MAORI GATHERING AT HUNTLY.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 263, 24 March 1898, Page 2

MAORI GATHERING AT HUNTLY.

TiiEKii is at present a very large gathering of natives at Wahi, on the opposite bank of the Waikat > river, to Huntly. This place is Kinj{ Mahuta'a headquarters, and there must be some three or four thousand natives assembled just now, while the number is increasing every day. Two steamers and the punt are constantly employed in landing new arrivals and stores of all descriptions. There is little or no drinking, the King having forbidden anyone to bring liquor into the camp, and to get to the ho'el they have to cross the river. Billiards, pool, cards, and gambling of all descriptions is carried on all over the field, and the dancing, siugiug, and music from four brass bands, particularly at night, makes the scene an exceedingly lively one. A large hall has been built for the occasion, and it completely outshines the pakeha building on the opposite side of the river. Several extra policemen have been despatched to Huntly, but up to the present the best order has been maintained. "

The Hon. Jas. Carroll was expected to arrive in Huntly by train yesterc'ay, but he did not turn up. However, a telegram we received from Auckland last night states that the hon. gentleman leaves Ivy the express traiu this morning to attend the meeting.

A few of the temperance workers of the Upper Waikato organised a deputation to King Mahuta on Tuesday afternoon last. Mr J. T. Home kindly provided a large test and a good stock of provisions, so the members of the deputation were fairly independent. Unfortunately Mahuta was absent from the settlement, but his Pr'mj Minister, Tana Taingakawa, with Htnare Kaihm received the deputation ve.y cordially. The Revs. Gifos and Hosking, and Mr Monk, M.H.R., were also present. When an efficient interpreter had been provided, Mr Gane read the address as follows :

To Mahuta Tawhiao and f.o his people aDcl tribes gathered here to fake part in this great meeting.—On an occasion such as this, when many sections of the Maori people are met together, and when matters of national importance are likely to be considered, it seems desirable that due prominence should be accorded to the question of the d< ink traffic, and how best it may be dealt with. To this end this deputation of settlers, your friends and neighbours, residing in Upper Waikato, having no other motive than your welfare have the honour to address you. We believe that large numbers of natives are against the issue of licenses for the sale of drink in the King Country ; they have seen the evii effects of strong drink on the minds and persons of iudivi duals of both races, and that misery, degradation and crime are the outcome of its habitutl ure. It is impossible to believe that the Maoris will allow this traffic to make glares and paupers of them, their eyes having been opened to the inevitable consequences of drinking habits. They will surely hold to the position already secured by their chiefs. We desire to place before yon the evils arising out of the drink traffic and to specially ask you not only not to allow this evil to be brought into your district in a legalised form, but also to protect yourselves from its baneful effects when offered to you by law breakers. How is it there are those among you who do not abide by ths law your own chiefs were instrumental in obtaining, is it not because you yourselves do not take action and say: "This evil shall not be tolerated by us. The law shall be obeyed." You have been influenced from Auckland to abandon your position of no liceusj. We, as your friends, urge you to 6tick to your present law, and thus prove your loyalty to yoar fathers who are gone. Mahuta has posted notices here that he will fine everyone breaking the liw in the mitter of selling drink at this meeting, and this deputation feels assured that if Mahuta's command in this respect were binding on all your tribes there would be an end to these attempts to introduce drink into the King Country. You have been advised recently that you should have power to sell your lauds to any buyer, this was not the advice cf a friend, experience teaches us when lands arc sold the motley is speedily converted into commodities, and a very considerable proportion applied in excessive drinking. To legalize the traffic in drink would be for the Maori a fatal mistake, it would only impoverish them and make paupers of their children, while the strenuous upholding of the law as now in force, will be for the good of the whole race. Most of those who wish a continuance of the liquor traffic do so not because they believe there is anything beuerbul in its use, but rather that they arc loth to deny the cravings of an abnormal appetite, whilst those who deal in this article strive to enrich themselves at the cost of other people. The profits of the drink trade are all on on side, viz : " The makers and the sellers scoop the pool, the Maoris get nothing." The opinion is growing that there should be no traffic in strong drink within New Zealand ; this opinion has already re--Btricted the sale of it in one large district, and the number who voted against its use and sale at the last polling was 90,000. Having as shortly as possible laid before you a few facts relative to the evils following the drink traffic, we beg to commend the same to your best consideration.

In reply Hcnare Kaihau sa'd he was pleased to receive the deputation, and assured the members that they had his support and also that of Mahuta. On his return to the settlement every thing would be laid before him. Many momentous questions were coining before the meeting, and when these were disposed of the substancj of the address would be earnestly considered.