OUR LETTER HOME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9610, 7 September 1894, Page 1 (Supplement)

OUR LETTER HOME.

Parliament has been in session for the whole of the month, but the greater part of the business done has been of a local character, and not of interest in its details outside of the colony. The Ministry still commands a considerable majority in the House of Representatives, but they are not so strong as at the beginning of the session. Several of their supporters have become restive, and have actually opposed them in gome particulars. A good deal of time has been taken up in the discussion of what are termed the Labour Bills, which are for the most part amendments of statutes at present in operation. A Shipping and Seamen's Bill is amongst these, regulating the manning and management of all vessels plying on the coast. The opposition to this arises chiefly on the ground that the regulations and requirements are in some cases excessive, and would be injurious to the smaller class of steamers, by 1 which a large part of the coastal traffic is carried on. The Shops and Shop Assistants Bill prescribes the hours of labour, and also enacts that one half day a week shall be accorded as a holiday. 'The difference in regard to this Bill is chiefly as to what day shall be selected for the half holiday. The Bill, ; i-; it at present stands, leaves that to be decided by the local authority. The Courts of Conciliation and Arbitration Bill provides for the establishment of Courts for the settlement of labour disputes.

A Divorce Bill was introduced into the Legislative Council by the Hon, Mr. MacGregor, and caused a considerable amount of discussion. Its object was to enlarge the grounds upon ■which divorce might be obtained. It enabled any married person it sue for divorce for desertion for three years, for habitual drunkenness, for cruelty. It enabled a man to get divorce if his wife was habitually intemperate and neglected her domestic duties. Divorce might also be obtained for insanity, or if one of the parties had been imprisoned for a certain period. The Anglican clergy strenuously opposed the Bill, taking as an authoritative pronouncement of the Church the decision of the Lambeth Conference. The Bill ■was also opposed by the clergy of the Boman Catholic Church. Although a considerable amount of support was accorded to it, it has been dropped for the present session. A report of a committee has been laid on the table of the House respecting the position of the Midland Railway, amd a proposed agreement between the company and the Government for the resumption and completion of the works, cir at all events, a portion of the original scheme. The report, however, has not yet been discussed. It is stated that the directors in England have agreed to the proposals of the committee. 4 The debate on the Financial Statement concluded on August 10, without any division. The proposals must, however, be given effect to by Bills, and these will again bring up the whole financial position of the colony. There is considerable complaint throughout the colony that the policy of the Government in the .Lands for Settlement Bill (which gives them power, within certain limitations, to resume land ■which is the property of private owners), and in the Labour Bills, is having aiw injurious effect on employment. Private owners, it is said, are ceasing to make the improvements which they otherwise would set about, while trade and commerce are unsettled by the provisions of the Labour Bills now bef ore Parliament. The Licensing Act Amendment Bill, now before Parliament, provides for the taking of a poll on the liquor question at every Parliamentary election, when every voter (every woman in New Zealand now has a vote) will be called on to say whether he is in favour of reduction of licenses within the district, or he may vote for no licenses throughout the colony. By the present Act, no poll in respect to licenses is valid except fifty per cent, of the ratepayers record their votes. By the new Bill, one-fourth of the electors must poll. The teetotallers object to many of the details of the Bill, and will endeavour to have these altered. In all probability, if a long discussion takes place, the Bill will be dropped. There are now symptoms that the House is becoming weary, and in consequence many measures now before it will be laid aside.

