Original Correspondence. TO THE PARENTS OF HALF CASTE CHILDREN IN NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 142, 9 October 1847, Page 3

Original Correspondence. TO THE PARENTS OF HALF CASTE CHILDREN IN NEW ZEALAND.

Fellow Colonists.— lt behoves vi to take advantage of the noble and benevolent feelings which his Excellency Captain Grey has expressed" in favor of our offspring. Hii liberal mind is not indifferent to the wants even of a class of children, who from peculiar circumstances have few opportunities of becoming educated ; and I deeply esteem him that he is willing and anxious to improve the half caste children ; who, from their personal advantages, combined with their natural intelligence, deserve the attention of the Government, even if they make it an act of charity in bestowing it. And you fathers of this race, I would address myself to you all,— let.not your children fall back to the state of degradation, "from whence their mothers sprung ; if you do you will entail a curse upon your progeny, like that which clung for generations to the descendants of native born American women ; who were kept entirely, from prejudice, in the lowest grades of society. Is it a'Briton'i ambition to become the father of a race of slaves?— it would seem from the conduct of many of you, that it is yours ! Look at your children ! look at the way in which they are rising to maturity ! you resemble the fabled Faustus, who produced th* form of human beings, flesh withal, but gave them 116 s'6ul. When you were children, had you no parent to take you on his knees, beside the evening lire, and teach your dawning mind what virtue and what religion was ? Were the pure and holy counsels of the Bible instilled into your youthful minds ; and were you not stimulated to the acquirement of knowledge and a moral conduct ? If you were, i plainly tell you it is your duty to do 10 to your children I—i1 — it t is your duty to instruct them ; even If you are in the midst of natives, strive to counteract the effects. of their bad example, by your own affectionate admonitions to your offspring. There are men who will advocate high" and disinterested principles, and Captain Grey is amongst the number ; then let us all, individually and collectively, appeal to, him, whether these children are not deserving ot his consideration, and wotthy of being made loyal •übjects of the Queen, which they would become, if educated under the patronage of the Government It makes my blood boil with indignation, when I see the friendless, homeless, daughters of Europeans, by native women, with their delicate and interesting features and persons, wandering about, the victims of prostitution and disease. Could the white fathers of any of those poor creatures, now behold the situation of the daughter to whom, he had given birth, he might well call upon .the rocks atid mountains to fall on him, and hide him for ever from, the reproaches of a guilty conscience,' and the degradation of his poor child. The butcher priest, who offers human sacrifices to his demon deity, is more merciful than the man who wilfully leaves flis offspring to infamy and scorn. A Father ot Half-caste Children. P. S.— l would request that all of you would send in a letter, post-paid, addressed to X, at the New ZeaUnder Office, giving your residence, your wife's name, the name of her tribe, and the number of your children, with thejr names and ages.