The Daily Telegraph. SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 1884.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4084, 23 August 1884, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 1884.

The following is the report of Captain Preece on the natives in this district as laid before Parliament:—" There is very little change to report in the condition of the natives in this district during the last year. Several blocks of land, which have been in dispute between the various lictpits, have passed through the Native Land Court, which has held frequent sittings in the district within the past twelve months. There seems to be a growing desire amongst the natives to subdivide their claims in blocks which have, in some instances been passed through the Court many years ago, and in which the original grantees, on their representation, have, up to this time, shared the profits and rents equally. These subdivisions have not yet taken the shape of individualizing the titles, but merely dividing the blocks between the contending hapus. They havo now, however, ascertained that shares are divided according to tho relative interests of the parties, under native custom. I, therefore, anticipate that there will be a great number of applications of a similar nature before the next Court. The longstanding Otamakapua case having been settled, a large portion of the purchasemoney was paid to the natives of this district, and I am pleased to say that they have not spent it in their usual extravagant manner, but are keeping it and only spending it for their actual wants. Probably the general depression at present existing in the colony has made them realize tho value of money, owing to their being unable to get it so readily as in former years. A young chief from Porangahau and Waipawa, named Hori Ropiha, left here for Auckland on a visit about two months ago, and while there was induced to accompany the chief Tawhiao to England. He is a very intelligent man, aud I think his influence and example will have a good effect on the uncivilized Waikato chief. Tho natives show a becoming respect for tho law, and readily obey the summonses issued out of our Courts. Some little time ago a charge of arson was sworn against three natives living at Murimotu. I issued summonses for their attendance before me here. The summonses were promptly obeyed. Trial by a jury of Maoris is not considered by our local press to be quite a success. In tho case I havo just referred to, at the last sitting of the Supreme Court hero, in spite of strong evidence of the defendants' guilt, the Maori jury brought in a verdict of " Not guilty." Need I remark that European juries sometimes take tho same course under similar circumstances. Coming now to the important question, "Are the Maoris, as a nation, dying out ?" In my opinion, '•' Yes ;" but not so fast „s some think. So far as I havo observed, tho death rate seems to be the heaviest amongst those living near European towns and settlements ; while those residing far away from our towns, and who aro not brought much into intercourse with tho pakohas, aro much hardier ; attributable, I think, very largely to their living in primitive Maori style. Those living near our towns, suffer to some extent, from intemperance, and, in consequence, irregular and unhealthy habits of life ; and also by wearing European clothes iii the daytime, and returning to their Maori habit of being lightly clad at night, and going, while so clad, from ill-venti-lated and heated whares into the cold air, and thus get sudden chills, causing almost universal suffering from pulmonary complaints, from which, in too many instances, they languish and die.