H.—3l

79

To end up this report, I want to let you know that there is one other reason why the Maoris are not multiplying, and that is due to the sterility of the women. Those who are blessed with a few are blessed indeed; but the majority of the few are quickly overtaken by death, and those that remain are a great cause of anxiety to their parents, and thus we are left in the trembling state of a query whether we are decreasing or increasing. Raueeti P. Mokonuiabangi. Dr. Pomare. Tuhirangi, 25th April, 1906. Salutations to thee, 0 friend ! Enclosed is a short report to you of the year's work. 0 friend ! many improvements have taken place within the past year in this district. The maraes and houses have been improved tenfold, and as a result very few deaths have occurred. Those who did die were mostly old men, and they died from chronic complaints. Enough. Kia ora. Number of houses finished and passed, 189 ; number condemned, 43. Taiawhio te Tau. Tamatea Maoei Council District. Ihaia Hutana, Sanitary Inspector, writes : — Great improvements have been made in this district, consequently there has been less infectious disease during the past year compared with previous years. The Maori style of living is becoming absorbed by that of the pakeha : the Maori whares in the district have all but disappeared, new houses properly ventilated being erected to take their place. The reform has not stopped at the houses, but has also reached the well, and beyond the well to the fowls and pigs, which are now separated from the kaingas. There has been less sickness amongst the children —sickness and death being more or less confined to the very old, who have been stricken down by such chronic diseases as rheumatism, asthma, consumption, and senility. There are two things which are causing a great deal of trouble in this district—first, the avidity of the women to drink intoxicating liquors, which are bought in bottles and taken away from the hotels to be drunk; and, second, the squandering of much money by the men, women, and children on horses at the races. This is a malady which is equal to tuberculosis in its effects. Tohungaism is much less in the district than formerly, there being but one tohunga ; and he really looks after the sick and afflicted, though a little liquor is prescribed. Number of houses built, 37 ; number of closets erected, 25 ; number of houses destroyed, 19. The potato-blight has affected the whole district. From January, 1905, to the Ist July, 1906, there were twenty-eight births in excess of deaths, there being sixty births and thirty-two deaths. Enough. Kia ora. Rameka Waikerepueu writes from Ohaeawai: — Much progress has been made during the past year in the Councillor Districts of Pewhairangi and Whangarei in regard to the sanitation of houses, maraes, and even to the beds and to the food they eat. Many are anxious to have their lands so partitioned that they can build on them, each building on his own section. This is the only drawback at present. All are desiring to better their condition ; out of twenty-five houses that I recommended to be enlarged on account of the numbers living in them, six have been so done. In regard to closets the people are still sceptical in putting them up, and therefore the law must be made to take its course in regard to this matter. There was a crop of four tohungas growing and blooming for a season, but now they have apparently died out. My private opinion, however, is that they are not dead but merely work in secret upon the few who seek them. Why I know there were four tohungas in this district was owing to the fact that they all applied to the Council for licenses under the Act of 1900. When they were cross-examined as to the medicines they used in different cases they told us the names of the medicines. Then the Council, on account of fear that mischief might be done, told them that they had better bring samples of their medicine, and that two qualified doctors would be called in to examine them to see whether they were efficacious and right. On account of this action those tohungas have not returned to ask for licenses. There are, however, two men who have been granted licenses by the Council to give medicines ; but they have been forbidden to immerse patients in cold water, and not to prevent patients from going to European doctors. Further, they have been requested by the Council to report on the cases they undertake—the result, together with their diagnosis. The following diseases they may practise upon : Amenorrhcea, asthma, colds, constipation, and stoppage of micturition. The Council has been satisfied that they are quite capable of looking after the aforementioned diseases. All other cases that come under their notice are to be recommended by them to be taken to the European doctors. Sickness has been fairly prevalent throughout the district, but not in epidemics. In regard to the potato-blight it has been very severe, and for that reason a petition was sent to the Council, signed by many people, asking the Council to allow the humble petitioners to make their corn rotten by immersing in water; but because of the notice from the Public Health Department which was> circulated several years ago that the .Maoris must not eat the bodies of animals dying from disease, and, further, that they must not eat rotten potatoes or rotten corn—that is why the Council replied that it did not see its way to grant them their petition. It would be well for the Department to see that the Government fulfils its promise to assist them by forwarding something to eat, together with potato-seed. The Liquor Disease.—This is one of the taniwhas which causes the rangatira and the tutua to become slaves. In the days that have passed, this disease was practically overcome; but on the day that Ru Reweti was buried the Maoris gave the pakehas a feast, and the table was laden with intoxicating liquors.