The Lyttelton Times. Wednesday, Jan. 17, 1855.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 231, 17 January 1855, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times. Wednesday, Jan. 17, 1855.

their laws and usages, however barbarous those laws or usages may be. Of course under such circumstances, it is more pru.' dent to allow the Maories to settle their owti differences in their own way than to inter. fere with the certainty of recommencing a native war, and without the means to brine it io a speedy and successful issue. For the same reasons the provisions of the Resident Magistrate's Ordinance in those cases in which Maories are concerned may still be necessary in the North Island, where the natives are far more numerous than the white men, and where their traditions and customs are better kept up than in this island. Here, however, there is no reason for not putting the Maories on the same footing as their fellow subjects. We can see no advantage gained by the continuation of the present system of administering la\y to the native population, and the disadvantages are felt more and more every day. The Maories themselves would not object to be treated like all those around them ; their ambition is to be considered equal to their white neighbours ; they have no desire to keep aloof from them in savage independence. In this they are totally different from the North American Indians, to whom they have been so often compared. When we find that the Maori can trade on equal terms with the white man, and hold his own—or indeed more than his own—in any bargain between them, it is quite absurd to keep up a shani of protection and careful non-inter-ference, which only serves to obstruct the administration of justice. Let us take au instance of the bad effect of the Resident Magistrate's Ordinance which has come to our knowledge lately. Not long ago, two Maori women stole some clothes from the house of a gentleman residing at Kaiapoi. He did not think it worth his while to come into Lyttelton to prosecute, and therefore the whole affair has been passed over —a most injudicious neglect where Maories are concerned. The Ordinance requires not only that all cases" in which a native is defendant should be heard before the Resident Magistrate, but that any information or complaint in such a case shoulcl be made before him alone. Now if the Magistrates on the spot could have dealt with the case we have above alluded to, a stop would probably have been put to all such depredations for the future. The Maories have a great respect for law, and if they find their offences will be ,'punished they are very careful not to commit them. As it is, the Maories at Kaiapoi, who 'were not long ago well conducted and orderly, are beginning to drink, and to commit various offences which were unheard of among them some time back. This is owing to the example of, a great number of bad characters who have assembled at Kaiapoi, as being the last settled district of the Province, and therefore the furthest from magistrates and police. The Maories can share in their vices, bat cannot be punished as easily, or in the same manner. We have not space now "to enlarge upon the working of the Ordinance with respect to disputes of a civil nature between Natives and Europeans, but there is no doubt that in civil cases a law which makes such a distinction between them is even mora injurious than in criminal cases. We hope that the Ordinance will not be.allowed to stand as it does. In this Province, indeed in this island, there is no earthly reason for the distinction made in the administration of justice between Her Majesty's subjects white and dark. All such distinctions—putting aside altogether the reasons which we have urged against them above — are invidious and impolitic, tending as they do to keep^ up the feeling of isolation between the two races, which neither of them desire, and which is directly injurious to both.