CARRIAGE OF THE MAIL BETWEEN AUCKLAND AND AHURIRI.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume V, Issue 6, 15 March 1858, Page 1

CARRIAGE OF THE MAIL BETWEEN AUCKLAND AND AHURIRI.

[The following account of a meeting held at Hiruharama, Taupo, in reference to the carriage of the Mail between Auckland and Ahuriri, has been communicated by (be Chief Wiremu Toetoe.] On the 42th of November we arrived at Hiruharama, where we found several Europeangenilemen from Ahuriri. Mr. Alexander and others, who bad come to Poihipi'smeeting, convened for the purpose of discussing the question of carrying the Mail and making arrangements. On our arrival the people assembled. The tribes present were the Ngatiruingarangi, the Hikutu, the Ngaiituteawha, the Ngaiiraukawa, the Ngatitu, Urewera, Ngaiitepake, Ngaiikikopiri, Ngatiteao. Ngatirangi-ifa, and also that tribe which resides at the other end of the road toward Taiawera, the Ngatibineuru. Taukiri stood up and spoke,—* 1 Welcome tny relative, (addressing Manuka) Welcome my child/ (addressing Wiremu), Come and

bring your treasure, the Mail; give it to roe to look at; give it to me to hang it on my neck there to abide, you have given it, since yon have given it 10 me I accept it, it is good, let tbe road be cleared that it go through. The Rev. John Morgan then rose and said " Listen, my children, I brought tbe good tidings i bad it not been for tbe good tidings of the Gospel you bad still been in darkness to this day; I have also brought the Mail. If there bad been evil in tbe Mail I would not have spoken to you this day, lam vour Sarent; the Mail is a good and right thins, ence I say, let tbe Mail pass. I first spoke about tbe road being worked, and my reason fethis: I thought that your young men travelling with the, Mail, would be fatigued by so bad a road; but with horses tbey would be saved fatfgue; I have beard that some of you have said, if the road be made, tbe European will have the land in payment for the money expended on tbe road; this is not true, the money is not given for the land but for the labour of the men who are employed in making it; if a man works for me, I pay biro for bis work, bis body will not be taken by me for that payment, if I ask jrou for a canoe to take me to the other side » I pay for it, but the canoe is pot given to me, but I only pay for my going tail: in like manner if you work on tbe road, the labour of men is paid for; but the land .on which tbe road is, is still yours. You are a people Jiving in the interior of .tbe country. Those tribes wbo live near the will get knowledge and wealth, while you Jive in ignorance and poverty. A road would Wing good things to you, And enlighten your thoughts; by which means you will procure property and prosper. On these grounds dol ** on X? n olkuv the Mail and road to pass. This is all I have to say to you. Takurna then rose and said,—Welcome my grand -4bUd {addressing Wjrejnu). Welcome my child (addressing Manuka) £ give me that new treasure ; 1 will notibink ligtulv *>f that boon: give it that I may tie it to my neck. ' A songwas then recited-: The foot of Tama-te-Kapua wanders, Lettbere be no prevarication. Wo hesitation, or vacillation, iOr uncertainty Lest in vain you should have learnt to ride tbelfoari. Embrace the snows of Tongariro, Jbe fear .of Tcarakau's marauders. A barrier interposes rising up ou high ;

Tbou, O Mare, art slighted Thy course obstructed. The Rotorua sea shows black as night My spirit was at Tawatawbiti Occupied about the taru o-tawbiti (Kumara). Awakanobi has the dogskin mat. From which comes warmth. Wiremu Toetoe then rose and said,—Your words are true; let all words be like yours I did not bring this boon to cause dissensions among you. Do not listen to the unwise words of tbe ignorant people who say the land will be taken if. tbe Mails are carried over it; this is false, and is unwise ; do not listen to it; bnt let tbe road be improved for tbe carriage of tbe Mail. Nikora, from T&rawera near \huriri, then rose, - Welcome, Wiremu Toetoe and Manuka; welcome Mr. Morgan; bring your treasure and tie it round my neck. Mvsole object in coming here at this time, is the Mail, that it may be given to me, that you and Poihipigive it to me; I will receive itat Tarawera and convey it on to Almriri. Wirenru Toetoe then spoke: What you say, Nikora, is correct; we have agreed at Rangiaobia that it shall come from Rangiaohia to AroMhena, and thence to A|iotea but the arrangements for this part are with yourself and Poibipi. These were tbe only men wbo spoke at this meeting, but all the people consented.