TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 101, 29 April 1879, Page 4

TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK.

Th© Bay of Plenty Times tells the following story:— At Maketu and other places we could name the natives are practically masters of the situation The law hardly toucbe's thettij and ; when it does they get off with fines — I a large proportion of which are never j paid. Not long ago a gentleman hold- , ing d good position at Maketu threw ! I it up and left the neighborhood, ap* parently without reason, tie called on" ua soon after, and we asked him the | why and the wherefore of his exit. '* Well," said be, "if you must know, it was because I feared t Should he kil- j ling a Maori some day. When the \ brutes were drunk I found myself in i «onßtant danger of being attacked — and it was impossible to get protection. | Even when a drink-maddened Maori tiame io my house and threatened to brain me, no one would lock him up, and with English's example before ray face I dared not take the law into my own hands." This case is by no means a singular one. People who are obliged to live at some of these settlements can tell stories of the most extraordinary description. We remember hearing of a Native Assessor who committed aii outrage on a certain EM, Court by waving, a bludgeon /dyer the Magis, trate's head, and telling that worthy be didn't care a either ior him or the trovernm&nt or the Queen. The affair was of course reported to Wellington, and in a day or two the aggressor was Bent for by the Native Minister. He .travelled down first-class, and enjoyed himself immensely. On arrival at the Empire City, the" Honorable the Native Minister interviewed him thus: "Well," he commenced jocularly, <f I suppose you have come to have your head broken." The Native reflected for a minute or. two, then, bending down his head he eaid, " Break away. Last time I catno you said you'd break my head open, but afterwards you raised my salary £50. Do it again to-day." The Minister laughed, but sure enough when the Maori left Wellington his salary was raised another £50 per annum ; and it was also noticed that he brought back enough ready cash to keep his relations drunk for a week. We may not have repeated the story quite correctly, but the main facts are true, and consequently worth remembering Diplomacy, or rather bribery, has been carried on to such an extent in Native matters, that the Maoris find it absolutely pays to kick' Tip a row. The .Te Puke disturbance was arranged by Maihi te Raogikaheke for no, other purpose tban to extort money, and but for the determination of the surveying party there can be little doubt that he would have gained his end.