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Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume V, Issue 10, 15 May 1858, Page 1

We are glad to be able to report that the feud between the Ngaitai and Te Whanau-a-Apanui tribes. at Tunapahore, is now really at an end. We hear that a firm peace has at last been made. Some time since, on tbe occasion of a visit to tbe parties by tbe Ngatiwbakaue Chief, Tobi Te-Ururangi, a cessation of hostilities was agreed upon. These, however, were subsequently renewed. We are informed that the p ace bas now been concluded at tbe instance of the Rev. T. Chapman and a native teacher named Hakaraia, of tbe Waitaba tribe, who have lately visited tbe belligerents with tbe special object of inducing them to cease fighting and make friends. Both tribes, we bear, have consented to act upon this good advice. Why was not this done before? What has either party gained during the struggle? \ The Maori proverb of ''Great pains, little gains," is again proved a true one. What has either of these tribes to show as the results of the work in wbicb they have been engaged for more than two years past? What besides graves? ' Had tbe same amount of effort been properly directed to tbe cultivation of the land and other useful works, other fruits would now be seen. Instead of this, their people have been expending their

strength and energies in endeavouring to destroy one another. We can now only hope that they will learn wisdom from experience, and seek to repair past errors by industry and a steady pursuit of worthier Objects in future. The example of their neighbours, the Wbakatobea, at Opotiki, is one they may do well to follow. We bear of no quarrels or fighting about land among the Whakatohea. The accounts which reach us of these people are most creditable to themselves and to the wisdom of their chiefs and leading men. Instead of squabbling and fighting about land, we bear .of their convening meetings to decide upon measures to be adopted for the general good of the tribe, laying out roads and making regulations respecting them, making arrangements for the erection of mills, && We hear also that they are possessed of a good deal of property; that horses and carts are common among them, and in daily use.* As men sow, so * must they reap. Peace and industry will produce their own fruits of wealth and prosperity ; and so also will strife and disorder produce their fruits of poverty and misery. The feud at Whakataane <till continues. The present nnmber of the "Messenger" contains a letter from the son of the late chief Te Wiremu Bikairo to his people, urging the chiefs to- put an end to the quarrel and make peace. We think the Whakataane chiefs will do well to pay attention to this letter, and use their influence to bring the affair to a peaceable termination as soon as possible. Surely of all unprofitable pursuits these contests about land are most foolish. The Ngaiihoko and Ngaitersngi, at Tanraiiga, continue to maintain their positions on the land in dispute and a hostile attitude towards one another, but no collision has recently taken place. She Taranaki feud also is Still being carried on. The continuance of this strife Which has proved so destructive of human life and property fs most lamentable. There is one thing In connection with k which we cannot bnt regard with satisfaction. We refer to the conduct of WTreniuTeKorowhiti, from Wbanganui. the object of this chief in taking part in the fetid is a laudable one. He does not attempt to justify the crime of murder of which Ihaia and his agents have been guilty, but he has interposed to prevent the indiscriminate massacre of the ' women and children of Ibaia's party besieged in the Karaka pa. He recommends both parties to moke peace that the work of

bloodshed may cease. He is right. No man will attempt to justify Ihaia. His crime is murder. So also was that ofTe Waitere, and he met a murderer's death. Why should not the matter end here? If, In the first instance, all the Maori people atTaranaki had been prepared to support and carry out the law of the Pakeha, the present state of affairs would not have arisen. The murderer would have been dealt with according to the Queen's law, instead of being left to bring down the consequences of his crime upon the heads of others. As the case stands, however, what is to be done? What is to be the end of this? Will matters be improved by prolonging the feud, and increasing the number ol the slain? We do uot see to what good end the war-path can lead. Rather let Wit-emu Te Korowhiti's advice be followed. * Let peace be made; let a barrier be set up to divide the past from the future; let the past with its mistakes and its evils be obliterated, and begin afresh with a new order of things. Cause the sun to shine, and the calm to be spread over the sea, and let it be resolved on by the chiefs, and understood by all, that he who, by an act of violence, again ruffles that calm shall be given up to be tried and punished for bis o(f< nee according to the just laws of England, that his act may uot involve others in its consequences.