A MARVELLOUS CHANGE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3707, 2 June 1883, Page 4

A MARVELLOUS CHANGE.

The Wellington correspondent a Southom contemporary says : — Sir W. Fox, Avho is in town just iioav, gives me mo-it hopeful and f.ivorable acaounls of tho Avork of KJitleucnt. Already tho natives are beginning to dr.'iAv handsome receipts from tho proceed* of the lands leased, and Mr M.ickuy Avill havo about a hundred thousand acres "of splo .did laud ready for leasing next month, for which good rents are suro to be easily obtained. What makes, _ and will make, this state of things peculiarly agreeable to the Maoris is that, Avhcreas formerly only tho principal chiefs ever got any of'the money, Avhich they iuvariabl.v aucl promptly spent for their own personal gratification, novr all of the tribe, down to tho lowest, will receive a fair share. Consequently thoy aro beginning to deem themselves " rich beyond the dreams of avarice." Without using any figurative language, it may truly bo asserted thnt all the West Coast natives will bo so avcll off as to bo objects of envy to many unfortunate Europeans. Sir 'W. Fox visited To Whiti recently, and found him still in an excellent frame of mind, and in a large degree " Eui'opeamsod." He still insists on strict cleanliness, proper crockery, butter for his bread, and chairs for his rest. He Avill not squat on the ground, and ho won't tolerate Maori crockery, A recent visitor being invited to breakfast Avith To Whiti, went in fear aud trembling, anticipating " high " shark and dubious cleanliness of serving. What he did get Avas a thorough English breakfast with tea and coffee, cjrgs and milk, &c, served in irreproachable style, and on a tablecloth of scrupulous cleanliness ; Avhilo To Whito Avas courteous, and quite the " Pakeha " host. In short, the effect of To Whiti's introduction to civilised life and schooling in civilisation has had the best results, and is bearing the happiest fruits. Te Whiti's present plan is to lay off Parihaka into a native toAvn as nearly after the dosign of Nelson as possible. He was charmed Avith his sojourn at "Sleepy Hollow," and means to copy it with the closest fidelity practicable. Ho is going iv largely for planting English trees, and for improved cultivation and sanitary reform generally. This is a marvellous change in less than two years.