“TE WAKA MAORI.”

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4863, 23 October 1876, Page 2

“TE WAKA MAORI.”

TO THE EDITOR OP THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sib, —I beg that you will be good enough to favor ine by inserting this letter in your paper, that it may be read by the Fakebas, because it refers to a matter of great importance to us, the Maoris; I have heard that the Waha Maori newspaper has been suppressed. This is a serious misfortune, this breaking up of the canoe which conveyed sustenance to the whole of the Maori people inhabiting these islands of New Zealand ; that is. to say, the canoe which supplied them with truthful information on every subject—for no words of deception or flattery ever found a place in its pages. I have been a reader of the I Vaha Maori from its commencement in the year 1863, and, from that time down to this year 1876, I have never once discovered a false statement in any of its reports and editorial matter. Now that I hear it is being suppressed, I ask, what is the reason?, From'whom emanated the proposal to break it up? But I can judge from the tone of the Wananga who are the parties urging its destruction. One reason, I hear, is that Government money is being uselessly expended in its support. But this is not a satisfactory explanation to. my mind. Barge sums are being expended for various; useless purposes, while this small sum for a matter of real benefit to the Native race is being complained of. It is by means of the Waha we are informed of what is going on in this and other countries. Intimes past, when, war raged in this, country, emissaries from the hostile tribes went about the country stating that “ thousands of soldiers were being slain,” and inciting wavering tribes to join in the war ; but the Waha Maori gave, them good advice and faithful accounts of the real state of affairs; thereby preserving peace among 1 the tribes inclined to rebel. Subsequently the people gave heed to I its warnings and advice respecting intemperance, and Good Templarism is spreading among them in j consequence. It has also strongly urged- the discontinuance of the wasteful and prodigal Maori custom of wailing parties for the dead, and that custom is consequently much leas frequent now than formerly. Owing in a great measure to the teaching of the I Vaha the sky became clear and fair; but since the appearance of the Wananga, owing to its baneful influence, dark clouds are again looming in the distant horizon. The motto on the front page of the Waha is “ Justice, truth, and love,” and it has always adhered to those principles of justice, truth, and love. Therefore, I say do not break up our canoe—the Maories also contribute to its support by their subscriptions. The great body of the Maori people will be greatly grieved by the destruction of their canoe, the Waha Maori. I know that it is valued highly by my ovvn tribe, Ngatiporou—a numerous and powerful people, who, through the influence of Sir Donald MoLean, of whose wickedness the Wananga tells us so much, have ever been the firm friends of the Fakeba, and have freely shed their . blood to support the power and authority of the Pakeha in this country— and this is the' way we are rewarded, you are taking away that which was a real benefit to us and which cost you so little. Its discontinuance, however, may yet cost you much more. Who can say that the services of my tribe may not again be-required?' The Wananga and its supporters are doing all they can to bring about such a state of affairs. I am informed that Mr- Sheehan- contemplates interviewing

the people of my tribe,, Ngatiporou. Let him do so. We shall see whether he will succeed in deceiving that tribe as he is deceiving Ngatdcahungunu (the Napier people). It has been said in the-House of Parliament, by the supporters of the Wananga, that we, i the Maories, have that newspaper to guide and instruct us. But I say that the Maories have no confidence in the Wanangco, they do not believe its statements.. It is the child of only a section of the Native people, those at Napier, and it is always scolding and complaining about the .troubles .of that particular people* it, does not represent the Natives generally! Here are some of its faults. It inserts ■ counterfeit letters, purporting to- have been written by ; Maories._ It slanders people indiscriminately. It is a traducer of men. It is- a maligner and a mocker. It : abuses and speaks evil of the Government. It misleads the Maories. It is a liar. It persuades the Natives to turn away from the Government, and reject their advice. It urges the Natives to apply to the Queen for “ new laws." It blasphemes the Creator himself. <Xn short it is continually advocating measures, the result of which can only be to bring trouble upon the Maories. The Maoris are a• people easily led to accept advice which agrees with their inclinations—such advice as is given in the Wananga, for instance, “Pay no attention to the advice of,the Government; shut up your ears,” and the Maories shut up their ears accordingly. I think if the present management of the Wananga continue, the Maories will ere long give trouble, as Waikato did in consequence of being led by evil advisers. Therefore, I say, leave the I Vaha Maori alone ; do not break it up. - If you do, you will be pinching the nose of the Maories that they may not even smell the pleasant odour : of your good measures j you will be bandaging their eyes that they may not perceive them, and closing their ears that they may not hear them.—l am, &c., . Mohe Tdrei. Wellington, October 21.

