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Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2122, 3 July 1907, Page 3

Tho Norwegian postal authorities liavo under consideration an application for permission to print advertisements on_ the hack of postage stamps. It is proposed to denote the proceeds to the erection and maintainanco of a large sanatorium for consumptives.

G. Morton, Poverty Bay, writes as follows to the Sydney Bulletin:—The Maoris are not as black as you paint them (2/5/’O7). They do work, and work hard, at other things than shearing— at grass-seed sowing and bushfelling, for instance. Fully 50,000 acres of bush have been felled by Maoris during the last 15 years in Poverty Bay alone. They have also felled considerable areas of their own land. One Maori station which started a few years ago with 170 sheep has by bushfelling,, scrub-cutting, grass sowing, etc, had the carrying capacity increased to 10,000 sheep. All the improvements have been paid for at the ruing rate of wages. At Nuhaka, three-fourths of the milk supplied to the factory comes from Maori farms. These, at least, have no time for “ shouting, rushing, and pandemonium generally.” The Maoris are not in a.state-of.deplorable poyerty.” Poverty, as understood in' the European sense, is absolutely : unknown amongst them, every man having a right to a piece of land to grow food upon; rent and rates free. One thing in favor of the Maoris, in comparison with other dark races —-and it makes all the difference—is, that they do not crowd to the towns and herd together,, nor enter into trade, nor do they work for less than the standard wage. It is an indisputable fact that wages are higher in Maori districts than in other parts of the State.