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having long been deserted as habitations, | body these gratifying results are due-to now exist only in a state of decay. The those men who through good report and causes of this depopulation are supposed evil report, and amidst early perils and to be, the small proportion of women, the privations, persisted in their arduous task. small fecundity even of that proportion, To the Bishop of New Zealand and his truly the general neglect of children, and the apostolic career we have more than once former practice of female infanticide. Cer- had the gratification of referring; and we tain local statistics,' according to Mr. can but express our earnest hope that he Hursthouse, corroborated by the reports may live to see his desires fully accomof colonists familiar with the native life, plished, and terminate at some distant day may convince us that to every 100 adult his pastoral reign over the islands for males there are not more than 75 adult which he has effected so much, the spirifemales and 45 children. In Ireland and tual father of a united flock and the beneAmerica the proportions are about 100 factor of a grateful people; for it is as a men, 150 women, and 100 children.' Such civiliser not less than as a Christian pastor a disproportion of the sexes, if it exists in that this devoted man will be remembered. New Zealand, is alone sufficient to ac- Many are the lessons which he has taught count for a decreased and decreasing popu- them in the arts of social life and rural lation. The existence of polygamy among industry. the chiefs, or among such as have not been Christianised, is another cause; but the principal one has been undoubtedly the dissolute lives of girls before marriage. As most of these causes are moral, and therefore eradicable, there is reason to hope that the purifying influence of Christianity has arrested this degeneracy in sufficient time to preserve a noble people from the extinction that must otherwise inevitably be their fate.

The Church of England, like all other religious denominations in New Zealand, is now independent of, and receives no aid from, the colonial state. Real property in the immediate neighbourhood of Auckland, of the value, as we are informed, of upwards of £20,000, and which some years hence will yield a fair annual income, is held by the Bishop in trust for collegiate and educational purposes, and a grant for the support of the clergy has been made every year, since the foundation of the colony, by the Society for the Propaga tion of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. The successful results of the Church of England mission in this colony are most gratifying;

The same difficulties which exist in arriving at any certain conclusion as to the total amount of the Maori population are found in estimating that proportion of it which has embraced Christianity, but it is generally believed that at least three-for what author of romance,' as is most fourths of the natives of New Zealand are now missionary converts, in the proportion of about one Roman Catholic to four Wesleyans and eight Churchmen. Of the depth and sincerity of their convictions it is difficult to express an opinion. If the fervour of a first conversion has cooled and the excitement natural to the reception of a new faith has in some degree passed away, this is no more than might be expected from a people gradually emerging from barbarism, and just awakened to a sense of the temporal advantages which civilization is bringing in its train. It is to be feared, however, that the attempt, too often injudiciously made, to impress the more complex truths of Christianity, to say nothing of the contests between rival Churches and creeds, may have somewhat impaired the influence of the clergy in New Zealand. But there is still every reason to hope that Christianity has taken a permanent hold on the native mind. All the chiefs, with very few exceptions, have avowedly embraced the Christian faith. To the noble exertions of the missionary

justly obseryed in the latest work which has appeared on New Zealand, would venture to represent, so soon after the period of cannibal feasts and bloodthirsty wars, the actors in these scenes assembled together at a meeting to promote the spread of Christianity among the heathen people of the neighbouring islands; gratefully acknowledging the benefits they had derived from their own Christian teachers; quoting from Scripture the command to " go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature ;" animating each other to spread the Christian work; and contributing according to their means in aid of the newly founded Melanesian Mission? or to picture to himself or his readers native children of New Zealand, neatly clad in English dresses, assembled for Christian worship on the sabbath-day chanting the "Magnificat," and the "Nunc Dimittis," and singing in English the "Evening Hymn," in a manner to put to shame many an English congregation ?*

*Swainson's 'New Zealand,'

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once entered their minds, for their admission of the sovereignty of the British Crown did not draw with it, in their estimation, any relinquishment of their independence as a people, or involve the sacrifice of their personal or territorial rights. They have from the first been dealt with as the rightful proprietors of the sol, and no land has ever been acquired from them except by purchase. It must be an object of congratulation,' writes Sir George Grey, to every British subject and to every man of benevolent mind that Parlia ment, by adopting a liberal and generous course in reference to this colony, has at length shown to mankind that a barbarous race may be led to adopt the habits of civilised life, and that it is possible for Europeans and people of another and previously savage race to inhabit the same country as fellow-citizens with equal rights, with a common faith, and united in feelings of loyalty to the same sovereign.'

