Crime.

While there is a good deal of rough street rowdyism, called' "larrikinism," after dark, in the towns of the colony, there is not much serious crime in the colony, even among the Maoris, to whom, until thoroughly Christianised, utu, or revenge ("a life for a life," &c.) and muru, or plunder, in lieu of compensation, were legitimate and proper proceedings. For a full and accurate description of these customs, and of Maori life generally, I refer you to the "Old New Zealand" of Judge Maning.

A murder sends a thrill of horror throughout the whole colony. Though drunken assaults on women and children are not infrequent in New Zealand, they are not of every-day and unnoticed occurrence as in England. Five hundred policemen only keep the whole population, including the Maoris, spread over more than 100,000 square miles of country, in order, peace, and security to life and property. This proportion of one constable to 1,270 citizens contrasts rather strongly with our home arrangement, which gives one policeman to 571 persons.