AUCKLAND SPECIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 66, 21 March 1901, Page 2

AUCKLAND SPECIAL.

11 THE FATHER OF THE TRIBES.’

TOBACCO GROWING.

(Special. to'TnrES.)

Auckland,Hast ni"ht. The Government has instructed Mr Sutherland, who is an expert in tho tobacco industry, and was lately in tho employ of the Agricultural Department of New South Wales, to ascertain and visit the localities in New Zealand best fitted for the production of tobacco, with a view to the industry being developed upon a systematic and extensive scale. Mr Sutherland lias commenced his operations in the Waikato district. Ho owns a largo tobacco plantation at the Fiji Islands. TUBERCULIN. Word received to-daj' states that tho Minister of Lands has expressed himsolf in favor of supplying tuberculin to all properly qualified veterinary surgeons in tho colony. HON. J. CARROLL. The Hon. J. Carroll, Native Minister, has brought his official visit to Rotorua to a conclusion. He has held long lcoreros with the leading chiefs and members of the Maori-Council on tho subject of tho course to bo followed in welcoming the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall to the land of the Moa and the Maori. From what has already transpired as to the plans and intentions of the Government and tho loading Natives, it is evident that the Maori part of the programme is designed to be the most novel and striking feature of the ceremonies at Rotorua, which has been judiciously selected as tho great centre for the Maori demonstrations.

LARGE ENCAMPMENT. Preparations are being made to form a large encampment on the racecourso, and tenders are being invited for tho supply of a large number of tents. His Excellency the Governor was in favor of using the high ground overlooking the township of Ohinemutu as a site for tho camp, but when it transpired that tho. gathering is likely to number between four and five thousand Lord Ranfurly preferred tho more spacious racecouse, the Recreation Ground (Pukeroa Reserve) being used for the welcome hakas and other nativo dances, as well as the speechmaking. SELECTED NATIVES.

Mr Carroll has sent out to all the tribos invitations to select 100 of their best men, of the best type physically, and Messrs Vickerman and Turner, of the Nativo Department, have been entrusted with tho duty of making the necessary sanitary arrangements and drainage, and for ample supply of good, wholesome water. As the season of the year will bo whiter, it is necessary to adopt special precautions against tho outbreak of any epidemic. MAORIS AND SANITATION.

It is a gratifying and novel feature in the preparations that the Maoris are taking an enlightened view of the sanitary question, and are emulating their European brothers in the work of guarding against the common enemy. When one compares this feeling with the indifference to sanitary precautions exhibited by the old men dwelling in the anciont pahs, the contrast is very wonderful,- and our hope for the future preservation of tho Native race is greatly increased. A few of the chiefs are apprehensive of danger from the prevalence of the plague in Australia, and they display cheerful alacrity in co-operating with the authorities under the Public Health Act, and willingly submit to the stringent measures which aro necessary for the common weal. INVITATIONS TO MR CARROLL.

Invitations are pouring in from the various districts to Mr Carroll to visit and consult with the local chiefs aud instruct the recently-elected Maori Councils in the methods in vogue. It is only right to add that the Native Minister (Hon. J. Carroll) has thrown himself into tho work with tho energy of an enthusiast and the skill of a professor of sanitary scioncc. Probably no other man in New Zealand would have exercised so much influence upon the minds of tho natives as he does, which is no doubt attributable to the conviction having grown upon the tribes that he is inspired by a genuine solicitude for their present and future welfare. In this, of course, he owes much of his popularity to the guidance of tlje Premier, whom the Maoris have named “ the father of tho tribes,” as well as to the hearty co-opera-tion of the Hon. J. G. Ward, Dr. Mason, and tho officers of the Public Hoalth Department.