THE NELSON NATIVE RESERVES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 78, 3 July 1852, Page 9

THE NELSON NATIVE RESERVES.

It has been so often our painful duty to animadvert upon the general views and acts of our Colonial authorities, that we feel the more pleasure in being able to direct public attention, on the present occasion, to an instance of judicious local management, which has already produced, and will we have no doubt still further produce, the most encouraging and beneficial results. We allude to the present management of the Native Reserves by our Local Trust Board.

Originally the Native Reserves were placed under the charge of a Board of Trustees residing in Auckland, consisting of the Governor for the time being1, the Chief Justice, and the Bishop of the diocese. This defective and absurd arrangement with regard to lands in Nelson soon issued in the resignation of the Chief Justice, on the just grounds that if any legal case respecting these Reserves should be brought before him in his Court, he should be compelled to sit in judgment either for, or against himself, in his capacity of a Trustee. Other changes were introduced, and became the cause of the resignation of the Bishop, the only one of the original Trustees who had ever acted or observed the slightest interest in the active duties of the Trust. His successors being all of them, as before, Official residents at Auckland, viewed their duties with the same supreme indifference as their predecessors, and with the resignation of the Bishop, the Trust may be said to have died a natural death.

After a considerable interregnum the Trust was revived in a more sensible and practical form by Sir George Grey. A local Trust-board was instituted, consisting of three resident officials, and for the avoidance of continual an,d unnecessary reference to the colonial headquarters, the whole of their acts were made subject to the approval or disapproval of his Honour the Superintendent, of whom it is bvit just to say, that instead of confining his official obligations and interference to the simpler duties of approval and disapproval, he has throughout, warmly identified himself with every act of the board, and has been one of its most zealous co-operators, by a personal attention and superintendence extending to every de-

tail, and has thus entitled himself to a full share of whatever credit is due to the Board.

• According to the liberal provision made for the aborigines by the Nelson scheme, one-tenth of all the available land in the settlement has been set apart for their benefit: and these Native Reserves comprise within them some of the most valuable land in the settlement. Under the management of this Board, a proportion of these lands have been already let to as many as 76 tenants, and now produce an income of about £200 per annum, a revenue which will for some time annually increase. These funds, as they arose, have not been allowed to remain idle. The first expenditure was applied chiefly to the cutting- and clearing- of roads, in order to render the lands accessible ; but with increasing means higher and better objects have been attempted.

The most recent method has been to confer education upon the Natives of the Motueka district, where some very valuable reserves exist, and from which the income is chiefly derived, the Motueka being- one of onr longest, settled and most populous districts. The work was commenced by the placing- of 5 boys and 5 girls in the district school, where they were instructed in all respects in conjunction with the European children ; and a perfect unanimity between them, of ten months, has proved the good sense of the experimentSince then an evening class for Native adults has been established, and is regularly and assiduously attended by 37 males, out of a total Maori population of 162. These are all taug-ht the English language, writing, and arithmetic; and as the Native children "previously taught in the day school assist in the teaching of the evening classes, the interesting but singular sight may be witnessed of tattooed and elderly men gravely receiving instruction with, all the simplicity and docility of children, and not only so, but receiving it at the hands of their juvenile monitors.

In every respect they, appear to appreciate the advantages which, have been secured to them, and we have ftten informed that their genuine interest in the work of improvement has been still more clearly proved, by a letter addressed by thenvto his Honour the Superintendent, in'^which they state that their number had so far increased, that it appeared to them to be beyond the power of their zealous teacher, Mr. Sutcliffe, to afford them, amidst his other duties, that fail amount of attention which they required, and therefore they requested that they might be supplied with a teacher who could devote himself to them solely. In consequence of this request, a highly competent teacher has been already engaged for this purpose, and it is proposed that there shall then be opportunity given to them to acquire a knowledge of geography, vocal music, and possibly of drawing. As a further instance of the good sense which has dictated these regulations, we may remark that none are admitted to these privileges of education, but such as will appear in European clothing, in order that from their very entrance decency and cleanliness may be insisted upon. It is further intended that as soon as sufficient funds shall arise, a new school loom, and a house for the schoolmaster shall be erected, and it is intended that every necessary measure shall be taken to carry out the entire scheme efficiently.

Were these excellent purposes carried out solely by funds arising from the scheme of the settlement, there would be sufficient grounds for satisfaction ; but to these Natives themselves is also a considerable amount of credit due, and which appears to us to put to shame the gross indifference which unfortunately prevails with too many of our own population. These Natives, many of whom were born amidst the ignorance and debasement of savage life, so thoroughly perceive the advantages of education, that they did in the first instance pay for such education out of their own personal means entirely, and even after their application to the Board, still paid half of the amount, and we understand are still intending to continue this amount of personal contribution.

As a consequence of this awakening of their minds, immediate alteration invariably becomes perceptible in the conduct and bearing of each new pupil. The wholesome cleanliness, the decent clothing, the enlarged and closer insight into the superiority and advantages of civilization, create within them a mental regeneration, from which naturally springs all the elements' of a higher and better character.

One evil, however, still remains among" them,

which is entirely the consequence of the degree of savage life which still exists among them,, and which consists in the degradation which, yet prevails amongst the females, who continue still with very few exceptions, to be little better than the working slaves of their male oppressors. These will still remain a debased class, until Christianity and education shall have softened and reformed those men, who have hitherto only compelled them to endure every severity of labour and burthen. It is intended that as soon as the attendance of such females can be secured, that they shall be taught not only iv the same manner as the males, but also in sewing, washing, ironing, and such other household employments as are the most conducive to the comforts of domestic life.

As a further proof of the Native appreciation of the advantages and means secured to them, they have sent an additional request for a plough. This of course will also be supplied to them, and the request appears to us to suggest another plan for their advancement, which may lead to still further good consequences. A block of land within the Native reserves might be selected and measured out, and attached to the adult school, as an industrial model farm, for the purpose of giving practical instruction in the best systems of agriculture— a step which would still more bring the Natives in contact with civilization.

This is the extent of the information with which we have been favoured upon our enquiry, but we cannot conclude our notice of it without some further remarks.

It is in the nature of good, as it is of evil, to be expansive and sympathetic. Like the wave on the water, it will communicate its impulse far beyond its originating cause, which may have been in itself small and insignificant. In the hope of such a possible effect; we feel it to be our duty, as it is also within our province, as a Journalist, to make known as far as we are able every good intention, and whatever good object we may have seen to have been in part or entirely carried pu;; and we tbink that we eah. ...perceive, ...in the facts to which we have giren publicity, a hopefulness of further good, which may reach even far beyond its present locality and action. * * - *

No"aboriginal race that we are aware of has ever shown an aptitude, or a capacity, at all approaching to that of the New Zealander, for attaining to the same high degree of civilization as ourselves, and there seems to be no reason why he should not eventually attain to it, nor any reason why he should not be assisted in every way, whenever and wherever he is disposed to attempt it. It is therefore that we approve so highly of the efforts which are now making here, and we entirely concur with the Board in believing that the best way thus to improve the Natives, and to raise them in the scale of civilization, is to begin by giving them the language and usages of the Colonists, and thus gradually and effectually to break down all those barriers which would otherwise divide for ever, and keep separated, the two races. We believe that there will thus be given to the aboriginals, their best and perhaps only chance of preserving themselves, not as a Distinct race, which is by no means to be desired even for themselves, irrespectively of us, but as kindred scions, rendered by such culture, fit to be engrafted upon our more highly cultivated and more vigorously rooted Anglo-Saxon stock. — Nelson Examiner.