The native population of New Zealand | New Zealand and its inhabitants the is still practically ruled by hereditary rafters on one side, and England with its chiefs. But though chieftainship is here- inhabitants the rafters on the other side, ditary, the order,' like our own Peerage, thus making one entire and complete roof is recruited by the infusion of fresh blood. and building. Any idea of political subA plebeian, if he be distinguished for wis-ordination to the British settlers never dom in council, eloquence in debate, or success in war, may rise to the rank of a chief; but an hereditary chief is of very small importance if he does not possess the qualities requisite for command. The whole country is supposed to be under British law, but it is rather a legal inference than a reality. Natives resident in towns are amenable to British tribunals; but in the country and the 'bush' Maori laws and customs yet prevail. As a people they are exceedingly orderly, and life and property are now as much respected and certainly quite as safe as they are in England. The co-operation of the chiefs in the adininistration of justice has been obtained by their appointment as assessors, and as such they have a right to sit on the bench with English magistrates. At present this right only applies to native cases, but it affords a valuable training for higher functions. The constitution places the native race on a political equality with the British colonists; and there is, theoretically, nothing to prevent a chief or any individual of the native community from becoming a representative in the Provincial Legislatures or a member of the General Assembly. The political franchise, however, does not appear to be yet appreciated. Hitherto it is said they have been quite indifferent to provincial politics, and have been known to sit and smoke unmoved under the most stimulating orations of the hustings. The only instance in which a native has been known to give himself any trouble in elections is that recorded of a southern Maori, who is said to have travelled a considerable distance to the abode of the Superintendent of Otago to inquire how much he would give him for his

vote.

The fact is that the Maories are now intent upon their material advancement, and it will be many years before much of their attention is directed to the details of government. They are satisfied with the rule under which they first voluntarily placed themselves. Their political relation to the British Government, as understood by themselves, was defined in 1853 by an assembly of chiefs in that figurative style to which they are so much addicted. "This,' they said, 'has been our agreement, namely, that the Supreme Being, the Lord of all, shall be our ridge-pole,

Each European settlement has now attracted to its vicinity, or contains, mixed up with its white inhabitants, a considerable Maori population, in which case both races form one harmonious community connected together by commercial and agricultural pursuits, professing the same faith, resorting to the same courts of justice, joining in the same public sports, standing mutually to each other in the relation of landlord and tenant, and thus insensibly forming one people. The progress which agriculture and all farming pursuits have made among the native districts is surprising; and now, instead of dwelling on the probabilities of an invasion by some hostile tribe, and calculating the force available for repelling it, the prosperous inhabitants of these once savage islands, speculate upon the quantity of wheat they will be able to produce, and enjoy, by anticipation, the golden harvest. So far back as 1852 the Surveyor-General thus reports to the Government at Auckland:

'Throughout my journey I observed the natives improving in their condition as respects the acquisition of property, although their houses and mode of living have remained nearly the same for the last ten years. They do not care to improve the style of their houses and furniture, with the exception that every individual now possesses a well-made box with lock and

