TREATMENT OF THE ABORIGINES, BY THE COLONISTS OF NEW ZEALAND.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 143, 30 November 1844, Page 153

TREATMENT OF THE ABORIGINES, BY THE COLONISTS OF NEW ZEALAND.

[From the Auckland Times.'] The least agreeable, or rather the most revolting of the Maori people who frequent our towns, or the most commanding of their chiefs — and there is little in their personal appearance to choose between — are equally treated with kindness and hospitality ; nay, more with deference ; but is there a countryman of our own in misfortune (being unknown) of any class! Who has less than searching distrust and suspicious reluctance towards him ? Who treats him with proffered kindness or civility ? There is no boast in all this; how should there be ? It is not a pharisaical comparison for the sake of reproach, contrasting the habitual cruelty and levity of France with the all-pervad-ing justice and humanity of England. It is not set forth as a domestic or national glorification of England or England's people in the South Seasx_but it is recorded and recited in refutation of the gross clianjemeapcaTipmnire ireads-of the colonists of New Zealand by Exeter Hall enthusiasts, who take upon themselves, by their own warrant alone, " to visit the sins of the fathers upon the children," — who throw into our teeth offences we know not of, — who declare, magniloquently, that the breath of the nostrils of the Red Indian, the tawny Hindostanee, the sooty Negro, and the half human New Hollander, has been put out by our forethers; and that we, as a matter of course, are and must be doing the same thing over again ! What answer can we make to all this, but refer to the evidence which is daily springing up around us of disturbances entirely arising out of imprudent indulgence, converting friendly intercourse into a contempt — the bastard progeny of Maori insolence upon Exeter Hall-ism. It is a foul aspersion upon the settlers of New Zealand, to intimate that the British Government have come here only to protect the New Zealanders. Protect them! From whom? In the recent business at the Bay, John Heki has committed innumerable robberies, accompanied by atrocious violence. Witness the case of Mrs. Davies, whose hand, clutching her last blanket, after her house had been stripped, was tomahawked by the brute ! Witness his other daring house robberies, independent of his Russell achievements. Witness also the boasting detail of his own confession in his own letter; and then let any unprejudiced tribunal decide whether the Maori has necessity to seek the protection of the spurious humanity of Exeter Hall, or whether rather the just rights of the actual benefactors of the Maories are not postponed to the interest of humbug and folly, more properly expressed perhaps by the terms, craft and credulity. In the late public speech of the Governor, this man's (Heki's) crimes are suppressed or extenuated by an assertion of European encouragement, which no attempt is made to prove. We do not wish now to prejudge this affair, but are we to be silent, as a people, under a general and sweeping charge, because it only takes the shape of insinuation ? We trow not. Mr. Shortland was Boh'citous to curry favour at home, and, careless of provoking it here, he has left behind him little reputation for sincerity, being, of the class of politicians who contradict yesterday's promise by to-day's fulfilment, and who always gainsay their own predictions when they find it convenient to be forgetful. If we give Captain Fitzßoy, on the contrary, credit for the best intention and completest sincerity, are we much better off when we cannot help seeing that he is a slave to a silly dream of blood- thirstyness and cruelty towards the Maories, and that every useful purpose of his Government is blown I about by any idle wind which agitates his apprehension of oppression upon his poor protegees ? ■ ■ Is British justice to lose its essential quality of impartiality ? Mr. Leathart was convicted in the Supreme Court of New Zealand of assaulting a native in defence of his own person and property ; and sentenced therefore to two years' ignominious imprisonment; one year of which sentence he actually suffered ; and only escaped the remainder by an act of tardy and reluctant grace ! But John Heki and his companions apologize, and are forgiven ! not merely forgiven either, but rewarded with gifts and promise of «' protection I" We may surely say that Justice is blind in this matter; for she has placed her scales over her eyes, and they are powerless for adjustment of the balance. Generosity may dictate that we should not punish ignorance ; but prudence will just as wisely plead that we should sot give a positive premium to aggression. When the next cry of " Wolf" is raised in New Zealand, we strongly suspect that Sir George Gipps and Sir Eardley Wilmot will say — "Be quiet, you story-telling babies, or I shall come to you with a cudgel;" and this may happen when it is reaUy too late for ua to help ourselves.