CONDITION OF THE MAORIS.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 190, 14 August 1886, Page 6

CONDITION OF THE MAORIS.

Roports by Government Offioors,

Tin: reports of Government officers in nati'-e districts have beon laid on tho table of tho llouho. Mr Yon Stunner, of Uokianga, says tho bohaviour of tho pcoplo has been exceptionally good, nnd no increase of crime ia reported. Ho regrets tho death of Graham Tawhai, who, ho cays, did much for his countrymen iv tho caueo of tomporance, and who was bolored and respected by all who know him. Tho crops in tho various settlement* had boen oxcollent, but the natives do not cultivate sufficient for their own use, and depend too much on buth work, gum-digging, and work on country roads for a moans of living, and in eomo kaingas ho fears thoro will bo a great scarcity during tho coming winter. Mr J. S. C'lcndon says tho natives ot Kaipara and Whangarei and his part of the Bay of I-i'anda have beon exceedingly quiet, well behaved, and law-abiding, and the drunkenness amongst them has steadily

decroufod, Mr Thos. Jackson, of Kazorback, corroborated this latter stuteraont, and cays the potato crops on tho West Coast hnvo been very poor. Only threo or four families wero constantly on their land, and the othura wander about cutting flax, dißeinß gum, etc. Crops on tho Waikato have boon bettor. Tho crop at South Wniron and Maraotu is poor. ilr G. T. Wilkinson, Alexandrn, says tho natives thcro have suffered from an epidemic of low fever, coupled with a sort of erysipelas in tno head, which, if not taken in tirno, proves fatal in some cases. Mr F. Brabant, of Tauranga, says tho crops in that district have been a partial failure, owing to tho drought early in tho season. Tho natives had, for somo years, ceased to grow produco for sale. Tho crops at Makotu had also to eomo extent been a failure, but those at Rotorua had been eomowhat better. Throughout theeo districts the natives aro taking moro interest in education. Mr Bush, of Opotiki, sayßtheraiiamarkcd deeroaeo in the consumption of intoxicatine liquora in that district, Tho natives had enjoyed very good health, and their conduct had been peaceful and friendly during tho year. Mr Dunbar Johnston says thero has been a considerable amount of ticknese at Rotorua Owing to tho drought tho potato crop has been a partial failure, and it was feared that many of tho nativos would bo short cf food during tho winter aud spring. Tho natives continue to take great intoroat in tlio education of their children. Mr Scanncll, of Taupo, cays drunkanKo?B has dccicr.fOd, but thoro is leu cultivation by the natives than formerly. Tho roports from Napier and AYairoa show largo quantities of wheat grown thero by native*. Tho King Movement Dying.

Mr Wilkinson saya the Kidr movement is on its last logs. The separation of Iho NRntiiaaniapoto and Ngatihikairo tribes from the King party Homo four years :i{,'o, nod thfir flubsequont friondly attitude towards tho Govornmont, in allowing public works? in tho shape of roads, railways, und surveys to bo carried out over tlioir lands, all of which the Kintf party have found themselves helpless to oppow, has proved to them that not only has their (.'lory, but co has thoir power, doparted. Tiio putting of the Taupo lands lluoiif;li tho Court hu* (also boon a BOTcro blow to them, because so long as tha native tide to tho laud wan not extinguished, Tawhino and his peoplo looked upon and upoko of it us a territory under thoir mana and jurisdiction. Concerning Tnwhiao'n proposals to tlio (iovurnmcut, Mr Q, T. Wilkineon, Nativo Atcent, boj'b: — "Tlio ]ire poped Maori i-i>uncil of chiofH would bo a sort of »übuummitteo detailed expresuly for tho pury.oao of dealing with matten concerning tho nativo race, and it would bring np itrt report to a committee, or rather to tho lloubo in (ho manner of other cub-commit-tee*). Both Tawhiao and To Whcoro placo (/root importance on tho proposed council of chiefp, and at prcpoot it seema to be tho only position thoy are prepared to accept in lieu of that bo lons hold by Tawhiao and bin people. I think lam rij.'ht in saying that if a bill of that ?ort should bo introduced in tho House this io-.v:on and had any clianco of sueCffs, Tawhiao would not hes-itata obout (roinj; to Wellington at once, or oven taking » Beat in the ITppor House, for tho purpogo of assisting to bring about that rc.-ult that he cc much desires. Unless ho can nain an end of thie port,ho in obary of compromising hlmeelf by going to Wellington.