WHANGANUI.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume I, Issue 7, 1 September 1855, Page 4

WHANGANUI.

It was in the year 1848 that the final and complete purchase of a piece of land was made from the chiefs of that district, in adddition to which there were portions also purchased from the tribes of the Ngatiruanui and the Ngatiapa, and then it was that the land question became a settled question, and that the portions for the Europeans and the natives were properly set apart;—this was done in the presence of a public assembly of the chiefs concerned in the sales, and in the presence of Mr. McLean the Land Commissioner at Whangaaui. Ever since that time, we have seen with pleasure how peaceably things have gone on in that settlement and that at Whanganui, great are the plantations of Wheat and Potatoes, extending as high up as 'Tuhua*, as far as the 'Ngat'raanui' including the 'Ngatiapa' and among many other: tribes, all of which are brought to Whanganui and sold there; they also supply large quantities of Pigs, Firewood and other produce ; now if such had not been the case, if the purchases and arrangements connected with the same, had not been satisfactorily concluded, no land would have been found upon which Europeans could settle, and with whom Natives could enjoy profitable as well as friendly intercourse. But as the land has been sold and the money paid, there remains now no cause of misunderstanding, for Europeans and Maories live on in harmony with one another : they cultivate together, the Natives producing food for subsistence, and the Europeans producing articles suitable for the support and warmth o< the body : in these benefits and advantages, th< whole of the Natives living in the country round about have a share. A 'Putikiwaranui* Mr. Park has laid out a Village in which the Natives are to reside. Ttay

called this new Town after their respected Minister Mr. Taylor. It is a wall chosen site. Hori Kingi.Te.Anaua built the first house there, ancT he called that house Matangirei, derived from a house bearing that name in the Island of Hawaiki. j The second house was built by Kawaoa Paipai, | and ttaraira. Next was one built by Te Tahana Turoa. These were the principal, and largest houses, but there were many smaller ones. The house built by Hori Kingi Te Anaua, called Matangirei is used by the chiefs as a Court House, in which they meet for the purpose of hearing deciding and settling disputes. Such has been the progress of the Native population in t'ae district of Whanganui, that they are becoming as a people exceedingly wealthy, that they observe and uphold the laws, that the rights of both Europeans amd Natives are equally respected, and that henceforth they live together as one common and united people.