WANTED HIS LIKE INSURED.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1252, 14 October 1884, Page 3

WANTED HIS LIKE INSURED.

A Gisborne paper bm the following : —" A. few days ago a Maori, well known in Poverty Bay, vLited various offices in Gisborne, seeking a place, not to build bis home, but to get his life taken

—ves, the first instance on record wo believe of a native wanting \o. insure his life. It is a we]' known fact that U»e natives are exceedingly superstitions, and generally look upon life insurance as a tempting of providence and ill luck. Our native friend in question took a more practical view of the yase, and, when questioner], to why bo should set k insurance, so uncommon with a Maori, he replied, ' Oh, I know it is $ tikanga pakelia (-European, cus'tom), and I have not b.?an well for some time. and I wit) not Hv9 long. If I die I want to leave some money to my chi'dren.' On being informed that illhealth would be a bar to his getting on insurance, he naively replied, ' Why, what is the use <-f insuring, '".nil paying prtuyjunis when null and likely

to live long? I thought ii w>-< only for those likely to die.' Our friend, the innocent Maori, did not succeed _in inducing a local <ffice to do for him. but, was advised to apply through Mr Brvce to the paternal Government.. Our friend's last exclamation was ' Paki-ha, pakeha, your ways are perplexing.' "