ROMANTIC MARRIAGE OF A EUROPEAN WOMAN WITH A MAORI.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 64, 15 March 1877, Page 4

ROMANTIC MARRIAGE OF A EUROPEAN WOMAN WITH A MAORI.

(Auckland Herald.) The marriage of European men with Maori women is so frequent, that the announcement of such an event would not be likely to cause much remark; but the marriage of an iotelligeot, fairly educated, European woman, possessed of no small amount of personal attractions, with a Maori, is an event which ' does not often occur, and which consequently demands from us such exceptional notice as would be given in England to a " marriage in high life." Such a union took place in Auckland on Thursday, at the Registrar's Office. The happy bridegroom is Sydaey Taiwhanga, aged 43, a resident in Kaikobe, a settlement at the Buy of Islands; and the bride is Sarah Moran, a widow, aged 30 years. The bride is a comparatively new colonist, having been only about six months in New Zaaland. She is, we learn, the mother of four children by her first husband, who died during the voyage to New Zealand, but what her occupatioa has been since her arrival in Auckland we have been, unable to learn, further thau. it has been respectable. She is a woman ot prepossessing appearance, modest in her manner, and intelligent to a degree. Tbe bridegroom, Sydney Taiwhanga, is. somewhat of a personage. He gives his occupation as that of " surveyor," and can well lay some title to the profession, for he was one of the number of cadets who, in the early history of the province found employment iv the (Survey Dapartmant. Here he acquired a good knowledge of the English language, as well as of European customs. He bas not followed this prolessiou to any great extent, but his abilities as interpreter have been recognised, aud he b?s frequently rendered himself useful, not only to tbe^Government, but to individuals requiring his

services. He is at present a sort of political agent, employed as occasion is found for his services, but in his own right he is said to be a man of considerable property in land. His ostensible mission to Auckland on this occasion was to interview the Hon. Dr Pollen ih reference to certain native claims in the .district in which he resides. In this] fe(ervievjli.e a number of other natives of the same district, but after getting, bis answer he contrived to get rid of his companions by shipping, them,off while be remained . behind. Scarcely had they departed when .be . carried . intp execution . , h!s~ matrimonial views. Sydney Taiwhariga,' like other men of reflection, has a bobby, and his hobby is by no means a ' rough one. He entertains an idea that the present mode of .education with respect to Maori children is a fallacy, find he proposes an* improvement: V.His idea is tbat if Maoris are to be brought up to ..be knowledge of UhejEuglieh language aj»d English literature, the mere fact bf their attending public schools where the English language is taught is not, sufficient for the purpose. He proposes that Maori children-, should be taken from tbeir parents into a school — provided byVtbe Government! ; of course — as soon as possible, associating- there' with white children only, and accustomed only to the English language. If their tender age requires it, their mothers might be permitted to nurse and suckle . them at intervals, but that their association witb Maori playmates must be interdicted. Dr Johqaon. eaid that if a Scotchman was to be taught the English language Correctly he must be caught young, jTairfhaVga wants to improve on the 1 great lexicographer, and catch the Maoris while babes. It so happens that [Taiwhanga has had a fair proportion of offspring of the native" race of His own— seven,, we understand— an^ he has besides adopted two European orphan/ child, en.. With this material! jhe has started a school on his favourite Byßtem, r ' and * avers that it 1 has' beeri : mor# .effective than the education system whioh is pursued in the common schools established by the Government. Id pursuing this experiment Taiwhanga has incurred certain liabilities at stores and other places, which be either is unable or; disinclined to meet, and One of bis -_.-Bsibnt> to the Government w«s to induce the Hon. Dr. Pollen, on behalf of the (J.overn_n<}rit, tp 'take over his liability. " We are sorry to say Mat Dr. Pollen, who has never, beep accused lof being a philanthropist, and who has mo sympathy with philanthropist, declined to liquidate these little bills. The marriage of the happy couple was witnessed in due form by Willian Puatuata, a Maori raogatira, residing in the Bay of Islands. The bridegroom found his troubles commeaced almost as soon as the marriage ceremony was performed. He, of course, wished to Bpend a honeymon with bis bride, and for this purpose .ought lodgings, bqt his first application fpratcdmciiodation for. himself and wife was., met with blauk refusal. Taiwhanga at length bethought himself of bis marriage certificate, which bad the effect of "open sesame" in the old story. It is to-be hoped that this couple, who have now been joined together, will, with their already large family pf thirteen ohildren, enjoy a happy and contented life, and that fh'is instance of miscegenation iq.New Zealand will prove beneficial to both races. •