CANTERBURY.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 307, 28 September 1860, Page 3

CANTERBURY.

(From the Lyttelton, Times.)

MAORIS. The meeting of the Maori chiefs and the Provincial Government authorities; held in the Town Hall, Christchurch, passsed off. as might be expected without, any incident worthy of particular notice.' Apart from the fact that the name of • Maori 'attracts a Rpecial amount of attention just now, owing to the attitude adopted by the natives of the North Island towards the Government, there is no special importance, political or otherwise, to be attached to the proceedings which took place on that occasion. It can matter little to the natives of the north what a miserable remnant of those who fell before their invading power 40 years ago may think of their views and proceedings in this disagreement, and however gratifying it may be for the Colonial Government to hear that the 600 natives of this province are comparatively happy and contented, it is quite clear that the knowledge of that fact can have no possible one way" or another in the issue of the, strife. :, ; t - . ; However devoid of political importance the meeting may hsve been, it certainly cannpt be charged with want of interest. Ndne who were present on the occasion could fail to be struck with the tone of kindly and confiding affection which pervaded the- expression of the thoughts and feelings <rf these children of nature^ and

there mast have been few reflecting minds who did not feel some sentiment of sorrow at the the thought that the remnant of one of the most interesting and intelligent races of man, there present before them exchanging professions of good will and amity, was doomed by the immutable decree,of fate to perish from the face of the earthj by slow but certain decay. Created by the hand of the same Great Being as themselves, and heirs of the same everlasting inheritance, models of strength, beauty,' and intelligence, it must have raisedifeelings of pity and regret in the minds of many present that the relentless waves of civilisation must, as if by necessity, overwhelm these poor creatures in their advancing tide. Lively expressions,of sentimental concern not uncommonly take the place-of doing our duty by our neighbor. It is quite the custom for the philanthropists of modern society to indulge in the warmest expressions of sympathy with misfortune, before passing over to the other side; and lest we should fall into the same error, it would not be amiss to consider what we have done or are doing as a nation for our neighbors, and whether it might not be possible to do even something more. It is true, to use an indefinite phrase, we have brought amongst themJ the blessings of civilisation, which must be supposed to include a strange variety of matter—from the pure precepts of the Holy Gospel to the damning influence of the rum-bottle;—we have given them a few hundred pounds for their inheritance, generously reserving them a little corner here and there for their wants; we admit them to our courts for redress, where their language is not understood and where they are puzzled out of their poor wits by our forms, and we, that is to say the General Government, have lately provided them with a gentleman to act as a kind of teacher. This is nearly all that the Government can be said to have done for the bodies and souls of the Maoris in this province; all else has been done by the zeal and charity of private persons, among whom for active exertion in thejj cause the clergymen of the Wesleyan body deserved to be noticed as pre-eminent.

We cannot for a moment believe that, on a full consideration of the subject, it can be maintained that we have done our duty by the Maoris in this place; we have simply let them alone, and the very fact, that, while deprived of their own laws and customs, without being supplied with others, they have not degenerated into a state of anarchy and bloodshed, proves most clearly that they are a teachable intelligent people, capable of appreciating to the highest degree the blessings of civilisation ; and those blessings it is not even too late for us to endeavor to impart to them. It should be our object while supplying them liberally with the means ot obtaining religious knowledge and general education, to consider also their material interests, to improve the style and arrangements of their dwellings, and thus influence their ideas of propriety in social matters; to teach them gratuitously the most improved methods of agriculture and how to make the best use of the land they, have been permitted to retain; to appoint for their use some recognised officer to act as interpreter who should be ready to assist them at all times, when in need of justice, or on any other business with the state; and to provide them with proper accommodation in our chief town where they could come and go, without having to incur the expense and temptation attending a visit to the publichouse.

These and many other things that would suggest themselves on a closer consideration of the subject, should be the happy and natural result of a meeting where expressions of good-will and kindness on the side of the more powerful race were met with those of confidence and affection on the part of the weaker.

We regret to say that out of four thoroughbred horses put on board the Chapman, in Loadon, only one has been landed alive, owing to the long continuance of heavy weather experienced during the voyage. The survivor is a brown entire horse, by the Cure, of unexceptionable pedigree, and will form a welcome addition to the breeding stock of the province. A thoroughbred Durham cow has been landed in beautiful condition, and we notice with pleasure the safe arrival of two thrushes, a proof that these sweet songsters of old England can be brought out safely with common care and attention. The efforts to introduce firstrate stock into this province has been very unsuccessful during the last two years. A valuable horse was lost on board the Margaretha Roesner; then followed the loss of the Burmah, with the most extensive consignment ever shipped to Canterbury; after that came the loss of Earl Spencers bulls; and now we haveto announce theloss ofthree thoroughbred; horses by the Chapman. We,much'fear that these continued mishaps will act as a heavy blow and sore discouragement to shippers, and prevent the continuation of their efforts in that, direction.

Taranaki Relief Fund.—At a meeting of the Lyttelton Committee held on the 10th September, it was resolved, —"That a statement of the total amount subscribed and paid into,the Union Bank of Australia'be forwarded to the treasurer of the Christchurch Committee." We have much pleasure in announcing the gratifying fact that the subscriptions in Lyttelton" have reached the handsome sum of 4330. >

The crime of forgery seems to be on the increase just now in Canterbury. A man is jn the custody of the Christchnrch police, charged with uttering a cheque bearing the signature of a]northem run-holder, knowing it to be forged. Another forged cheque for a considerable amount was stated to have been presented for payment at the Bank on Monday last*