A “WET” COAST.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 10473, 31 December 1927, Page 7 (Supplement)

A “WET” COAST.

LIQUOR EVERYWHERE IN Till' '70'.3.

FIFTY-TWO ‘HOTFT 3’ BETWF''N GISBORNE AND HICK’S BAY!

SPREAD OF GOOD TEAIPLARISAI.

FIRST ‘'RESPECTABLE" N ATI VI FUNERAL.

An official report on tlic state of the Natives of the Gisborne district under date September,lß7B., says:— ‘ In the beginning of last year the habits of drunkenness, 'extravagance and neglect of ordinary cultivation wore painfully apparent.

This state of affairs was owing to the large expenditure of capital :n the purchase of lands. These eas-ily-gotten funds had the usual effect, as in almost every village was to he found a house for the sale of spirits, kept by some Native who had succeeded in obtaining sufficient funds to enable him to open a public house on his own account. In the venrs 1876-77 there were no fewer than fifty-two houses for the sale of spirits between the Turnnpanui River and Hick’s Bar: fi t'ytwo of which were kept bv Natives, which, it was feared, would reduce the Natives to a confirmed state of intemperance and poverty. A very earnest return to religious observances is now general throughout the tribes and funds have been and are still being raised for the erection of churches and the foundation of stipends to support Native clergy m on.”

As regards the Waapti district, an official report stated:—

"Industry is increasing. More attention is being paid to comfort and cleanliness in the Natives' dwellings, dress and mode of living and a growing disposition towards temperance is noticeable on all occasions of their meeting together. The schools at AYai-o-matatini and Akuaku are doing well. The attendance at Kawnkawn and Tokomaru schools is improving.’’

Writing on January 18. 1876. concerning the funeral of his wife at Tnurepa, of Waiapu, the Rev. Alohi I lirei said it was-' the first funeral among the N gats porous which had keen respectably conducted. "It has." he said, “heretofore been the practice at Ngatiporou funeral ceremonies for each man to provide two or three gallons of rum to mot ease the flow of tears. ‘Xvhieh was considered a sign ol genuine sorrow. H 160 or 200 persons attended a funeral, they would consume that number of gallons of ruin. When they ariived at a place where the body of tile deceased lay, the greatest confusion would arise, ami each chief would strive to have ilie body buried in the particular place of his choice, whilst numerous quarrels and disputes about land and other matters would arise. This hapu would endeavor to drag the body away to hnrv it in a grave of their own preparing and that hapu would insist on having it buried in their grave and so on until they were prepared to pr: coed to blows. When they had taken rum into their months they uttered no words of sympathy and compassion for tile departed, and the chief mourners were mortified and pained in consequence.’’ But Airs. Turei, shortly before her (tenth, called for her friends and children and said to them:—

“Farewell! lam about to follow the open path of death. Abide in Christ, that you may follow after me in safety. ‘What mail is he that liveth and shall not see death?’ I desire that not even one bottle of intoxicating liquor shall he brought to my funeral ob.secpiies. I charge you to touch not a single glass anti I trust that you will all scrupulously fulfil this my fast request. At wailings for the dead much disorder frequently prevails, caused hv drinking. Let there me no such disgraceful scenes at my funeral obsequies as those which occurred at the funeral of my child. Remmnber my words and fulfil them.’’

•On the-next morning the people could hear the reverhernting volleys of the mourning guns against the faces of the mountain cliffs. Her liapus were lireoaring to send for rum to he used in the observance of the funeral rites; hut notices were ,-ent to each vilface and to .each !mmi wolr’b'ting

such a proceeding and so rum was not forthcoming, hut there was an abundance oi food in the shape of kunmrns, potatoes, flour, biscuits, sugar, mutton and pork.