The Globe. MONDAY, MAY 19, 1879.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1636, 19 May 1879, Page 2

The Globe. MONDAY, MAY 19, 1879.

The sitting of the Native Lands Commission at Kaiapoi has called attention, in a more than ordinary manner, to the status of the Native raco in these islands. The spectacle of a people gradually passing away before the white intruder is one full of pathos, and, whatever benefits may follow in the train of civilisation, it is impossible not to regret that the advancing wave is sweeping away, slowly but surely, the finest savage with whom the Englishman has, as yet, come in contact. If we can rely on the figures given by the census last year, the Maori population was then 42,819 ; in 1874 it was 46,016 ; so that in four years there has been a docrease of no less than 3,197. If the same ratio be kopt up for any length of time it is easy to calculate the date at which the Maori will be a creature of the past, to bo written about by some Fennimore Cooper, but not to be interviewed and bowed down to by the Premier of the day. Various causes contribute to the diminution of the Maori population. The Maori nearly invariably violates all rules of health, an inordinate use of spirits aids to destroy him, and last, but by no means least, he persists in killing his children, because he has no idea how they require to be brought up. Infant mortality among the Maoris is something frightful, and until the present system is altered will continue to be so. Then the males in the Maori population considerably exceed tho females, the former last year numbering 23,533, tho latter only 19,286, which of course tells against the race. Whether things will take a turn for the better when the Maori becomes more thoroughly educated is an open question. Many in the North Island well posted in Native affairs assort that when the Maori is brought suddenly in contact with the European, tho latter, on account of his numbers, forcing his civilisation on the former, then the former disappears. But if, on the other hand, civilisation percolates as it wero into Native districts; if there is no violent contact between civilisation and barbarism, but the stop upwards is mado leisurely, that then the Maori does not die off, but maintains his own bravely, and indeed increases in number. If such bo the case hopes may yet be entertained for the Native raco. In any case there are many of the Nativo chiefs who must see how the land at present lies, and bo in consoquenco anxious to stave off ruin from thoir raco by tho introduction of an improved hygiene, of more temperate habits and a better mothod of bringing up tho Native children. With regard to a mingling of the races, tho outlook is not brilliant. Half-castes are notorious for possessing weak constitutions. Cross breeds in other countries frequently prosper, but in New Zealand, as yet, the process of amalgamation has not been successful.

It is not often that the untravolled American is ashamed of himself or his country. He has a fixed idea that Adam and Bve were turned loose in the States, for in no other country could a satisfactory Paradise be found. The travelled American, indeed, holds to the opinion that if ho behaves himself in this life lie will go to Paris after ho dies; but tho untravolled American stands firmly by his own country. It is all the more surprising, therefore, to find that a considerable portion of the Western Press is totally dissatisfied with the American treatment of Alaska. This enormous and barren country was purchased from tho Russian Government years ago. A Custom House was established at Sitka, ports of entry were made, soldiors wore sent to act as guards and protectors, and various other things wore done with tho view of encouraging settlement. But, all at once, a fit of economy came over the Government; tho soldiers were withdrawn, and tho inhabitants of Sitka wore left almost at tho mercy of the savago hordes who live in the interior. And

what was the consoqnonco ? Tho inhabitants wore forced to apply for aid to a British man-of-war that was lying in tho harbor of Esquimault. Their own Government had abandoned them, tho Amorican squadrons of tho North and South Pacific had gone to South America, tho officers wero dancing with senoritas, tho mon wore sucking oranges, and the Sitkans hrd nothing but a wooden fence botwoen themselves and tho aborigines. And so tho San Francisco people wero very " riled." Why is there a navy, they said, if it is only for tho officers to havo a jovial time in pleasing latitudes ? Why is the army cut down, if five hundred thousand square miles of territory, with its people, is to bo loft at tho morcy of savages P By latost advices, indeed, things havo a littlo mended, since aid has 1 been sent to tho beleaguered ones; but all ' danger is, by no means, romovod, and, what between the climate and the nativo Alaskans, tho people of Sitka can hardly bo said to bo having a lively time of it. The only pleasant feature in the proceeding is tho expressions of goodwill which wero evoked towards tho English people. A loading San Francisco journal said at the time of tho application for aid to the British commander—" That he will do so, wo do not for a moment doubt, for blood is thicker than wator, as one of our own gallant tars exclaimed wlion, seoing the British in a tight place, ho joined them in tho fray." And, again : —" Our own people owe their protection, lifo, and freedom to tho gallantry, humanity, and sympathy of tho Briton. We havo fought against him; wo havo fought with him, and are ready to do so again when fraternity calls."

Sir Julius Vogel's Polynesian scheme has not fallen out of view in Australia whatever it may have done in Now Zealand. The old proverb of a prophet having honor save in his own country, is exemplified with regard to Sir Julius, in particular reference to this idea of his. The annexation of Now Guinea, now a favorite hobby with many Australians, has called attention generally to the British relations in the whole of the Polynesian group. The disagreeables attendant on escaped convicts from New Caledonia landing in Australia has caused a rogrot that that island, at least, was not secured by Great Britain before it was annexed by Franco in 1875. But treating the question as a whole, whilo Australians are naturally not willing to hand over to New Zealand that prominence in the scheme which was given to it by Sir Julius, they at the same time acknowledge the truth of many of his conclusions. As colonies and naval stations many of the islands would be most valuable, and any that England neglects to soize will certainly, in the long run, be taken up by other countries. Already the French possess New Caledonia, the Loyalty Islands, and the Marquesas as colonies, while they claim a protectorate over Tahiti and its dependencies, the Touamoton Islands, and two or three islands of smaller dimensions. The United States and Germany are quarrelling over the possession of Samoa; Spain has the Ladrone and Benin groups, together with a few islands in the Pelow and Caroline groups. England is naturally not anxious to increase her already enormous colonial possessions, but whether she will be able to resist the pressure that will be brought to bear on her in this instance remains to be proved. What has been done in the Fijis may be done elsewhere. A tropical climate appears to be no bar to the utility of a country, when its resources are directed by English capital and superintending skill. Sir Arthur Gordon, on his return to Fiji, is deputed by the Home Government to report on the utility of the annexation of New Guinea, and other similar questions. His report will be full of interest, and will anxiously be looked forward to by all who believe in the future of a vast Anglo-Polynesian empire.