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Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 41, 3 August 1872, Page 2

[TJRANiJLATIOy.] Waikato, Ist August,. 1872. To Ie Hcta. — Friend, greeting. I am very sorry to hear that Lewi and Ngatimaniapoto have gone over to Te Kooti. I was isked by my Pakeha friends, aboat it the other day, but I could not enlighten, them, as. L had not then heard from you, hoping, at the same time, that the rumour was incorrect. However, your letter to me dispels this doubt. Now the question arises, What do they intend doing? Surely not to create, another disturbance?. We have now basked in the warm sunshine of peace for two years, and' X hope we will not have to seek shelter under the strong wings of the Government; if we are compelled to do this, then we will only have to repeat tlie funeral oration of- our ancestors to Rewi and his followers,, and I am sure Tawhiao will again ba compelled to seek shelter in the caves of Rangitoto with the bones of his father—a very uncomfortable place for him to.be in. But if, as you say, they are only building a pah in order to protect Te Kooti from the threatened pursuit of the Arawas and Ngatiporous, ib would not matter so much, because this will never happen while Te Makarini has. the control of the Kupapas. He will not allow the Arawa or any other tribe to create any disturbance or bring trouble here. As for Ngaliinaniapoio changing their karcikift, why, it is of no consequence.. We don't care if they have a new karahla every day, so long as they keep quiet in their respective Kaingas, for I suppose one kara,':ia is as good as another with them. All go in for pleuty of wives, and if every new prophet conies out with this as the principal rule, he -will not want tor disciplcs amongst the followers of Tawhiao, 50, Tdont see any dauger in their joining Te Kooti's. church. The only danger to be apprehended is the influence- he would gain, by prophesying what is going to- happen, with the Pakeha, and we Kupapas.; yet, I. think Rewi has too much sense to.be- again lpX astray by false atws, besides* he lias. too much at stake now to.commence any more of his pranks which would ultimately lose him the large country he owns. I wish Rewi. would only pay a visit to Tamahere, and see how his ui£>re sensible friends, the Ngatihana make use of their time. They found out which is the best, paying game, and I applaud them.for it. Or even let him pay a visit to our kianga, it would open his eyes to, see our whare papas comfortably furnished with chairs, tables, and sofas, and our farms of from 300 to 400 aeues laid down in grass,, wheat, or oats, all done by Pakeha labour. Let him contrast this Tfcith his wharepuni and the wild country he occupies,, with little bits of plantations here and there in the bush, growing just enough riwai and kamaras to exist on perhaps. he. would say- we are the best off, and I think so too ; he is a fool to listen to these false prophets, who don't care a. straw if he loses, his land so long as they save their necks, I hope Rewi an I Tawhiao will think twice before they leap. But I think they are only kicking up this bobbery just to raise the wind, as "our pakeha friends would say. We ought to take- no. notice of them.. I am : glad to inform you that our dear; friend's successor, Bishop Cowie, has sent instructions- to. Ngatihana, at Tamahere that he will co-operate with them in getting up a school for their children,, aad I believe Te Raihi and Te Hakiriwhi. have acceded to this, benevolent cffex.. The timber would, have. bsea ready

this week but for the accidcntal death of one of the sawyers who, X am souy to say, leaves a wife and family to mourn his Ngatihana is very sony for her, as her husband was their pakeha, and lived amongst them. What can we do ? We are not liko our friends the pukehas, who have got plenty of money and able to show their o.tvha by collecting for her. I hope our a."'he will be looked upon as the " Widow'a Mite" was iu the Scriptures. It is a good thing feu 1 us, Maorics, to have schools for our children, to enlighten them in the good things of this lire (i. e.) wisdom and knowledge, which, are the only means of working our way in this world. It was through the kindness of that great friend ol the Maori nation, Te Herewini (Bishop Selwyn.) that I received the little education i have at Kohimaraina, which enables me, 0 friend, to sue through the darkness which envelopes the ignorant, and I must say our friends, the H.iuh uh, are in this darkness. They think they have been wronged, but this, is through their ignorance. If they could only see the good or the advantage laying in their way by leasing their land under Pakeha regulations,. I am certain they would not be so stubborn. This is through the want of knowing the doings of the world at large, which can only be accomplished by education amongst us, as we are not a nation fond of roaming. I hope this good work which the Bishop has commenced will be successful, and instead of having only one school at Tainahere, each principal kainga (Maori) ought to have one ; it will be the mej.ii.-j of eradicating vices prevalent in kaiangas (Maori). 0 friend, we again hear the whistle of the roriri (wren), in the manuka scrub, which is our wellknown sign that spring is approaching, and reminds us that we tnusi better ourselves and get our crops in. It is to be hoped this year will not be as bad as. the last with, the crops, which caused almost a famine amongst us. The kindness, of Te. Makarini in granting ua sufficient food to put us over this winter, 1 believe, saved us from starvation. I hope the hauhaus will remember this good act of Te Makaiini in relieving their wants this year. Their distress was occasioned by having so many meetings amongst themselves, which did them no good whatevei, only while the kai lasted. The roriri will put them in mind of the coming season, and I hope they will get their crops in in time, and not leave it tot he lasc moment, when the whistle of the p'qilw haranroa (N. Z. cuckoo) is heard in the forests. If they would only turn their minds to this, instead of listening to Te Kooci and his karabia, I think they would be a little better off than they are. What think you ? Ended. From your loving friend, jHori WEKA.