A PLEASANT FOLK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2509, 16 April 1902, Page 73

A PLEASANT FOLK.

But there was nothing sombre in the tone of the people I met with in this most hospitable little city. The impressions I formed of them must wait for another article, but I may now say that the Canadians -were the first people met with on this journey that seemed to me the equal of the New Zealanders. I greatly liked them, and admired their appearance and the way they speak I have be&n complaining of the speech of the Australians : I have only words of praise for the Epeech of the Canadians. But perhaps I ought not to criticise the one or admire the other. And I say bo because of a little experience I once lrad, which has but now flashed across my mind. Travelling up the East Coast of New Zealand some years ago, I made the acquaintance of a Maori chief who joined the skip at Xapier. In the course of conversation I took occasion to congratulate him on the facility with which he, a Maori, spoke English. When the hour of parting came the Maori expressed the pleasure he had had in my company, and said he wished to congratulate me on the ease with which I. a Scotchman, spoke English! To this day I do not know if he was in jest or earnest. But it is evidently well for some of us to be chary of congratulating Maoris or other folk on their linguistic acquirements.