The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-01-30

| Dut, as the event proved, not indlgeSl
ible."
The climate of New Zealand, wit
its elastic air and perpetual motion,
is more stimulating than the enervat
Ing air of most Polynesian islands
food was not waiting to be plucke,
from trees, and shelter had to be pro
! vided. Hence the latent instincts o
these savage cannibals were developed
here as nowhere else and, even befor,
the English came, the MaOris had gable
rooted houses, with deliberately carved
posts and lintels and interiors deco
rated with designs of crude beauty.
Customs of the Maoris.
Women were needed in the struggle
against harsher natural forces, so they
won positions of esteem and were rep
resented in tribal councils. They were
ingenious enough to bake meats on
heated stones, but not too civilized tc
roast especially tough cuts of human
flesh on this aboriginal fireless cooker.
They alone, among the Pacific island.
ers, discovered how to weave. Yet they
knew, not the use of minerals, and
their leviathan canoes, dashed together,
were constructed with tools of stone,
shell, bones and even of human teeth.
The English found that these tribes
men had genius for war showing
unusual ability in building. terrifying
and defending stockades. They titled
the soil with great care. Not only were
they skilled as carvers and decorators
but they also displayed great original.
ity in the design and perfection in the
execution of rock paintings. Many OF
their art objects are carefully pre-
served in museums.
p The MaOris also were noted for their
tattooing, which was de-
signed to clothe as well as decorate
the body. The Maori artist knew how
to give endless variety to the curves
Of his drawings; the natural burrows
the movements of the countenancc, the
play of muscles-everything was made
to enhance the charm of the design;
md a hale young man certainly pre-
sented a fine sight, draped only in This
decorative network of blue lines on the
ruddy brown of his skin.
''There are now about $4,000 Maoris
These have retired to the northern
provinces Of New Zealand, where GER
ain reservations have been set apart
rs their exclusive property. Schools
nave been established which the Maori
children attend regularly. 1t is said
hat such of them as continue into the
higher branches of learning are worthy
'ivals of white students. Many have
'isen to a position of eminence, to
eats in the legislative assembly and
he cabinet. while among them are
physicians, attorneys and other profes
ional men Of note
How the Colony Has Grown.
European discovery of the islands is
to Tasman, in 1912, but ex-
Iteration did not take place until the
ime of Captain James Cook, 80 years
lter, while colonization was delayed |
ntll 20 years before our Civil war.
When colonization did take place, 1t
esembled the development of the
american colonies, in that settlements
we're made in half dozen places in
tead of being promoted from n central
ase, according to the usual British
lethod. The coloniZers are said to
ave profited by a study of the mis-
lkes Of England which brought about
he American Revolution, and so well
Id they apply the lessons that the
lr-away island today is one of the
lost loyal portions of the British en-
Ire. The fact was attested by the
ny New Zealanders far exceeded their
Spected quota of troops in the World
ar.
A chief figure of the colonization
as Edward Glbbon Wakefield, as
zarre a character as his association
it'll such distinctive dominion would
lply After serving prison sentence
England for abducting an heiress
7 means of forged letters, he was de-
lrred from the parliament upon which
, later exerted an indirect but potent
1uence to aid in carrying out the
plan now associated with
S name. A fundamental part of his
,licy was to avoid great landed es.
ties, the promiscuous giving away of
nd to ne'er-do-wells and Adventures,
I'd finally, though his early disgrace
i'll drove him to work under cover of
ieudonyms and agents, he ranked as
e foremost colonial authority of his
ly, as jealous reformer and idealist.
1t was due to Wakefield that men
substance gained a foothold in New
saland, that industry rather than eU
citation became the motif Of the col.
ly, and that the fundamental aim Of
e government still is that Of mo mill
onaires and no paupers." The island
'pulatlon, exclusive of Maoris, nov
lcceds million.