies of their dead relatives as a rule. It will be observed that there is a great disparity in numbers between the descendants of Kokako and Hotuboa, who both arrived in the same canoe Tautcx]