MAORI CIVILISATION.

Colonist, Volume XV, Issue 1502, 16 February 1872, Page 7

MAORI CIVILISATION.

(From the Napier Daily Telegraph, January 12), The best evidence we have of the civilisation of the Maoris is the desire they have of late expressed to acquire a knowledge of the English language, so as to enable fehem to bridge over the gulf which separates them from their pakeha neighbors. Since tho Maoris first became acquainted with the white man, a generation has nearly passed away, and though many of the savage customs of the race have fallen into disuse, are forgotten, or have been abandoned through the persuasive lessons of the missionaries] no one would be rash enough to say that the Maois are as civilized as they should be from their long intercourse with Europeans. They are idle, inprovident, and dirty; with a few exceptions, their villages contain hardly a dwelling fit for human habitation, and neither in their cooking, nor clothing, do the natives show that they have acquired much benefit from the European settlement of this island. Instead of many of the Maori race having become useful members of society, we find that even the most intelligent of their chiefs sink to the level of tae meanest of the tribe when they return from the towns to the pahs. After 40 years intercourse with Europeans, it might have been expected that we should have found Beveral chiefs having adopted European habits scattered through the Island, and setting an example to the rest of their people, but with hardly an exception this is not the case. Probably, the system adopted to civilize the Maoris is to blame, at all events for several years, both before and after the occupation of thiß Island, the missionaries looked upon the civilization of the natives as their special duty, and though we shall not go into the length of saying that they signally and utterly failed, both in civilizing and christianizing them, still, the result of missionary labors has not been happy. The missionaries, while successful in their efforts to induce the Maoris to abandon the practice of cannabalism, did not succeed in implanting into the minds of their converts the necessity of leading moral lives. The Maoris were ready enough in picking up some of the outward forms of the Christian religion, but were never brought to believe in the virtues of morality and cleanliness. The cause of this want of success may perhaps, be found in the fact that the missionaries endeavored, with the power at their command, to do too much ; they sought to separate as much as possible the natives from the European settlers, to keep them apart, and to bring them up as a peculiar people. The missionaries tried, or if that is too strong a term, they would have been glad to hare done with the Maoris what the Jesuits succeeded in doing with the Faraguayians, but having neither the organisation nor the power of that body, the half-and-half attempt could only end as it did in failure. The most intelligent Maoris are now awakening to a sense of what they have lost, but not having taken greater advantage of the opportunities ottered them of acquiring knowledge from the superior race of people who have occupied their country. On Tuesday, one of the most intresting ceremonies connected with the history of the Maoris took place at the Karaitiana's pah at Fakowbai, a school was there opened at which the natives will be taught the English language, and the first practical step has been taken to civilize our dark skinned neighbors. And not only at the pah of the most intelligent Maori in Hawke's Bay, is this thirst for knowlodge observable among the natives, several , applications have been received by the Government, ■ from all parts of New Zealand, to establish English schools, and we may confidently hope that, when the \ Maoris have had their minds opened by acquaintance with the literature of a civilized people, then they 1 will be prepared to understand the blessings to be i derived by the adoption of the spirit of Christianity, . Wo shall then see less drunkenness, and more cleanI liness, and if the tinkling, call to morning and evening prayers, in years gone by such an important feature ' in their religion, is not bo often heard, a visible sigr > of Christianity will be discernible in their habits and j manners. . A teiegham from Greymouth, dated January » 13, states:—" The river protective works have brokei down; if a flood cornea half the town will be in greai ' pander of being washed into tho >&.'*

* PHOEMIUM FOB WEAVING PURPOSES. , At the half-yearly meeting of the Canterbury Flax Association, held at Christchurch lately, a highly-important letter was read f from Mr. C. Thorn, of Mark-lane, London, who has been exerting himself with the manufacturers of Scotland |fco experiment I with the phormium fibre in spinning. We give the conclusion of Mr Thome's letter :-— I "When I first endeavored to get fibre spun, I ' experienced much trouble, as many declared it was impossible to uee such fibre for any kind of cloth. ' Mr. Dick, a gentleman well known to nearly all the ; spinners of note in Dundee, assisted me with his 3 influence; and eventually succeeded in getting a L large firm in Arbroath to give the fibre a trial. After putting the fibre into rove, it was declared to be unfitted for yarn, and a report was sent to me of the trial, and a statement to tho effect that, even if special machinery was made for the purpose of spinning the fibre, it would be doubtful whether it would succeed. I then made another attempt, through some London friends, who introduced me i to Measra. E. Parker and Co., on whom I waited , personally. Through their kindness, I was introduced > to Mr. A. K. Forbes, a flax-spinner, of Hatton Mill iby Arbroath. After conversing with him, he showed ; very great interest in the matter, and allowed me to t accompany him into his mill, and there, under his ' own immediate superintendence, I had the pleasure ! to see my fibre turned into yarn, and carried a skein i away with me. Not the slightest alteration was made to the machinery on whioh this yarn was manufactured. Ordinary flax was being spun at the same time on the spinning-framea, but Mr. Forbes stales that a slight alteration would be necessary if it was intended to use New Zealand flax in quantities. Mr. Forbes, without difficulty, spun me a yarn from the rove above referred to, but as it had been drawn rather to thick the yarn was to large for any useful purpose. Mr. Forbes is now endeavoring to get me about 150 yards of canvas made from a lot of New Zealand fibre, which he has lately spun for me. I heard from him this morning, and it seems doubtful how long it will he before the weaver will have time to attend to it. In giving me his opinion, he thinks the pure New Zealand fibre is not well adapted in its present state for cloth, when used alone. He saysj: / —' What I have always upheld, and do so yet, is that it is suitable for a mixture of not less than onefourth with Eiga flax. . . The pure yarn may do to show the fibre pure spun, and pure cloth, but not as yet for the market.' This information, although not all your colonists wished for, may yet prove useful to them, as showing that it is only necessary to send Home a good clean fibre to enable them to introduce a useful and increasing branch of industry. The rope made for me by Frost Brothers, and'lof which you have no doubt seen accounts from time to time in the Some News, seems to give general satisfaction. I have at present only two unfavorable reports, one from the commander of the American ship Constantino, who had his main braces of nay rope: after six months' wear they broke short. The other was from Captain Benson, who had sent a coil of three-inch to the s.s. Abydos, Captain Harris: in putting a strain upon the rope, in setting up the rigging, 'it snapped like a carrot.' Captain Scott, of Messrs. Shaw, Saville, and Co,, has sent several coils to sea in their vessels, and reports the result so far to be satisfactory. Other friends give me equally good accounts. Flax fibre for spinning should not exceed eighteen inches in length, and twelve to fifteen inches would be a more favorable length—mine is rather two long."