TARAWERA.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume IV, Issue 6, 15 August 1857, Page 2

TARAWERA.

To the Editor of the Maori Messenger. Sir,-Having Seen an article in the "Maori Messenger" of February, on the Rotorua district, I find that the people of the Tarawera district are desirous of com niumcaiing a few facts. In the month of August 1830 operations were commenced with a view to public im-

'provement. Ten acres ivere enclosed by 880 yards of good native fence, and-limber saNved and the frame of a house raised for a Missionary residence, with a view to raise money for building a mill. But the work was interrupted for about three years by a warlike contest for the exclusive possession of Rotomahana. The mill however, was finished in February 1837, which was the second in the vicinity ivady for grinding. time, and what has been ground since, 109 bushels have been turned "into flour. 'Great rejoicing was generally manifested, and mothers with their babes in their arms and clinging about them seemed particularly delighted at the prospect ofa' 'loaf for each." The Mill building was raised, smoothhoarded, and painted by the natives, who also furnished all the limber required by Mr. Ryder, who titled up the machinery. Peculiar advantages were enjoyed for the application of the water, furnished by the ohlletof Kolokakahi, on its way to I'arawera, wandering through the whole valley of the Wairoa settlement. As His Excellency Sir George Grey had manifested a warm interest in the advancement of this people; a letter of encouragemen, written by him from Wellington on learning of ihcvigorGus beginning which they Iwd made, reminding them of their famous ancestry, still exerts an influence, and they seem determined that their settlement shall vie with any attempt which can be made by Maories. A principal street of about 2 miles in length from lake to lake, maintains a width of 5G feet through the settlement; others of 30 and 24 feet in width, have been for the most part made up, and lots in each side averaging 20 yards in width and 60 yards in depth, are also laid out, and are being made up into gardens and feneed and planted with fruit and ornamental trees, while cultivated grapes give a verdant appearance to! what was but recently waste ground. The preliminary houses, already numerous, are attempted to be built in a European form, with chimneys, upright doors, and i verandahs. | Several cows are milked which prove a | great boon to the children, as well as a valuable adjunct to their flour. Besides matters near home, a very important communication overland from Tarawera to the coast towards Mntala has been sufifi- i eiently opened to allow the mill-stones and

machinery to be brought in upon carts of native construction, and it is hoped that soon the Tuhourangi and Ngatirangitiui tribes will give substantial evidence of a thorough reconciliation by uniting to make it an easy road for English carls drawn by horses wkh a substantial bridge over the outlet of Tarawera Lake, which is navigable for canoes at some distance from the coast; all which will be viewed as the commencement of an important opening up of the country towards Taupo and Ahuriri, by the valley of the Waikato river. I am, Sir, Respectfully yours, •S. S.