NATIVE AFFAIRS IN THE BAY OF PLENTY.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume II, Issue 160, 18 March 1874, Page 3

NATIVE AFFAIRS IN THE BAY OF PLENTY.

Wb cannot better describe the state of our district, #o far as regards native matters, than in the words of the Wellington Independent, for the truth of which we vouch, namely :—•• Not lor jears has anything like the present amount of industry being witnessed on the coast. Planting and roads are the two ideas at present chiefly at work m the minds of the natives ; in the glens of the Ngatiporou, on the jutting out headlands and op the flats of the Bay of Plenty, crops of every kind are fast replacing the original fern j where are "J* ? 9 y et * impatient to make them. Their cry » now—roads: in some instances to enable them to bring their wares to market, m. others, to open up the country for the influx of settlers and tourists.” A PBBBBST TO TUB QtJßßif. XOYAX.T? OB DXSTEIOT KATIVBB. We have been requested to publish the following letters : * To Mr McLean. Friend,—Greeting, This is the desire of your loving friends which is now made known to you respecting the carved house belonging to Apanui. Tamarangi. Bangitukehu, and Kaperiere—that is to say of the whole tribe of Tauranga, Whaketan e. and Tikirau. 6 The month in which that house was erected was March, 1873. The desire of the people above mentioned is that this carved house should be for yueen Victoria. But it rests with you. If you approve of the proposal, you can make it knawn to the Queen in England. This Is a very earnest desire on the part of your Maori friends, that tbeir house should be .presented to the Queen. Ihej also invite the son of the Queen to come here and visit them, that they may see Lira face K Hc T!l® r ' a ? tbe iov ® of Christ has been ®f?t ad^ br ° 9d t l hro “« hout fe he world, and the love for ' * ' 0, "“ ° f n ’° ici °* Do you send your answer to this letter, that your loving friends at Whakatane may receive it. sufficient. From Wbbiha Aeakxti, and vw . Pataka Toihau. Written by Tiopira. ™ „ . Wellington, February 9, 1874. Co W ipiha Apanui, Patatara Toihaa, and to Ml the tribe. Friends,—Greeting. Your letter of tbe 4th of October, containing information of the erection of the carved house of Apanui, Tamarangi, Raogitukehu, and Kaperiere, and intimating their desire to present the same to Queen Victoria, has been received. . Although you have beard Mr McLeau’s words in answer to that letter, I have yet further to communicate with you on the subject. Tbeir desire to present that house to the Queen is commendable, and the Government appreciate your expressions of loyalty and good will. With respect to the house, let the offer you have made suffice. ** * 8 impossible to say whether the Prince is likely to revisit this country, as he is now married to the daughter of the Emperor of Bussia. But you have heard of this from Mr McLean. From your friend, ' H. T. Claeke.