THE Wellington Independent. "Nothing extenuate; Nor set down aught in malice." SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 18G2. THE NEW ZEALANDERS "AT HOME.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1798, 29 November 1862, Page 2

THE Wellington Independent. " Nothing extenuate ; Nor set down aught in malice." SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 18G2. THE NEW ZEALANDERS "AT HOME.

Not very long ago a Dr. M'Gauzin, of Auckland, and formerly Provincial Surgeon there, took from ten to twenty Natives to Australia, wilb a view to their performance on the stage. Ths Natives were by no meaus a picked sample, but consisted for the most part of very indifferent characters. la a short time the company broke up ; the Natives acquiring about Sydney streets, a character still more indifferent, and the Doctor undergoing a white washing process in a debtor's prison. There is a scheme now ou jfoot^with a view to the exhibition of some fifteein?faTTTes-iTi — EngUnJ, — «*duehj__when we first heard of it a few weeks ago, we thought. to be something of the same kind, and it was with "o little astonishment that we subsequently heard that the Governor, the Native Minister, and other influential persons seriously patronised the affair. One of the gentlemen taking a principal part JM the affair has favored us with information on the subject, and being led to believe that the project has been much misrepresented, we think it only fair to tell the tale as it is now told to us. The project was first mooted a few years ago by Mr. Jenkins, the Native Interpreter at Nelson, but was subsequently abandoned from various circumstances. A few months ago it was revived, and four respectable settlers of Nelson resolved to find the means, if Mr. Jenkius would consent to aid them with his assistance. The first idea was to take a few Natives to illustrate lectures on the manners and customsoftheNew Zealanders, combined with information suitable to ' persons intending to emigrate somewhere or other ; in doing which ' a year, or perhaps two, might be enjoyed by the" whole party in travelling about England at little or no cost, and possibly with an ultimate pecuniary gain. As the project became developed it was resolved that while it must not in any way be connected with the Government, yet as it would be conducted with scrupulous respectability, the countenance of the Governor ought to be sought, and his help evoked in every feasible way. Mr. Jenkins was deputed to visit the Governor on the subject. The Governor entered intc it con amore, and promised to give them letters ofintroduction which he doubted uot would be of great service ; he also promised to help in the selection of the chiefs who were to go, all of whom are to be chiefs of repute— real "Maori nobility." Mr. Bell has undertaken to write a short memoir of each of the party and to certify to their photographs. The party will consist of about fifteen Natives, one or two of whom will be wives accompanying their husbands, and probably a few children ia addition. The Natives are being selected | from various parts, among them is Matene te I Whiwhi of Otaki, and probably Tamihana and another from this neighborhood. The Europeans will number five, including the Interpreter, aud tbe whole are to start from Anckland in the Ida Zeigler next January, taking with them all the photographs of buildings, scenery, &c, maps, costumes, implements of war, and such other things of that kind as they can possibly muster. When in England, Mr. Jenkins proposes lecturing on New Zealand, illustrating everything he can by means of the Natives, very much after the fashion of Catlin and his company of North American Indians. There is no reason why such an entertainment should not be as popular as that of Aloert Smith and his Alpine experiences, or any other of the many similar favorite metropolitan fashionable resorts for those who wish to lounge, be amused, or instructed. London will not be the only plac c visited, but all the populous cities will be so in their turn, and whenever desirable or practicable * species of "at Home " will be held in the morning, for the purpose of personal intercourse with the New Zealanders. A deed of agreement will be drawn up before starting, binding the whole to certain conditions towards each other, one of which will be that passages are to

be found for tbe Natives back to New Zealand whether the project pay or lose, that they are to be put to no expense for ordinary travelling and maintenance, and that if profit arise it shall be divided among the whole — Europeans and Natives— incertain specified proportions. As one of the objects of the Europeans is to see Eng. and, the Natives w ill have a. good opportunity of doing so too, and return, it is to be hoped, wiser and more civilized beings. Any observations of ours on the above project are uncalled for. We may be allowed, however, to say, that every thing depends on the way tbe affair is managed. It may profit all in knowledge, pocket and health, or it may miscairy and entail misery on all concerned. Knowing this, every care will, we are assured, be taken to select suitable. Natives, and we are glad to learn tbat the five Nelson -settlers who are interested in it are all throughly respectable men. We cannot therefore, do otherwise than 1 ope it may prove highly remunerative to all concerned. "