THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1880.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3479, 18 February 1880, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1880.

In our advertisement columns appears the amended prospectus' of the Caledonian G.M.Co. From ife will be seen that the number of shares has been reduced to 6000, and only 250 are to be considered paid up. 5000 will be offered to the public. The shares will be offered on the previously announced terms with the additional clause that no future call will exceed Is per share per month. The directors of the Few Whau met this morning, but did not appoint a mine manager. The share register of the Moanatairi Gold Mining Company is to be closed from Thursday to the 24th, when a dividend of 2s 6d per share will be payable at the Company's office.

Mb W. \N. Searancke is lying dangerously ill of cholera at Hamilton.

These was a rather warm meeting at Te Awamutu, re the Irish Relief Fund on Saturday, the clergy being generally condemned for non-attendance. A committee was appointed to collect subscriptions, and communicate with the Mayor of Auckland.

Colohbl Leckie, of the Imperial Service has been requested to inspect the volunteers of the North Island, and a notification has been received by Major Murray, to the effect that Col. Leckie will inspect this district. It is requested that officers commanding corps will take steps to secure a good muster for the occasion. , .

We are informed on good authority that thd action commenced against the Old Whau Company by the holders of shares forfeited some time ago, with the object of having their names replaced upon the register,: has been abandoned.

The Waitoa men were detained at Faeroa last night, the residents having prepared a dance for their entertainment. Several Thames gentlemen went as far as Faeroa, returning early this morning. :

The Globe, Chistchurch, under the beading "A Maori Grievance," has the following:—"Although the Maories, the native people of New Zealand, are rapidly diminishing in numbers, and threaten to gradually become extinct like the aborigines of Tasmania, they show no signs of mental decay. From the time of the discovery of their.land by Captain Cook a hundred years ago, their intellectual capacities have excited the admiration of their white neighbours, whatever may have been the opinions of the latter concerning their general • character. The maintenance of their native tongue, while a large proportion of them have, at the same time learnt to speak and even to write in the English language, is a strong proof of their superior intelligence, and has given rise to a very reasonable claim recently made on their behalf that the laws and ordinances relating to native affairs should be officially promulgated in the Maori tongue as well as in English. Two (or..three newspapers circulating 'among the native population are printed, in the Maori tongue—generally^with an English and a Maori rendering of the same matter into parallel columns. These journals are really a credit to the Press of New Zealand, being well conducted and well written; but it is impossible that they can accurately convey to the. native' people all the information as to native laws and ordinances, &c, which is desirable they should possess. In other colonies, as in the Cape of Good Hope, where there is a mixed population of English, Dutch, and natives of various races. Government notices, Acts of Parliament; &c.,. are regularly, published in, at least, the Butch as well as the English language; and it is not too much to ask that an intelligent population like the aborigine* of New Zealand should have equal facilities for becoming acquainted with the principal legal enactments affecting; their interests. The question, it is true, is a wide one, and the concession of the demand of the Maoris might be followed by a similar cry from thevarious other races which are subject to the British Crown. Each rolony, however, might meet each of its own cases on its merits. Ceylon, we believe, has met the Tamil portion of the community half-way in the matter ; and it will hardly be denied that New Zealand has the next best claim to consideration, in this respect, of all our other colonies. Some of the Maori members of the New Zealand Legislature should take up the question."

At a dinner at the Mansion House, London, three foreign Consuls were present, whom the Lord Mayer wished to honor by drinking their healths. He accordingly directed the toastmaster to announce the health of the three present Consuls. He, however, mistaking the words, gave out the following:—"The Lord Mayor drinks the health of the three per cent. Consols."