The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 1903, THE KING COUNTRY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LIII, Issue 2779, 9 June 1903, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 1903, THE KING COUNTRY.

m It is with much gratification that all New Zealanders hear that the isolated "X ing Country is to become a common .ground to Britisher and Maori alike. We, ot the South Island cannot realize the power of the native chiefs in the back country of the other island and the amount of land under their control. No less than 5,000,000 acres have been set aside by themselves in this King Country, and here any but the Maori was looked upon with suspicion. Here a remnant of that bad feeling, which bore such bitter fruit in the Maori war has lurked among the Ngatiuianipoto and Waikato tribes and made them refuse intercourse with the intruding colonial. Mr Seddon has succeeded in doing what many others tried in vain. He has made these obstinate Maoris see that communion with the British will lead to mutual benefits. This is perhaps due, to some extent, to the fact that the King Country has not prospered at all well in proportion with the surrounding district. However suspicious, the Maori could not fail to see tbnt, unaided, he was unable to reap s 0 nn...h profit from his land, He would

see the country in his neighbourhood, worked by the European brain, bringing wealth to its owner; while his own lay fallow and idle. The comparative uselessness of their possessions must have been evident to them for some time past, and it appears that such was the case, for a large section of these tribes struggled hard to persuade their more conservative brethren to unite with the European.

Then time has healed the old wounds inflicted by the sad wars between the European and the Native. The old feeling of distrust has passed away gradually, but surely The two races have intermarried and the children have brought about a closer intercourse and mutual sympathy ; but this last settlement makes the complete union between Maori and European. We hear much about the decay of our native race, consequent upon the adoption of civilisation. Probably the sudden change of conditions of life would be sufficient to undermine the health of the uncivilised Maori ; but will the present generatian be as much thinned out ? Let us hope that such will not be the case, and that the Natives, whom we British respect, will not die out as so many native races have from contact with Europeans.

The removal of this last obstacle, between the Maori and the European, is attended with an incident that compels our admiration. The Ngatiuianipoto tribe, who won such a large slice of this King Country, went to war against us in conjunction with the Waikato tribe. The Waikato's had all their lands confiscated ; but, by some strange inconsistency, the Ngatimanipotos were left undisturbed. The lastnamed noble tribe, realising the injustice of this, have determined to allow the Waikatos to share in the profits accruing from the sale of their land. Mahutu takes his seat in our Legislative Council, where, with others of his race, he will take part in our government. It is, indeed, pleasant to think we are working hand in hand with such a noble native as the Maori, and that we are spared the constant friction which exists in America between the American and the African. Also, it is good news that the Maori places complete trust in us.

Thk County Rolls—lt is notified elsewhere, at what places, County rolls and and defaulters' lists cap be seen.