THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1878.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2994, 19 September 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1878.

Theue are people in New Zealand who could watch the progress of " improving' the Maoris off the face of the earth" with pleasure—as a consummation ■devoutly to be wished. Of such is not the Native Minister. Like many other men who have made' themselves acquainted with the Native language and Native character, he sees in the aboriginals manj noble traita and a capacity for improvement which few savage nations possess. Though in his pristime state the Maori did not display any very great or good parts, he was yet manly and self-reliant; cannibal though he was, the highest form of courage was sometimes exhibited. As a conqueror he paid the highest tribute to his vanquished foe, by eating him. In a reverse position the Maori displayed indifference worthy of a stoic or a fatalist, and was content to be eaten. There is little doubt but that the Maoris as a people were far happier before the advent of the pakehas than since, and, notwithstanding their inter-tribal wars and gonrmandising propensities at the expense of slaves and captives, did not show such a marked decrease in numbers as they have done

since being brought into contact with

white men.' The first efforts towards reclaiming the Maoris were of an evangelical character. The child of nature was to be first Christianised, then civilised.

Sentiment assumed the place of utilitarianism. Hence the difficulties that have since arisen; the departures from .the precepts taught and divergence into the paths of Maori sectarianism. Exeter Hall and Caurch Missionary Society emissaries obtained a sway over the Native mind, and a control of their broad acres. The. Maoris did not mind. They were humored and petted as children, and as children they went quietly on until the advent amongst them of men who were neither evangelical nor orthodox; menwho

had a keen eye to the main chance, and

were equally anxious with their more

unselfish countrymen to deal with the Natives for their land. Then arose a con-

flict, and the victory was for a long time with the early teachers. To these early differences between the teachers acd the adventurers may be traced some of the evils which have so long afflicted tbe country. The missionaries, who in the early days obtained such a sway over ii:eir facile pupils, regarded

with jealous eyes the progress made by the early sotllofs, Firearms and whisky judiciously di^semirialed by the latter were more potent than schools and schoolmasters. The little good that had been done by attempts at Christianising was upset by the march of civilisation, in the shape i of fire water, steel tomahawks and guns. Old Maoris who had picked the bones of their adversaries with unctuous smack of the hps became vitiated in, their tastes by partaking too freely of rum, and their appetite for animal food took the direction of beef and mutton. Their thirst for blood was slaked, their taste for human flesh moderated, The struggle between the early evangelists and 'the early adventurers was long and bitter, but if was in a measure ended by the assertion of constitutional rights on behalf of the Crown. But the patnperuig system introduced by both classes of pioneers—evangelists and adventurershad to be continued by the administrators; of the law, the flour and sugar policy became an institution, and some of the troubles of New Zealand are traceable to the kindly but mistaken treatment of the Natives at the beginning. In the North Island this is seen most glaringly, the Middle Island having been but sparsely populated, easily taken possession of, and having in the early days presented-fewer attractions to b,oth missionaries and adventurers. The treatment of the Natives in the North-Island has led to a system which has been proved to be capable of much abuse; and we hail with pleasure the indicated policy of the present Gorernment as expressed by the Native Minister, who proposes to remove the exclusive barriers affecting Maoris, and gradually to place them on the same platform as Colonists. If he should succeed ;in, perfecting measures to this end, the .Native Minister will deserve well of us. It is a Herculean task to reniove the prejudices engendered in the early days we have referred to; the difficulties to be contended against are of a twofold character. The Natives .have to be convinced (1) that the doctrines first inculcated are wrong, and (2) that what is now proposed to be done will elevate them to a level with their, European brethren. As to what remains of their perceptions of the form of worship instilled into them in the early days, or what they may now practice, that, as the Native Minister remarked, is a matter the Government cannot interfere with. What is desirable and must be insisted upon is, that the Maoris conform to the law. So far a3 the Government and the people are concerned they may come to regard the teachings of their early instructors as "a cunningly devised fable;" propagate sects as rapidly as their white brethren ; fight amongst themselves- rs to what :s orthodox and what is not as fiercely as they like ; but in secular .matters let them be put on an equality with the white men. This Mr 'Sheehah's policy seems to aim at, rid so is-dssei'ving of support. ;' ":;••■''.

The rifle drill of Nos. 1 and 2 Companies Thames Scottish Volunteers was largely attended last evening, and the different exercises were very steadily gone through, the young hands of No. 2 showing a marked improvement. Both companies and the band parade for inspection on Wednesday next, when the District Champion Belt, lately won by Corporal Lucas of No. 1, will be presented to him.

Major Mtjeeat will make the Volunteer inspections this month for Major Withers, beginning on Monday next with the two Cadet Companies.

There was a clean sheet at the E.M. Court to-day.

