THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O' CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1878.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2993, 18 September 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O' CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1878.

In enunciating the native policy of the Government, the Hon. J. Sbeehan reviewed the social and moral condition of the Natives, and in spite of his testimony to, and congratulations on, the improved relations existing between "the Govern* men and Natives, he was compelled to admit that the inevitable fate of a savage people after contact with a civilised race was irresistibly approaching—namely, extinction. That this fate is surely overtaking the Maori people and will destroy their individuality as a race, few probably will dispute. The efforts made by. pre- ' vious • governments and continued by the present to impart a measure of education ito the rising generation of Maoris, may; be successful in bringing about " a survival 6F the,fittest," and so preserve some vestiges of a once powerful people. The tribute of the Native Minister to the superior physique of the half-caste will awaken new hope in the breasts of those philoMaoris who cherish the idea of an amalgamation; of races. ,We demur to Mr Sheehan's assertion,. however, that the physique of the half-caste is superior to that of the European. It is a mere assertion, and, we believe, incapable of proof. There are several features in the Native Minister's statement we heartily approve, because they show a desire to elevate • the Native race without making it the object of special or exclusive legislation, which has been too much the policy heretofore. Mr Sheehan deplores the drinking habits of the Natives (a. vice acquired from their pakeha friends), and some other vicious practices of an earlier growth and peculiar to themselves, as tending to bring about their extermination. - Helooks to education to Jeure these evils, but' he does hot propose any extreme measures for improving the social and moral condition of the Maoris, on the principle, we presume, that such would defeat the., object" in viewviz., the. gradual eradication of Native manners, practices and customs, and a coalition of the two races under one law. In addition to a liberal provision for-edu-cation, the Native Minister proposes to admit Maoris as jurors in Courts of Jus*

tice, a privilege that has been asked for by some 1 natives, but, oue which many Europeans would blindly surrender. As a matter of course the Native Minister takes credit for the amicable understanding arrived at between the Government and Kingitcs ■ at Hikurangi, and . subsequently with Bewi at Waitara, but he modestly ascribes the "results to the great influence, possessed by the Premier. Mr Sheehan speaks so confidently of the* good results likely to arise from these meetings that we are bound to believe some better understanding has be£n arrived at than the reports of the meetings warranted us in doing. We know from* subsequent utterances that Kewi has been loyal to Sir George Grey and Mr Sheehan when they hare been assailed by political opponents, and that he has repudiated the ( construction attempted to, be put on; his speech at Waifcara.''\Th^'iNatiy^'Min-' lister notices some other points which have been fertile causes of dissatisfaction to Europeans and' Native, namely, the ■ mode of acquiring native lands, and- the loose system by which salaried, officers of the Native Department were permitted to acquire for themselves or their'friends large tracts of land,, to the prejudice of the Government and therefore'the general public. The salutary rule laid down by the Government last session, prohibiting officers ?of the Native Department from continuing this pernicious system, they now propose to extend in its operation to all Government officers, and we cannot say that such a wholesome provision is hot wanted, or that it will be more arbitrarily felt than the regulation prohibiting civil servants from an active participation in politics or newspaper controversies on political or official matters. Referring briefly to the Native Land Bill, Mr Sheehan plainly indicates that while direct purchase of land from the Natives will not be absolutely interdicted, it will be so ,h|edged about with wholesome restrictions as to guard against fraud, or the possibility of so-called " Eepudiation Offices " being called into existence, in every part -of the Island. Titles so obtained are to be submitted to the ordeal of the Governor in Council. Some stringent provision is no doubt demanded to. prevent the wholesale acquirement of large tracts of Native territory, some, indeed many, I previous transactions of this kind haying been perfected by resort to the. most " shady " practices. The Native Minister's Statement ■ has no .pretensions to the elaboration of those of Ministers at the head of some other departments. It is understood to have been orally delivered, and, we take it, expresses the candid views of the Native Minister and his colleagues. Having a desire to divest the Native Department of its mysterious surroundings, he has^ nothing to conceal —no desire to divert the House from its attention 1 to the subject before them by rhetorical display. The consequence is that the Statement on Native Affairs is intelligible and satisfactory. The, policy, if carried out, will effectually remove,the necessity for special legislation for the Natives; it will improre their social condition, induce them to aspire. to be placed on a perfect equality with Europeans or the descendants of Europeans, and eventually bring about that amalgamation of races which at present is a mere matter of sentiment, but which may be rendered un fait accompli if this enlightened policy be^ carried out. '