"LET THE PAKEHA AND THE MAORI BE UNITED."

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume I, Issue 1, 1 March 1861, Page 1

"LET THE PAKEHA AND THE MAORI BE UNITED."

Salutations to you friends—the Maori people of New Zealand! Chiefs and commoners, great and small, old and young —salutations to you all! It is customary among tlieMaories to welcome the advent of a stranger with cries of Haere mail Haere mail The welcome is commenced with the approach of the visitor, and is prolonged until he has fairly entered the kainga. Now, therefore, the " Manuhiri TuarangV 1 awaits the welcome of the Maori people. Its advent is now publicly an-

nounced, and we invite those who would join in the cry of Haere vnai! to write a short letter expressive of their views, to be printed in our columns, so that all may see it. It will be asked by many—What has become of the "Maori Messenger"? Let the " Manuhiri Ttiarangi" answer:— During eighteen years it has laboured unceasingly for the good of the Maori. Month after month it has gone forth and traversed the country from Muriwhenua at the North to Rakeiura at the South, and from Coast to Coast, bearing on its pages the words of six successive Governors to Her Majesty's Maori subjects. Its arrival has been announced at every Pa—it has found its way into every hut—its pages have been fingered by almost if not every Maori throughout the length -and breadth of Aotea-roa. It has been read by the Ngapuhi of the far North—it has been read by the Ngaitahu of the far South—it has been read by the many tribes of the interior, and to all it has spoken the same friendly words of counsel. It has not been slow to point out and condemn the -evils that exist among the Maori, while, at the same time, it has given prominence to and encouraged what was good. It has steadily watched over the interests of the Maori, and has ever endeavoured by timely and plain spoken advice to turn his feet into the right direction, and so to promote bis moral well-being as well as his social advancement. We trust that these efforts have not been altogether barren of results. The, paper has always been reatl

with evident interest, and we believe s that it has carried with it a very wholesome influence. It is impossible to say how far it may have, been instrumental in restraining the evil-disposed and encouraging the good and industrious to renewed effort in a right direction. Since the first number of the " Messenger" issued from the press important changes have taken place among you. Then you were sunk in heathen darkness and subject to barbarous laws and usages; now you are in the enjoyment of Christian privileges, and have, for the most part, relinquished the cruel customs of your forefathers for the just and humane laws of the Pakeha: then a large section of you were enslaved to hostile tribes; now slaveiy is no more, and the liberated captives have returned to their homes and kinsfolk: then you were generally poor and needy—clothed in a blanket and subsisting on fern-root and potato; now you are in the enjoyment of many of the comforts of civilized life, and are fast acquiring European property. It is not for us to determine how far the influence of the " Messenger" may have promoted this change in your condition. Notwithstanding, however, all that has been accomplished, very much remains to be done. And now, in the place of the '• Messenger" whose arrival you have so often welcomed, the "Manuhiri Tuarangi and Maori Intelligencer" is sent forth to instruct and enlighten you in all matters affecting your welfare, and to afford you a medium for the full and free expression of your opinions on all questions that may concern or interest you,

A much larger issue of the paper than heretofore has been authorised, and arrangements have been made to secure a better circulation of it than has hitherto obtained. Special correspondents will be appointed in the various native districts, who will, from to time to time, inform us as to the condition and prospects of the natives in their neighbourhood, and will furnish any other intelligence that may be likely to interest our readers. It is proposed to give occasionally a short digest of European news, as well as full information on all matters of local interest; in short, no effort will be wanting to render the " Manuhiri" both entertaining and instructive, and it will always be our aim to promote, in every possible way, the complete union of the Pakeha and Maori races in New Zealand.