A MAORI'S OBSERVATIONS.

Shannon News, 28 September 1923, Page 3

A MAORI'S OBSERVATIONS.

Mr. Wi Duncan, of Dannevirke, a highly intelligent and worthy member of the Maori race, visited Palmerston North last week. In the course of an interesting talk, he referred to the fact that civilising influences seemed to have completely destroyed the centuries old industrial habits of his people. Remarking upon this, he said that when the bush country extended from Woodville to Mauriceville, and first became known as ‘‘The Forty Mile Bush,” the Maoris burned patches of it and planted oats by digging the potash under with «a spade, between the stumps. There were no ploughs or opportunities to use them. About the year 1875 a Rangitikei sporting man, the late Mr. J. Stevens, M.P., piloted a team of five racehorses, which he owned, and trained, and rode in successive races, travelling through to the meetings at Otaki, Pahautunui, Island Bay, • Kuripuni and Napier, returning by way of Takapau, and crossing the ranges on the old Maori track over Mount “Tirohanga’” the high point near Tirit'ea, There was no difficulty in securing Maori-grown oats for the horses, and volunteer guides were available at the villages. Mr. Wi Duncan, in the endeavour to secure a broader outlook and a wider experience for the benefit of his people, has made two visits to the States and through the islands of the Pacific. On the last occasion he was accompanied by Messrs Armstrong and Lowry, of Hawke’s Bay, both of whom, [no doubt, enjoyed .his native habit of observation and intelligence, the results of which were freely conveyed in quaint English. Of all the cities he has visited, Mr. Duncan places Salt Lake as tky most advanced. With the cessation of polygamy, the drastic suppression of. trade in and manufacture of alcoholic beverages, and the summary deportation of agitators, fife, city and the country around it have become the centre of industry and prosperity. The largest copper,mine in the world, literally a huge mountain of it, is within twelve miles of the Central Post Office. Wheat is grown in that rainless land and fertilised -on the high slopes, its only moisture Doing the melting of the snow which covers it.