The Daily Telegraph. MONDAY, APRIL 20, 1885.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4283, 20 April 1885, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. MONDAY, APRIL 20, 1885.

At the turning , of tho first sod of tho North Island trunk railway :it Alexandra, last week, tho Premier made an admirable speech. Tho ceremony took place on tho old buttle field of (Jrakau, and near tho site of tho pah that was so bravely defended by tho Maoris against General Cameron's forces just twenty years ago. Mr Stout could not but refer to that event, and congratulate the colony on tho changed relations now subsisting between the two races. And then he went on to say that ho believed if we had been perhaps more kind in tho past, more philo-Maori than we have been ; if we in the past had treated our brown friends in this colony as brothers, and loyed them, we should never have had the wars which disgraced ouv liistory. In conclusion he said, "it is by what we may term a small ceremony, it is by what wo may say is almost a thing not to bo noticed at tho time, that history after all is made. History is made by tho growth of the social life of the people. This is a step in the growth of our social life. I ask those who have to deal with the Maoris in these out-districts to think that on themselves rests a great responsibility, a heavy responsibility, a heavier responsibility than rests on the Government, than rests on those who live far from tho Maoris. It is your duty to educate them, to train them, and to-day we have done a thing, I hope, that will remain in the remembrance of the whole colonial people. We arc standing hero on soil on which there has been a proclamation that no liquor shall be sold, — (cheers) -and we arc to-day going to provide you with lunch, but you aro to have no alcoholic liquors—(cheers)—and I hope those who do not am-cc with me in my temperance views will think of this, that although many Europeans can take liquor without injuring themselves to any appreciable extent, if what is called fire-water gets amongst any aboriginal race like the Maoris it is condemning them to destruction. I ask those who feel that there is some solemnity in human life—considering tho bravery of the race and loving kindness which tho Maori people have shown in tho past to many settlers, and the many good deeds they have done—to agree with me when I say tho Maoris ought to be preserved ; and I say if the race is not preserved we will bo handed down in history as a people who came to this country and met a race capable of much improvement .and did nothing to improve tho race. I hope that will never bo written of Europeans in this colony. I ask the out-settlers to be .careful in dealing with the Maoris, to teach them how to preserve their physical and moral health, and if we could osily teach them these two things tho race would live: and hereafter we would see the descendants of the noble chiefs of the present and past generation taking a part in tho Government of this colony. Surely, if we regard all as brethren, without distinction of color, race, or creed, it shall never be said of us that we, who think we have reached the highest pinnacle of civilisation, will doom any part of humanity an y race, however weak—to destruction. Rather let it be said that we have done all that we could to raise, to elevate, and perpetuate them.

Thk Sydney Morning Herald says thai; an unusual significance will ;itt;ich. to the circular to bo addressed by Mr Dalley to the Premiers of the several colonies on the suppression of the rabbit pivi. ?>Fr /Vbbott has gone over a part of hi.-. ; ■ ■ '■;. •> n tour, and the issue of this circular i:.y, t j'u takon to that lie found things than he e.-Tpected, and that the prospect is exceedingly gloomy. These pests defy ordinary means of destruction, and some now device must be foundif they are to be completely destroyed. A reward of jCIO/>: v is to be offered by the New South Wales Govern-

ment, if other colonies will join with corresponding amounts, for the discovery or invention of means that will destroy rabbits, and be at the same time innoxious. This is an admissisn that restrictive and destructive measures now used are not even checking the spread of this evil. It is this winch makes the suggestion one of groat public interest to other colonies. If rabbits cannot be stopped from spreading in New South Wales, they cannot bo kept from crossing the borders. Wire fences will be of little service, and any other protection may be still less effective. As surely as thistledown flies on every breeze and is deposited everywhere, so surely will the rabbit plague spread unless something more effective can be clone. The handsome reward to be offered throughout Europe should find a response. It may be made up to nearly £-10,000, and for that sum not a few scientists should bo willing to compete. They will be at liberty to think of the boon to be conferred upon these countries, and the successful competitor may accept the thought of that as his chief reward. And this business may be voted urgent. It is a matter of calculation how many rabbits equal one sheep ; and also the rate'at which they are increasing. Whoever will take the trouble to run out these problems will be able to fix the time when tho entire country may be overspread, and when sheep-farming may everywhere bo difficult, if not impossible. Some one introduced rabbits, apparently supposing that they might be kept within bounds here as they are in England, and bo interesting if not useful. The country is too congenial, and they have grown to be a vexatious nuisance of enormous magnitude, defying all known methods for their suppression.