THE MAORI CAMP AT NGARUAWAHIA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 80, 2 April 1908, Page 6

THE MAORI CAMP AT NGARUAWAHIA.

The large gathering of Maoris at Ngaruawahia in connection with the land meetings has had its sad side, in that besides one boy being drowned while bathing in the river, no less than seven children have, it is stated by a gentleman -who has just returned from that place, died from various diseases. This of course ie not to be wondered at, seeing the lack of attention to ordinary sanitary arrangements when a gathering of over" 1000 people are camped on a flat for over a fortnight. Even now, when a number of the natives have returned home, it is estimated that fully that number camped around Ngaruawahia, with absolutely no latrine arrangements whatever. This is a serious matter for the European residents in the vicinity of a native meeting, and it should, therefore, be "within the scope of the powers of the Health Department to see that in future gatherings of this kind v there shall be some officia 1 present with powers to see that these important matters are not neglected. In connection with this matter, the "Waikato Times" has the following: "The natives are camped on the river fjontage, and have conducted- their affairs in a most orderly manner; but through the utter neglect of our Town Board, the question of sanitary aTrange■ments for them -was never even discussed, and as a /result a disgusting state of affairs exists here, and our usually pretty water frontage presents a shocking appearance. Even private property has not been excepted. If we miss an epidemic of typhoid it will be more good luck than anything else. This matter has been brought before the notice of our local authority on several occasions, and although the members have been personally aware of what was going on, absolutely no steps have been taken to stop it. One cannot altogether blame the natives, as they naturally thought some conveniences would have been provided for them. It is to be hoped, however, that our Commissioners ■will take some steps to thoroughly clean up the place."