The Evening Star FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23. 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2303, 23 September 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23. 1870.

The great meeting of the Natives, which some looked forward to with so much apprehension, seems to be passing off very satisfactorily so far as we are concerned. The vague reports about Tito Kowaku’s presence prove unfounded ; and, so far as present appearances go, peace between the two races may be fairly calculated upon. But it will not do to be too confident when civilised man has to deal with barbarous tribes. In very rare instances do they succeed in reclaiming them, and leading them to habits of industry and thrift. The Sandwich Islands, SO far as we remember, present the only instance of rapid progress in modern times, through the humanising influence of superior intelligcnee upon the aboriginal inhabitants. Fortunately for them, though repeated applications were made, they were not appropriated by any European power, although their independence was guaranteed under the protectorate of Great Britain. Much is to be learnt as to the management of Native tribes by study of their history. While the Maoris in New Zealand have been supposed to be christianised, thenkindred race in the Sandwich Islands have actually become so. They have been continually advancing, while many Maoris have thrown off all they had learned, and adopted a superstition as degrading, intolerant, and bloodthirsty ,

as that from which it was once hoped they had been rescued. It is sadly to be feared that, so far as the majority of the Native race is concerned, it is too late to remedy tins. The wars of the last few years have placed distrust between tie two races ; and the inferior for years learnt to despise the superior, as falling short in those manly qualifications which secure savage admiration. The intercourse between the two was too intimate. Europeans themselves, by their exhibition of being animated by motives equally degrading with the springs of action the savage, and by giving occasion tor distrust where confidence had been reposed, gave no evidence of that superiority in judgment, morals, or attainments, which alone could secure the reverend submission of the untutored in the absence of superior prowess. So long as the Colonists trusted to Imperial protection, so long were they despised by men accustomed to rely upon themselves. This phase has now passed away. Tito Kowaru, notwithstanding the quakings of our Northern contemporaries, has not shewn himself at the meeting, and Te Kooti is still a fugitive. We regard the present war in Europe as occurring at a very inopportune period in our history. One great advantage that might have been looked forward to as a result of the Government plan of railway construction, was finding employment for the Native population at a description of work not requiring special skill Those Maoris who have been committed to our keeping as prisoners, have proved themselves excellent hands with the pick and shovel. Much of their woik has been done in a style fully equal to what would have been executed by Europeans, and similar testimony is borne to Maori work by surveyors in the North Island. The extent to which Native labor there has been applied is little known amongst us. One or two extracts from a letter from Mr Civil Commissioner Clarke to Mr Cooper, under date Auckland, June 27th, will give an idea of what is being done:—

I have the honor to acquaint you that I left Tauranga for the Lake Districts on the 9th inst. The principal objects I had in view in making the journey were—--Ist. To inspect the road now in course of construction between Maketu and Eotoiti. 2nd. To arrange about the tclegrngh. 3rd. To come to some understanding witli the Pukerua natives regarding the road through the Mangarcwa I 1 orcst to Tauranga, the great trunk line to Tauranga from Taupo. I desired Captain Turner to accompany me, so that I might have the assistance of his professional experience, and in order, also, that he might be thoroughly acquainted with an}’ arrangements 1 might make with the natives. At Te Wai-whakareto I came upon Te Pokiha’s working party. The work in progress, considering the appliances within the reach of the natives, was most creditable, and will compare favourably with any work of the same kind previously accomplished. Two miles beyond To Pokiha’s party we came upon a party under Te Wataauhe (Te Pokiha s broker). The portion of the work allotted to him was very creditably done, and nearly completed. The next party was under the charge of Hapeta; their work also was nearly completed. The next party, under Wirepin Matene, Te Huaki, Te Matangi, and Pita, vas a large one. They have finished the work allotted to them, hut not with that care which the other parties have shown. I found it necessary to send them back, to go over several portions of their work again, to improve the gradients, and widen and round off the road, so as to allow the water to escape without damaging the work done. The last party of workmen were Ngatirangiwewehi, under one of their chiefs (Lreatara). Most of these men surrendered a few months ago, and when laying out the line of road eight years ago opposed the survey through the Kabaroa Forest. A cart or dray can now go the whole distance from Maketu to Te Taheke (Rotoiti), a distance of twenty-two miles, with great ease. Ten miles of the road are made over as rough and broken a country as any in this part of New Zealand. The one great drawback to making areally substantial work of it is the great want of stone. In its whole extent there is not a stone the size ot a goose egg. This will necessitate a certain annual outlay to keep the road in repair—say LIOO per annum. There have been about 200 natives employed on this road for two months, including women and boys, and the average amount received by each individual will be about 60s. The actual value of the work estimating the cost by the cubic contents of the excavations at 6d per yard, would be about L 1,200. The sum they actually get is 1,000. Although the war has not crippled us more than before, it has rendered problematical obtaining money on easy terms, and may prove in that respect a drawback to utilising Native labor.