The Star. MONDAY, JUNE 20, 1868.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 39, 29 June 1868, Page 2

The Star. MONDAY, JUNE 20, 1868.

Shortly ivftor iho iiowh of tho l?atoa inurdorHWrtH rocoivod at Wangfliuti — tho nonrosfc European Bottlomont of any conßoquonoo— a mootincf was con* Yoiiod by dcrn'ro of tho inhabitant!}, in ordor that thoy ini^ht oxprogs aympathy with thoao moro intimatoly connected with tho murdorod mon, and atrongthon

tho handa of Oolonol.'M.Ponnoll in any courao.ho might think it necoflaary to adopt. This mooting WA(J ohio/ly roranrkablo for two roaaonß— a conoid ©rablo number of friondly nativoß woro prcsont, and thoy olaimod to havo an oi"*unl right with tho Europoaiiß to adviso on tho couTflO to be puranod. Ono settlor, apparently annoyod that 'Natives should bo allowod to addrouß tho mooting at all, or nt leant till tho Pakolmfl had exhausted thomsolvoß, mado Bomo remark to that effect. But ho waa immediately chockod by tho chairman, who remarkod that tho Maoris wore thoro in tho onjoyraont of righ.B and privileges equal to thoso pOBBOSBod by tho Europoan, This remark was applaudod by tho mooting, who appeared very anxious to hoar what tho Natives had to say. Tho noxt Maori orator, rogrotting that any colonist ahould ondoavour to troat tho nativGfl as a separate and alion race, ftaid that ho and nis brothor chiofd had attondod tho mooting bocaueo, living under tho samo laws na tho Europeans, thoy "viahod to consider thomsolvoa ono pooplo, t Tho Maoris havo a boon Boneo of tho ridiculous, and fully understand what wo call sarcasm. Somo of tho remarks mado by one of tho chiefs, at tho mooting roforrod to, cannot bo explained on any othor Buppoaition, After remarking that fcho Maori custom, when Buch murders as thoso of Poloa had boon committed, vim', to tako Bwift and auro vongoanco on tho noi-potrator-fl, or tho tribo to which thoy bolongcd ; ho said that, having* adoptod Europoan laws,- ho. and hia brother ohiofs mnat now follow Europoan custom, and go to Wellington to consult with tho ■ Governor, It i» gratifying to flnd that, although tho Maori® aro nofc altogofchor roconoilod fco our modo of warfare, thoy have a livoly approoia. tion of tho advantages thoy onjoy from a clobo connootion with tho Pakohiw, immmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm