New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAITS GUARDIAN. Saturday, November 1, 1845.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 56, 1 November 1845, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAITS GUARDIAN. Saturday, November 1, 1845.

One of the first measures indispensable to any successful attempt to bring the natives ■within the pale of civilization, is to teach them our language, and so far as we can, to cause them to forget their own. Ever) r one who has given this subject any consideration will be readily disposed to assent to its urgent necessity and importance, and yet hitherto no steps have been taken to accomplish it. It is nothing less, in short, than to change the nature of the savage, and to raise him to the level and standard of civilization. And it is a grave error to be imputed to the efforts of the missionaries in their atteraps to conveit the natives, that they have too much overlooked or neglected this important point : they ha y e been, for the most part, contented with making the native a Christianized savage ; whereas, the great object to be obtained is, to make him a ci-

vilized Christian. When systematic colonization was first attempted in this country by the New Zea ■ land Company, it met with the most persevering and uncompromising' opposition from the Missionary Societies and their agents. They affirmed tl that colonization was an evil, and that as religious societies, they could not look upon colonization with anything like satisfaction, as all history; and all past experience shew that colonization has uniformly been injurious to the interests 01 the natives." But they seem to have forgotten that their conclusions from past experience, as to the former effects of colonization, were drawn from false premises. In all former plans the welfare of the Aborigines, either temporal or spiritual, has never been regarded ; it is not surprising therefore, that hitherto they have uniformly wasted away before the approach of civilized man. They have forgotten that before the discovery of New Zealand by Cook, the savage native " whose untutored mind Saw God in clouds, and heard him in the wind,'' knew of no other world than his native country, it was to him the whole of created existence. His occupation was war, cannibalism and infanticide were the darker stains in his character. But the approach of civilized man to his shores was destined to produce an entire change in his state of being, as complete as to have tasted " Of the tree whose operation brings Knowledge of good and ill." Colonization, so far from being an evil, will be found the most powerful auxiliary in elevating the New Zealander in the scale of existence. But the efforts of the Missionaries (we speak of the few who have devoted themselves to promote the welfare of the natives instead of seeking their own) have been limited, rather to the attainment of present objects, than actuated by any comprehensive plan affecting the future. They have been satisfied to convert the native, to teach him a few catechisms by rote, and to learn him to read the bible as translated into the native tongue. Not to speak of the inability -of the savage to comprehend the abstract

' and complex ideas thus for the first time presented to him, and which his own language was incompetent to convey, the effects of this system were felt only by the ! present generation. It was a never ending, still beginning labour. And there was no secuiity that the imperfectly converted savage would not relapse into his former state. While the savage remained in this state of pupilage, "he spake as a child, he thought as a child," but by teaching him our lani guage, by teaching him how to speak and I think as a civilized man, they would have instructed him how to put away the childish things of his former nature, The best, perhaps the only effectual plan to accomplish this end, is by the careful instruction of the rising generation. This, also, is readily admitted, but nothing has been done to promote it. While thousands are spent in the salaries of Protectors, no sum, not even the most trifling is devoted by the Government to this most necessary work. But as long as the native language is maintained, so lonsj a most effectual impediment is placed between the two races, a great gulph fixed, preventing all useful intercourse, or cordial sympathy and co-operation. Nor is this all ; so long as this badge of separation is kept up, it gives occasion to artful, designing persons, whose only qualification is an intimate knowledge of the Maori language, to use the natives as a pretence for working out their own ends, and who only work out mischief both to the settlers and the natives by their intrigues. Because it is necessary to have some organs of communication with the natives, these persons are tolerated, but if the native language were disused, these persons would be reduced to insignificance, their vocation would be gone, atid they would be prevented from doing mischief. We may point to the Chief Protector as a notable instance of the class to which we refer, and no doubt other examples will readily occur to our readers. Another benefit to be derived from this plan of educating the children, is the civilizing influence it would have on their parents, greatly promoting and assisting the effect of their daily intercourse with the settlers. The Missionaries have now been established thirty years in New Zealand, and though they have certainly effected great improvement, yet what they have done is as nothing compared to the change which would-be produced in the next thirty years by unremitting efforts in educating the children of the natives, and in teaching them to speak, to think, to act as Englishmen. Another measure of pressing importance is a general disarming of the natives. This would not only deprive them of the power of injuring and annoying the settler, but still further dispose them to the influence of civilization and the arts of peace. As long as the present system is pursued, of allowing the natives to do as they please, robbing the settlers, and making war with each other as an independent people, it is in vain to expect any improvement. But we hope for better things from Captain Fitzroy's successor. The British Government will awake from its lethargy on hearing of the burning of Kororarika, and will at last send out a man of capacity to direct the affairs of New Zealand. Such a one will see that the most effectual way of asserting British supremacy, and of causing it to be respected, will be to put an end to the present war, and to remove by the strong arm of authority all farther occasion of disputes not only between the natives and settlers, but between the different tribes of natives. To attempt disarming the natives directly, would perhaps appear to them a harsh measure, and would produce disaffection and ill will. It would be difficult to accomplish, and in its operation would expose those tribes that were disarmed to the incursions of their enemies, who would take advantage of their defenceless state to revenge former injuries, and to indulge in the native propensity for war and bloodshed. But happily the same end may be as effectually obtained by indirect means ; and their gradual operation would not be liable to the objections which might be offered to any direct attempts at disarming. It would only be necessary, we conceive, absolutely to prohibit the importation of arms and ammunition into New Zealand, to make it felony for any one to sell arms or ammunition to the natives, or to repair any arms belonging to them, and strictly to enforce the law, without exception of persons, and this object would be obtained speedily and without great difficulty. The Government should at the same time cause it distinctly to be , understood, that from henceforth all wars between hostile tribes were to cease, that they wptild act as mediators or arbitrators in