key, the latter being rather ostentatiously worn | two-thirds are now the property of the round the neck, supported by a ribbon or small Crown, or have passed by purchase into chain. While they yield a ready obedience to the hands of settlers. In the whole of the the laws of the Europeans, and, when questioned, admit them to be just and good, they seem to great Southern Island, and also in Stewvalue those the most that enforce the payment art's Island, the native title has been exof all debts and demands. All speculative theo- tinguished on terms satisfactory to the ries are thrown aside, and they seem to have chiefs and those claiming rights under started with an energy quite surprising in the them. In the Northern Island thirty milpursuit of gain, bidding fair to outstrip many of lions of acres yet belong to the natives; their early European instructors. They have and of the worth, present and prospective, now dispensed with that formerly all-important of this great property, every class, from European character, once so indispensable among the grand chief down to the owner of the them, and to be seen in every village, "the native trader." He has been for the last three smallest portion, has formed a high and or four years unknown among them, being perhaps not extravagant opinion. In the unable to make a profit by his trading transac- absence of statistics, any estimate of the tions. They have all obtained some knowledge value of the native property would be of arithmetic, and delight in exhibiting their only conjectural; but in addition to the skill. Often is a slate presented to the traveller uncultivated land, it comprises a very concovered with long rows of figures, in addition, siderable portion in a state of improvesubtraction, &c., to the imposing and correctly worked questions of "Rule of Three." They ment, a great number of horses and cattle, have now wise men among themselves to calcu- and numerous coasting-vessels navigated late the cubic contents of a heap of firewood; by themselves. Flour-mills and threshingthe area of a plot of ground, so as to sow two machines are far from uncommon. Some bushels of wheat to the acre; the live weight of of the wealthier people keep accounts at a pig, and the value at 3d. per pound, sinking the provincial banks, and the names of one-fifth as offal. They esteem themselves firstrate horse-breakers, and I heard more than one many are to be found among the proprielecturing on the mysteries of the turf to an ad- The Bay of Plenty and the adjoining distors of the local joint-stock companies. miring audience. Every recently arrived traveller, if he comes from any of the settlements, trict possess a Maori population estimatis closely questioned as to the price of pork, ed to amount to about 8000. In the year wheat, flour, and flax. The old persons may be 1857 the natives of this tract alone had seen in groups round the evening fire chatting upwards of 3000 acres of land in wheat, about the appearance of crops and all subjects 3000 acres in potatoes, nearly 2000 acres relating to them, the women being busily em- in maize, and upwards of 1000 ployed in making baskets to carry grain and potatoes, or in plaiting leg-ropes for driving planted with kumeras. their pigs to market. All other pursuits seem merged into habits of thrift; and the most engrossing subject that can be broached is the relative merits of two mill sites, over or undershot wheels, and the best means of raising 2007. or 3001. for the purpose of building a mill which shall grind more than the one erected by a rival tribe. Such is the excitement on this particular topic, that they have, in their haste to commence the undertaking, employed in some instances very unprincipled or very unskilful workmen, and have lost a considerable outlay.**

As regards property, the Maoris are now in a very satisfactory position; and as it is to the settlement of Englishmen in their country that they owe the great change which has taken place in the value of their territory, they have every reason to rejoice at the advent of a few civilized foreigners who have raised their extensive possessions from a wilderness of worthless because uncultivated land into a truly splendid inheritance. Of the ninety millions of acres of which the islands of New Zealand are computed to consist, about

*Further Papers relating to the Affairs of New Zealand, 1854.

acres

They owned nearly 1000 horses, 200 head of cattle, 5000 pigs, 4 water-mills, and 96 ploughs. They were also the owners of 43 small coasting-vessels, averaging nearly 20 tons each, and upwards of 900 canoes. In the this district, of about 50 miles in extent, course of the same year the natives of supplied 46,000 bushels of wheat to the English traders, of the marketable value of 13,000l. From a distance of nearly 100 miles the natives of the North supply the markets of Auckland with the produce of their industry, brought partly by land carriage, partly by small coasting craft, and partly by canoes. course of a single year 1792 canoes entered the harbour of Auckland, bringing to market, by this means alone, 200 tons of potatoes, 1400 baskets of onions, 1700 baskets of maize, 1200 baskets of peaches, 1200 tons of fire-wood, 45 tons of fish, and 1500 pigs, besides flax, potatoes, kauri, gum, and vegetables.* However necessary it may have been at one time to esta blish a protectorship for the native race,

* Swainson's 'New Zealand.'

