KIHIKIHI.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2870, 4 December 1890, Page 3

KIHIKIHI.

Vt !•>i,,i;'. J,! There wa.i nf c. ji l niiiHi.inrahle stir lately amongst tli" M ii-i! i' ; 1:' I'.', mi account of tlu: election fm liiu Western Maori electorate, which tuii.k on Friday la=t. Thuir moans to i.iitlr.i', a.-. the V'Hfiko.-< wittily put it, were iuiiiion.'fllvitintsa.-wl by I lie opportune visit n{ llw »,'liiV't Inspector if Stock, with bis J.'.,:'i.'.iuatus pur-c to pay tliu'.n the acceptable .sum of WO'.) I - tor tho largo number of lM,;:(ti rabbit .-,l:in*. which they brought in and hisiid -I 'vi.v. This timely windfall gave a lift to iln: nlwuyrt mercurial Maori ] nature, :o.a thj result was a high decree of j enthusiasm, if not of spirits, Hoani Tnipun, | the late member was tho idol of the hour. ) Numbers of Maoiis- his supporters mi<?ht have been heard his praises in their mellifluous to eaeh other, and endeuvom In eoiivjit .-ucli of their wavering c<".inttymon who had not made up their minds with a view to their voting for Hoani. Though the majority were decidedly strongly for Taipua, yet I'epene Kkotone (jicoleston L'uirburu) a good lookinc well educated, and talented young Mauri advocate, who has already shown k'ruat ability and eloquence an an advocate, and skill as a cross-examiner, and whose success as an -(gent in many important oases, i-.ota'oly in thwn that .nine beiore the ({oval Ooariinission which sat heie last year to consider and decide whether a reheariug should be granted id tfie Taupo-liui-a-tiu and Maraeroa Block cases, and whoso probity has won hint uiauy friends, stood next in public esteem. I venture to predict that though I'epene will un. doubtedly bo beaten this time, ho will, if he lives, yet fill a hi(jh and important place ax a representative of his race in -Parliament. Kipa Te Whatanui, Te Kahui Kararehe, and Tatana Whakaupoko had not many supporters hero though all are distinguished and able men. To Kahui Kararehe will, it is said, have a large support of tho votes from the Taranaki Maori:: an he is put forward by them, being a chief of distinction. Hoani Taipua, tho late member, will be sure to be elected. He is a Maori deservedly respected both by Maori* and Europeans, lfe has proved himself worthy of the high esteem he enjoys and the great trust his countrymen reposo in him. He is a Wellington chief, a brother of Hanita Te Awoawo. who was the other Koyal Commissioner appointed by the ' Governor to sit upon the re-hearing petition ill tho above oases with the Hon. Colonel Ilaultaiu last vcar. >Ir Roland Maiuwarin,', very elliciuntly "eted ad deputy Return!in/ Officer here. Mr Jamo« Raiwlield luuda a good suruliutiur for llf.aui Taipua. The eleotiou wa-., notwithstanding tho enthusiasm of the Maori', for tho respective candidate;?, carried out with perfect fair play and good feeling by all parties. T Sanitation or Maoki V it.lagf.*. i commend to tho consideration of Hoani Taipua, and of all those members who will constitute tho Now L'arliament now being iilectcd, the humane, wise and imperative duty of improving tho health oi the Maori people by increased attention to tho circumstances under which they livu generally, aauaciully in their kmnips their i«lMiwl deplorable i#ionnu> ... Jit> l-v/a of health, ar«(J the consequent greai, oum'i?! •-•} prwnaVtfo tfist ace thus

brought about. Some years ago I brought the matter prominently forward in a aeries of letters which I wrote, and whi:h wore published in the New Zealand Herald. These letters '.vote written with a view, iirprimin, to cull attention to the dreadful ravages that typhoid fever was pr idriing at Herektno and Pukepoto—two vilispef in the far north, near Hokianga: and in the second place to endeavour to improve the health of the Maoris trenerally. r a ,Sl > advised a scheme for improved sanitation or Maori villages throughout New Zealand, in whieh various improvements in the law dealing with the matter were ui'Kod and suggestions made as to the teaching ot tho laws of health being made a compulsory part of pass subjects in the Native Schools Code 1 am slad to say that, although I was about tho most abused man pos- I sible for a while, these letters had J good effect, and some improvement was j made in thu circumstances under ! which the Maoris lived. Medicines were supplied to native school teachers, and the amendment in the "code" was made, Mr -fames J'ope, the able and etficie'nt inspector of native schools wrote a very useful book as u result of tho agitation which was widely circulated amongst the Maoris, and did much good. The name of the book is " Te Ora Mote Maori'' or " Health for the Maori," but though my scheme was approved generally by the Press, it was never carried out. I have been assured by prominent friends of mine in Parliament that it or some such plan will yet be adopted. I havo a written promise from the Hon. John Ballauce that he will move for tho papers connected with it which were forwarded by uie to the Hon. .Tohn Brven when he was Native .Minister. I have reason to believo this will be done next session and that the papers will be printed. I received uptch reliable infermation as to tho .state of tho health of the Maori people in thu above mentioned villages at that time from very able letters which I t'ot from Mrs Ilardinian, the daughter of the late much respected Judge Manning who lived at Hekiangn. These letters I handed over to Sir George Grey, as he was desirous to havo them. As • leprosy is interalia, very prevalent, 1 hope Hoani Taipua will rise like a giant refreshed aud how d.uvn the L pas tree of disease.