any disputes between the tribes, but that they would not under any circumstances permit them to disturb the peace of the island by their jealousies or discords. This would be true mercy, and from such a measure the natives would in every way be gainers ; they have no game or wild animals necessary for their subsistence, for the capture of which the use of firearms is indispensable, and the same rule applying to all, and being strictly inforced, the stock of ammunition of the different tribes being supposed to be equal ; in a comparatively short time all fear from any hostile movements of the natives, either as affecting the settlers, or as affecting each other, would be at an end. Another measure of great importance, as regards the peace and prosperity of the colony and the welfare of both races, is the improvement of the means of communication between the different settlements, so as to render them constant and regular. At present our intercourse with Syduey is much more frequent than with Auckland, so that if disturbances were to break out in the South, it would be impossible to calculate the mischief that would en-. sue before the intelligence could reach the seat of Government, and any assistance could be afforded. Happily such a contingency is remote in this settlement, but it is threatened at Wanganui, aud is one which must not he lost sight of. A war steamer attached to this colony, and making frequent periodical visits to the different settlements would impress the natives with the power of the Government immediately to repress and punish any outrage, and contribute more than any other step to establish peaceful habits among them. But the necessity for making roads and improving- the means of internal communication, is equally urgent, and in doing this we could take advantage, as we intimated in our last number, of the capacities for labour of the natives which have hitherto been lying dormant, with equal advantage to them and to ourselves. As yet, though the colony has been established six years, no provision has been made for the formation of roads. True it is an ordinance was passed last Session professedly for this purpose, but as a practicable measure it is perfectly useless. True it is that the sum of A\ ,500 was voted in the Estimates this year for roads and public works, but the whole of this money appears to be spent at Auckland. The most diligent investigation would fail to discover any public improvement effected by the Government in this' settlement. We do not enter into the subject of the land claims, hut take for granted their satisfactory aduistment, as indispensable to any comprehensive plan for the improvement of the natives, by removing a fruitful source of contention and bitterness. But above all, it is absolutely necessary that all exceptional laws in favour of the natives should be abolished, not only in cases -where European property and European subjects a?e concerned, but also where the offence related to the natives only. The natives are intelligent enough to discriminate between right and wrong, and they should be made to know, that while they shall be effectually protected by the law, punishment will certainly and speedily follow the commission of crime . This principle of establishing exceptional laws in favor of the natives, originating in philanthropic motives, must necessarily entail the failure of any plan for their civilization . If we are to wean the savage from his barbarous habits, it is absolutely necessary that our habits, our cus» toms, our laws, should supersede his own ; it is impossible that he can be subject to both, and advance in civilization ; nay it is impossible that any race, however highly endowed, however civilized, rould remain long in a state of civilization, if they were submitted to the operation of barbarous customs. We have considered the question apart from any plan for remodelling the department of the native Protectors, because we are desirous of establishing certain general' and fixed principles, which in any plan for civilizing the natives, must be uniformly adhered to. In the propriety of these principle& most persons will be disposed to agree, but hitherto in practice they have always been lost sight of. Any plan to be successful must be based on general, enlightened, and comprehensive principles, and not as hitherto be partial in its operation. When these principles are fully recognized and acted upon, the rest becomes a matter of detail, the success of which will mainly depend on its adaption to these principles, and the efficiency and intelligence of the agents employed in carrying it out.

Goats. — These animals are become a formidable nuisance in the Town to those who have gardens, and have pleased themselves with the idea of raising vegetables or fruit. No fence balks them ; and their owners appear to take little consideration whose crops are destroyed, so that their beasts are fetl. We call attention to the warning of the Police Magistrate in this day's Paper, and hope the fines will be strictly enforced.

A R«fc>itT has been brought to Otaki, by w..0 have travelled overtax from Auckland, that two sentinels have been shot by the rebels at Waimate. They also state that Heki and Kowaite have quarrelled, and that Heki has sent letters to the Governor expressing his desire for peace. These natives confirm the report of the arrival of a -war steamer at Auckland.

Wellington M.A&K^is,RetailPrices, Nov.l, 1845.— First flour, £14 te £18 per ton ; Bread, per 2 lb. loaf, 5d. ; Beef, 6d. to B<J. per lb.; Mutton, 7d. to 10d. per lb. ; Pork, 3d. to 4d. per lb. ; Fowls, per pair, 35. ; Ducks, per pair, ss. ; Geese, Bs. each ; Turkeys, 7s. each ; Fresh butter, Is. Od. per lb. ; Salt butter, Is. 2d. per lb. ; Potatoes, £2:10s. per ton ; Eggs, Is. per dozen ; Cheese, New Zealand, Is. per lb. ; Bathurst, Bd. per lb. ; Maize, 3s. 3d. per bushel ; Ale, Is. 6d. per gallon; Ham and Bacon, 7d. to Bd. per lb. ; Firewood, per cord, 12s.