REWI'S MOVEMENTS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1810, 9 December 1879, Page 3

REWI'S MOVEMENTS.

[Br Tblbgbam ] WELLINGTON, December 8. Major Te Wheoro has (according to the "New Zealander") received a letter irom ono of his principal people in Waikato. Among other matters it contains information with recard to the reason which led Rewi to leave his settlement at Puniu, where he proposed to resido permanently among Europeans, and go back to his old settlement atTe Kuiti. At the time Manga left Puniu for Te Kuiti several of his people in Wellington were greatly alarmed, not merely because Manga was going from them, but from the fact that instead of going overland on horseback by the inland route, he went bv a trap through the settled district of Wuikato, and took his departure by canoe from Alexandra, a frontier town, and the nearest European settlement to the King country. With this explanation the letter to which we (" New Zcalander") have referred will be intelligible. The letter is as follows :—" Te Wheoro, 25 Month (November). Manga left by canoe from hero for To Kuiti. This is tho word spoken by Manga on his departure from Alexandra, a word spoken to both Europeans and Maoris. He Ba id—'I will now listen to tho words of Tawhiao. I will never consent to see the present Government, nor will I again return to dwell amongst Europeans. I leave it with those persons who have abused Groy to see how they can manage affairs in my absence.' This word of Manga to us wa3 'Ho kupu poroporo ake.' It is a farewell word to us, and to the Europeans." Kupu poroporo ako is the Native word for last words spoken by a chief before he dies, of which there is a very well-known inotanco in Manning's " Old New Zealand." When a chief is on his deathbed this last word U lister cd for eagerly by the whole tribe. It is supposed to be prophetic of the future destiny of tbe peoplo whom the dying chief leaves behind.