A MAORI REFORMER.

Kumara Times, Issue 575, 31 July 1878, Page 2

A MAORI REFORMER.

Metei Ngatnbi Werela Te RanH, of Foxfc on, Manawatu, ia a religious, social, and temperance reformer of a very determined and practical type. He has issued a ukase in the columns of Ta Wa nanga, propounding certain laws for the regulation of all the people in his settlement, which laws are “ to lust for ever.” The following are the laws:—l. Keep to the true worship and love each other, because true worship is the fountain of all knowledge. 2. If any person travel in our settlements on Sabbath such person will be fined in the sum of two shillings and sixpence. 3. Let not any pe*aon get drunk in our settlement, or on any of the roads that lead to our settlement. If any men, or women, or children are found drunk there, they will be fined in the sum of five shillings each. Then it seems that a committee and two Native policeman have been appointed to ensure that these Jaws aie carried out and evil-doers punished ; also to look after the sheep and cattle on „he Sabbath. How this Maori reformer is going to enforce the penalties he imposes on drunken Maories who may refuse to pay is not explained. Neither is it stated whether similar penalties will attach to Europeans. However, wc shall see how this crusade against Sabbath desecration and intemperance gels on. If the laws are supported bv the public opinion of the Natives in the district they may be enforced ; if not, they will probably pro re a dead letter.—Wellington Pose.