Tawhiao, known as the Maori King, died at Kihikihi, Upper Waikato, _ on August 26. As a famous historical personage, his death will no doubt attract much notice amongst all those who havetaken an interestintlie history of the colony, and in the Maori race. We may shortly narrate how it was that the Maoris, or a large body of them, who had formerly been ruled by their tribal chiefs only, came to elect a king. When in 1857, the Maoris determined to choose a king in order that he might unite them, and put an end to land-selling, the question arose, who should it be ? The most active and thoughtful man amongst the Kingite party was Wiremu Tamehana (William Thompson), who, after a visit to Auckland, in which he thought he had not been courteously received, issued a circular declaring that his tribe, the Ngatihaua, accepted Tawhiao as king. Previously to this, several of the great chiefs had been spoken of for the office. Wi Tako, of Wellington, was in favour with many, and also Te Awaitaia (William Nay lor), of Raglan. But neither of these chiefs had the widely-extended influence of Potatau te Wherowhero. He was, as the Scotch proverb has it, " a man of many cousins." He was the principal chief of the Ngatimahuta, and he had preponderating influence and relationships in the .Ngatihinetu, Ngatiapakura, Ngatimaniapoto, and other tribes. . He had taken a prominent part in some of the great native wars, especially in the Waikato invasion of Taranaki, and he had shown considerable diplomatic skill and adroitness in forming tribal alliances. But he was too old to adapt himself to the new circumstances, and while he was the Maori monarch he was very much of a puppet. It was said that he never quite realised his position. He did not want to be called " king" of the Maori tribes, but " matua" or father. William Thompson, in his letters, called him "ingiki," ana it was said that that was a corruption of " inca," a name which Thompson had met with in Robertson's " History of America." Thompson, however, could form a very good notion of all the responsibilities of the position, because he defended the action of the Maoris in choosing a king by the example of the Israelites, and by the fact that all the nations of Europe had a supreme ruler to consolidate and preserve their national existence. Potatau died in 1860, while the Taranaki war was at its height. The principle, of heredity at once came into effect. Tawhiao was known to be somewhat incompetent for the position. His father, indeed, did not think highly of him in this respect. But the Maoris were too busy to think about •aether choice, and Tawhiao was recog-

