A WARNING NOTE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 305, 11 September 1865, Page 2

A WARNING NOTE.

[To the Editor of the Hawke’s Bay Weekly Times.] Dear Silt, —It is almost impossible for any man that has a regard for the interests and ivell-dolng of the Colony to read without emotions of sorrow the new Masters and Servants Act, 1863, lately brought before the General Assembly, and likely soon to become the law of the Colony. That such a law should be made in these enlightened times in a young Colony, boasting to be the Britain of the South, without the prejudices existing in the old Britain, whose people's watchword is Progress, — must be a wonder to many. In this energetic little corner of the Globe has been framed, approved, and is actually in process of becoming law, an act which, for oppressing the laboring class, mignt shame the Czar of Russia, the Sultan of Turkey, the Viceroy of Egypt, a South American planter, or in short, an East Indian nabob. There is only one thing wanting to complete it, viz., the cat or the bowstring, nor does it require any great stretch of imagination, after contemplating the act, to see, in anticipation, its author seated ’neath the shade of the blue gum trees that environ his noble demesne, on a raised dais, cross-legged and buried to the armpits in a luxuriant ottoman. A troop of slaves are fawning around him; some with the black skin and I’ght covering of the active and hard-working Lascar ; some with the light hair and beard, with now and then a philabeg and tartan plaid of auld Scotland; while others have the ruddy cheeks, wide mouth, and slouching gait of the farm laborer of old England ; —each and all with but one object in life, viz., to win their lord and master's gracious smile. It is amusing to watch each individual's peculiar method of attaining that much coveted result, and we observe the Lascars make the most frequent and graphic salaams. Whether it is from the fact of their being lighter clothed (being entirely nude with the exception of a small piece of calico round the ’loins.) They also appear to succeed belter than the others in gaining their lords notice. I he Scotchmen make a poor show on account of their kilts ; their salaams are more stately than elegant . As for the Englishinen,'it is really laughable to see them ducking their heads, and covering their broad faces with their broader hands, in humble imitation of their dusky fellow-slaves ; while the hideous grimaces and grins which some of them make (intending thereby, no doubt, to convince their noble chief of their perfetfelicity in being allowed to remain bowing before him for ever) is really wonderful to 1 behold. We ask the nearest slave, who happens to be a Scotchman, what is the reason of all this obsequiousness ? “ Wait a wee an' ye’el may be see for yerseV," he hisses through his teeth. We don't like that hiss, and so move off. Presently a noise attracts our attention. On looking in the direction from whence it ' proceeds we find it is caused by a procession of a number of persons, chiefly Lascars, leading or rather dragging a wretched looking creature in their midst. On approaching near the foot of the dais the members of the cavalcade pros trate themselves before,lhs occupant > all but the wretched mdividval before alluded- to, who remc.ins standing