In the

'I accompanied,' says Mr. Taylor, 'the Lieutenant-Governor to Puratawa, the residence of Rangilaeta. The old chief seemed much gratisitting in front of his house, with his wives and fied by the visit. He received us in the marae, friends on one side, and we placed ourselves on

the other, where new mats were laid for us to sit on. After having sat some time, we were requested to adjourn to a house at a little distance, in which we found a repast laid out in as much style as the shortness of the notice would allow; but when we returned, and the Governor began to speak of purchasing land, I strongly recommended him not to do so, as the time was very inopportune, and declined to act as his interpreter. He therefore tried to speak for himself. At first the old chief could not make out what he said; but when he did he was very indignant, and put out his tongue at him, which terminated our visit, and caused the Governor to beat a retreat as quickly as possible.**

they are now in all private transactions well able to protect themselves. Slow sellers,' an intelligent observer remarks, they are slower buyers, insisting always on having the best article at the lowest price. An old chief will minutely examine a dozen caps for an hour before he can fix on the best, and will then go to a new shop to look for another before he buys it.' We shall not enter into the vexata quæstio of the abstract right of savages to all the land of their country, whether it has been brought into cultivation or not. Practically this question was decided in favour of the natives of New Zealand by a formal treaty. They were not mere wanderers over an extended surface in search of a precarious existence, nor tribes of hunters, nor herdsmen, but a people among whom the arts of government had The only decidedly hostile feeling which made some progress, who had established has been displayed since the permanent by their own customs a division and ap- settlement of the islands has been on the propriation of the soil, who were not with- subject of the land regulations. In 1854 out a certain subordination of ranks, with a great meeting of chiefs was held, and usages having the character and authority they assembled, some from a distance of of law. We have the highest legal autho- 300 miles, in the province of Wellington. rity in the islands for stating that it reFive hundred were said to have been prequires as much time, careful investigation, sent, and there was much excited speakand knowledge of native law and custom, ing. The result was a resolution to sell to complete a safe and satisfactory pur- no more land to the Government, and to chase of land from the natives of New prevent any native from doing so. A few Zealand as to complete the purchase of an months after this meeting a chief at New English baronial estate. The restrictions Plymouth offered his land for sale; but under which they are placed by treaty, when he went to mark out the boundaries with respect to the sale of their land, he was shot, with several of his tribe. They have for some time been creating dissatis- believe their territorial rights will be best faction among the chiefs. They are re- secured by placing them under the guardianstrained from selling tribal land, or land ship of a native sovereign; and a king has held in common, except to the Govern been recently elected at a general assembly ment; and they regard this arrangement of the tribes. A movement such as this, is, as an infringement of their rights as Bri- it is needless to say, most adverse to the futish subjects, depriving them of the bene- ture peace and unity of New Zealand; and, fit of an open market and free competi- if an amalgamation of the two races is an tion, and thus unfairly depreciating the object to be desired, it can only be attained value of their property. And undoubt by placing them both as much as possible. edly, the time seems to have come for on an equality. The foundation of the fusome relaxation of these restrictions, how-ture social fabric must be laid immoveably ever indispensable they might have formerly been for the peace of the colony and the protection of the people themselves. Of all the subjects on which they come in contact with official characters, the sale of land is that on which they are most impracticable and are most easily excited and displeased; and the resentment displayed at any injudicious or indelicate attempt to drive a bargain with them is often very marked. In fact, they are beginning to look upon all overtures for the purchase of land only as insidious attempts to obtain their property at an under value:

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on justice. The attention of the General Assembly has, we are happy to find, been lately directed to the land question, and it is probable a provision will before long be made for enabling the native tribes to have their territorial rights ascertained by means of a survey and commission for the investigation and confirmation of titles; thus enabling them to sell their land in the same manner as other British subjects in the colony who derive their titles immediately from the Crown. The mass of the native population still remains in its tribal

* Taylor's New Zealand and its Inhabitants,' p.

