QUAINT.

Otaki Mail, 12 November 1923, Page 2

QUAINT.

TYPICAL MAORI LETTER. FOLLOWING ELECTION PETITION. Maori expression always is qu.-.'.nt, and the following letter received by Sir Maui Pomare congratulating hit"-, on the result of the recent election petition is typically Maori. The sender is an influential chief. "Greetings," begins the letter, "j am in receipt of your telegram informing me that the sun has shone and that the enemy has fallen. I have shown it to the remnants of the people who arc your supporters. O sou, greeting. Lie down and rest. Behold Tu the God Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, the God of War and yet of great kindness, the All-Experienced, the All-Terrible, the All-Influential. Beheld ye Him. The spell is cast, O Pomare. Pray ye and rest awhile. Lift up thine eyes. Let thy heart be firm, steady and undisturbed. May the God of your ancestors give vo'u strength and bless you with a stout and courageous heart. May He prevent you in all your doings,'and guard you from all evil by day and by night. "I have observed that you have been ready to forgive your enemies, for no sooner were you released from the bonds of an intrigue hatched tor your political ruin, you favour them with expressions of your aroha. Think you that 'aroha' is so insignificant in value that it is a fitting reward for the evil that has been done to you? Do not take umbrage at what I "have said. It would have been better to have allowed the feeling oi' animosity to subside before announcing your magnanimous intentions. r have suid thus much against those who though eating with ! us are against us, because I am sorrowful on account of (heir bvpoerisv. \ Greeting to yon Maui my Sou. I felt ' great affection for you when vour wires arrived. My elders- will now lift up their and offer up thanksgiving row that you have weathered the storm of political intrigues engineered by reli;.':ous fanatics. Enough are the words and salutations.—From vour humble older, POUWHAKEUMU TOI."

AOTEAKOA, 32 Maehe. 1923. Kia Te Honore Ta Maui Pomare, WELLINGTON. Kua tae mai hau waea whakaatu mai kua. whiti te Ta mete hinga ote hoa riri. Kua whakaaturia e nu ki o moreku kei raro i - a koe. E tama, t>.na kpe, takoto whakata iho manawa. Ruraaa, u, kotu kai awhitia tenuku. kotu kai awhitia teraugi. tuapiti, tuaropaki. tawhito, tipnu, manoanea ra ra,a,u, kua takoto e Po ta papa marire whakataa, ara ake. tokanohi. Manawa tina, manawa Una, manawatoka, manawatoka, tenet hoki to manawa katina tenei hoki to ka tenei hoki to manawa kapou taikl tina noho, to manawa he manawa cora, heora, a tiheia mauri ora, kei hiiu keite whai ao keite ao marama, mate araha Maui tena koe e tama, e po, vaiho tonu te takanga atu ote taur* a STgati-ruanui me Taranaki me Te Atiawe. Kua puta rawa to kupu aroha kei te whakaaro koe heiti fe'''aroha kia koe mce nei mahi kino mou kaua ranel hei pon'ri he aha koe itewaiho ai ito kupu Ida hua. rhatap te pawerawera ka wfia ai i to knpn. Kati ake hea kupu he ponri noku i putaia hera kupu mo raton e tou tou tahi nei ite riihi kotahi. Tena koe. e Maui, e tama, ka nui tooku arph'i i runs ite taenga mai ohau waea.' Kaara ake nga kanohi oho morehu ki rung:;. He oi nga kupu me nga rnihi 1 whakaaturia mai te ra e wha ka ofi ai tewhaka roa mou, f Kia ora, Maui. j Na to papa mokai, | POUWHABETJMTJ TOE