The Daily Telegraph. MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1888.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5409, 24 December 1888, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1888.

At the meeting of tho Diocosan Synod on Friday a memorial was presented from v Mr. R. O. Stewart, of Waiapu, which gives a curious account of the condition >of ■ tho. natives of tho East Coast.. The memorialist prayed that the Synod should tako into its most solemn and serious consideration tho graceless and immoral condition of the i-laori poople. He directed attention to that part of the diocese lying to the north of Gisborne. The civil law, tho memorialist pointed out, " does not much engage the attention of the Bynod, but it may be remarked generally that for many years back it has failed" to punish many murderers and lesser criminals. The late murders of Mr. and Mrs. Pook and their only child may be said to be to some extent a result of theso failures of the law. But the Synod cannot ignore its responsibilities as regards the moral and religious state of this :part of the Diocese. The Mormon heresy has been for many years freely propagated by a dozen or a soore of special missionaries from Utah, headquarters of that sensualising system of mook religion. Tho native school system of the Government stops short of religion, and may ba said mostly to quicken the intellwsts of tho Maori youth of both sexes, leaving them at tho most precarious timo of. lifo — nominally wiser than thoir fathers—without a guide or a rudder to steer thorn on their heavenly path, or' even to mako them good industrious citizens. All along the coast from Opotiki to Gisborne there is no European Anglican Church clergyman resident, and constantly ministering amongst Europeans and Maoris, and whilst toe offices and devoutness of clergymen of the Maori race are not by any means to be undervalued, these tend to keep the race distinct and apart, and some other influence is wanted to be constantly turning tho attention of the residents of both races to tho high importance of keeping their eyes fixed on things unseen nnd eternal." In speaking to this memorial, Archdeacon L. Williams said that tho state of things described in it did not quite agree with actual facts. The district, ho allowed, had not been in a satisfactory condition since 18G5. He allowed that several serious offences against the law had gone unpunished, hut a reaction had taken place, and tho atrocious niurdor of the Pook family had called forth a general expression of detestation. Tho natives had, indeed, made every effort to bring tho offender to justice. During tho episcopate of tho present Bishop nine new churches had been erected, and four others put in a thorough state of repair in that district, and thero wero seven native clergymen doing good work there. At tho same time, ha said, there was no doubt room foriniprovement. Puttingthetwo statements side by side, wo are inclined to agree with tho Archdeacon.