IN A MAORI POLLING BOOTH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4855, 20 January 1894, Page 1

IN A MAORI POLLING BOOTH.

TYPES OF NATIVE_ CHARACTER. A reporter of the Napier Evening News visited WaipaTra (a Native centre} on the Maori polling day, and thus records something of what he saw about the polling place :— About ten o'clock the native voters begin to turn up, and a dozen or so come into the courthouse and squat about, dozens remaining outside under too treea, men, women, and children, emoking quietly and talking in their musical language with vivacity and gesticulation. Three-fourths of them wear light blue and white rosettes, in honour of the popular Henore Ton.oana. Native after native cornea forward, and has hia vote recorded by the clumsy process prescribed. Here and there a llaori voter answers the returning officer in English, but mostly he has to be questioned by the native associate, and hia name, the names of hia tribe and hapu, and the full designation of the candidate for whom he voteß have to be written down. Then tho solemn form of initialling the paper on which these particulars are noted has to ba gone through by the native associate. That old image takes ever no long to execute the task, but the Maori voter otands gravely looking on, and when told by words or Bigna to fold the paper, he does it in a clumsy fashion in the air, not being used to the manipulation of papei'3, and approaching the ballot box, he looks* upon that mysterious receptacle aa one would gaze upon the great Pyramid, with awe, and CHOPS THE PAPER REVERENTLY IN. : Then, with a quiet inclination of the head, I he ateala away. But the Eouad of eoft laughter and rippling chatter tells ua that the Female Franchise is appreciated, and that the women are coming forward to register their votep. and very Boon they begmtocomein. Ancient crones, heavily tattooed bM obeße, clad in loose drapery of high colours, and wearing a curiously keen watchful look, roll in and take their part. Now and then enters n damsel eacortedby half-a-dozen fine young swains. Aa the dark beauty approaches the table she giggles at the appearance of things, and laughs over her shoulder at her body guard. Then she tries to look sedate, and tails lamentably in the attempt, and with A PBETTT BLENDING OF COQOETBT, good humour, and amusednees, she submits herself to the process. Her dusky fingers, defter than the clumsy digits of the men, are still far from skilful in the manipulation of light articles, and she makes comical attempts to fold and drop in the voting paper. The officials fold it for her, on which, looking archly upon them, she giggles as she takes the paper and makes half-a-dozen unsuccessful attempts to drop it in tha " slot." This part of the election is very amusing, and sometimes picturesque. In one case a haughty belle walked in, followed by a train of adorers, a

, figure- that a painter would love to reproduce— dark flashing eyes, striking beauty, and more than a suggestion of Oriental voluptuousness. "That's an heiress," whispers somebody who knows. It's a treat to see her, this nonchalant beauty, with THE MIEN OP AN EMPBBSS and a beautiful face that flashes forth scorn to right and left. She cornea up and stands before the tribunal and responds to questions with disdainful curtness. She takea the paper, folds it, and imperiously drop3 it in, and with a disdainfully polite but eminently graceful inclination of her proud head return3 to the body of the court, and passes with regal grace through the knot of her admirers, whose eyes follow her with timid avidity. But some magnificent specimens of men come in, youths healthy, robußt, and graceful, old men with stern noble faces. One warrior I observe with interest. The face ia an eminently handsome one, with a masaiveness and solidity that inspire one with a feeling of respect and admiration. It is tattooed heavily. The head one may see waa once poiaed on the now binding shoulders, and something in the face tells you that the eyes must have once irradiated it. It looks like a, face from which the light hns departed, it now exhibits ONIiT A PATHETIC FOETITUPE. The windows of the soul are darkened. The eyea are sightless, and the man is led about helpless. But one after another, striking looking men come forward, all having the grave dignity and the natural grace which preeminently distinguish the Maori. If one want3 to see the highest typ9 of a gentleman, the embodiment of dignity and courtesy, one Bhould see the Maori specimens. They are to my mind absolutely unequalled. The suppleness of the Oriental isn't there, the vivacity, or arrogance, or gaiety of the European is absent, and in their places one finds a calm and stately demeanour, facea eet and reposeful but sweet with intelligence and benevolence. In comes a gentleman fashionably dressed with A SINGTJLAEI.Y GRACE* 1 UL MANNER AND A HIGHBRED AIR. and with a dark keen face. He makes an enquiry in hia native tongue, and converses with easy grace, sometimes replying in English to questions in that tongue. He votes, and then he makes way for the lady at hid aide, his wife, and she also votes, acknowledging with a pretty smile and a delightful courtesy that has an oldworld flavour the presence of the potentate in the chair.