nised without any opposition. He took no very prominent part in the fighting, and after his followers were driven back he lived quietly at Hangatiki or Te Kuiti. He has always maintained that he was the supreme authority, and had the direction of Maori affairs. Gradually, however, the tribes have drifted away from him, and his power has of late been little more than a shadow. One question of interest for us is as to whether Tawhiao's death will make any change in the attitude towards us of those people who_ still own a large part of the interior, and who decline to sell their lands. Wo do not think that there will be any change. The refusal to part with their lands is now more a question of price than of _ any desnre to maintain a Maori kingship, or because Tawhiao had issued proclamations prohibiting all sales of land. _ It is not probable, indeed, that Tawhiao will have any successor. He leaves two sons, Te Pouku and Te Ngehe, but it is said that neither of them have aspirations to take Tawhiao's place. Tanna te Waharoa, a son of " the King-maker," William Thompson, has sometimes acted as a kind of lieutenant to Tawhiao, but it is very doubtful whether he will attempt to maintain any semblance of a Maori kingship. The death of Tawhiao and of Rewi closes the chapter of the Maori war. There are now very few chiefs alive who took a prominent, part in the contest A new generation lias arisen who hardly know the ambitions and aspirations of their fathers, who have no idea of a separate Maori kingdom. The best fate for them would be to have parted with all their surplus lands, and to earn their bread by the cultivation of their reserves. The township of Devonport, 011 the North Shore of the Auckland Harbour, has recently completed the work of bringing in a water supply from Lake Takapuna, a distance of about four miles. The cost has been defrayed by a loan, the interest on which will be amply met by the rate. The water of the Lake is of great purity, and the' supply will add much to the attractions of Devonport as a place of residence. The project has been well carried out by Mr. £. W. Alison, Mayor of Devonport. The latest news from Samoa shows that war still prevails in the group between the followers of Malietoa and those of Tamasese. Further, . Her Majesty's ship Curagoa, and the German man-of-war Bussard have taken part in the contest by bombarding the forts and villages held by Tamasese's party, causing some loss of life. It will be remembered that the three Powers concerned in Samoa—Great Britain, the United States, and Germany—desired that one king should be recognised in Samoa, with whom they could deal. I They decided that Malietoa should be the 1 man, and he has been recognised by them las king. But this is not according to native notions, and he has never been fully recognised by the Samoans. Hostilities have been proceeding for some time, but the natives under Tamasese have always been anxious to make it appear that they did not wish to involve the European residents. Malietoa was, however, becoming pressed, and he appealed to the Powers (who had virtually caused his difficulties) to aid him. This has been done as above stated. It is difficult to say, however, whether the assistance will be of much benefit. Tamasese is in a place where the shells of the men-of-war cannot reach, and to land a force to operate in the bush is a very dangerous operation. It is possible also that the bombardment of Tamasese's villages may lead to a large body of the natives being disposed to kill Europeans. In the course of the war a great destruction of food is going on, and Samoa is likely soon to be in a very deplorable condition. The present arrangement between the three Powers has*been a failure. A short time since, New Zealand asked to be allowed to take entire charge, but Germany is opposed to any such arrangement. It is difficult to see how a change can be brought about, but in the meantime things are certainly going to the bad. The interest of New Zealand in Samoa is that peace shall prevail throughout the islands of the group, so that produce may be available for export. The flagship Orlando returned to Sydney on August 26 from her cruise amongst the South Sea Islands, and is re-fitting and overhauling at Sydney. She goes on to Adelaide next month. The Wallaroo left Auckland on August 18 for Wellington, and is now at Akaroa. She goes on to Port Chalmers. The Rapid is expected at this port within the next few days from a cruise among the Hervey Group. The CuraQoa is still at Samoa. The Katoomba has left Adelaide for Albany and Freman tie, and is expected back at Adelaide next month to meet the Orlando. The Penguin arrived at Brisbane from Sydney on August 26, ' having made a series of soundings during the trip in connection with the proposed Pacific cable. She left on the 2nd_inst. for the Solomon Islands -to continue survey work. The Ringdove has ■ gone from Fiji to Tonga, and is to return there, and then proceeds to the Solomon Islands. The Dart has left Noumea for the New Hebrides, on survey duty. The Lizard has arrived at- Brisbane from Dutch New Guinea, where she went to inquire into some matters connected with the pearl fishery, and is expected at Sydney shortly. The llingarooma arrived at Noumea from the New Hebrides on August 21. The Royalist is on patrol duty in the New Hebrides. The Goldfinch is- at Melbourne, the Karrakatta at Brisbane, and the Mildura and Tauranga at Sydney The French warship Scorff has arrived at Noumea from the New Hebrides. The French warship Duchaffault arrived at Suva from Chili and Samoa on August 20, and left for Noumea on the 23rd. The German t warship Bussard is at Samoa. ■ ■

At the Maori tea-meeting on August 30 at Putiki one of the speakers—Te Keepa Kupuka—while telling of the old days burst into a song of that old time. Where all was quiet before, now was excitement, the stolid faces of the old Maoris brightened and their eyes glistened at the remembrance of stirring times as brought back by the words ot the eong. The chorus was taken up by the elder women, and the floor shook with the measured tread of the dancers. At last a very old lady, " Rora," rose from her seat and joined with the others. Bent with age—a great grandmother in factmany years seemed to vanish. She was young again—her gestures were as supple and active as those. of the younger ones— tongue protruded as far and the eyes were rolled till only the whites were visible. How she enjoyed it! To her it was the very best part of the meeting. Was it not with this very song ehe (a young woman then) greeted her husband, the victorious Mote Kingi, on his return from the East Coast war. Old memories returned, and she lived it over again. . /■" '. ' ' A deputation of ministers and others from the Weiiloyan Conference,' accompanied by several members of the House, interviewed the Premier ab Wellington on Tuesday night, ; the 4th. September, and asked that the age of consent should be raised to 18 years. The Premier said, ib would be useless to make a law which would only be broken, but he thought) the age should be 16 years instead of 15, as now fixed in the Criminal Code Bill, and that an amendment in that direction would be ineißtcdou .fey-the GoTfirMMßfc* *