OLD MAORI CUSTOMS MAKING WAY FOR THE BOER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9172, 21 August 1908, Page 4

OLD MAORI CUSTOMS

MAKING WAY FOR THE BOER.

The old habit 3 and customs of the Maoris die hard, and even the younger generation appears to be to some extent bound by them. A story comes from the King Country of an East Coast Maori, well educated, clever, hard-working and eager to do well for his family. His Mttle son died recently, and he wished to have the body interred in European fashion, some 20 miles away, with his wife's relatives; but the mana of the rangatira compelled him to bury it where he was, and to leave his comfortable house and go to live, with his wife and family, in a damp, unhealthy tent. He was also obliged to nearly ruin himself i>i feeding the crowds who flocked to the tangi. When spoken to sympathisingly about it, he said :]" What can a fellow do ? So long as the old generation lasts we must just put up with it." A decided refusal would have meant loss of work if the chief had chosen—as he certainly would have done- to exercise his power over the company which employed the bereaved parent.

Commenting on the fact that upwards of 1,200 British officers and men of the South African Constabulary have been "retrenched" and their positions in many case 3 filled by Boers, the "Johannesburg Star" says:— "Before a month has elapsed the commissioned officers of the S.A.C. will be represented by about half a dozen survivors, whose only legacy from the defunct force will be a greatly reduced salary. The eervices of, fa few sub-inspectors will also te retained, but it is understood that most of the officers with that rank have been selected from members of the old Republican police." After giving a list of "retrenched" British officers, many of whom write D.S.O. after their names, the "Scar" continues: "Major Macgregor, Captain Samson, Inspectors Comyn, Harbord and Koighley are all t> follow Colonel O'Brien into retirement. Their places are to be \ filled by Messrs Van Dam, Van der Merwe, Kruger, Bredell, and other political adherents of the Government."