Wanted His Life Insured.
A Gisborne papei has the following : — " A few days ago a Maori, well kuown m Poverty Bay, visited Various offices irt Gisborne, seeking a place, not to build his home, but to get his life, taken —ryea, the first instance on record we believe of a native wanting to insure his life. .It is a well known fact that the natives are exceedingly superatitidup, and generally look upon life insurance as a tempting of providence and ill luck. Our native friend m question took a more practical View nf the case, and, when que>l|oned as to why he should seek insurance, so uncommon with a Maori,, he replied, .*; Oh, I know i% is a tikan^a pakeba (European custom), and I have not becrv well for some time, and will not live long. If I die J want to leave Home money to my children. On being informed th.it ill health would: be a bar to h's gotiinjj.an insurance, he. naively replied, ' Why, why what is the. aso of insuring and paying*, premiums when well and likely to live long? I thought it was only for thosiv likely to die. Onv friend the innocent Maori, did not succeed m inducing' a local office io do for him, but was advised to j apply through Mr Bt-yce to the paternal Government. Our friend's lust exclamation was * Ptikeha,pakoha, your ways are perplexing.' "
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS18840929.2.10
Bibliographic details
Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 259, 29 September 1884, Page 2
Word Count
233Wanted His Life Insured. Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 259, 29 September 1884, Page 2
Using This Item
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in