MAORI MATTERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4387, 12 April 1875, Page 7

MAORI MATTERS.

Hori Keri Tairoa intends calling a meeting oi natives of Canterbury and Otago, to be held at Otago Heads on 24th May, to consider what steps should be taken to secure payment of the two millions sterling claimed by him in 1872 as compensation for unfulfilled promises made to them by Col. Wakefield, Kemp, and Mantell. At the meeting it is intended to collect money for the purpose of defraying the expense of sending certain of their number to England to petition the Crown and Parliament on the spot, and to request Mr. Mantell to go with them to advocate their claims.

Passing interest was created on the Queenstreet wharf, says the Auckland Star of the 4th March, by the appearance of a party of Maoris busily packing dried shark in kauri <nrai cases. We learn that the strange commodity is designed as a present to King Tawhiao, who, no doubt, like most of the Maoris, esteem this leathery and voracious fish a luxury. Paul, of Orakei, is mentioned as the sender of the choice gift. The natives are perfectly at liberty to send as many sharks to the King as they like ; and it is a very happy present, for it pleases his Majesty and the loss of the fish will never be regretted by us. Hone Pavatene Tananuiorongi, or John Patterson, ex M.H.R. for the Southern Maori electoral district, was charged lately at the Kaiapoi Court with having violently threatened to take the life of James Rickurs, jun., and Honi Horomona, a half-caste. James Rickurs, residing on the Maori reserve, said on Monday there was a case heard at the pa between accused and himself, in which the former was plaintiff. He cross-questioned accused, who would not answer, but said, “ Before the sun goes down I shall take jour life.” Afterwards, in reply to witness saying he wanted to extort money, accused said he did not want money, he wanted witness’s neck. From bis manner witness was afraid of his life —that he would do him some bodily harm. Accused was in a passion at the time. Accused made a statement that the complainants had committed a trespass in his house. He admitted having used certain threats. The magistrate said the case was proved, but, owing to accused having received provocation, he would be bound over only to keep the peace towards the complainants, himself in £SO and two sureties of £SO each for twelve months. The Stads special correspondent at the great Kingite meeting successfully penetrated the country to Te Kuiti. He writes a long account of his journey, the King country and the opening proceedings. He says :■ —After passing Alexandra there is no road, only a track, along which travellers are compelled to ride in Indian file, which leads to Kopua, eight miles through a difficult country, the road twice crossing the river by almost impassable fords, owing to swamps. There are two Europeans married to Haubaiw living at Kopua, and a miscellaneous population of whites and half-castes. Fourteen miles beyond is Lewis’s store, kept by a half-caste, in the vicinity of which Mackay’a life was attempted. Between this store and Kopua three streams have to be crossed, and two swamps, the banks on each side of the river being nearly perpendicular. From the store is sixteen miles to Kuiti, over a rough hilly country heavily timbered. After penetrating a dense forest, the traveller comes out on open ground, and begins to see settlements which surround Kuiti on all sides for about seven or eight miles. About a thousand natives live around Kuiti, which is built on both sides of the river, and has a large courthouse capable of accommodating three hundred natives. I he King’s tribe is a small one. All his land lies at Kawhia. Ho lias two sons and several daughters, and three wives, besides concubines. His eldest son is learning blacksmiths work with a European named Moffatt. Tawhino and both his sons are addicted to drink, and it is generally understood that at death a nejihew will succeed him, owing to ilia freedom from that vice. A large tract of land ia under cultivation at Kuiti, under wheat,-oata, tobacco, and melons. They have a large surplus of hops and wheat, which they will send to market as soon as sufficient water is in the river to allow canoes to proceed. The correspondent describes the whole country as a series of hills and dales, with some high mountains and extensive forests. Pheasants and pigs abound.

have a fair share of cattle and horses and a few sheep, but for sheep the country is not adapted, owing to the general growth of the fern tutu. In the river ironstone is always found. Only recently a seam of cannel coal Was discovered. Alluvial gold was lately found on the Downs, The nati ves have resolved not to permit roads or telegraphs on their ground, or to sell or lease lands, bullivan’a and Todd’s murderers and Te Kooti live there. The chiefs are now all for peace. The correspondent adds that the King’s successor may bring on war, and if he does so it will be the last ; but before the natives arc vanquished many Europeans will be slain, the natural features of the country offering great barriers to Europeans. Excellent hops, says the Wanganui Evenimj Herald, are now being grown by the natives at an up-river settlement, called Koroniti. No fewer than fifteen canoes were lying is the stream opposite the foreshore this (Tuesday) morning, says the Wanganui Evening Herald of the 9th, most of them having corndown with produce, principally fruit. Some of them started on their return trip almost as soon as they had completed their transactions in town, and the remainder will follow in the evenin". All of them take back full loads of goods, °some of them being intended for the preparations about being made for the large meeting to be held ere long. It is noteworthy that those Maoris who now bring their produce to town seldom remain more than sufficient time to dispose of their fruit; generally they come down in the morning and return in the afternoon.

