The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 1874. I

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 168, 17 July 1874, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 1874. I

One of tba. Parliamentary papers laid on the table of the House contains the j reports frora officers in the Native districts. In the Middle Island we j can scarcely be expected to take tho keen interest in Native affaire tbat is felt by our Northern neighbors, still i there is a good deal of information in theaa reports with respect to the advance or otherwise of civilisation among the Maoris that is well worth reading, and we give below a few extracts that we have culled from the paper before üb. The first refers to the social position of the Natives in the Hokianga district, from whence Mr Von Stumer, the Resident Magistrate, writes: — " Intemperance does not appear to have beeu so prevalent in this district as formerly, and I am of opinion that in many instances the Natives have [ seen the folly of former excesses, and ! are endeavoring to avoid them. A i large number of the able-bodied young men have been engaged for the last six ; months in preparing railway fcleepere '■ iv the forests, besides those regularly employed squaring timber, and their being thus actively engaged may account in some measure for the improvement in their habits of sobriety. Three Native schools are now in active operation iv this district, viz., at Waima, Whirinaki, and at Waitapu, the average attendance at which exceeds 100 scholars, but upwards of 150 are on the school rolls. These three schools are conducted at an annual cost to the I Government of a little over £300, of which sum the Natives are supposed to return £72 in the shape of school fees,

which, I aai sorry to say, have not been collected io every case; and I think it probable that more pupih_ would attend these schools were they admitted free of all charges, as some of tbe.pareots, rattier, than pay the fees, keep their children at home, or take them to assißt in the gum-fields or cultivations, thereby doing an injury to the children and the public at large. * * * * Tha Natives express great anxiety for tbe increase of settlers amongst Ihem, nnd would, I am sure, do much to assist ihe Government in introducing Europeans into this district. It ia certainly a pity to see so fine a country as this is, so sparsely peopled. The last season's crops of potatoes, maize, and kumaras have been good; a small quantity of wheat has also been grown in the Waima distriot, and there is no likelihood of a scarcity of provisions during the coming winter. During tbe past few years a considerable extent of ground has been planted in sorghum (to huka), of which the Natives consume large quantities, feeding their horses and pigs on the leaves and refuse, which is of a very fattening and nourishing character. In sheltered places I bave seen large cultivations of it reaching in very many instances to a height of twelve or thirteen feet. That which bas been said on former occasions of the loyalty of these people still holds good, and I see no reason to expect any change in that respect." Mr Williams, the Resident Magistrate at Waimatp, tells us that " the physical condition of the Natives haa improved : sickness has been less prevalent, and those attacked for tbe ■most part better able to combat with disease. Scrofula has almost entirely disappeared from amongst tbem. These favorable circumstances may be traced to improved diet, better homesteads, snd warmer clothing. All are not now content to like in the miserable hovels they once occupied. Many inhabit respectable wooden cottages, and the adoption of European diet and clothing is becoming general; but, as a people, they are sadly wanting in personal cleanliness. Drunkenness, which at one time threatened the destruction of the race, is by no means so general as formerly, and although amongst some it is still carried on to a great extent, yet an improvement is visible. Many could be named, once notorious drunkards, who have tecome total abstainers, amongst them chiefs of rank, who, for the good of tbe people, have forbidden the introduction of • spirits into their villagee, the people on * their part readily complying with the wishes of their chiefs. One peculiarity in the Maori is the Hblfence of that wretched craving for intoxicating liquor which characterises tbe European drunkard. Those of the Maoris who give way to this vice will some of them drink to nn incredible degree even for days together, but when their debauchery is over tbey will return to their usual avocations without manifesting any desire for spirituous liquors, ""and unless again invited to some meeting or feast wh -re spirits are produced, will abstain from partaking of it for months together." Mr Puckey, at tho Thames, is not satisfied with the result of the educational efforts in that district. He says : — * • With respect to Native schools, I regret to say that after repeated attempts to get a school established at Ohinemuri or Taupo, there is no immediate prospect of ray hopes iv that direction being realised. It is reasonable to think that in a district like tbo Thames, where, within the past few years, something like £30,000 have been paid to the Natives in the shape of miners' rights fees, some provision might have been made for the education of their children; no provision, however, has been made by the Natives themselves, and Ido think that the more that is done for them tbe more dissatisfied and less self-reliant thoy become.'* Mr Clarke has a more pleasing account to send from Tauranga, and is able to say . — -- It is with pleasure that I have to record ihe total absence of any serious crime among the Natives during tbe past year, there having been only three cases of petty larceny, for which the prisoners were sentenced to imprisonment io the Tauranga gaol. There were also a few cases of drunkenness. Intemperance is greatly on the decrease within the last few months. There has been quite a reformation among the Natives, which is attributed greatly to the example and influence of the chiefs Hori Ngatai and Enoks, who do not permit spirits of any sort to be brought to their settlement. If the rule is infringed on by Natives of other hapus, they are strictly dealt with without regard to the offenders' position or rank in tbe tribe. Ia consequence of spirits being forbidden, all the large Native meetings are held here, and they invariably come to an orderly termination. lam sorry to have to state tbat the potato crop has again failed in this district. There are many instances where the produce has not exceeded the quantity tbat was planted. The wheat crop, J am happy to say, has been a great success, enabling Natives to pay off debts that were contracted for food during the scarcity last winter. One of the hapus (Te Materawaho), Hamiora Tu's party, have riot only paid off all their debts, but have also purchased a reaping, threshing, and winnowing machine, as well as other implements required for farming purposes. The amount of wheat grown and sold by the Natives of this district is over 12,000 bushels, for which they

