NOTICES AND ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Waka Maori, Volume 12, Issue 4, 22 February 1876, Page 37

NOTICES AND ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We have received a letter from the Bay of Islands, signed "The Northern End," in which Sir Donald McLean is blamed for the existing laws affecting roads, &c., because the rates and taxes, the writer says, go to the Government, and the Maoris receive no part whatever of them ; for this reason he objects to " all the laws which are now being enacted." lie thinks the Natives are being " bridled by Sir Donald McLean with harnessbridles, like cart-horses, so that, their eyes may not see nor their ears hear." We must inform this anonymous writer that the road rates, and a great deal more than the road rates, are expended in keeping the roads in repair for the use of both Pakehas and Maoris, and both have rightly to pay rates according to the extent and value of their property through which the roads run. Iloads and such works are for our benefit, and it is but fair that we should pay for them ; of course they cannot be made without money. No country can be governed and no public works carried on for the benefit of the people without the imposition of taxes. Some people dp not understand this, or do not recollect it. Many aro apt to think taxes quite a different kind of expense from all others ; and either do not know, or else forget, that they receive anything in exchange for the taxes. But, iii reality, this payment is as much an exchange as any other. We pay money to the men who supply us with food, to the men who clothe us, and to the men who build our houses; and we pay for the protection wc receive from the Grovermnent, and for making roads, &c, just as any other payment is made in exchange for anything we want. There is one great difference between this exchange and all others: when we hive a man to work for us we make our own bargain with him, and if we cannot agree as to the rate of payment we employ some one else instead. But the G-overnment of any country must always have the power to make all the people submit; since, otherwise, it could hot perform the office of protecting them. It is not left to eacß. person's choice, therefore, how much he shall pay for his protection, and for the construction of necessary public works, .but the Government fixes the tuxes and enforces the payment' of them. Were it otherwise we should very soon revert to the'old

Maori ritenga of anarchy and confusion, when every man followed the bent of his own inclination. Despotic Governments in some countries have made a bad use of thiß power, and have forced their subjects to pay much more than was reasonable and necessary for the government of the country; in other countries, as in New Zealand, the people are secured against this kind of ill-usage by choosing their own governors, that is to say, their own members of Parliament, without whom no laws can •be made, or taxes laid on. "With respect to Sir D. McLean, we merely desire to say that he does not make the laws ; he has but one voice in the passing of any measure in Parliament, in the same way as other mennbers have, whether Pakehas or Maoria. Te Aho-o-te-Ran&i, of Hamilton, "Waikato, objects to notices of deaths being published in the Waka Maori. He says, "We hear nothing of these people during their lifetime, but when they die we are informed that they were chiefs, that they were generous and hospitable, and that they possessed a multitude of other virtues. My friends, this is a great absurdity. Why are not the names of these people published during their lifetime, that people might visit them and make trial of their generosity and hospitality?" Te Aho-o-te-Rangi also complains that Pakehas are favoured in the Magistrate's Court at Hamilton, and that a Maori cannot obtain justice there. Every man who loses a case in a Court of law fancies that he has been unfairly treated; it is a feeling common to poor human nature, and we fancy Te Alio is no exception to the rule. We are quite sure that the Pakehas have no undue favour shown to them in the Court at Hamilton, and that if a Maori have right on his side he will obtain in that Court, as in any other, the justice which he seeks. A correspondent writing from Papatupu, Whanganui, says that, on, the 10th of December last, a Native named Poriwhira, of the Ngatiuenuku tribe, was swept away by a tremendous fresh in the river, which has since been named by the resident Natives "The Flood of Tawhaki" (in Maori tradition a famed ancestor who ascended to the fourth heaven, and produced thunder by shaking the mats of his mother " Whaitiri " — i.e., thunder). Struggling bravely against the rushing waters, he was carried down the river a distance of a mile, when he saved himself by catching hold of a flax bush growing on the bank. He contended thus resolutely with the waters, we are told, because he sprung from a brave race; he was a descendant of Pehi Turoa, Te Kauihi, and Hamarama, all bold and determined warriors. Our correspondent says, if that flax bush were a man, he would give it £5! Rajtieba Eeihana, of Waikouaiti, informs us that the Natives of that place have opened a general store by means of a company, with a capital of £240. The money was raised by issuing shares at £1 per share, which were all taken up immediately. Raniera Erihana has himself been appointed manager of the business. He says that he and Thomas Parata have this month purchased two new reaping machines. The Natives have sold their wool of this year for £7OO. Ruakebe MoEAtr, of Parihaka, Taranaki, complains of the destruction of his crops by the pheasants. He Bays, if these birds continue their depredations, the Maoris will be seriously impoverished. Ruakere and his friends must watch their cultivations, as the Pakehas do. Pheasants destroy great numbers of'insects, which would otherwise commit great havoc among the crops. Henabe Kin&i, of Torere, Opotiki, complains of our not publishing all Maori letters in full. We give the gist of all letters received, but we cannot undertake to publish in full the prolix and wordy contributions of many of our correspondents. Te Krwi, of Kennedy's Bay, disapproves of the charges made by certain Natives against the Government of striving to dispossess them of their lands. He says they have only themselves to blame for the alienation of their lands. They themselves asked to have surveys made and their claims decided by the Land Court for the express purpose of selling. The letter from Maketu about the death of Hemana te Wehioterangi is too long for our columns. It alone would fill up the

whole paper. We have not yet been able to find time to read it carefully. Te Hemaea, of Uawa, Tola go Bay, has paid a visit to the Aute School, Ahuriri. He is delighted with the progress of the scholars and the kindness and courtesy of the master. Hepata Maitai, of Uawa, Tolago Bay, East Coast.—Your subscription was acknowledged in Waka No. 2, January 25th, and the paper has been duly forwarded to your address. We believe that many Natives obtain papers from the Post Offices by personating the persons to whom they are addressed. This is a practice punishable by law, and the persons to whom the papers are addressed should take action against such fellows, if discovered. We can do no more than post the papers to the addresses of the persons for whom they are intended, and great care is always taken that this be done. H. Tare Tikao, of Wairewa, Little River, Middle Island.— We shall be glad to receive the Ngaitahu proverbs. S. Locke, Esq., R.M., Napier*.—Your suggestion will receive due consideration. A number of letters have been received, some of which are too trivial for publication; the others will receive attention as soon as possible.

Subscriptions received :— £ 8. d. 1876. —Hori "Wetini, of Matakohe, Kaipai'a, Auckland (No. 1) 0 10 0 From Spencer Yon Stunner, Esq., E.M., for 1876. —Pania Tangomate, of Omanaia, Hokianga 0 10 0 „ Hapakuku Moetara, of Wainiamaku, Hokianga 0 10 0 From M. J. Gannon, Esq., for 1876. —Hami Tupaea, of Te Pakipaki, Napier (No. 1)... 0 10 0 £2 0 0