The Evening Star TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 1874

Evening Star, Issue 3518, 2 June 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 1874

On glancing over the reports from officers in Native districts, presented to both Houses of Assembly last session, we observe that a great change is gradually coming over the Maori race, both Friendlies and Hauhaus. They are every year more and more adapting themselves to the habits of civilization. Many of the Friendlies have been engaged on the public works at fair wages, and the circulation of money in this way has enabled them to procure European comforts and luxuries, to which they have hitherto been strangers, but the benefits of which they are not slow to appreciate. Other tribes, who have not had the opportunity of obtaining public employment, are devoting their attention to agriculture. A large extent of land is being planted with corn and potatoes. The cultiva tion of hops and of the mulberry tree is being introduced in some parts. By the sale of their surplus produce these tribes are enabled to procure the much desiderated articles of comfort and luxury. A better style of houses is being erected. The number of horses and cattle owned by them is considerable, and constantly increasing. Some of them even sport their buggies. Flour-mills are being built in different districts, in aid of the erection of which, we are very glad to see that the Government gives a small grant. Some of the tribes manifest a strong desire to have white settlers mixed among them. This will lead to sales of land advantageous both to Maoris and Europeans. Nothing will tend more to incline the mind of the Maori to permanent peace than this possession of moveable or destructible property. In their intertribal wars they might be deprived of their land, but it was not destroyed j and there was still left them the hope of recovering it at some future time. With personal property the case would be very different 3 its destruction would be almost certain, its recovery hopeless. Everybody understands the conservative influence exerted by the possession of such property. Socially their progress is equally gratifying. Their improved dwellings induce and enable them to live in families, rather than in tribes. The desire to submit their disputes to courts of law is gaining ground among them. Petty thefts are getting more uncommon. Drunkenness is their prevailing vice 3 but even this, with its concomitant evils, is decreasing. It appears to be most prevalent among the Waikatos, and other discontented tribes living on the borders of the white settlements. Several of the chiefs have introduced Maine Liquor Laws. No intoxicating liquor is allowed to be introduced among their people under any pretence whatever. But perhaps the most favorable sign of social progress among them is the earnest desire evinced by nearly all the tribes for the education of their children. Under the Native Schools Act a large number of schools have already been established, .and others are urgently asked for. They

are managed by committees, most of whom are Natives, with occasionally a European of influence among them. The Natives grant sites, often endow the school with land, and contribute a portion of the expense of building, and part of the teacher's salary. The teaching is wholly in English. The ordinary branches are taught, and though the work must be carried on under great disadvantages, from the difficulty the children have in understanding the language, the results are, in most cases, highly favorable. The report of Colonel Russell, Inspector of Native Schools, on the Awanui School will show what the best conducted of these schools are doing, and the good effects they are likely to produce. “ This is one of the schools to which I have alluded as having produced a marked change from ragged squalor to decent cleanliness in the appearance of the Native children. The master, Mr Ernest Matthews, has been verv zealous and successful. I found thirtyeight pupils in the school, of whom thirty-six were Maori and two halfcastes. Their progress in reading, spelling, writing, arithmetic, and writing from dictation, <fec., was / good for the period during which they had been under instruction. They appeared to be‘ in thorough accord with the master, their conduct orderly and respectful, their attendance (four hours a-day) regular, their health good. . . .” In other cases the beneficial influence of the schools upon the parents is noticed.

Among the King Natives changes no less significant are gradually taking place. Hauhauism is waning, and some of the tribes are returning to Christianity. The influence of Tavvhiao is diminishing. His people are said to retain their affection for him, but to show little inclination to respect his commands. The enforcement of the aukati fit the present time to prevent trade with the whites is sufficient proof of this. The distrust as to the intentions of the Government for many years evinced by them is dying out. A desire for friendly intercourse is springing up, the greatest obstacle to the full establishment of it being the pride and jealousy of the old chiefs. Less attention is being given to useless public meetings to discuss equally useless political questions, and more to the cultivation of their lands. Many of them visit the white settlements for the purposes of trade, consult the Native Officers in cases of perplexity, and almost invariably follow the advice given. On the whole, we may congratulate ourselves that the prospect of the Maori is improving equally with that of his white fellowcolonist.