ROTORUA.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume III, Issue 2, 28 February 1857, Page 7

ROTORUA.

To the Editor of the Maori Messenger. Sir,—Thinking it may interest your readers to hear something about Rotorua and the people who live there, I purpose sending you a short, account of tSiat pari o." the country and what is being done there. Between 20 and 30 miles inland from Makelu, in the Bay of Plenty, there is a duster of a dozen or more lakes,the sources of rivers which discharge their waters aiMakelu,Waihi, Tc Awaa lealtia and Whakataane. The largest of these lakes is Ilotorua, which gives its name to the surrounding country. It is about 7 miles across, in shapes nearly circular, hence its name which may be rendered, Pit Lake, from < Run/a round hole, or pit in the ground. About a mile and a half from its Eastern shore lies the picturesque island of Mokoia, with its two hoi springs and numerous wheat cultivations and kumara grounds ; a beautiful o! jeel on a bright and calm summer's dav. Here no fencer, are required to protect the crops fn<m cattle, horses or pigs; the- latter oniv being allowed on the island during certain months in the year. H<>re are grown those kumara, the fame of which has given rise to the proverb "Go to Ilotorua, to the well filled oven, tint you may feast on kumara, how sweet!" Both the island and the shores of the lake were thickly populated in foi'tner times, and the sites of old pas! are very numerous. The largest and priu-' cipal native settlement is that of Ohiuctmuu I ou Use Southern shore of the lake.* The I houses are built among numerous springs

of various temperatures from boiling lo tepid, which afford the inhabitants abundant moans of rooking their food and washing their clothes, besiies the luxury of a warm bath, close lo their dwellings. Wilhin. probably, the last 3 ; ) vears, this pa contained an average population of 5 000 persons. Now, hut a-small proportion of this number would ever he found within its fen efts. It belongs principally to the Ngaii whakatie or Nguii pehi tribe, descended from their great ancestor Tutanekai of famous memory, and is a- favorite rendezvous of all the Rotorwa tribes when meeting to discuss questions of general interest. The fine old IVgaii whakaue chief Korokai made it his principal residence dining the last years of his life, until Iris death in 18*9. Here also he lies buried. After his death the chief le Pukuaiua settled there and was looked up to by the tribe with respect and affection as their faiher and the representative of the Ngaii pehi aristocracy. He was appointed Native Assessor by Governor Sir George Grey in ISoS. and held the office until his death in the following year. Both of these chiefs were staunch Iriends of the pakeha. T\v* la ler, with whom I had more frequent intercourse, often expressed his wish that his people should submit to be guided b\ the jnst laws of the English and abandon the foolish customs an 1 evil pracii- es of former times. Whenever any quarrel arose among the neighbouring tribes TePnkitatua's word was aLvass for peace and conciliation. His relative, ilu» chief;Xuahiu tihuru, ?ias been appointed his successor as iNative Assessor at Ohinrmum. This chief is also desirous to introduce among his people iheappliances and customs of civilizeU life, and has set a good example to .them by building a substantia! house in European style ami furnishing it as a store, where most of the ordinary items of fool and clothing lejuirou by Maories may bo purchased, other young chiefs have also built good house;, and their example is likely to be followed by many more. A short distance from the Ohinemutu pa, a flour mill, the property of the iNgati whakaue tribe, lias been erected at a cost of about 500/. It is now in full operation, and the Ohinemulu men, women and children, are enjoying the fiuit of 5 years'labor in the shape of substantial loaves of good bread, specimens of which they do not forget to produce whenever the arrival of affords an opportunity of showing hospitality. Great credit is clue to the Njati

whakane for their energy and perseverance in carrying this work.to completion. There were many difficulties and obstacles to overcome, bat patience and determine 1 perseverance huve carried them through all. Their mill-stones had 10 be brought from the Coast, a distance of about 50' miles, part of the way across a rugged country, over which they had to drag them on sledges made for the purpose. The whole of the machinery also had to be carried that distance on men's shoulders. After the mill was built, more than one failu.e in the construction of their mill-dam dissappointed and discouraged those who had expended so large an amount of labor upon this object of amotion of the tribe. This last difficulty has now beeu happily overcome, for which success the Ngati whakane are indebted to their kind friend and missionary,lhe Rev. SJVI. Spencer, upon whose plan and under whose superintendence the present dum was completed. It is a point worthy of noiice and one reflecting credit upon this tribe, that, although living inland and consequently cut off from many opportunities of earning money which the coast tribes possess, they yet raised the sum required to purchase the necessary machinery and pay the- millwright, without applying to the Government for assistance in the way of loan or otherwise. The whole sum stipulated for in the contract with the millwright was produced on the day of signature and the instalments were punctually paid as they became due. The mill has been substantially built by Mr. John Kyder, who has since completed two other mills in this district, bolh.of which will soon be ready to grind. TheNgatipehi, however, have the honor of getting, the first mill in this part of the country, and they have done so without burdening themselves wiih a debt. There are other tribes living at Rotorua. The Ngati rangiwewehi who occupy the naiive settlements on the north shore of the lake is one of the principal- Their chief, Tp WiremuHikairo, who died in 1801, was a man of great personal influence and enlarged views. His name was known among all the surrounding tribe?, both as a brave warrior and an eloquent orator : whether in war or debate he was thought to have few equals. Ke was the father of his people and, like all intelligent men who see into the future, was most anxious that they should adopt the civilized habits and customs of the pakeha, and with this view he was

always ihe firm friend and supporter of bis missionary, whose advice he always sought on any matters affecting the interests of his people. His son, a young man of good promise, is now engaged in qualifying.himself to become the teacher and guide of his people* I have trespassed further upon your space Uian I intended, and will reserve a notice of the other Rotorua tribes for a future opportunity. lam, Sir, Yours, cvc, &c,