RIVERTON.

Southland Times, Issue 1030, 30 September 1868, Page 3

RIVERTON.

(PBOM OTTB OWN COEBESPOJTDEIfT.) BrrEBTOW, Sept. 29. The long continued fineness of the weather (having: left us, with nothing to grumble at in this respect, and not being ordinarily disposed, in Uiverton to grumble much among ourselves, and you having published aU the particulars of our late large local meeting — astonishing (as I hear) a good many who fancied that Rivertdnf could not have got- lip such an affair. lam casting about in my mind what to tmte about, or whether to. write at aIL Ha ! I have it nowv— lt's not about Scully's new brewery, although that will be soon finished, and prepared to, supply Invercargill with good ale, not ordinary colonial swipes, but' good honest brew— but about ; Maori rites and ceremonies lately occurring. A strange transition this, from new brew to Maori customs, but this is the order in which it comes, and if you take my. letter you must take it as it is. "" Last week sundry strange movements among the Maori population, combining liightly gatherings and Sittings with the varied eccentricities, either real or imaginary to the uninitiated, aroused the attention, and excited the vigilance, of our Besident Magistrate, who dreaded UtheL armed: ; uprising of the native race, and the terrible consequences resulting j therefrom, could but be laid by acting on the principle of " prevention is better than cure." I am not sure that the Captain of our Volunteer Band was ordered to hold him-:: | self and men in readiness to quell an outbreak. Had such orders, been given and need arisen for acting upon them, from the martial bearing of the Commander, and the determined prowess of the corps — the result.. ... may be easily .arrived at. I am, however, sure that the Sergeant -of Police •■ w?b ., instructed., to " keep an eye" on the movement, and' in accordance with -his instructions, he took counsel with that universally appealed to i individual, -? the oldest inhabitant," or one of them, and learned that no treasonable plots' were' -hatching • that our dusky brethereß were not " on murderous thoughts or deeds intent," but were carrying out a religious, ceremony of their tribe — that of. removing the tapu— -it's very likely I spell this word and that he, the sergeant, should "witness its consummation on the morning. "Accordingly, on Friday, at about 9 a.m., as I understand, the sergeant, in company: with residents of Eiverton, proceeded to the Maori enclosure, and there found about 100 men, women, and children, gathered and seated^ in circles, Who had returned from the watetf- side, at which they had been through a process in, some; way. corresponding or significant of the rite of baptism. However, the present object at the time of the sergeant's visit, appeared ito be to dispose of an unusual quantity' "of comestibles-— as 'certain of the number were employed in the prosaic task of opening the native ''6venß-^-from •which, in rich profusion, there issued forth baked -pigß, r pitddings., and yege-

tables^ to furnish an abundant feaat. Xt now became evident that the intent of the gathering was to build up, and not to destroy. On conversation* with Solomon, the reason of the whole was made apparent— being a necessity according to Maori belief of removing an evil influence which had been cast upon the people. If I were to attempt to enter into the significance of the means used or to define the character or causes of the influence said to be at work, and which it was sought to counteract and destroy, I should certainly fail; that it was a religious ceremony, and the after feasting an expression of thankfulness there is no doubt. The repast was not ; commenced until prayer had been offered — all kneeling — and the gathering apparently explained or referen.ee made to its cause. There were two old Maories present from the Society Islands as well as others from the New Eiver, Cokes Bay, and "Wakapatoo. It is intended by the Maories to repeat the ceremony at the various * Kaiks * in the Island. At Centre Island and at Euapuke — all of which places are supposed to be more or less under the influence of tapu. Eiverton, Sept. 29th, 1868.