The Vest Coast Maoris.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 8, 4 October 1907, Page 3

The Vest Coast Maoris.

A MISSIONARY'S REPORT. ; Having worked , for. twenty years among the West Coast Maoris of this island, 'the Rev. T. G. Hammond, Wesleyan Missionary, who , is nt present 'in town, is well qualified to report on their condition. Speaking to a Dominion representative, lie said that there had been marked progress amongst those Natives lately. They had acquired a dosiro for work; a great many of the children were attending European schools, and ia large . proportion of the Natives knew how to read. A satisfactory proportion of them were already ongaged in dairying, and if the Government would assist them in getting their lands individualised, they would bo a very busy and contented people. Amendments wore badly needed, ho considered, in the law providing for the administration of Native lands by the Public Trustee. It was highly necessivry that , the Maoris should be given the suro tenure of their lands. Just now they were considerably alarmed by the" agitation of the Farmers' Union to secure for leaseholders the free-, hold of the leases. The general sobriety of the West Coast Maoris was very noticeable,' though the spirit of gambling worked mischievously among them. , Mr. Hammond addressed a. Home Mission meeting in . connection with •■the* Taranaki Street Wesley Church last ovoning on some aspects of his long ' experience of the West Coast Natives, and' the progress which Christianity is'again making among thom.