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New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, June 14, 1848.

In our present number is the report of a case, recently brought before the Resident Magistrate, which is of importance in many respects. Since the establishment of the Resident Magistrate's court the natives have frequently availed themselves of its powers, by referring their disputes, either among among themselves or with Europeans, to the Magistrate for decision, and the general working of the law, and in cases between themselves the active part which they bear in its administration, by means of native assessors, has given them great satisfaction and contributed to increase their confidence in the Government. The cases already referred by them to this Court have been for debt or trespasses of cattle, &c, but the case to which we refer is of another character. The plaintiff, E Tako, a native chief well known to the inhabitants of this settlement, appealed to the law for compensation for the injury he had sustained by the criminal conversation of the defendant with his favourite wife. Formerly, before the passing of this Ordinance, the seducer was frequently murdered by the incensed and injured husband, and an instance occurred in this town, not more than four years since, where a maori deliberately shot in open day the seducer of his wife, (another maori) and then fled to the bush, and has remained ever since unmolested either by those of his own race or by the^ocal authorities. This appeal of E Tako to the Magistrate for redress, instead of taking the law into his own hands, may therefore be regarded as an additional proof of the increasing respect the natives have for the law, and their desire to submit to its decisions. There is another feature in the case which should not be passed over. E Tako formerly professed Christianity and had but one wife. He has since relapsed and indulges in the raaori custom of having more than one. His recent misfortune may serve to convince him that " Polygamy may well be held in dread, Not only as a sin, but as a bora"

and as he piques himself on his superior civilization, having found two wives too many for his philosophy, he may be induced to renounce the barbarous habit, and set an example to his countrymen in other matters than his respect for the law, by a more complete conformation to the habits and re^> ligious practices of the pakeha.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZSCSG18480614.2.4

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 300, 14 June 1848, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
409

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, June 14, 1848. New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 300, 14 June 1848, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, June 14, 1848. New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 300, 14 June 1848, Page 2

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