Facts Wort]! Knowing "by

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3235, 2 July 1879, Page 2

Facts Wort]! Knowing "by

The Taranaki Herald writes as follows: —" About ten yeats have elapsed sinco the European and Maori inhabitants of New Zealand mutually agreed to lay down their arms and to cease fighting. It might be considered a drawn battle, for neither had been beaten/ although it? wasi generally acknowledged thflt £he natives 'got the wdrst of it. It Was owing to a change in* the Ministry that caused tho Europeans to sheathe their swords, but tho Mapris were glad of the respite, and) the old chiefs who were.^ engaged in th© fight are not over anxious for a renewal "of what they', have previously gone jthrough. Ten years have effected a greafc' change, and completely altered the cbni i * plexion of affairs.''..,' Not only during theSe^ ten years have Europeans been increasing and natives decreasing in -numbers, but, 1 roads have been opened in all directions; through the country, and the hitherfceji terra incognita of a bush no longer exists.j It was thought the natives had begun;-to appreciate Ihe tolerant and judicious swayexercised over them for their own. benefit, and were ready to assist this European inmaking New Zealand: a great country, but the sudden changel in the aspect'of a; few of the disaffected, tribes has caused the pakeha to again shoulder the rifle, so as to be prepared for the worst. It is a great pity the Maoris cannot be made to see the utterly insignificant part they will r - play should their rebellious spirit leajlj them to take up arms against us. ThY total population of Europeans in Nevr Zealand, according to the last census, is 409,979; the total Maori population, 39,121-r a little over: a tenth. . This jof ' course includes men, women, and children, and friend!ies, as well as those inclined to be troublesome; therefore, if we deduct tho latter, the number is insignificant when compared with the European population. For the information of those who are not able to get at statistical records we may state that the European male population over twenty-one years of age in New Zealand at the last census was 116,000, and of th09e,45,302 are in the North Island. The Maori w\le population over fifteen years of age in New Zealand, was: 16,623; but when ihe natives north of Auckland, the Arawas, and those in the South Island are deducted the numbers' are. reduced to nearly half. Tho following is ihe number of Maori males over fifteen years of age living in the centre, . and on ; the East and West Coasts of "the North . Island:—Upper Waikatos, 2,070 (this . includes all ages); Raglan* Kawhia, and Aotea, 448; Mokau to Waitotira (Taranaki district, 1,335; Wanganui Biver, 705 ,' Thames,: ; 677; Tauranga, 438 ; Makelu, 787; Opotiki, 858; East Coast (Cook County), 1,799; Wairoa, 918; Hawke's Bay, 610; Taupo, 264, making a total of 11,000. When tho natives vb ~~ are friendly and others not disposeaw fight are deducted from this total, we 4£^ not suppose the number woa'd nearlyW reach 5,000. la Taranaki Z,335 is the number of natives who are over the age of fifteen; and deducting the odd figures for friendly natives wo leave—say a thousand able-bodied ■ men; whilst of Europeans of the same age, tho statistics show three thousand. What chance would the natives have against such odds P It would re illy be a friendly. • act on the part of those who have communication with tho natiros if they pointed out the above incontrovertible facts to them. . :;