PAST AND PRESENT.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume II, Issue 11, 27 November 1856, Page 5

PAST AND PRESENT.

Every rational creature employs his mind occasionally in the contemplation of the past history of his tribe and his country, and it is a wise and good thing to do so, because from it we derive a large amount of information ; we learn not only what our forefathers did, but we are enabled to judge of the wisdom of their actions by the events which resulted from them; we all delight in the recollection of the great deeds performed by our ancestors and it is right that we should be proud of them. Let us follow theexample they have given us, when that example is good, but do not let us blindly imitate ibem ; let us judge of their actions, beforewemake tbem a guide for ourselves. It is great folly to say it is good to do such and such a thing because our ancestors did so, for they were like ourselves all liable to do what was wrong,

t>ut let ns add, as it were, iheir lives to ours and we sbali then have the benefit of the expprienre of many generations and be better able to judge for ourselves than ihey were of what is our proper course of action ;"for the life of man isshortandbullittle experience is to be obtained byeven the oldest of us, while the progress which ismadein those things which conduce to the comfort and happiness of man, is slow. It has taken many generations to make the many discoveries which have rendered Europe so great—then why should not this country become equally so. there was a lime when" the ancestors of the European lived in as rough a manner as the Maories did a lew years ago—when fern root was their food, ami mats were their clothing,- and yet in those limes many mighty things were done by the ancestors of the Europeans; and although they were only clothed with a dog skin about theirloins. although their bodies were painted, and their food was of the worst kind, still we remember their good deeds and we try to imitate them. We know some were great warriors, some great orators, and some great for their hospitality; we remember also their bad deeds and try to avoid them, —we know they were cruel and treacherous, living in a stale little better than the brutes, constantly fighting amongst themselves without any love of justice; the strong man oppressing the weak and depriving him even of what was his own. But what changes have taken place since then. VVhere stood the poor reed hut, now stand mighty peaces—where mats were made of rushes and dogskins, there are now those wonderful manufactories from whirh come the clothiug of half the world—where human skulls were used as drinking cups, there is now made those cups, plates, and iron vessels which have almost become as necessary to the Maori as the European. Where oppression the most cruel was practised, we now find Courts in which Magistrates administer those laws which have been formed to protect the weak man against the injustice of the strong, and to guard the lives and properties of the people—and . where human beings were burnt in sacrifice to false gods, now stand magnificent churches for the worship of that loving Saviour who died for our salvation on the Cross. Ask lUe European, who amongst his ancestors are spoken of with most respect and gratitude, and he will tell you those who gave his countrymen the means of Education because to that we are indebted for the happy changes we have mentioned.

But all these changes it has taken many hundreds of years to bring, about—they have been the result of experience which has cost a fearful amount of trouble-and distress,— the benefit of that experience is given to the natives of these Islands,—the European lias brought to you the knowledge and discoveries which his ancestors have given him. You can derive all the benefits which result from them if you desire to possess them. The European cannoi give them to you rf you do not strive to prepare yourselves for them, But they are in your reach, do not be discouraged if voir "do not obtain them all in a few years, or even in the time of the present generation; remember, when you are dead you will live in your children and ihat tbey will derive the benefit or your efforts. Do not think because you know how to grow the wheat and potatoes the European has brought you, because you can prepare your own flour, and sail your own vessels, that therefore you have learnt all the European dan tea.ch.you. No, there are immensely greater benefits which you will yet derive from your intercourse with Europeans. Think of all the things which have become necessary to you and ask yourselves, do you know how to make them. You use blankets, clothing, ploughs, earthenware, iron, glass, leather, and a thousand other things we need not name ,and why should not these things be made here in New Zealand by maories themselves? And you can and will be able to make these, and New Zea'and shall become as great a country as England itself, if you will only strive for it—but remember it is not a work of a day it will lake limebeforeyou will be able to do these things. If you really desire to become a great peo-ple-a people spoken of all the world, vou must remember that the first step is to get education—send your children to school, go to school yourselves, be industrious, avail yourselves of the knowledgeyou possess, work hard at your plantations and then you will be able to receive all the benefits the Europeans have yet in store for you. Do not be foolish, give up that silly jealousy of the Europeans whi<:h some ofyou entertain. The Europeans ishes the Maori to behis brother, then think oriiitn assuch, say to yourselves the European knows more than wedo about those things which have become necessary for us, he is our elder brother and we will learn from him. Look back to the history of the past, compare thestate of your ancestors with your own, look forward to the future and strive to improve your own slate and that of your chi dren, and as now vou

speak with pride of your ancestors who were great chiefs and warriors, so when you are dead and your cbildren'scbildren, shall have acquired arts and learning of the Europeans they shall speak of you as the ancestors who brought within their reach all thoseadvanlages whir.h shall ihen have made them one of the greatest people of the world.