THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, January 4, 1849.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 1, Issue 1, 4 January 1849, Page 1

THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, January 4, 1849.

It has been said, and truly said—nothing in life more difficult than a beginning! If difficult in ordinary affairs, it must be yet infinitely more so in literary matters, where so much of after success is dependent upon a favourable first impression, But if difficulty be enhanced in the case of the. common routine of literary adventure, where the words written and the sentiments expressed, are addressed to the sympathies and the understandings of men of the same nation, tltc same education, the same liabit of thought, and the same standing in the scale of civilization -.—if it be difficult to make a beginning with these, how incomparably more arduous must it not be to adapt one's powers to all'ord instruction and amusement to a strange people, scarcely across the threshold of barbarism. We feel that difficulty, and we feel it keenly: -—not in a craven spirit, but with an earnest ami an anxious desire to address our energies f.o the beneficial surmounting of the task we have undertaken. And we are cheered to a hope of successful issue to our career when we consider the goodly array of able volunteers who have already proffered their generous aid to speed The Messenger on his humanizing way. Although we cannot but remember that a previous journal, The Maori Gazette, conducted by those much more conversant with native customs and habits than we, proved of comparative inutility. Although we have recently beheld another journal, partly devoted

to native culture, retire from an unproductive field. Although such discomfitures are calculated to make us doubt, they do not, nevertheless, lead us to despond ; and that from 110 presumptuous reliance upon ourselves, hut simply because we arc led to reckon upon a more extensive and hetter organized machinery; such as will lighten our own individual lahours, rendering us, in very deed, more the editor than the contributor. We bring to the task, in which we this day adventure, an inquiring and an unprejudiced spirit . —a determination to spare no cfl'ort to cull materials, whether original or select, the best calculated to elevate and enlighten the native understanding, and to render the Maori a fit and civilized associate of his Knglish fellow subject. To attainment of that most desirable end, all our endeavours shall point. And to do so effectually—to hit the moral target aimed at—writings of every shade and grade shall he scanned with a careful eye and pondered with a diligent heart; so that 110 untoward ollering, no unseemly blemish, no discrepancy in tone or temper, may creep in to impair that harmonious whole we shall strive so earnestly to accomplish. Wc like not to '• profess too much ;" especially as one's wares arc more certain to be tested by their integral value, rather than by the salesman's puff preliminary. So wedded are we to this opinion, that but for the peculiar character of our publication, and the time honoured custom which almost demands an introductory address, Ave should have been tempted to launch this, our first horn without the antiquated prologue of good intentions, leaving the bantling to make his unheralded bow. Although the civilization of the native race will ever be the first and last aim of the Maori Mksskxciku, we trust, nevertheless, that its contents will be found not altogether unworthy of the European reader, who may rest assured thai no pains will be spared to produce a journal, at once instructive and entertaining. We have hut further to add :—the road is new and difficult; —the driver and his team arc strange. Let (hem have a fair start: —and if, when warm in harness, we slack, — lay on whip and spur—and spare not !