(KI TE E KTUHt O TK NXCT TIRANI TAIMA.) E ho*,— Ka inoi atu au ki a koe kispat mai koe H tener reta kia tala kl to nupepa, no te mea he tikanga nul rawa ia ki a matau kl nga Maori. Kua range au kua pakaru te Waka Maori nupepaii boa ma, katabi te mate kino ko tenei, ka pakaru hoki te waka whai kai e ora at te Iwi Maori nui tonu 0 enei motu o Niu Tirani; ara ko te waka e rongo pono ai Id nga korero katoa—ara kaore tab! be- kupu nukurau i roto, patlpati ranei I timata mai taku kite i te Wdka Maori ie te tau 1863, tao noa mai ki tenei tau 1876, bore rawa au i kite 1 tetabi kupu tito noa i roto i ana korero wbakaatu me ana kupu tohutohu. Inaianei ka rongo aukua pakaru te Waka e ui ana au, He aba rate take i tukitukla ai ? Kowai ranei te tangata naua te kupn tuatabi kia tukitukia ? Otira kei te moblo ano au ki nga tangata na ratou nei 1 whakabau kia tukitukia. r mohio ai : au, ua te Wananga/i wbakaatu i rnnga i te ahua o ana karero. Tetabi take i rongo al au, mo te moni a te Kawanatanga e pau ana mo te mabinga ote Waka, be maumau noa iho no te moni. Ehara tera 1 te kupu marama ki taku whakaaro. He maba ke ra nga moni e pan anal nga mea hanga noa' Lho, a ko tenei moni iti rawa, bei tino tikanga e tika al te iwi Maori, ka b&kua. Na te Waka matou nga Maori i rongo ai ki nga korero o te matou motu, ki nga korero ano' boki o era atu motu o te ao nei. I mua, 1 nga wa- o te whawbai, i baere . tonu i te motu nga karere a nga iwi whawbal korero al. “kuamano tint nga boia kua mate, 0 a whakabau faaere ana ki nga iwi © noho tarewa ana te whakaaro kia wbakatikai ratou kia uru kite whawbai; otira i marama rawa atu te. tobutobu » te Waka Maori, i wbakaatu pono- i nga tikanga katoa—na reira tonu i marie ai nga whakaaro- o nga iwi whakaaro kite tutm A, imuri mat nei i whakarongo tonu nga iwlo temotu nei ki ana tobutobu mote kal waipiro kia mutu, a rongo tonu etabi, ina bold ra kua nui baere te znabi Kuru Temepara. Me tana tobe tonu kia mutu nga tangi nui. mamnau taonga, mo nga tupapaku, a rongo tonu etabi, kua iti baere iho ano te tangi tupapaku. Na te mabi, tetabi wabi, mete ako- tika ate Waka ka marama- a runga ote rangi; engarl no te putangs mai o te Wananga ka tukupu ano te kapua pouzi i te paewal o te rangi i runga i tana akoranga kino.. Ko? te kupu nuiite wbarangi tuatabi ote Waka , “ko te Tika, ko te Pono, ko te Aroha," koia ano kei era kupu, tika tonu hoki, pono tonu,, aroha tonu. Kola au i mea ai, kaua e tukitukia to matou waka—kei te uru tabi hoki nga Maori ki roto o tena nupepa, ara ki tehoatumoni. Tera te tokemaha o nga iwi- Maori e tangi nui ki to ratou waka, te Wdka--Maori. £ mohio ana au be taonga nui ia kite whakaaro o toku ;iwi, a Ngateporou—be iwi nui ia,„ be Iwt tea, a i