Corzxso.—On the Maori Races of New Zealand. 421 
II. Real: Active. 
9. The present mischievous and costly system of “ Civil Commissioners ” 
- must be immediately abandoned. The Maori well know it to be an office of 
espionage. 
10. The present objectionable system of bribing Maoris (derided among 
themselves) with gifts and with salaries for work never performed, must 
be wholly thrown aside. Tt is directly opposed to the genius of the people, 
as it is to their advancement, and is the cause of much bad feeling and 
jealousy. Until this is done, their suspicions and distrust will never be 
really less. 
11. One strict, equal, but lenient law for them as for Europeans, in the 
one Court in all European districts. 
12. Good, useful, zealous, loving men, to be stationed as Resident Magis- 
trates in purely native districts—men whom the natives could love, obey, 
respect, and work with. Such to be obtained from England, if not to be 
found in the colony. 
13. Such magistrates to itinerate throughout their districts, say, four 
times a year, to hold their simple Courts at the principal villages of the 
sub-tribes; to act in co-operation with the head or heads of the tribe 
(not, as now, with assuming inferior chiefs and pert loquacious young- 
sters) ; and to get reparation for almost all Maori offences, by fines 
judiciously inflicted. Such a mode of proceeding falls in with the genius 
of the people, is just and Christian, and is not costly. Their errors 
among themselves should be dealt gently with; a spirit of love and for- 
giveness (alas! foreign to our laws) should be inculeated. Insult not their 
prejudices. - 
14. The authority of the oldest head chief of a tribe or sub-tribe should 
be firmly but steadily supported. 
15. Maori views—modes of reparation, fines, forfeitures; semi-banish- 
ment from the village and tribe, &c.—should be supported and acted on 
where proper and just, and not our unsuited Draconian laws. A celebrated 
author says, “ Humanity is one of the best fruits of refinement. It is only 
with increasing civilization that the legislator studies to economize human 
suffering, even for the guilty; to devise penalties, not so acm by way of 
punishment for the past, as of reformation for the fu 
16. Young persons, of both sexes, should on no me be allowed L be 
enticed away from their tribe by Europeans; on their being so enticed away, 
and complaint made, the authorities should interfere, and cause them to be 
restored, and the abductors severely punished. 
* Prescott, * Conquest of Mexico," Vol. L, p. 144. 
