Feilding Star. TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 1884. The Native Race

Feilding Star, Volume V, Issue 29, 11 March 1884, Page 2

Feilding Star. TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 1884. The Native Race

For many years the rapid decadence of the Native race has been noticed with feelings of sorrow and regret by many of the older settlers in the North Island of the Colony. After the year 1860, about the beginning of the war in Taranaki, it was believed, as the Native villages or hapus disappeared from the vicinity of the towns and settlements created by the Europeans, that they had only removed inland where they formed new pahs and cultivated the soil, while living in the primitive style of their forefathers. It was believed and known in too many cases that the young men and warriors went to battle, and, of course, suffered death or mutilation in somewhat the same degree as Europeans. But such was not the case, for where a European was slain or wounded, another was always ready to replace him. Not so with the Maoris ; when a man was expended, his place was never filled. No man will ever know the number of Natives who were slain in battle, or died from disease, the result of exposure and the privations of war, during the years of 1860 to 1870. The mortality amongst women, and children of tender age is known to have been frightful. Instead ofthe Natives and their families having retired into the back country as was imagined, they had simply died out. Dr Buller, than whom there is no better authority in the Colony, in his address to the Philosophical Institute, has boldly challenged the figures of the last census, according to which the number of Maoris is put down at 45,000. He thinks 30,000 is much nearer the mark. In support of his opinion he mentions instances of decay which are appaUing and which had come under his own notice. Districts where there were hundreds there are now only tens. Whole families had disappeared, and tribes had dissolved or disappeared altogether. The decrease is not confined to the coastal Natives, but is equal among the inland tribes. It there had existed a power of recuperation to make up for the losses by war it would by this time have made itself perceptible, and we should have seen crowds of young Natives growing up in all the settlements, instead of the reverse, as is unhappily the case. In some minds an impression exists that it is the absence of all sanitary laws amongst them which is the principal cause of disease and mortality. While we admit that thereis a considerable amount weight to be given in this view, we do not agree that it is the primary cause. Judge Manning pointed out years ago that removing the pahs from the elevated positions occupied in " the good old times " to the banks of rivers and low lying swampy land, in order that they might be near the flax, on the sale of which, after dressing, they were dependant for the purchase of firearms, the possession of which enabled them to live in a partial security. Pulmonary complaints soon appeared and claimed numerous victims. Next followed rum and tobacco. These two have been far more deadly than the bullet or fell disease. Habits of laziness have taken the place of activity and energy. In a tobacco-smoking or rum-drinking tribe, where do we see the young athletes competing in running, leaping, wrestling, or handling the spear or the war club ? Nowhere. We see the youngsters of both sexes lounging about smoking vile tobacco, and the older Natives thirsting for liquor of all kinds or description. Years ago this evil was recognised and' the Legislature passed a most stringent law to prevent the sale of intoxicants to the Natives. But nothing more was done, and the sale of liquor to the poor Maoris considerably increased. It will last while they have a shilling to pay for it. The only line of life to be followed by them in order to exist as a people for even the next fifty years is to become temperate in their habits, and to live in better ventilated houses. After this comes occupation or excitement of some kind or other ; something to attract their interest ; something, in fact, to live for. This will be the hardest task of all — for a Maori to learn that there is a to-morrow to provide for.