TAUPO.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume II, Issue 8, 15 April 1862, Page 9

TAUPO.

The Resident Magistrate of Taupo, Mr. Law, reports most favourably of the Natives of his extensive District, there being a general willingness to accept the Civil Institutions of Sir George Grey, and an honest admission' • that they are suitable to the; present circumj stances of llie Native people, giving them a i voice in the government of their own affairs. i •',•■. . ;*' •■• ■ i*s- Mr, Law was solicited by the Chiefs of

Tokaano, Tabataharoa, and other places, to form bis judicial establishment at their respectrvesettlements, but he deemed it advisable to locate himself at Oruanui, where arrangements are being made for the appointment t>f Assessors, and for the election of Presidents and members of the how realized JUinangas. The Tahpo Natives are said to be more moral than their neighbours, and are extremely hospitable. They are industrious too; notwithstanding the remote distance or their country from tbemarket towns. There area large number 'of cattle, and each village, we are assured, has ah abundant supply of milk, though at present they make no butter. tbey have 2000 sheen, and at present en hand, four or five teas or wool, which they are unable to convey to the sea ports, there being no road. They have resolved to weave their wool into blankets, the spinning and weaving machinery baying arrived from England, fa Anckland, some time ago; and will, we are informed, shortly fee setup at the Taupo Mission Station. Ploughs, and other farming utensils have been procured from Cook -Straits and Napier, at great cost, and no ordinary amount of labour, and perseverance. Relative to roads, Mr. Law informs us that "the Natives of Ornanui and other villages" decided to re-commence the line of way tbey were *? waking on their own land prior to the breaking out of hostilities atlaranaki"; an*-en the occasion of Mr, Law's visit, many of the Maori «from the East side or the lake were at Ahuriri, making roads for the Provincial Government." This state of things is very pleasing, and reflects great credit upon the. exemplary Missionary of the District, the Rev. Mr. Grace. There are several tribes located in the Taupo country. The Ngatituwharetoa is the dominant one; its principal Chief is Te Ueuheu Iwikau, a Maori poet. of. celebrity, and a man of large influence, even beyond the limits of bis tribal boundaries, being a great political leader amongst the land-holding section of the Native population. -■ The next people in importance, are the Ngatiraukawa, "a very powerful tribe inhabiting the country extending from Mauneatautari to the West side or Taupo.". A po* . Uon of it is at present residing alone the •hows of Cook's Straits. Mr. Law was cordially welcomed by Matewaia and other

leading Chiefs of the Ngaliraufcawa; and though tbey profess to be one in politics with the Upper Waikatos, ihey would have gladly accepted bis services as Resident Magistrate, hot be was obliged to decline their pressing invitation. " I think I was successful," says Mr. Law, "in dispelling the doubts expressed by some of the old men here. I was asked by an old man, why His Excellency did not give \ these good things before? and the Maori f ended bis speech with the following expresr sions:—*irthese things (i.e. the Civil Instii tutions had been granted to us before, there would not have been a King Native in TaiiI. po.' However, he continued, *we believe .. that the Governor means well, and we accept the new system.'"