have received money and goods to tho amount of £3300 sterling, - the wheat having bsen sold at the rate cf 5s 6d per bushel. Mr Brabant the Resident Magistrate at. Opotiki reports as follo-;8:--I see some improvement in the natives of the district as regards sexual morality, and nowhere was improvement in this respect more needed, where most of the tribes were more or less tainted with the license of Haubauism. It may, however, be observed that in all countries some marriage law has been considered a uecessity for tha protectioa of tbe morals of the people, whereas at the present ti*se there is practically none for many of the Native tribes of New Zenlaud. Their own laws and customs were given up at the time they embraced Christianity , and for a time the missionaries became their lawgivers: now, however, that the latter have ceased to influence them in any great degree, I would respectfully urge on the Government the advisability of legalising some system of civil marriage for them — that provided for Europeans being too expensive, and also impracticable for them at present, from their ignorance of the English language. Were such a system suitable to their requirements provided, I believe that it would be largely taken advantage of and would lead ih the future to a more healthy morality amongst them. The Natives all nominally profess Christianity. At some settlements service is conducted by a Native catechist, and they take advantage of an occasional visit from a clergyman to obtain baptism for their children. I much regret that there is no minister of religion (either European or Native) resident within the district; it will be conceded by persons of all shades of opinion, that were there such, it would be conductive to tho general morality of the population. I remarked that, at the Uriwera meeting at Runtabuna, one of the Ngatihuri, named Paumato, conducted service, morning and evening, according to what ia called "Te Kooti's karakia" It consisted, as far I heard, of chanting portions of the Psalms of David and saying prayers, some of which I recognised as extracted from tho English Prayer Book. The condition of a people, moral as well as physical, may besojd~to depend, in a great measure, on thei^ prosperity, or, in respect to an agricultural population, on the productiveness of the soil. My district is much favored in tbis respect, and it is seldom that the " Bay of Plenty" belies ita name. The last summer has been a very dry on?, which has had an unfavorable effect on tho potato crop, especially in the coast settlements west of Op -tiki. The crops of maize, wheat, kumara, &c , have been good all over the district, that of tbe latter being exceptionally abundant. A larger breadth of wheat was grown last year, partially at Torere, where the Itanga-a-Mahaki had a fino crop from the seed presented to them by the Government. Major Mair writes from Alexandra in the Waikato: — " I think that the physical status of the Natives of this district is about the average. There is a good deal of sickness prevalent, but nothing to c.ll for special remark. As usual, there has been a large consumption of spirits at the different huis, but latterly some of the leading chiefs bave forbidden the traffic; but, on the other hand, unfortunately, Tawhiao, Wahanui, aud others set an example of almost habitual drunkenness to the people. This conduct on the part of Tawhiao is losing him the esteem of his followers. It is reported that at a recent meeting at Kuiti. Rewi said openly that their 'King thought of nothing but rum, aod was not fit to manage their affairs!"' An amusing account of the political yiews of the natives residing in Upper Wanganui is given by Mr Woon, R.M., who says : — ••**** It strikes me that this movement is a final effort of the Maoris in these parts to stem tbe tide of advancement on the part of tbeir European neighbors, as they are becoming alarmed at the inroads made upon them and their domains by the continued acquisition of large tracts of country^ by the Government in the interior, and they do not like the idea of losing the authority and power formerly held by them over the inland districts of th s island, one of tbe propositions of Henare Matua being that all land selling should cease, and also leasing, till tbey become wiser and better able to look after their own interests — which advice of Matua's seems to have had its effect upon the minds of the multitude, for he has evidently succeeded in impressing them with tbe idea tbat they (the Maoris) have been and are being victimized through their ignorance of our laws, and that it is high time for them -to consider the position,' and adopt some measures whereby a stop may be put to the advances made upon them and their territories by the dominant race, the Pakeha. The grievances complained of by Matna were — Ist. The heavy loans, which he said amounted to fifteen millions, and to secure the payment of which he alleged that the whole of the country, including Maori and European lands, was mortgaged *to the English creditors. 2nd. The Native Land Court, which he said should be abolished. 3rd. The Road Board Act, and levying of rates on Maori land?. 4th. Tbe unequal representation of the Maori race in Parliament, his notion being that every large tribe (in some cases including smaller tribes connected by

- —— - •— **■*>) *UI« family ties and like interests) should each have a member ia tho Assembly, making some twenty or more members, who should not accept any offics of emolument under Government. stb. Crown Grants 6th. Railways and the telegraph wire, which he said should not be allowed to traverse Maori lands, as the Government, io the case of railways, would take an area of land one mile in width all along the line as n i railway reserve, and five chains on either side of the telegraph poles for a like purpose. Tbat eventually all the lands would be~ surveyed, and the Europeans and Maoris placed on alternate sections when all would be taxed alike. 7th. The Birds Protection Act, and the restrictions therein enacted. Tbat he and his lawyers intended petitioning the Assembly for redress in these and other matters, which operated oppressively upon the Madris. After which they intended foing in for an inquiry into all old land purchases, with the view of tryiog to recover some of their lands or getting a further payment for the same. He expressed hia approval of both European and Maori Courts of justice-— the one to havo authority over the lond of the Queen, and the other over that of the Maori. Matua . spoko | favorably of Maori schools, of which he said every advantage should, be taken, ; as a means of adding to iheir stores of knowledge; and he further gave himself out as a staunch upholder of religious doctrines and teaching, be having been a teacher himself, and advised the natives to return, to their Christianity, and to give up Maori customs and practices, particularly their obscene dances and son»s, which were largely indulged in at Kaiwbaiki, as customary at large meetings, by way of affording amusement and relaxion from the more serious business of tho meeting."