THE NELSON EXAMINER. Saturday, July 23, 1859.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVIII, Issue 59, 23 July 1859, Page 2

THE NELSON EXAMINER. Saturday, July 23, 1859.

Journals become more necessary as men become more equal and individualism more to be feared. It would be to underrate their importance to suppose that they serve only to iccure liberty; they maintain civilization, De Tocqubvilli, Of Democracy in America, vol. v.,p. '230.

The causes which have in various quarters been suggested as accounting in some measure for the rapid decrease of the Maori population, were briefly alluded to at the close of our article of July 13 ; but the importance and interest of the subject, and the desirability of informing those who may feel inclined to follow up the investigation as to its present state, will sufficiently justify our returning to it, and giving to our readers the substance of the more detailed information which Mr. Fenton's work supplies us with. It is a curious, but apparently, if the concurrent testimony and genealogies of Maories are worth anything, a well ascertained fact, that the present inhabitants came here from a much warmer country, and that not more than twenty generations have passed since they did so. Their traditions, their language, their national characteristics, all go to prove their common origin with those who people the numerous islands many hundred miles away in the Pacific, to the north-east. Their own belief, founded on the traditions of their ancestors, show that they arrived here at a comparatively recent period, and were but few in number — not more, indeed, than were capable of being brought in three canoes. From these the whole islands were peopled ; and, as we learn from Captain Cook's accounts and from travellers of a later date, peopled with a numerous and healthy race. The remains of numerous pahs, calculated to contain large numbers of inhabitants, and fortifications requiring considerable bodies of men, both to construct and defend them, show not only that there was a dense population, but one of the great causes which would, at all events, produce a temporary decrease in its numbers. The wars of Shongi (or E Hongi) before whom Rauparaha and the tribes under his influence were forced to retreat, are recollected by some old men still alive ; and the capture of one pah on the Waipa river is believed to have coat 2,000 live?. But the loss among the

adult males was balanced by the large number of female children who were also sacrificed. Whilst the mother preserved her male children, she frequently destroyed the females, especially when flying from the pursuit of the enemy ; and thus a disproportion was established between the sexes, which was found existing, and the cause of it, female infanticide, still in full operation, in 1830 ; and up to the present time still exerts an influence which it is difficult to estimate, but which we may consider as certainly very much diminished.

The popular Maori opinion is, that their forefathers had generally large families, most of whom survived to marry. Making every allowance for the natural tendency to magnify the "good old times," the increase of the population in twenty generations, in spite of their frequent wars and other causes of mortality, seems to prove that their belief is founded on fact. Allowing, then, that the destruction of female children, which took place during the wars which ravaged New Zealand just before the time of its systematic settlement by Europeans, is sufficient, in some measure, to account for the disproportion between the sexes, how shall we explain that which is now going on before our eyes; one half of the native unions having no living progeny, and the whole population falling off in numbers from year to year. The theory of the disappearance of the coloured before the white race seems generally untenable; and here, in one instance, at Rangiohia, where more Europeans reside than in all the rest of the Waikato country, the decrease is one-third less than elsewhere. The number of females abstracted by the whites does not exceed one per cent., and that in the neighbourhood of Auckland.

The Maories themselves think that new food, and clothing, and change of habits, are the causes of their decay. Tbey say, that when they had nothing but a mat to wear, or fern-root to eat, their skins were thickened and their appetites greater. This may be true to some extent : Liebig says, that warm clothing is merely an equivalent for a certain amount of food, and in cold countries travellers have often been surprised at the enormous quantities of food consumed. The effect of a vegetable diet has been talked of; but, if it proves anything, it rather goes to contradict the inference aimed at, as witness the case of Ireland and the crowded populations of Asia.

The moral habits of the population, even on their own admission, are superior to what they were when visited by Cook, who describes their intercourse as very promiscuous. Three causes have been suggested in addition to those already pointed out : A special interference of Providence ; the use of putrid corn; the long-continued intermixture of blood. They are put forward with some hesitation ; and are thrown out principally to invite the attention and assist the conjectures of others. We must own we do not attach much importance to them. From all that has come to our knowledge, we are inclined to think that the ideas of Mr. Snackenburg come nearest to the true solution ; and that his proposition, " taken in its extended sense as applying to a general low moral and social condition," especially among the non-adults, will be found, upon close inquiry, to account not only for a high rate of mortality among them, such as is known to prevail, but also, in great measure, for the deficient vigour and failure of reproductive power in those who survive.

One striking fact is adduced by Mr. Feuton. In the school at Otawhao, conducted by the Rev. Mr. Morgan, the average number of children, from 1849 to 1858, has been 54, deducting those who did not remain six months there: "The mortality in this establishment during the whole period of its establishment has been 1 in 9, or an average annual mortality of 1 in 81;" whilst in the native villages it has been 1 in 34|. This is sufficiently suggestive; although the remedy it points to is one to which the habits and feelings of the race generally present a formidable obstacle.

We must look to the benefit of higher moral culture ; of social and political institutions; and among these to the individual tenure of land, so as to counteract the gregarious tendency, the herding together in pahs, with long intervals of idleness and all the attendant demoralizing influences in speech and action, for any hope of reasonable amelioration ; and we shall be glad to see our Government take some active step to carry out the very practical and well-devised plan which Mr. Feuton recommends for adoption.

The mail steamer Lord Ashley arrived at this port, from Wellington, yesterday, and sailed again for Manukau the same evening. The goods and passengers for Canterbury and Otago were transhipped at Wellington from the Lord Ashley to the White Swan, which vessel has been temporarily chartered by the managers of the Royal Mail Company. It is probable that some more permanent engagement may be made with the owners of both the White Swan and the Queen, the particulars of which we shall take the first opportunity of publishing as soon as the arrangements are matured. The news from Wellington is very scanty. An uneasiness was being felt at the natives purchasing large quantities of guns and ammunition ; a. d in one case the desire to possess a gun was so great that a native gave bis horse for one.

Mr. Benjamin Buck, a surgeon at the Hutt, and the Coroner of the district, had committed suicide, by cutting his throat with a dissecting knife.