THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, MAY 25, 1877.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2614, 25 May 1877, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, MAY 25, 1877.

The Natives have been holding a meeting: at Omahu, Hawke's Bay, at which their grievances against the Government and their white neighbours have been amply ventilated. Many of these grievances were purely local* and of interest only to those most likely to be-affected. The Wananga has published from time to time reports of the discussions at the meeting, which extended over some days, and from: these reports we gather that one of the subjects which has occupied the" attention of the Natives in their deliberations ig the; right of Maoris to be on juries. Certainly 1 trial by jury is looked upon as one of the greatest bulwarks of British liberty—its establishment dating from King Alfred's reign according to popular tradition-—and if any attempt:were made to deprive citizens of the right of trial by jury there; would be an excusable outcry. At the; same time it is notorious that the privilege of sitting on juries is very little valued by Britishers, however much they may appreciate trial by jury when their lives or liberties are in darger, or their interests at stake. The privilege which the Natives are contending for is to sit on juries; some of them who have offended against the law hare,already had the benefit of trial by jury. As: the outcome of their deliberations at Omahu, probably a representation will be made to Parliament next session. We do not see any great reason why Maoris should not be allowed to serve on injuries—especially in criminal casts in which their countrymen are concerned and civil cases in which their interests are involved. There might be serious objections to the principle being generally adopted, as it would involve the employment of interpreters, and the formation of a judgment on an interpreter's construction of some sentence or portion .of evidence. Then, in the case of the land disputes which have caused such heartburnings and such an amount of litigation in the provincial district of Hawke's -Bay, the -employment of Maoris as jurymen might and probably would cause a greater miscarriage of justice to all parties concerned , than the operation of the law courts with juries as at present constituted. The Natives do not lack intelligence: many of them have moro natural abilities, and have arrived at a higher state of cultivation than some Europeans who fre now eligible to, and do, act as jurymen—very often against their inclination. The question raised by our dark friends is one of a delicate character. It would be absurd to assume that they want to be placed on juries simply from . a .feeling that they are at present unjustly deprived of one of the rights of citizenship. They are actuated by no such iriotives. Self-interest is their moving principle, and not a desire to assume some of the responsibilities as well as the benefits of good government. However, we have no. doubt the question will be brought before the legislature, and that something will be done in the matter. The meeting referred to unanimously approved the principle. It will be for the Parliament to grant the privilege or show the Natives, that they are in advance of the, time in their ideas on the question of constitution of juries.