AWAKENING OF THE MAORI.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9641, 5 November 1909, Page 3

AWAKENING OF THE MAORI.

NINE YEARS OF REFORM. Though wri ing under th» ° l vl >*• of i retrenchment. the Native i! ■■ wh Officer, Dr Pomarr, reports hops- j fully regarding his siaff's work' in ; raising the hygienic standard rf the Maori. "We commenced with sanitary reforms amongst the M-ior's with a great deal of trepidation," he j states, "but the result of the work j ha=s proved astonishingly satisfactory; | in fact, far beyond our dreams or expectations. We can truly state today that, owing to sa'.itiry adjustments, the Maori is a nun par cent, better off than he was nine years ago. The Maori has awakened. With the pushing of s'ich mun as Te Whiti and Tmu, wit , the; \ constant agitation in the direction of land settlement, of individual effort, of sanitation and progress, t'ae Maori has realised thut the only royal way to salvation is by work. Everywhere our young men are clamouring to get on to the land, and whon one? ons or two are successful many try to emulate their example." The report shows that during the department's nine years' existence whole villages have been renovated. Some have been shifted fro-n their low, damp situations to the higher lands. Hundreds of insanitary* houses have destroyed without a penny of compensation being asked f r New houses have been erected. In some districts it would be quite difficult to find a Maori whare of the old stamp. They have all gone in the general awakening that hRs taken place. There is just one departure from the cheerful note "We regret," adds Dr Pomare, "that, owing to stormy weather the ship of St He has to unburden itself by the unloading of our department; but, sir, though my people from all parts are 'pours' for this step, they cannot help being grateful f«ir the great, great good which has been done "