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Lyttelton Times, Volume LVII, Issue 6534, 4 February 1882, Page 4

An extract published in another column from a publication which can hardly, even by long stretch of the imagination, be considered a contemporary, is very suggestive reading. In 1771 New Zealand was a land unknown, and in the ideas of most men magnificent. We see from the Annual Register of that year that there were philanthropists in those days as there are now. We also observe that the secret was understood of combining philanthropy with a certain amount of profit. The eighteenth century knew as well as the nineteenth that the philanthropy which pays its expenses is the most likely to benefit mankind permanently. Our century has seen Savings Banks, Mutual Benefit Societies, the Tiaeland scheme and cooperation of various sorts. But the previous century was quite as far forward in practical benevolence of the profitable kind, as we see from the account of the great New Zealand experiment. In 1771, all that was known of the present Colony of New Zealand was that it consisted of two islands (known by names more or less like the correct names), whose inhabitants wanted the necessaries of civilised life. A number of gentlemen thought this very hard for New Zealand. One great thinker amongst them, the Gibbon Wakefield of that day, placed his burning thoughts on record. These became the gospel of the new philanthropists. They quoted him as drawing pictures of the various benefits flowing to mankind from the possession of corn, cattle, metals, beasts of burden, domestic animals, and a trained intelligence. They saw that the natives of New Zealand were reported by the distinguished navigator Captain Cook to be without these blessings. They determined to freight a vessel with as many of the necessaries as might be, which, after supplying the heathen, was to return laden with the products of the heathen country.

The idea was sublime. There was no intention of forming a settlement, of possessing the land, of making arrangements for Colonisation. It never entered into the heads of those good people that the property of the inhabitants of these remote islands ought to be confiscated for next to nothing to the use of a superior race. Their project was to civilise the race in possession, so that it mksgfc become qualified for admission iaj^^, 0 comity of Nations. To this dfojj y, e _ designed to establish a comma fee which by the attraction of profit might »nffn<re

the rich men of London to scatter the material benefits of civilisation among savages, until, having learned the ingenious arts they ceased to be savages. Becoming by this means a great and powerful nation, Te Foanama and company would have remembered the hand that drew them forth from darkless, and blessed its owner with the profit of a young, vigorous, and growing trade. Estimates were necessary for the establishment of the enterprise, nod were published with quaint completeness of every detail of calculation. Whether the project over came to anything we do not know. But of its single minded benevolence and practical aim there can be no doubt. The philanthropists who placed their ideas on paper in 1771, would be astonished if they could see the New Zealand of 1882, which is preparingfor an International Exhibition. The great experiment of civilising the Natives by supplying them with the. necessaries of oivilised life in return for the produce of their seas and forests, they would see has developed. Familiarity with the splendid country of the Maori, roused the cupidity of the strangers. The natural result followed. Instead of raising the Maori to be a great and independent nation, the stronger race has subdued him, and possessed his land, partly by war,. partly also by subterfuges and trickeries of the lowest description, and partly by frugally honest means. The weaker race has become demoralised instead of benefited by the connection so hopefully inaugurated. Wars, punishments lor rebellion, a prevailing deluge of strong drink, ridicule of all Native characteristics and rights—such is,the portion of the shrunken race, barbarians in a rich and prosperous country of dominant aliens, which philanthropists sought out for its benefit. Faribaka campaigns (in suppression of the best and most civilised community ever seen in Maoridom), irresponsible confiscations, broken promises, Waikato isolations, Ngapuhi idleness, utter demoralisation of Natives near the great towns cf the Colony—these make an array of hideous results quite unexpected by the good people who addressed the Annual Register in 1779. Truly the world is full of disappointments.