THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, July 4, 1850.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 2, Issue 40, 4 July 1850, Page 2

THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, July 4, 1850.

Auckland, july 4 1850. The continued industry and prosperity of the native race—their extraordinary and rapid strides in moral, social, and physical intelligence, has long been a matter of the most sincere and heartfelt satisfaction not only to ourselves, hut also to every wc'l disposed member of tliu community at large. If we are nsked in what way this industry and intel'igence is evinced, we ntcd but point to our markets supplied with the foul and fruits of their breeding, growing, and purveying. To the mills which have been set in motion by the money iliey have acquired. To the vessels that have been built to their order, and are navigated by their skill—aud to the pntient, plodding, persevering care with which they devote themselves to every occupation in which a fair and honest recompense can lie earned—whether that recompense be to be obtained by the wages of their own daily toil — whether by the payment of European science in matters beyond tboir knowledge. It is one of the surest and most satisfactory signs of the social advancement of n people when we behold them mingling with their ins! rue tors, in the twofold capacity of labourers and the employers of labour. No uncivilized race can claim such a distinguished character. a rude nation enters into traffic with an enlightened one, barter, not cash is the medium of their transactions, and the bargain struck is invariably one of great advantage to the civilized. No such medium, however, regulates the transactions of the Maorie and the Englishman, Their bargains arc made in Sterling coin ; -and acute indeed must that white man be who can hope to get tho better of them in any matter of purchase or of sale. As it may be a matter of some curiosity and, we hope also of some gratification, to our English, and other distant, readers to learn the native manner of doing business, we transcribe the following copy of an agreement recently entered into by nn Englishman named Peter tears with William King a Native Chief of Waihcke. It runs thus — Auckland, June 20th, 1850.

I, the undersigned, hereby agree to work for William King, a Native Chief of Waiheke, for the term of three months. My work to he cutting firewood and stacking it in the hush, the natives to carry it to the beach. The payments lobe monthly, at the rate of one shilling and six-pence per ton, I am also to be found in rations. (Signed) Peteh Leaiis. I agree to these arrangements, (Signed) Wibe.mci Kinoi. Witness, C. O. Davis, Native Interpreter.

Such an agreement, we neetl '' nr '"y observe, speak? volumes for tlio mutual confidence existing between the European anil Native races; and shows that both are actively alive to the mutual benefits of industry anil enterprise. Here we behold an European engaged by the Native proprietor to fell bis woods for the supply of Auckland with fuel ; and in many other instances we discover the same commercial spirit inducing the native to abandon the canoe, and to have recourse to the skill of the European shipwright t > bui'd him n croft fit to bullet the boisterous weather at times experienced on our coasts, so that his people may have shelter on their voyages, and his produce may bo conveyed in good condition to market. A glance at our coasting li3ts will show more than one native name amongst our master traders. Many fine vessels have lately been built to order, varying in price from £l5O to £250. And n contract for a schooner was recently entered into. This vessel was built by Abraham Marsten for the Chief Piiriiri of Whakatane, and others. The natives found all the materials except the planking. They paid

JMaisten £SO for his labour, ami supplied liim with rations during tho time he wns engaged in her construction. Sho was eoinidetotliii-Mny lost, and wns instantly brought to Auckland to be registered by her owner.