MY MAORI FRIENDS.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume I, Issue 9, 1 December 1855, Page 14

MY MAORI FRIENDS.

Salutations, —Since I last wrote to you many events of importance have transpired throughout the world, and even in these ends of the earth we are not without changes. But in the midst of all this turmoil on earth, one thing, my friends is certain, and that is, that we are all travelling on to another state of being, consequently, the sooner we prepare for it. the better for ourselves It is natural for us to be pleased when we are praised, and certainly it is most gratifying to have the favorable opinion of the good and great; but those are no less our friends who tell us of our faults, and if we are actuated by proper feelingwe shall be thankful to receive information on this point. I am not going to particularize now, all I hear and all I see wrong in you, suffice it to say, that my heart is deeply pained in coming to the conclusion that you are less influenced by the sacred principles of religion than you once were. A host of evils existing amongst you may be traced to this unhappy defection. You will lam sure admit, that if you are good Christians—really converted to God—you would be good citizens, and loyal subjects of the Great Queen of England; and you would prefer the excellent English laws, so justly appreciated by generation after generation of enlightened Englishmen, to your own barbarous laws, that must fail before the light of Christianity, and which indeed according to your own acknowledgment!have been weighed in thebalances and found wanting. There is much to be done for you yet, altho' much has been done, and it is owing to the care of a paternal Government for your interests that I am permitted to address you thro' the present medium. See then that you are grateful for the many benefits you derive from the Colonization of these islands and let the world judge of you by your actions, always bearing in mind the words of the blessed Saviour,—"Be not overcome «f evil, but overcome evil with good." From your old and true friend. C. 0. Davis. Auckland, December, 1855.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MAORI MESSENGER. Sir, —Having lately had oucasian to visit the Kaipara district, I hav much pleasure in transmitting to you an account of what I saw in that part of the country, knowing that it will meet with a hearty welcome from all your native readers. On my arrival at Whangarei, in the steam boat Won . a Wonga, I was met by the chief Te Manihera who, it had been arranged, was to accompany me to Kaipara. He proved to be exceedingly hospitable, rendering me every assist ance, procuring me a horse, and also a native to carry my necessaries. I was informed that Te Manihera, as well as the chief Te Tirarau, owned shares in the steamer Wonga Wonga. On Thursday, December 6, we set- out from Wangarei, calling at a settlement by the way, called Otaika, where the old Maori .mothers vied with each other in their kindly attentions to prepare us some food. In vain we urged that we had breakfasted but an hour before. To all this they turned a deaf ear ; and we were obliged to stay and partake of new potatoes and milk, to which my native companions added hcney and enjoyed their meal with an evident relish. The honey was procured from hives which they keep beside their cultivations Further on, in the course of our journey, we passed by a farm, in the Mangatapere Block, which Te Tirarau has purchased from the Government. It is now partly in cultivation under the superintendence of Europeans. This is. perhaps, one of the most gratifying circumstances to the European heart. It makes the white man feel proud of the Maori, when he sees him entering into competition with him as an agriculturist, and" becoming individual land holders, under a title derived from her Majesty Queen Victoria. It is calculated to prove to other and distant countries that the Maories perceive the value of European institutions, and that they are perfectly competent to follow and profit by the example which Europeans have set them. It is an act of great sagacity on their part, this desire which has arisen for purchasing land under a grant from the Grown. It will prevent ill will and quarrelling amongst themselves, and is, therefore, an example which we should be happy to see followed by all the tribes of New Zealand. In the evening, we arrived at a settlement called Wharekohe on the Wairoa, where we again experienced the kindly welcome of native hospitality. They not only treated us to new. potatoes and fish, but set a can of new milk before us with an ample accompaniment of tea, sugar and good cabin biscuits, to which we did every justice being hungry enough after our summer day's ride. Our horses were put into one of their fields where there was an abundance of grass, and where they were kept for the next four <lays.

On the morrow, a canoe was procured for us ; J but finding we made but little progress against the flood tide, three of Te TirarauV people went with us to Te Tirarfiu. We arrived after night fall, and found the Chief, with his tribe, in the Kauri Forest of Mogonui people volunteered to take us to Te Tirarau. We reached them in time for evening family worship ; which being concluded Te Tirarau entered on the subject of land purchased from himself and his people by Mr. Commissioner Johns on. The natives in this part are certainly not to be lightly spoken of. The respectful manner in which°they received the massages of the Commissioner of the district, and the satisfaction they expressed regarding the manner in which the lands were purchased and paid for, displayed an amount of sincerity of purpose and confidence of proceeding, which it would be well to see observed throughout New Zealand. 3 Having slept comfortably in a tent provided by Te Tirarau, I awoke at dawn just in time to j join in family worship. This over, I was fnrnished with a tin hand bason, towel,, and scented soap, with which, —to use the expression of Te Tirarau's wife—to wash the sleep from my eyes. Having breakfasted, we set out on our return journey, and having mounted our horses arrived in due cource at Wangarei. I am yours, &c., J"ohv White, Interpreter to the Land Purchase Department.

At the particular request of the Native Chiefs resident at the heads of Hokianga, we give insertion to the following letter, which is another instance of the gratitude of the Native people.

Farewell Mr. & Mrs. Young and family. Go in peace carrying with you our friendly feelings Farewell the friends of Moetara, Paratene, and numerous other deceased Chiefs of our tribe. Farewell O father under whose care the natives in many places have flourished. Your departure is propitious, for you leave us, not in an unfriendly way, but in peace, and we sit here in peace. But it was not our wish that you. should leave j your departure has emanated from yourself. Farewell O father! You are leaving the Hokianga, and know that the love of our hearts is too deep to be expressed in words. Now that you are leaving, we shall probably see no other Europeans. Lo sorrow keen lies deeply buried In this heart of mine, and ever and anon Its chord is like to break, When shall I behold thy face again O Mother ? xar distant is thy home, and long the road, .fcilse would I journey onward, and sit me down Upon the crown of Auckland's mountains, J/hen should I see thee, and my heart Be light again. Farewell O father ! Go henee with your children. (Signed) Ngapo and all the tribe.