New Zealand Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 1874.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4124, 9 June 1874, Page 2

New Zealand Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 1874.

Os a former occasion we alluded to the dignified yet friendly attitude assumed by his Excellency Sir James Forgusson towards the Natives as indicating a policy that would be likely to be attended with the best results in the future intercourse that there will bo between them and the Europeans. The record of his proceedings during his Auckland tour is calculated rather to strengthen this impression than to weaken it, for, whether addressing them at their gatherings in his honor, at their ordinary feasts, or-making special reference to them when speaking to Europeans, he has breathed the same spirit. The chiefs have been told that their laud is of value, and that they should retain as much as is required for the subsistence of themselves and their families ; but they were also reminded that if the Pakeha is expected to settle amongst them, bringing with him all the blessings of civilization, his knowledge of arts and manufactures, and all that is necessary to raise the Maori nation to a European standard, he must be allowed to purchase estates as freely as Natives might acquire these from each other. The remarks of his Excellency, to which the most importance are to be attached, and to which the most attention of both Europeans and Maoris will be attracted, are those he made previously to delivering the prizes to the successful competitors at the Auckland Grammar School. It was contemplated by the founders of this excellent institution that it should be available for the children of Maoris and Europeans alike, but this dream has not yet been realized. The reports in the newspapers do not tell us whether to any or to what extent Maori chiefs have availed themselves of this privilege, but the subject is full of interest, and probably will not, after the interesting speech of his Excellency, be allowed to drop out of sight and recollection. *■ The question of the desirability of affording to the sons of Maori'chiefs an education that shall qualify them to properly fulfil the duties of the position they will be called to fulfil, is one to be discussed without any reference to the future of their race. There is one subject which we are all agreed upon, and it is that a Maori war, although we know what the end of it would be, must prove a very serious disaster. If it can be averted, it is alike our interest and our duty to do so. The last war is said to have retarded the settlement and prosperity of the Northern Island at least twenty years, and it was costly both of blood and treasure. Such a war can only arise again from a misunderstanding in the Native mind as to our objects and proceedings. They probably know what the result must be quite as well as we, but it is notorious that when angry passions are aroused people proceed to blows without accurately counting the consequences. It appears undeniable that in no way can wo more readily and surely avert complications than by educating the chiefs of the future to a standard as nearly as possible on an equality with our own. If they see matters with the same eyes and from the same standpoint as ourselves, there will be much less likelihood of differences of opinion arising. They will be more alive to the advantages of being on good terms with the Europeans than they could be under any other circumstances. They would see that it was all to their interest to exchange Native products for European wares and manufactures. Of course, in thus arguing, wo have done so simply on the grounds of policy, but not forgetting that there are laws binding us to teach that which we know to all members of the human family wo come into contact with. It is our duty to instruct the Natives, and show them, the error of their ways. Experience has taught, a thousand times, that we can best do this by instructing the young at school. When so taught, they not only form the very best schoolmasters to the children of other Natives, but by their example, they elevate. The truth of this is demonstrated by a glance at its converse. Will not our dealings with tho Natives be more probably of an amicable and satisfactory nature if they adopt tho virtues of tho white man than if they siaaaply copy his vices ? An intelligent, educated chief will always be a better neighbor to the Pakeha than anignorant, besotted, sunken, and sensual one. If it bo granted that it is politic for the sons of Maori chiefs to - bo trained for useful after lives, tho question arises what will be the best way of bringing this about. Here our practical Governor is to tho fore with a suggestion. Ho does not think it would bo well for tho Maori boys, for tho European, or for tho school, that Native youths should bo at once turned into a place in which tho habits of life wore so opposed to anything they had been accustomed. His suggestion was

that they should, at any rate at first, live by themselves in some properly ordered establishment, and receive their educational training at the Grammar School. The wisdom of this suggestion will be generally acquiesced in by those who take the trouble to think it over, and have the welfare of the Natives and the prosperity of New Zealand at heart. The only question that appears to arise is, who should take the initiative in the erection of the proposed boarding house 1 It is certainly the business of influential Maoris to do this, but we can hardly ex- 1 pect they will. Again, if it be the policy of the Europeans to educate the young chiefs, they might very well undertake the construction of what seems a necessary adjunct to the work of education. Then they might invito Maori co-opera-tion, which, we can hardly doubt, would bo afforded. Many of the Natives have shown that they fully understand the advantages of education. His Excellency’s words will not, so far as they are concerned, fall on thin air. The Natives will “read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest these,” and, we feel certain, profit by them.