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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 988, 19 October 1881, Page 2

“ An old Colonist,” writing in the Canterbury Standard makes the following remarks about Gisborne, —the italics are our own : —Gisborne may truly boast of her superior publichouse accommodation. There are two banks — the Bank of New Zealand and the Union Bank of Australia—public hall, court house, police quarters, two newspapers—the P. B. Standard and the JP. B. Herald —an extensive brewery, the property of Mr. U. Crawford, whose beer gives general satisfaction to his numerous customers ; post and telegraph offices, and harbour master. There are several churches and chapels and a large State school in the town. The country lying inland from Gisborne is one of the most fertile character, adapted for agricultural and pastoral pursuits. Flocks of sheep and herds of cattle are bred in the district, and thrive remarkably. This is a great native settlement, and many of the Maoris are in good positions. They appear to be superior to the general run of natives ; many of them visit Gisborne, daily, and it is a very pleasing sight ’to see native women on horseback, dressed in the first style of fashion, enveloped in riding habits of the most costly material, leaving town in groups of five or six in a party, sitting their respective steeds in the most graceful attitude, cantering ar a good pace, their long and dark black hair streaming behind them as they gallop away in the distance. They generally wear the riding habit and the orthodox hat, as worn by the titled ladies of the Old Country, and very few of the latter could excel them in their graceful appearance on horseback ; the only drawback to lady-like etiquette in their equestrian performances is that the Maori lady smokes her short dudeen, and leaves the cloud of tobacco behind her as she travels. The natives who lived in this district 50 years ago were considered to be the most barbarous savages inhabiting the globe, but now most of them have embraced the principles of Christianity and each strive to excell the other in the onward march of progression and civilisation.”

The writer of the above has, undoubtedly made the most of his “ pen and iifk sketch, with the very best intention ; but we may point out, without being querulous, that he is quite at sea both as to his facts and his inferences, as the reader will dis

cover for himself. We leave the “ titled ladies of the Old Country ” to their reflections on the comparison instituted; but we should like to know in what way “ onward ” march of “ progression,” differs from any other.