The second of a series of lectures on the subject of military engineering will be delivered by Lieut. Barlow to the Hauraki Engineers after the conclusion of the usual parade to-morrow night. The ranks of this fine corps have recently been considerably augmented by an influx of new blood, i.e., bora fide recruits, not deserters from other corps, and a Few of the,disaffected and habitual growlers have been disposed of. We are,informed that the men of the Haurakis evince a great amount of interest in their new duties as Engineers, and display considerable aptitude in learning the theory of military fortification. • We have no doubt but that the corps will "Continue to maintain its old motto, " Nulli Secundus."

A little girl aged about 20 months, a daughter of Mr Hugh Mcllhone, had a narrow escape from death by drowning this morning.-'lt appears that at noon the child was observed playing about the yard, and some three minutes afterwards was found by a man named Con Sexton in a bucket containing some three inches of water, apparently lifeless. Sexton brought the child into the hotel kitchen and one of the servant girls ran and brought .Mr S. Alexander, who fortunately happened to be in the house at the time, and he taking in the situation caught up the child and conveyed it in a cab to the hospital, where restoratives were applied, and shortly after signs of returning, animation were apparent. She was subsequently taken home and at two o'clock this afternoon was doing well.

This morning considerable excitement was caused at Shortland wharf by the steamer Ruby, which left the wharf some time previously with a large crowd of passeigerS aboard for Ohincmuri, returning after having reached the Thames Eiver beacon. All sorts of stories concerning the cause' of her return were rife, but on her reaching the- wharf again it transpired that the feeding apparatus of the boiler could not be got to work. The boiler is not fitted with an ordinary pump, but with an ejector, which requires a very careful adjustment, and as there was a new engineer on board he could not keep water in the boiler,- and Captain Bettis decided to return. The Te Aroha haves for Ohinemuri at 9 o'clock this evening.

On July 23 a dinner was given at Willis's Booms to the Australian cricketers, by gentlemen connected with the Australian colonies. The chair was occupied by the Duke of Manchester, who, in proposing the health of the guests of the evening, eulogised the pluck and spirit which brought Australian cricketers half-way round the world to play in England. He was happy, he said, to

hear that they had won ten matches against five lost and three drawn, which is ample success for the enterprise and patriotism they have displayed. The toast was drunk with' three times three, ' all the company rising to do it; honor. Mr Gregory, ■ captain of- the team, re-. turned thanks, a warding: the credit of the.idea of the. journey to Mr J. GonwayvMr Conway, he ssid, tried to make, the' eleven as representative in character as possible, but unfortunately in Queensland and South- Australia they,. were,not so far advanced in cricket as New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania. Calls being raised for Mr Conway, that gentleman said a few words of acknowledgment. Mr Childers, M.P., proposed the toast of "England and the Colonies." The administration of Cyprus, he said, should be introduced ito the v olonial Office. As a colonist himself, he knew what the colonies* were worth, and he was most anxious to main{,airi : in full force that great Imperial system, t > which the, mother; country owed so much.,- He rejoiced that English sports found their way with brilliancy nd success to the antipodes. Nothing was more calculated to bird the mother countrj 'o the colonies than the knowledge that Englishmen and colonists had the same feelings, and naturally the s..me sports. S:r H. Barlily responded for the ;Cape, Captcin Juppfor, New South Wales, Mr Denistoun Wood for Victoria, Sir A. Blyth/or South Australia^ aud Sir Julius.Vogel for New; Zealand.,'/. .

" The History of the >eaj" subscribed for a few months ago by so many of dur fellow citizens,. has been delivered- ;to subscribers during the past week, and the agent, Mr D. D. Reid,, wishes through our columns to thank subscribers for their liberal pairon?*e' and prompt payment., He obtained ',2QD .subscribers, and but of this number only too persons refused; to take the book, moot. of them expressing themselves, fully satisfied /therewith.;:; The books have been very punctually delivered, and through : Mr; Wm/ McCullough a copy of the book has been presented to the Mechanics' Institute. „, , '

.The Phoenix Brewery's splendid beer is rapidly extending its fame. L.rge quantities have been for ycrs supplied to the Auckland market, and yesterday Messrs Ehrenfried Brothers shipped five hogsheads for Wellington, consigned to Mr Owen, Melbourne Hotel. Visitors from the Thames have been singing the praises of Ehrenfried's beer to some tune in the Empire City, and it is probable that the shipment sent away yesterday will lead to a large trade with Wellington, the locally brewed beer being of an inferior quality.

We are glad to learn that the new regulation volunteer spiked helmets lately ordered from London'by No. 1 Scottish are expected on tbe Thames this evening by the Botomahana, and the company will probably wear them for the inspection parade r>ext Wednesday. So far as we can lca.n, the Scottish is the first volunteer company 5n New Zealand to be supplied with them. The No. 2 Scottish expect theirs with their new uniforms on the 9th November. The new helmet has given rise to a good deal of difference oi' opinion on its mer'.is and those of the head-dresses it supersedes. In fact, all changes, especially in.military matters, invariably meet with strong opposi ion ; as, for example, the introduction of the Bhako and square tunic, whicb, to the ordinary unprejudiced observer, were such decided improvements in the appearance and comfort of the soldiers.