runga 1 to ratou whakaaro nui ki a Ta Tanana Makarini, te tangata e kangaia ana e wbakakinoa tonutia anae.te Wananga , ara i runga i to ratou whakaaro kl a ia ka piri pono ratou kite : Pakeba, ka marlngi o ratou totoite wao te rlri kite l hapaii te mana ote Pakeba r tenei motu-a ko te utu tenei ki; a matou, e tango net koutou ite mea e tika nul al matou, he iti rawa boki a koutou moni i pau i runga i taua mea: Tera pea be nui atu o a koutou moni' e-pau i runga i to whakamutunga o te Waka a tonawa marire e pauai. Kowai hua ai e kore koe e mea mai ki a Ngatiporou a muri ake nei bei mabi i au mabi? 'ln a hoki e tobe tonu ana te Wananga me ana kai awbina kia tnpu mai be ramram. Kua .rongo .au e kiia ana e whakaaro.ana te Hihana kia baere ia kia kite i taku iwi, ia Ngatiporou. Me baere-iakirelra, ama tatou e titiro atu me he mea ka taea ranei e la te whakawai i tena iwi : pera me ia e whakawai nei ia Ngatikahunguno. Kua kiia i roto iite Paremete, e nga kaihapai i te TVananoa,.ko tena nupepa bei nupepa arahii a ma--1 tou, i nga Maori; bei ako boki i a matou. Ko au e ki ana, e kore e tau te whakaaro o nga Maori ki runga ki tena nupepa, kaore ratou e wbakapono ana ki ana korero. ' He tamaifci ia na tetabi wehenga o te iwi Maori, ara ! ko tera kei Nepia nei; a he kowhetewbete tonu boki i tana mabi mo a ratou mate anake ano—e hara ia ito nnpepa ote iwi Maori nui tonu. Kola tenei etabi o ona be. Kotana wbakabua noa ite reta ingoa ke, ka kiia na tetabi tangata Maori ke atu. Ko tana whaka~ ■ kino noa atm ite ingoa o etabi atu tangata. Ko ta . ngau tu&rav Kb te kAnga, ko te kobukohu, ko te ' tawai Ko te korero* kino mo te Kawanatanga. Ko te ako hei-nga Maori. Ko te tito korero. Koto kaupare ke i nga Maori kia kaua e whakarongo ki nga akoranga a te Kawanatanga. Ko te ako atu ki nga Maori kia baere kia kimibia he “ ture hou° i a te Kuini. Ko te kobukohu kite Atua rawa. Ko te tini noa ibo o ana korero takl mate mo nga iwi Maori. Hb iwi hoboro boki te Maori kite wbakarongo ki nga akoranga © rite ana Id a ratou nei mahara —ara ki eaei tu kupu a te Wananga, “kaua e wbaka* , rongo atu ki nga akoranga a te Kawanatanga:; puma ; o koutou taringa," purutonu hold nga Maori, Ki taku mohio* kite noho tonu ana kai-tubi bei mabi i te Wananga, e kore e roa nga Maori te raruraru ai Ka pera me Waikato , i whakarongo no! ki nga akoranga kino ate tangata. Koia au ka kl atu nei waibo teTFafca Maori kia ora ana; kaua e tuki- ! tukia. Ki te tukitukia rawatia e koutou,. he kuku tenei nakoutiu i teihu o te Maori kei hongiatu kite kakara o a koutou tikanga pal ; he kopare i nga kanohi o nga Maori kei kite atu i aua tikanga; he puru i nga taringa kei rongo *tu,—Na to.boa. Mohi Turner. w erengitana,. Oketopa 21. .