WANGAREI (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIX, Issue 1965, 3 November 1863, Page 4

WANGAREI (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

In your paper of 15th iust£ I notice a motion introduced in the Provincial Council, by Mr. " Ball, regarding the sale of spirits to natives. In my opinion, this subject deserves more attention than it has ever yet received, as it is a ' matter of life and de&tli to the Maori. The natives are becoming utterly demoralized by the^fabilities with which tliey are supplied by "idtfprhidipled venders with' spirituous liquors. '■'4^)ae rtfismber of the Coundil says, the sale of .Vfapirtte 'ordinance is a nioSt mischievous measure. - " The' Maoris have no difficulty in getting liquor throughout the country, though it was fenerally of a nature little better than poison." [c seems to lay great stress on the argu-ment,-that Maoris ought to be allowed to purchase liquor, because they are British subjeots. This argument might be of some force if the natives were like Europeans, amenable to the law, but every person and especially every lawyer, knows that Buch is not the case ; surely this gentleman has heard of the celebrated Wangarei burglary case,, in which the law was completely set at defiance by the natives. The sale of spirits ordinance is a good and just law. The great misfortune is, that not one of the Government officials seems to think it is his duty to enfore it. For this rea■on such a measure as that introduced by Mr. Ball seems to be loudly called for. Seldom does a week pass in this quarter in which some instance does not occur of the evil effects of drink on the native race. The other day one of the native assessors who had been indulging rather too freely, quarrelled with his wife whom he kicked and beat in the most shameful manner. He afterwards in the most deliberate manner, carried her clothes, bedding^and even the furnitxire of the house, outside and burnt them, and also some of his official books and papers, and ended his frolics by "setting fire to his weatherboarded house, which would have been consumed but for the timely interference of some of his neighbours. This chief was at one time highly respected, having been a great friend of the Pakeha during the continuance of the late war at the Bay of Islands, and indeed until very lately when he sunk under the prevailing vice of drunkenness, and is fast losing the respect of both Europeans and natives. There is in my opinion no doubt that were the sale of spirits ordinance properly enforced, there would be less drinking among the natives. A Maori who was asked by a settler the other day for payment of an account which had long been owing, excused himself for the delay by saying that he would have paid it long ago but for the temptation held out by the public-house ; which', he said, was a great curse to the natives, and was the cause of much mischief, and at the bottom of all the quarrels and crimes that occurred amongst them. Unprincipled publicans will all agree with the honorable member who says that the sale of spirits ordinance is a most mischievous measure, as it may have a tendency in some cases to curtail their profit, however they may differ from him regarding the quality of the liquor sold. About a week ago, a chieftainess of high rank in this neighbourhood, was seen to enter a public house perfectly sober ; in the course of an hour thereafter she became so intoxicated that she was supported out of the tap by her husband and another male friend. The proprietor of this house lately expressed great anxiety to find out who was supplying the natives with drink ; if on that occasion he had enquired of his bar-keeper (who was the only European in Ihe house), he might have obtained the information he so earnestly desired. Perhaps the old proverb may apply here — " None are so blind as those that won't see."