The death of Wi Katene, chief of the Uriweras, is announced. A young man of the name of Matene Haunui, a native, has been taken to the hospital, to be treated for a wound received at Poverty Bay during the Te Kooti troubles. Matene fought on the side of the Government, and while engaged with the enemy, was struck by a bullet that entered his left side. The ball has never been extracted, but has worked itself round to the backbone, entirely crippling the young man, who has to walk with the "aid of crutches. Matene has been four .times under medical treatment, but without obtaining relief. The Herald's Opunaki correspondent writes: W. King's people were silenced at the Parihaka meeting, and, therefore, Te Whiti had no occasion to refer to the matter, excepting in a general way. The Hauhaus are now building a whare, at Parihaka, and it is supposed they will be detained there for some time ; as they have committed a great fault in nearly causing a disturbance between the races, which is against Te Whiti’s principles, as he always impresses on the natives the importance of living peaceably with the whites. Probably, therefore, Te Whiti has had them under his immediate eye for some time. DEATH OP MOSES TAWHAT, OF HOKIANUA. (From the New Zealand ! Herald, March 29.) Many old colonists and others will have heard with deep and sincere regret before this of the death of this brave and loyal old Ngapuhi chief, who came suddenly to his end by a fall from a horse, on Sunday, the 14th instant. On that day he had attended Divine service as usual, together with his people, at the Waima Mission Station. After the service, he was in the act of mounting his horse to return, when he was observed by some who were standing near to overbalance himself, and to fall heavily with his head downwards to the other side. Kind hands soon lifted the unconscious chief from the ground, and every effort was made to restore him to consciousness, but without avail. It was evident that the fall had dislocated the neck, and that immediate death was the result, as he never breathed afterwards. The body was conveyed to the kainga, and laid out in Maori fashion, immediately, and as the news spread natives from all parts—Ngapuhis and Rarawas alike —arrived in crowds to pay their last honors, and to perform the taugi over the dead body of the deceased chieftain. The funeral took place on Thursday last, when the corpse was followed to the grave by many Europeans as well as Maoris. Amongst the rest Judge Manning and Judge Monroe, Spencer, Von Stunner, Esq., (Resident Magistrate), and the Hon. Wiremu Katene were present to testify their respect to their old friend. The service was read in Maori by the resident missionary, the Rev. W. Rowse. Moses Tawhai is almost the last representative of that band of chiefs who early embraced Christianity, and became at the same time the staunch friends of the pakeba. Ho was baptised at Mangunga, by the late Rev. John Whiteley, in the year 1836, and remained a consistent member of the Church until his death. He, with others, signed the Treaty of Waitangi in the year 1840, and was ever a most loyal subject of the Queen, ready at any moment to take up anus in support of her authority. He for many years held office as a native assessor under the Government, by whom he was highly respected. A daring warrior in his early days, he bore scars to his grave as mementoes of the fierce and savage struggles of the Maori tribes before the introduction of Christianity. He won for himself a name throughout these islands for his courage and power, but his efforts, after he became a Christian, were ever employed in the promotion of peace, good order, and education among his people. DEATH OF MOTH MANOAKAHIA. (From the Thames Advertiser.) The Thames Advertiser gives the following particulars of the career of Mold Mangakahia, a Coromandel chief “ Few natives have been so famous of late years as Mold Mangakahia, who died on Sunday at Wangapoua. He gained his fame, not through any exploits of the Te Kooti or Titokowaru class but through having become involved in a series of lawsuits, which, after continuing for some nine or ten years, have only lately died out. Mold had dealings with Craig, and Harris, and Macfarlano, and was mixed up in all their complicated lawsuits in a way which wo should not like to be called upon at once to give an epitome of. For a considerable time Mohi was the instrument by which the Messrs. Harris assailed Mr. J. S, Macfarlane. His action was greatly censured, but probably he was injured and blamed, while not deriving much of any profit which was obtained. Mohi was a man of good birth, according to Maori notions, and he was the principal landowner in the district of Wangapoua. He belonged to the Ngatitamatera tribe, and by one strain of his ancestry he claimed descent from the Ngatihuarcro, the people who inhabited this district before the arrival of the present tribes, who conquered them. This conquest, we may say, is computed to have taken place some six or seven hundred years ago. Mohi was a well informed man for a native. He was well read in Scripture, and was thoroughly acquainted with the history of New Zealand. His natural acuteness, and his extensive experience, made him quite a lawyer, and he was in the habit of practising as counsel in conducting cases before the Native Lands Court. Mohi was married to a daughter of W. H. Taipari. We have no doubt there will be a considerable gathering of the Thames natives to cry over his remains.”