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Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume I, Issue 2, 1 February 1855, Page 1

The first number of our new series has passed into the hands of many of the native people, and long ere now, no doubt, lively discussions have taken place amongst them, as to the merits or demerits of the publication. All are willing to admit that a newspaper is a powerful agent for either good or evil; and to seek the mere applause of the superficial readers of the day, therefore, is beneath the dignity of any man to whom the deeply responsible work of editorship is intrusted. * The press, should at all times advocate sound principles, and when brought into contact with the prejudices, or perverted judgment of the multitude, it should unflinchingly point out the evil, and as unhesitatingly uphold the good. Viewing our duty in this light, we, in the former issue, questioned the propriety, and even the right of the Taranaki natives to act as they are now doing. We also adverted to the very injudicious step of the Kaipara natives, in resorting to fire-arms instead of appealing to the courts of law. Nor did we forget to commend the Ngatipou at Tuakau, for their generosity, or the tribes of Waikato _ and Turanga, for their industry and progress in civilization. Perhaps it is not out of place to say here, that many kind friends, who take a lively interest in the well-being of the native population, intend to preserve the monthly numbers of'the*'Maori Messenger," and bind them in a volume at the end of the year. That volume will be upon the table of many a peaceful home in New Zealand, and will most probably find its way to England and other lands. Now, if the New Zealanders dcsire, that worthy deeds only should be recorded of them in the year 1855, let every objectionable piactice be at once abandoned, then will the book we have alluded to, be read with great pleasure, not only by themselves, but by enlightened nations m various parts of the globe.

material, but owing to the great rise in timber tbc arrangements at present, cannot be carried out. The plan was suggested by Sir George Grey, and tbe Bishop of New Zealand, and was at once responded to by the natives, who proposed sawing the timber themselves, and subsequently they agreed to erect the houses, employing Europeans merely to do the mason work. The English name chosen by the Ngatiwhatua for the intended township, is St. James. The site is occupied now, by sundry Maori huts, and a small wooden chapel in which the Eev. J. A. Kissling, and the Rev. J. \Y ilson occasionally officiate. The Native teachers are Messrs. Hobson and 51 ark.