THE MAORI POPULATION.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5069, 7 May 1878, Page 2

THE MAORI POPULATION.

The New Zealand Herald of a late date says : — The officers of the Native Department are engaged taking a census of the Maori population. We know that the Europeans have greatly increased, and we know indeed pretty nearly what that increase will amount to, but there is a great difference of opinion as to how the Maoris have fared. It is thought by some who are in the habit of mixing with the friendly natives residing- in the settlements amongst the Europeans, that the numbers will be found to be about the same as on last census in 1874, or, perhaps, that on the whole there will be a decrease. In some particular "kaingas," the natives have died off rapidly, while in others they have increased. It would be interesting to ascertain whether the decrease has be&n in those settlements which are near Europeaus, or the reverse. We expect it mil be found that the natives decrease most rapidly in proportion as they are exposed to European intercourse. It is thought the Kingites have somewhat increased. Of course, no regular census can be taken of their numbers, but Major Mair, and other officers who know them best, have been instructed to make as accurate an estimate as possible. After the war, when the native mind was much agitated with Pai-Marire superstition, the subject of marriage was considered by the prophets, who, by a jump, advanced to the doctrine of "free love." They decreed that any married woman who was not bearing any children might be put under the protection of another husband ; and so faithfully did the Maoris obey their religious teachers that the great chiefs tolerated that for which in former times they would at once have inflicted death. However, it was found that the plan did not answer its chief purpose of rapidly increasing the population ; the Maoris made some enquiries as to whether population was likely to increase under a \ system of " free love," and finding that j history was adverse to that theory, they j lately resolved to return to better habits and customs.