266.

state; but it is not until the Maories have generally abandoned their wandering habits, and settled down to the occupations of civilised life, that any measure of solid and durable amelioration can be applied to them; and the extinction of the tribal right, and the substitution of an individual title to land, is the first and most important step towards raising them as a people from their present inferior position. Whatever change the Maori character has undergone by the reception of Christianity, but little has hitherto taken place in the mode of living, and in some of those habits to which the admitted decline of the New Zealanders as a people is to be attributed. This is in a great measure owing to their wide dispersion, and the consequent want of opportunity for observing and profiting by the example of civilized men in their domestic and sanitary arrangements. A tribe now, as formerly, live together in little communities of from 50 to 200 individuals, in various villages scattered over an extensive district. The houses are without windows or chimneys. The source of warmth is either the animal heat from the bodies of the numerous occupiers, or a smouldering wood fire in the centre of the floor. They are generally unacquainted with the efficacy of soap, and use little water except in their cooking. For abundance of food they might be envied by far more civilized people. In fact the Maori lives far more generously than our Scotch and Irish peasantry, and has not only enough for himself, but sufficient to feast his friends. In no part of the world does the potato, the gift to the islands of Captain Cook, produce more abundantly. They have wild and domestic pigs, ducks, pigeons, parrots, and other native birds, large eels, lampreys, sea-fish, craw-fish, and shell-fish-ample materials assuredly for a substantial and even a luxurious entertainment. There is scarcely an English vegetable or fruit which cannot be successfully cultivated, and the commoner descriptions are frequently to be seen growing near the native hut. The method of cooking is simple and effective. A pit is dug, about eighteen inches in depth and a foot in diameter; a fire is lit, by which a number of smooth stones are raised to a high degree of heat; the cavity is then lined with fresh leaves, and over the heated stones, but carefully enveloped in leaves, the food is placed; a little water is thrown in, and the whole is covered up with clean mats and fresh earth. In an hour or so the meal is ready, and it is dressed to a perfection that might chal

lenge the criticism of a Soyer. Neither the meat will be found underdone, nor the vegetables overdone. But from these hangis,' or native ovens, now filled with the wholesome fruits of the earth and the ordained and appropriate food of man, once rose the steam of those abominable repasts that struck the civilized world with horror, and moved a compassionate Providence to look down with pity upon an isolated portion of His family, and deliver them from the dreadful error in which they had become involved. The last as certained act of cannibalism took place in 1843. Not a trace of the custom now remains; and any allusion to it would be resented by a chief much in the same way that an English gentleman would resent an ill-bred reference to some ugly event that had marked a particular epoch in the family history, and cast a blot upon his escutcheon. The horrible feasts that distinguished their savage state have been succeeded by convivial meetings characterised only by Christian brotherhood and innocent mirth. At a great meeting recently held at Waikato, at which upwards of 2000 natives were present, the following was the bill of fare:-15 bullocks, 20,000 dried sharks' fins, 20 baskets of fresh eels, 50 baskets of katiki and mataiati, 30 bags of sugar, 800 kits of potatoes and kumeras, a large quantity of flour, and last, but not least, 1500 lbs. of tobaccochiefs and slaves, young men and maidens, old men and children, all, without exception, having a craving for the weed ;' the praises of which one of their poets has thus sung: When all things were created, none was made better than this to be a lone man's companion, a bachelor's friend, a hungry man's food, a sad man's cordial, a wakeful man's sleep, and a chilly man's fire. Some of the wealthier chiefs are no longer satisfied to live in the style of rude plenty that prevails, but have adopted a European ménage, and aim at a certain refinement. We are not aware that they have yet acquired a taste for French cookery, but their houses are not deficient in many of the conventional accommodations of a respectable English establishment.

With their impure domestic habits and general neglect of sanitary laws the decrease of the native population is easily accounted for, and, with the present rate of mortality and excess of deaths over births, its extinction in the course of twenty years has been confidently predicted. Such an event, however, is sincerely to be deprecated. The want of the country is population; and, if it possessed 200,000;

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