THE NATIVE RACE.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14471, 27 September 1912, Page 6

THE NATIVE RACE.

PITIFUL WASTE OF LIFE,

(FAEBS ASSOCTATION TEI,KGIUM.}

. . , AQOKLAKB, September 26.. The "Herald's" Taumarunui correspondent telegraphs :-t-Ap ipcidont that reveals too clearly tho pitiful waste of life that goes on among the nno Native race of this country occurred here last week. Dr. Howard, of Taumarunui. was directed by the Health Department to go to Tawata, near the housoj boat on tho Wanganui river, .to visit I a Maori kainga afflicted with sicknessi ! Accompanied joy tho Rev. J. E. Ward, a Maori missionaryj as interpreter, ho j went down by special boat, and found a shocjring state of affairs <Jxjstinß. Three voupg aged respectiveif five, fifteen, and seventeen, had 'alreadrdied and were buried, no burial certificate being necessary in tho case of Maoris, and a nuniber of others wero huddled tpgether in a stifling wharo without a phiraney, with no ventilation, land with a fii'o in a kerosene tin to keep them warm. ...-■■• ■ Tho first thing tho visitors did was to knock a couple of boards off tlh> Toof to admit air. then to throw the kerosejio tin with its contents out of doors, tho Natives meanwhile offering no objection, but, on the contrary, assisting them. After this, the doctor treated tho eick persons with antiseptics, gave them medicine and advico, and returned.

Native Councils, established eomo years ago, were expected to sco to the health of Maori kaingas r and were permitted to collect certain taxes for the purpose.' The facte recorded aboyo would show that their" efforts, if they ever made any, have met with little' success. v