before that august presews, until, at a given signal from the leader of the cavalcade, several slaves ad”f e throw hm down on his lenees. After Zt r n^2 een - r tl° re and commanding voice of the chief u heard demanding the Wproar I The tender advances, gnif after a few conciliatory salaams, proceeds LZ J hT %- mi3 ™''r. Ch } ef tkat the delinqvont now before him, Michael O’Brien, shepherd l had been drunk, the day before, and abused one of his highness s favorite Lascars, lately imported at great expense from Bungaraboo on account of his superior breed At these words of the'Ueader, we peecieve the noble brow of the chief darken ; ! but when, further thejeader Hnfomts that duringUhg - period of the delinquent s inebriation one ewe and cue Jamb had been stolen from the,flock delinguent had charge of the presence of the noble chief is awful to behold . 6 A ewe and lamb ?” he exclaims • “ a ewe and lamb ?” And then in a voice of than°er,: 7 Away with him ! Give him six dozen strokes' on the soles of his feet, and afterwards bowstring him. The wretched creature' 1 , gives a howl I’of 1 ’of ' agony as his doom reaches Ms ears. Be is dragged away to the place of punishment, while the other slaves around lift up their hands and ejaculate murmurs of amazement and admiration at the wonderful wisdom, combined with justice, displayed bv the greatest chief of C . Wefolloxo the cavalcade to the place of punishment, to the soul-stirring music of tom-toms and other like instruments, being anxious to witness the punishment described as the ptimshment of the bowstring. On arriving at the place the doomed wretch is tightly bound with cords, and thrown down on his back; Ms feet are elevated to a beam about three feet from the ground. The largest of the Lascar slaves taking a green manuka stick,' about four feet long, proceeds to administer tfie six dozen strokes on the soles of his bare feet with all ms strength, another slave relieving the former one as soon as he is exhausted. The hotelmg of' the miserable creature at this time is truly terrific, so that we have to put our fingers in our ears to keep out the dreadful sound. At the conclusion of this, the culprit is placed in a perpendi- : cular posture, and not being able to stand is held ! up by the slaves around, while his hands are bcMg tied to a beam over his head, to which he hangs suspended by the wrists—his feet trailing on the ground. Maledictions break from the , wretched man, interspersed with sobs, and cries for help to his rnother in Heaven, and to Ms friends in odd Ireland! At every instance of which the Lascar slaves around give Mm a kick with their wooden boots which they have on for the purpose. The executioner then approaches with his instrument of death ; an article similar to an Indian bow, made out of a green man:lea sapling .and fastened with cat gut. There is a loop made in the string, about the centre of the bow ; this loop is passed over the miserable creature's head, and placed round his neelc. _ The low is then suffered to distend itself and Ms misery is soon ended. » * * * Then the crier going around exclaims: “So perish all slaves that dare offend Bis Highness's Greatness—the greatest chief in C If we had been told, Mr Editor, three months ago, that such a lively stats of affairs as that above feeoly described would he possible in New Zealand we should have laughed at our informant and pud. Mm down as mad, but I noio see no reason why ice should not eventually become slaves and slave masters; as it is to that tee are evidently drifting Depend upon it, sir. that this Master’s and Servant’s BUI is only the thin end of the wedge that is to burst asunder our tree of liberty. The suppression of the liberty of the press will be the next bloio and it. has already been mooted in the House. The Maoris have been, declared. British subjects and are exempt from the operation of the Act. So that the law has clearly defined who are the Britons - and ivho the slaves.

In short, a more unjust and criminal infringment of the rights of the people could not well be conceived. And think not, Oh\ small settler, that because you are not a laborer you rca-.it feel the chair. Your turn is not far distant. The party that framed thcj, act , have long ago determined that you .should cease to exist. You are the moral thorn in their side;—by crushing us they trill easily reach you. Progress, indeed! The word “ progress ” used in connection with Nero Zealand at the present time is a most perfect satire. “ Retard progress f has been their secret pass-word for years. Keep away population till we have secured our runs ; encourage public houses and grog shops alt over the country, where there are no rneans of amusement ; or our bullock-drivers, shepherds, Sfc., will save their wages and buy sections of land on our runs ; therefore encourage grog-shops so that they may spend their money.” Can a country progress, Mr Editor, with a governing class of this description ? Oh, working-man ! Oh, small settler ! Oh, small storekeeper ! Oh, merchant ! It is for YOU to determine who shall be slaves, and who shall be true Britons, and who shall he the governing class. Oh, working-man ! mill YOU suffer yourself to be gagged and ckainedjand not give even a grunt to show you don't like if. Bather arouse yourself and resist with your whole strength ; use every legal and constitutional means that you possess. For, if you. suffer this Act to become law, the bow-string will then be not far distant. And Mr Editor, the thanks of every rigid-think-ing man is due to you for the publicityyou have given the whole affair; and it is to be hoped that you will continue to publish the obnoxious Act for .some weeks to come, so that every one may have an opportunity of seeing it; that it may spread in the neighboring colonies and that, when an unjust measure is proposed they may say it is almost as bad as the Masters and Servants Act off New Zealand. —I am, sc., A Working Mast.