A TRIP UP THE EAST COAST.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1225, 14 December 1882, Page 2

A TRIP UP THE EAST COAST.

(BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Continuing our narrative from our issue of the 21st ult. we come to Thursday, the 26th, on which day, after having breakfasted well at Fred Fox’s hotel at Wai-o-matatini, we went over, accompanied by Mr A. J. Croll and Mr Peter Cooper, on a visit to the Native School, which is distant from the hotel about 300 yards. Here we were kindly received by Mr Creek, the schoolmaster, and his wife, who kindly undertook to put the children through their various lessons in order that we form some idea of what education the children attending these schools received. The Schoolroom is a large, airy building, about 80ft. long by 30ft. wide, but stands sadly in need of repairs. It requires shingling afresh, and has been ill-treated by the recent heavy gales which have visited this Coast; so much so that Mr Creek had to get strong shores placed against the sides to prevent the whole concern coming down. He is in hopes, however, that with a little assistance from casual subscribers,Major Ropata will undertake the necessary repairs at no distant date. There are all necessary appliances in the school-room such as maps and books, globes, slates, etc., and the children seemed to have made excellent progress. Mr and Mrs Creek are deserving of every praise for he evident pains they have taken in bringing their pupils forward. The attendance is 30 boys and 19 girls, some of whom are Europeans resident some distance away, but there is no (distinction of races observed.

Great pains has evidently been bestowed upon their singing, and Mr Creek may be justly proud of the progress made in this equally with other branches of study. The children chanted the Lord’s Prayer and sang a prayerful little hymn for their relations, after which they concluded the singing with a hymn of praise. We were highly pleased with the singing altogether. They then went through, in classes, a course of Geography, reading, and writing, all of which showed an amount of painstaking in tuition which is highly creditable to the teachers. The writing was uncommonly good, and there were very few mistakes in spelling. Mr Creek then told them to sing “ Pull for the shore,” which they did in a very charming manner. Both our eompagnons de noi/aqe were equally pleased with what we saw and heard, and, taking leave of Mr and Mr Creek we came away thoroughly convinced of the value of the excellent mode of teaching adopted in the Wai-o-matatini School. The Native parents also seem equally impressed with the value of these institutions and the general benefits conferred on their children by education, nor do they hang back or endeavor to shirk their due responsibilities when funds are asked for by subscription. We cannot bnt congratulate Mr and Mrs Creek on the happy results of their labors. After leaving the schoolhonse we had another look at the carvings for the new runanga house which Major Ropata is putting up. They are the work of one man, by name Tamati Ngakaho, and are all done with an ordinary table knife ground to a point. The ridge pole of this house is a splendid baulk of totara, and must have cost much trouble and labor to bring down from the bush. Arrived at the hotel we found Mr Cooper, Mr Ward, and a large party of Europeans and Natives waiting for us to go across the Waiapu to a place called “ Puke Mairo,” where a large meeting of Natives had been convened. On arriving there after a short journey of about 2A miles we found a large Native village, sitting around which were already a large concourse of people, while others were arriving momentarily. We were received with loud cries of “ Haeremai, haercmai,” and were welcomed with every demonstration of cordiality and goodwill. Here, in a very long whare, after having something to eat, it was suggested by Mr Robert Cooper that we should hold a mock runanga over a Native for some alleged offence, and the idea was carried out as quickly as it was proposed. A Court was formed, of which the writer was the judge, Mr E. ff. Ward, prosecuting counsel, Messrs R. Cooper and Egerton Ward witnesses for the prosecution; while the defence of the prisoner was entrusted to Paratene Ngakau, Mr Arthur Brooking interpreting, while the jury was composed of Natives and Europeans, under the foremanship of Mr W. O’Meara. It is needless to say, that despite the eloquence and legal acumen displayed by the Counsel for the defence, the prisoner after a long sitting was found guilty and sentenced accordingly. He was evidently uncertain the whole time whether the proceedings were in jest, or whether they were real. However, after all was over, he joined in the general laugh which was raised at his expense, very heartily. The long whare was crowded with Natives, who seemed to enjoy the proceedings immensely" After this was over Messrs E. ff. Ward, and A. J. Croll left for Awanui, we other Europeans remaining to see and hear the proceedings for which the meeting had been convenecl. First of all we interviewed the food department, where we counted 50 pigs and 4 bullocks hanging up, besides what were already in the process of cooking, while every succeeding party of Natives arriving was bringing its quota to the general feast in the shape of pork, beef and vegetables; sledge loads of the latter were arriving constantly. By about six o’clock p.m. there could not have been less than 1000 individuals present. The Natives were most hospitable to us Europeans, and made us most heartily we come. At a lit le after 6 p.m. the kai kai was brought down in approved Maori fashion about *5O women walking two and two in procession (in front) with a flax basket of potatoes in each hand while about an equal number of men followed with the meat. The bread was excellent and we made an extremely enjoyable supper. After which, divine service was held in the long whare, and that over the korero began, and lasted till very late in the night. We were shown to a tent erected at the end >f the long whare and plentifully strewed with|ti-tree, turned in for the night, all standing like a trooper’s horse : that is to say that we did not undress but slept in our clothes just as we were. Early in the morning we woke and having been supplied by a Maori lady with a towel and a piece of soap, adjourned to a creek where we were able to get a very respectable apology for a wash. On our return from our ablutions we found that breakfast was served and we made a very hearty meal off pork, potatoes, bread and tea. The breakfast over the women came round to collect the fragments and the vessels, while the men sqnattered on the ground to hear the korero. Robert Cooper spoke at some length regarding some lands in Native possession which he wanted to buy or lense ; ho was violently opposed by Buka Aratapu, who was working on behalf of some other Europeans. However the whole matter was effectually clinched by one or two oldish Natives who not up and said that they didn’t care, they tad promised the land to Cooper and no one | else should have it, and if the smaller propri- I etors didn’t like it they could cut out. This seemed to be contrary to their wishes, and they cooled down, apparently coming into tobert Coopers views, The several speakers having had their say, the meeting was virtu ally at an end, and a g-neral exodus commenced. Saddling up our horses we started with Mr Robert Cooper to have a look at the old pah of Puke Mairi, where in 1865, the Hauhaus so obstinately held out against the Queen. Il is a yery strong position on the I hills, bet ween the village of Puke Mairo, and •he Waiapu river, and was evidently choosen by no inexperienced hand. Major Ropata, and we believe Major Westrup, were present at the assault upon this pah, regarding which Paratene Ngakau has promised to write us a full and unvarnished account. The Hauhaus were successful in getting away owing to the ammunition supply of our men failing. The burial places at this pah are well kept and looked to. Leaving Puke Mairi and its hospitable proprietors behind us, we re-crossed the Waiapu river to Fred Fox’s, where we had dinner, after which we started for Awetere via Awanui. We reached Walker’s at Awanui, at about 3 p.m., leaving Robert Cooper behind us at Wai-o-matatini, to complete some Native

business. We stayed some little time at Walker’s, and then pushed on for Awetere, and had rather a rough journey of it, owing to the sea being very high, and the tide not serving us. The surf was dashing up against the rocks at a furious rate, and in one or two places was almost impassable. In fact, passing one of the bluffs a surf caught Mr Peter Cooper and literally drenched him, going clean over his head. Luckily, however, his horse managed to keep his footing and brought him safe round the Bluff, landing safely with us at Awetere without further mishap.