THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, February 25, 1854. NATIVE FLOUR MILLS.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume VI, Issue 135, 25 February 1854, Page 1

THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, February 25, 1854. NATIVE FLOUR MILLS.

We have lately been favoured with an inspection of what may well be called a chart of the native industry of the Waikato; exhibiting, as it does, the situation and value of seventeen Hour mills,—all of them native property—already built,- building, or about to be built, within a radius of .*><) miles ol' Olawhao. The estimated value of these mills amounts to o-iSO/. So great a number ol' mills, within so small a compass at once attests the cxlraoulinary fertility of the Waikalo—the Garden of New Zealand—and the active agricultural and eommereial spirit of the population which iidiabils it. Looking at the. Chart, we find this fair and productive territory intersected by a chain of noble rivers, many of them (lowing into each other, and ulVonliiig vast facilities fur the transport to market of the abundant produce of the soil. Along these livers, namely, the "Waikalo, the Waiapa, th,. Mangapiko, the Mangahoi, and the I'uiiiu,

Ilic greater porlion of llicsc mills arc silualcd. Tlie investment of so much capital I in such structures suftiecs lo prove of*what industry and energy the natives arc possessed ; and what an immense traflick niiisl cic long lie carried on with a district into which, as ycl, hut few individuals have penetrated. Well may the European scalers of Xew Zealand rejoice in liciug allied wild such tin intelligent and enterprising race as the unlive inhabitants of the country. If wo look at them in all (he various occupations of life,— moral or material—we find llicm Imsily intent upon improvement. In support of religion—in furtherance of education—in culture of ihc soil—in pursuit of eamnicrce- -and in extension of our colonial marine—wc behold llicm vicing with us in generous and beneficial rivalry. The Kuiopeons know well how much is due lo native intelligence; and the natives are equally nwarc of ihe vast benefits which Kiirnpcnn residents, and (he employment of Kuropean skill and capital, have conferred. Each parly is a great and beneficial aid to the other. Mutual confidence is being daily more and more cemented. Each has a deep stake in the progress and prosperity of the country. And, in a kind and considerate spirit, each is urging forward the noble desiiny which wc believe it lo be (he privilege of Xew Zealand to accomplish. The Chart, to which we have alluded, is, wc understand, (o be transmitted to England. It will, we incline to think, somewhat surprise those persons, who have been wont to stigmatise the natives as barbarous savages, lo find them ns actively and as profitably engaged in the productive business of life, as their own countrymen. AVith such an energetic race to aid and assist us, it is little -wonder that Auckland should so far outstrip all the oilier provinces of New Zealand in agricultural and commercial pursuits—that bet' revenues should be larger—and that she should be able to boast a commercial fleet, — built and building—already exceeding 7600 tons. Wo append a list of the mills in the Waikalo District, with a statement of their cost, and (he spots where they arc built. Miu.s lluii.t.

c J. Kangiawliia ... 200 2. Olnwlmo ... 120 5. Maungalautare . . 110 4. Miiiingifkiiua ... 100 .'I. Malnmala . . . 500 (!. Kritotelic . . . 500 7. Kirikiriroa . . . 200 8. Waiawala . . . 500 0. Molioanui . . . 520 10. Maungalautari . . . 520 Value Maori labour . 430 Mii.t.s Ri'ilmmr. 12. Otawliao .... 520 Maori labour . . . 150 £5550 Miu.s for which lawns aiif. com.ixting. 45. Tireke .... 520 44. Near Turner's . . 520 •IS. Uore 520 10. Karakariki . . . 520 17. l'atelerc .... 520 Nalive labour . . . 550 Value of 17 mills . . .C.'iiSO

To this gratifying list we have ynt to add lhn situation and cost of leu olhpr native mills, now under projection,—namely :

£ 2 nl Kawliia .... 070 2 :il Rotoma . . . Ji7o I at Tarawei'a . . . 500 I al Maliclu •I al 1 al Tmipo, on llm Thames -ii'iO 1 at Tiiakau . . . 3 iO J at the Wcv. H. MauiiseH's r>JO i'i'iiSO £Bo'2o

Now TO I'UfcVKNT ASP OCCASIONALLY CCRE CoN-SL-.MI'I'IO.S AND ScitOFll.A. I'riends illaories, — You ofii'ii deplore the large nuinhci of your men anil women who tlie from coughs, mid your children from slow decay, :iml you are ashamed at seeing yourselves fiflictrd with swellings in the neck, and with other diseases the doctors cull scrofula. Your friends ihc missionaries have often told you, that lo prevent these diseases you should cat more poik, wheaten Hour, and fresh fish, live in heltcr houses, and dress yourselves like the white people. This I also recommend you to do. The doctors in Europe have found that taking a little fish oil every day will often pievent and occasionally cure consumption and scrofula, and it has lately heen observed that people who work much in oil, and smear their bodies wfth it, such as woollen manufacturers, tallow chandlers, oilmen, S:c., arc little suhject to consumption and scrofula. Now the ohject of this letter is to urge upon you all to make it a daily custom to take a little fish oil with your food, and those who arc delicate, or are sprung from delicate parents, should also ruh the whole hndy over with oil every night, and wash it off in the morning. It is not necessary for me to tell you how you can gel plenty of fish oil in the proper season, and preserve it for winter use. I'lieiids Maories, —-It is only hy doing everything like the white people, and using their remedies in disease, that you can hope lo prosper. If yon live away from them, and adhere to your old ways, and do not mix yourselves up with them, your race will hecome extinct ; it will dry up like a river when there is no lain. If you continue living almost solely on potatoes, the great grand childion of the white men now in New Zealand will often ask, Where are the Maories we heard our ancestors talk so much about? Your friend, A Docrron. I'riends Maories,—l forgot to tell you that you must not drink spirits. I know you will say the while men do this, hut it causes very many of thein lo die. The love of spirit drinking is the curse of the Knglish race, — dont let it hecome the curse of yours.