THE MAORI CENSUS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1216, 26 August 1911, Page 6

THE MAORI CENSUS.

PROGRESS AMONG THE NATIVES. Thoroughness is not claimed for the Maori census, which was taken last March, but the report contains somo interesting matter as to the condition of tho Native race. Tho total Kaori population is said to be 49,350, an increase for five years of ICI7. In addition, there are 215 Maoris on the Chatham ; Islands. ' The Morions, however, are dying out. The larger number of Morioris are half-castes with Maoris. It is a matter of difficulty to ascertain the number of half-castes living as Maoris. Probably all half-castes, and n large proportion of the Maoris as well in the Smith Island, no wlivo in European fashion. Tho health of tho Natives has been generally good. There havo been occasional outbreaks of typhoid and other fevers, but there has been no epidemic.of disease. There has been a great advance in tho observance of sanitary laws. The Maoris are beginning to realise that.the excessive mortality amongst their children has been caused to a large extent by insanitary conditions prevalent in their settlements.' The village schools uru steadily improving the standard of knowledge among the Maori people as a whole. Suitable openings for Maoris in the Public Service are'liniited, but the Government has displayed a sympathetic regard for deserving Maori youths wherever sible.

Tho Maoris in tho Bay of Islands havo erected nearly 100 miles of telephone, con. neeting up remote forest villages with tho chief centres of the district. In this matter they havo followed the lead of the Waiapu, East Coast, Natives, who wcro the pioneers of the Maori-owuL'd telephone system in the Dominidn. The report of the Under-Secretary for Native Affairs states that crime docs not •prevail in any marked degree amongst tho Maoris. The Natives are becoming more and more temperate every year. The drunken orgies that were once common are in a great measure things of the past. They are also adopting the European style of living. Some nre sheenfarmers," others cultivate their land, whilo others again engago in various forms of remunerative labour. Every year tho spread of settlement brings diem into closer touch, with their pakeha neighbours, and subjects them to tho influence of European ■■ example. ,