Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Life in Early Poverty Bay

Maori Correspondence

Maori Correspondence.

The correspondence for the Maoris was always a source of anxiety to page 109 the postal officials, and a simple plan was decided on. All the letters to Maoris were left on a heap on the counter and when a Native came in and asked for a letter he was waved over to the bundle and went through it, and if any letters were addressed to him, took them. Further troubles were caused by the fact that Maori correspondents would address letters to pakehas by the European names translated into the Maori language, and many amusing incidents arose from that practice, sometimes all the small staff of the office being called in to assist in solving the problems, and then the aid of a Native interpreter would need to be sought.