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Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume VI, Issue 23, 15 November 1859, Page 1

In our last number we gave a short account of the circumstances connected with the putting to death of a reputed "tangata makutu" and his son by the natives of Te Kawakawa, at the Bay ol' Ssiawls, accompanied by a few observations on the mischievous effects caused hv the beiiefiu witchcraft which, we leai, yet reiains a strong hold npon t!ic native mind. The present Karere contains a notification of the removal of Mar?.h Prown Kawiii's name from the list of Assessors, also a ielter addressed 10 thai chid' by direction of the Governor, from which it will ]>o seen that His Excellency has thought it necessary to mark publicly his disapprobation of .Marsh's conduct in couneciion with this affair. It must be admitted by ail iha' a:: advocate of practices sanctioned only by ihe old .Maori superstition cannot be a lit person lo fill the ofliceof administrator of English law. We doubt not that Marsh himself will acquiesce in the truth ol this, and we hope he may yet perceive and acknowledge the error into which he has fallen. His character as a Maori Chief stands high, and his conduct for many years past has entitled him to respect. The "proof of loyalty and attachment to the

Government which was given by himself and his people two years since will not be forgotten. But in coming forward lo justify the act of the barbarity to which we have alluded, he proves himself quite unfit to hold office as a Native Assessor. Those who are cppointed to that office should remember thatinundertaking the work of administering the just laws of the Pakeha among their people they pledge themselves to discourage evil Maori customs. The old and the new systems cannot be maiutainea together. If the new is adopted the old must be abandoned. We hope the Maori Assessors in other parts of New Zealand will consider this subject •V • • > • f !> " ' •» :