TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1614, 23 April 1879, Page 2

TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK.

The “ Bay of Plenty Times ” tells the following story .—At Makefcu and other places we could name the natives are practically masters of the situation. The law hardly touches them, and when it does they get off with tines—a largo proportion of which are never paid. Not long ago a gentleman holding a good position at Maketu threw it up and left the neighborhood, apparently without reason. He called on us soon after, and we asked him the why and the wherefore of his exit. “Well,” said he, “if you must know, it was because I feared I should be killing a Maori some day. When the brutes ware drunk I found myself in constant danger of being attacked—and it was impossible to get protection. Even when a drinkmaddened Maori came to my house and threatened to brain me, no one would lock him up, and with English’s example before my face I dared not take the law into my own hands.” This case is by no means a singular one. People who are obliged to live at some or those settlements can tell stories of the most extraordinary description. Wo remember hearing of a Native Assessor who committed an outrage on a certain R.M. Court by waving a bludgeon over the Magistrate’s head, and telling that worthy ho didn’t care a either for him or the Government or the Queen. The affair was of course reported to Wellington, and in a day or two the aggressor was sent for by the Native Minister. He travelled down first-class, and enjoyed himself immensely. On arrival at the Empire City, the Honorable the Native Minister interviewed him thus: “ Well,” he commenced, jocularly, “ I suppose you have come to have your head broken.” The Native reflected for a minute or two, then, bending down his head, he said, “ Break away. Last time I came you said you'd break my head open, but afterwards you raised my salary £SO. Do it again to-day.” The Minister laughed, but sure enough when the Maori left Wellington his salary was raised another £SO per annum ; and it w-as also noticed that lie brought back enough ready cash to keep his relations drunk for a week. We may not have repeated the story quite correctly, but but the main facts arc true, and consequently worth remembering. Diplomacy, or rather bribery, has been carried on to such an extent in Native matters, that the Maoris find it absolutely pays to kick up arow. The Te Puke disturbance was arranged by Maihi te Rangikaheke for no other purpose than to extort money, and but for the determination of the surveying party there can be little doubt that lie would have gained his end,

CRICKET. SYDENHAM YOUTHS’ CLUB AVERAGES. The following are the averages of this voting Club for the past season. They have been very successful in their matches, of which 17 were played. Sixteen were victories, and one drawn, the result being chiefly duo to good bowling and smart fielding;— BATTING AVERAGES.

ti P 3 73 i CD P 9 c/5 Name. P P « *3 p M Most ii Innin a 3 u P V.p < W. H. Smith ... 182 13 2', • 14. J. Fowko 153 11 10.13 J. Butler 104 10 10.4 H. Herman (10 C 24 10 J. Rowe 111! 12 '9 0.8 B. Jackson 28 U 0,1 T. Flowers 54 (1 10 0 s. Forsyth 45 C 15 0 o. Wagstall 10(1 13 13 8.2 j. Walsh (55 0 0 7.2 T. Robson 80 14 0 6 5 A. Lye 51 0 C 5.0 H. Jones 22 4 5+ s.q C. Lawrence ... 25 r b 5 * Moans not out. BOWLING AVERAGES. Runs. •2 P 03 Name. Ball o Cl 3 rd % s| rH Cl. Wagstaff 731 102 57 40 2 2.49 J. Fowke 7120 180 00 44 0 2.52 W. H. Smith ... 108 28 21 0 3.24 Fowke bowled one no ball.