THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, November 7, 1850.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 2, Issue 49, 7 November 1850, Page 2

THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, November 7, 1850.

His Excellency the Governer-in-Chief has departed on a visit to Wellington, Canterbury, and other of the Southern portions of New Zealand. On Tuesday, the 2 kit u'timo, under a salute of seventeen gnus, His Excellency embarked in lIM ship " Ely," Captain Oliver, nn.l was shortlv afterwards speeding down the gulf of Houraki, with a fair wind and a Ilowing sheet. Lady Givy likewise embarked with His Excellency, who is aoroinpanied by the Hon. C. A- OiMon, 0»loncl Helton Commanding Koyal Engineers, and Captain Nuguit, Srtili KegiinenS Private Secretary t > His Excellency. Dating the absence of Air. Dillon the duties ol the Native Secretary will bo fullilial by O'eorgo Siwn Cooper, Ksn,.

Tin-: present spring season has been a very trying one ; a distressing epidemic, known by the iwine oV Infuieiv/.n, has boon more or loss afflictive in Aut-khiiul and its vicinity. Thanks to the genhl temperature of'thc place, and. the general good health of the inhabitants, the disease lias made tew, if any, victims, the-extent of its ravages having been restricted to the partial prostration and temporary conlinement of the sufferers. We have had occasion to observe that this epidemic has also afflicted our Native fellow-colonists. We have seen some completely cast down by its enervating inllnenees; and we have seen this with much concern, because the habis of life of th' 3 generality of them are not such as are best fitted to enable them speedily and effectually to shake off the insidious intruder. The Influenza is a perilous disease to trifle with, lew % disordeis ha»"o reple nislicd the grave yauls more largely than it ; and, yi t, "so little of alarm is there in its first approaches—so very similar is it in many particulars to a heavycold—that the deep anxietv, if not absolute tenor, whi'h would lill the mind of a man, if informed that he was seized by the cholera, is utterly unfelt if told that he has merely caught the influenza! However, it is not the loss true tlr.it when influenza assumes n virulent shape its ravages are not less fatal than those of the mote appalling scourge. The only anil die great consoln'i'on to man is that whilst in rases of cholera the skill of the best anil ablest physicians is comparatively powerless, in examples of influenza, on the contrary, the intelligence of the medical man may be brought to bear with the most happy" effect. Strict attention to his orders, and a careful guard on the part of the patient being amongst the chief essentials to facilitate his return to health. That you may bo a bio to distinguish the first approach of Influenza, we shall mention some of the < haraeieristie symptoms. These are a heaviness in the head and eyes —a great degree of lassitude—a dull pain throughout the spine—nud a general incapacity of exertion. II you feel at all iill'ccteil in this way, you should take iullaut mean-) to ask the advice of a d ctor, or, at once, consult the authorities of the Colonial Hospital. We deeply deplore the sufferings of our Native lellow men, especially as much of that suffering ay, and of untimely death, is occasiunc I by their own disregard to the first and infallible principles of health,—cleanliness of person and dwelling—protection against the varia tions of heat and cold, of wet and dry. by adoption of the dress and habits of the European-awl lastly by fitting the body for endurance of toil an I disease by substitution of scund generous food in lieu of the many deleterious compounds svln'ch render thein feeble, deercpiii, old mon, or else consign them to the grave and that at an age when their European fellow Ims barely attained his maturity of manhood. Do, wo beseech you, oh Maorics, consider of these things. Look around you ; among your own immediate friends, relations, and tril-cs—compare tlie numbers that the hand of death has there, during the few pnst yrars, 'aid low with those who have been removed from the European's fireside. Ponder the afflicting disparity —eontemp'nte your own line, manly, and intelligent race. Contrast the bulk of their frames, the expansion of tin ir muscles, llu-ir entiie personal developemont with those of the Engli-li. Well? You will say, nnd in a great degree truly, that the Maori is as lull, us vigorous, and as powerfully knit as his- European brother: —Hut is his life generally, ns long ? Is he not too frequently cut down in lhe very llowcr of bis age, by some inward, cruel, and fatal disorder ? Were this beyond human help or control, we should mourn the iliie calamity in silence, but as we knosv that much, very much may be done in arresting so fii-'hlful a plague we should be devoid ol nlf Immunity ili'l we not urge you again nnd again to avail yourselves of the menus'which providence and your anxious fellow men present for your deliverance. Let the urgency of our entreaty convince you of the sincerity of our love. Did we not regard you with lhe eyes of

a I rue and honest nllcction, why sliotiM \vn euro whether you were, healthy diseased? You have copied the European, the fiUhy Kuropcan, custom of smoking. No as* pciseveriiigin imitating the Kuropeniis in tlicir habits of eating, dressing, washing, and bui'ding. Acquire a proper pride in your personal appeal - ance. Show that in your houses you can prepare ns good n dinner, and exhibit as comfortable a fireside. Let your blankets be reserved for the purposes for which they were manufactured—your beds. Do not wear dress over dress, bill keep them so that yon may be always able to change a wet garment for a dry. Follow these"and other kindly suggestions which from time to time, and from numerous j friends, have been ollercd, mid you will , do much to stay the alarming ravages | • which are causing deatli and desolation j .».lino"gst yourselves nil J of deeply gricv- I ing those who desiro your happiness and prosperity. To demonstrate the great care bestowed by Europeans in tho preservation of j (lint (irst and greatest blessing health, we i cannot more fitly coin hide these remarks j than by copying a few instructions nd- j dressed to the English nation on that! all important subject. They are the3e : "When you get up open tho windows wide, 'and throw clown the bed clothes that they may be exposed to fresh air some hours daily before they are made up. Keep your bed clothes clean ; hang them to the fire when you inn. " Pure water is needful for your health. 'Wash your bodies as well as your faces, rubbing them all over with a course cloth. If you camlot wash thus every morning, pray do so once a week. Get rid of all slops and dirty water at once, but do not throw them out before your doors; and never suffer dead cabbage haves or dirt of any kind to remain there;—all these poison the air and bring (overs. AH bad smells are poison : never rest with them. Keep your back ynicU clean. l'ig-sties are very injurious ; slaughterhouses ave cqnally hurtful; the smods from both excite typhus fever, and cause ill health- Wash your rooms and passages at least once a week, use plenty of clean water, but do not let your children stay in them while they are wet, it may bring on croup or inihunntinn of the chest. It is' a good old saying that "Cleanliness is next to godliness." "Who'esnne food i 3 needful for your health. Bay the most s'rengthening. l'ici-es of fresh beef and mutton go the farthest. Eat plenty of fresh salt with food, it prevents the cholera."