THE WAKA MAORI.

Southland Times, Issue 1814, 4 November 1873, Page 3

THE WAKA MAORI.

From the last number to hand of the above periodical, which is largely circulated among the Maories in the North Island (being printed in parallel columns in Maori and English), we make a few extracts from the editor's replies to correspondents :— Adverting to a letter from Mr C. O. Davis, published in the Waka of the 18th of June last, advocating total abstinence from intoxicating drink, Horomona Hapai of Tokonaaru (East Coast) writes to inform that gentleman that on the 25th of August last he became a total abstainer. He says alcoholic liquors may be a very proper beverage for the pakehas, who are a people able to take it in moderation (?), but the Maories cannot. Their chiefs are the first to get drunk, and get dragged in the mud, and the common people follow their example. He says :— " The Natives see that this habit of drinking leads to poverty and misery, and the more so from the iguorance of the Native people. We are now-a-days in the habit of purchasing drink largely for travelling bodies of visitors, and for conBumption at our public lamentations for the dead. The real reason why the Natives take to drinking so much, is for the purpose of furthering their intrigues with the fair sex, in pursuance of which purpose they (those who drink) do not rest at night, but are continuously wandering about. My friend, be strong in urging this foolish people, the Maories (to abstain from drinking) — that is to say, foolish for their habitual drunkennesß, by reason of which they allow their money to be stolen from their pockets by others who are sober." Daniel Kyland, of Tokomaru, East Coast, writes to iniorm us that he was plundered (looted) by " Queen Natives," in the year 1865. He argues that as he waa not robbed by Hauhaua, but by " Queenites," and that as mutual love is now the dominant principle in the land according to the command of Christ, " love thy neighbor as thyself," and as the Maories and Europeans are now one people, the Government is under a moral obligation to compensate him for his losses. He says others have received compensation, why should not he ? Karaka Maki, of Marekakaho, Ahuriri, in answer to an article of ours urging the Natives to industry in agricultural

pursuits, informs us they have now no land to cultivate, having sold it all for pots and pannikins, pipes and tobacco ; and he further gravely informs us that Auckland was purchased for an iron pot ! He says the Pakeha fi-st introduced Christianity and then " Mortgages." He then deprecates our anger, assuring us his korero is all " nothing." We agree with our friend of Marnekakaho that his korero is all " nothing." We are receiving so many letters from all parts of the country that it is utterly impossible to publish them all — it would require half a score of newspapers to do bj. Many of them are not suitable for publication, and others are too trivial We would here advise some of our Native friends to be more particular in their choice of language when writing for the Press. It is no uncommon thing to find, in many letters we receive, respectable people designated liars, deceivers, i thieves, slaves, and so Forth.. Suet ' language to European ears is strange, and is actionable at law. This is one reason why many Native petitions sent to Parliament cannot be received — namely, the impropriety of the language used.