THE “MAORI FRIEND” ANSWERED.

Auckland Examiner, Volume IV, Issue 277, 30 June 1860, Page 3

THE “MAORI FRIEND” ANSWERED.

(To Editor of Auckland Examiner.)

Sir.—-Having seen a letter in last Saturday’s issue of your paper, by a so-called “ Friend of the Maories,” allow me to make a few remarks on that document which, from its general tenor, I believe to have been written by a well known Auckland resident whilst smarting under a recent refusal by the General Government to allow him to take possession of a large tract of Land in a certain part of tbe Province, hot 100 milesfrom the Thames, which some years ago he cajoleuuie natives to sell him in exchange for a few trifling articles, such as pots, pans, iron tomahawks, roundabouts, tobacco, and such like, the Government refusal being, I*understand, based on the fact that he was endeavoring to obtain more land than he had, by the so-called purchase, choused them outpf. Having so far premised that it was not any particular friendship for Boshee that prompted this letter, and only regretting that I have not the able pen of your friend Quizzicus, I will endeavour to point out some of the fallacies of the communication of this “ moral Pecksniff’” of Auckland, who Cloaks those sins he feels inclined 10, By damning those he ha&no mind to.

Whilst giving the missionaries all the credit they can lay claim to for bringing these savages into a state of civilization, let me remind this friend of Boshee that, though we see no Cannibalism now, tior me gratified with the s : ght of a cold missionary for supper, yet it is only lately—and very lately—we heard of that most inhuman butchery at Taranaki. I am quite willing to allow that the white choker gentry taught Boshee to cultivate the soil, keep cattle, wear European clothing, and use English manufactures; but I would ask this dear good Pecksniff- —does not he know who reaped the benefit of all this? Whose land did Boshee cultivate? Whose cattle did Boshee keep ? And at whose expense did Boshee obtain European clothing and English manufacture! ? It is well known as a great fact—as great a fact as our Pecksniff—that it was missionary private land Boshee cultivated, missionsionary private cattle Boshee looked after, and for these services he received payment in European clothing and English manufactures, which were forwarded to this colony for a far different purpose than that of cultivating land, which, by the rule of the Society, the missionary was not allowed to possess. However, “ conscience being the missionaries coin, who live by parting with it,’’ they merely buy land in their children’s name, and most of them posses>ing a receipt for the extensive prolification of children, some of them have nowpretty little estates, about the size of a small German principality. I am, Sir, Yours, &<J. Anti-Humbug. Otahuhu, June 27, 1860. [From want of space we are compelled to postpone the remaining part of Anti-Humbug’s communication till next number.]