THE MORAL AND SOCIAL CONDITION OF THE MAORI.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 97, 14 May 1900, Page 2

THE MORAL AND SOCIAL CONDITION OF THE MAORI.

Thb Rev. F. A. Bennett, who is engaged, on behalf of the Anglican Church, in a mission having for its object the elevation of the moral and | social condition of the Maoris in the Taranaki district, preached at St. Mary's on Sunday evening. The rev. gentleman said that the work among the Maoris was at a low ebb and needed help financially and otherwise. In Bishop Selwyn's time this work had prospered, but in later years, when there was so much to contend with in the shape of vices copied from the pakehas, and so little to sustain the principles implanted in natives' minds, the missions had not been so successful. Drink had certainly wrought ruin amongst the Maoris. Europeans might be able to drink in moderation, but their darker kinspeople could not. There was not a native school on the Weßt Ooaßt of the North Island. There had been one near Hawera, but it had been closed. For the mission to be successful amongst the Maoris we must supply aiid maintain native schools. It weuld be necessary to promote Maori character by education, and the Maoris were a people well worth saving. Missionaries were sent to Africa, China, India, Japan, and other countries, but here, at our back door, there was more urgent ' need of help and of mission work. He ivas glad to say that some little progress was being made in the work in i the Taranaki district. The work was > necessarily slow, aa the Maoris had lost faith in the pakeha and in religion. ! The rev. gentleman, in concluding, said that one young native was pursuing ; studies for the purpose of qualifying : for mission work, and the hope was - expressed that the example would be [ copied.