DRINK AND THE MAORIS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 28, 7 October 1901, Page 2

DRINK AND THE MAORIS.

Mr Mabfell, President of the Taranaki Prohibition L?ague, forwards us the following extract from the Wellington Evening Post of September 28th, with a request for its insertion : ! —" Some startling allegations as to the drinking habits of Maoris in Taranaki are contained in a petition present! d to the Ftousa yesttrdiy by Mr Atkinson from the Executive of the JSie v Zealand AUiaDce. The petitioners forward with the petition a sworn declaration by the Rev. R. Hadden, of Hawera, Weileyan Maori Missionary, who is a half-caste, in reference'to the disastrom effects of drink upon the Maoris of Taranaki. At a tangi in November, 1900, says Mr Haddon, thera were from 60 to 70 Maoris present, men, women and children. He himself saw three c*eks of beer and one ,:ask of whiskey, and all the men and women were drinking heavily. On the way to the funeral of the deceased (a baby) twenty Maori women, all half drunk, sang and danced the poi dance, while the men, carrying buckets of beer, and battles of whiskey, served the women with more beer as they marched. Next morning a nine-year-old girl died in great agony from scalds resulting from the overturning of a boiler of hot water, the coatents of which had been accidentally precipitated over her during a drunken orgy in a whare. At another tangi he saw eleven casks of beer and eight cases of whiskey taken to the grave. Two nights later there was a great fight in consequence of a numt erof the Maoris being drunk. On the 19th July, 1901, a native died at Normanby from the effects of diink. The petitioners pray for an inquiry into these allegations, and that. The Hoi'S'j will take step* to eufo'ce "o'-rie'y find pr venfc the destru 'i n t'f a 1-i'go portion of the Meo-i race."