BRUTALITY.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 554, 5 August 1869, Page 4

BRUTALITY.

A shocking case of inhuman treatment to a child has been brought under our notice, which should be inquired into. The story is this. For some time back the sympathies of the Makara people have been stirred by the systematic and inhuman cruelty shown to a white child adopted by a white man and Maori w&nan, who have cast their lot together ; but on Friday last, there was such a [ painful exhibition of unfeeling cruelty, that it was no longer possible to bliiik it, and a kind-hearted resident at Makara came into town specially to acquaint the police. On Friday morning, while the men were away working in the bush, several women of the neighborhood observed this unfortunate child running away from a Maori man and woman and had partially succeeded in squeezing himself through one of those bush fences known as " dog-legged" fences, when the man, a big sturdy fellow, seized the little fellow by the leg, and forcibly dragged him back through the fence, and, without loosing his grasp, dragged the child some distance along the hard stony road, along which was left a gory trail, as the child's flesh had been torn by the fence. One of the neighbors, taking pity on the miserable little sufferer, sought him out that evening about seven o'clock, and brought him to his own home, sat him by the tire, and gave him something to eat. The little chap devoured the food ravenously, and in a few moments coiled himself before the tire like a household animal and went off to sleep. In the meantime a comfortable bed was prepared, and 'when the family hour for retiring came round, the child was awoke and told to undress himself. But this was a thing that he appeared to have never seen, and seemed rather surprised at the request. His condition and appearance is described as pitiable. Stunted in growth, emaciated in body and face, livid complexion, bursting eyes, prominent cheek-' bones, puffed and flaccid cheeks, everted lips, 'serrated spine, and all the other indications of a long course of hunger and wretched squalor ; and whatever little glimmerings of intelligence he may have once possessed,, he is now almost

bereft of. Tho neighbors say that the child has been often compelled to tak-e to a lair in the bush like a wild animal ; through that, and living with the Maoris so long, he had become shy of his own color, and fled at their approach ; and that he has often been seen to make a furtive snatch, at a crust of bread lying about neighbors' lionises and disappear with it as quick as possible, The child came oru ginally from the Wairarapa, and was adopted by a man who was working at a aawmill there. We refrain from publishing any names until the matter is brought before the public in the ordinary way,-^-IVellington Independent, 27th ult,