THE MAORIS' HOSTEL.

Northern Advocate, 13 July 1925, Page 8

THE MAORIS' HOSTEL.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —May I again through your columns reply to Mr. Kingi and Mr. "Insulted Native Resident." In replying to Mr. Kingi I might state that this reclaimed land should be, in my opinion, set aside for a recreation ground and esplanade, as it will be ajj ideal spot for people to sit or wander at will amongst the flowers and gaze their full at launches and yachts proceeding up and down the river. There is no record of the white people having compelled the native race to buy or indulge in spirits, tobacco, etc., from the white people, and if it has been detrimental to his race the onus is with them. As regards my being an insect and keeping under cover, I vvould point put that the whole of this transaction has been kept more or less in the -dark.

Mr. "Insulted Native" says that I stated in nty letter; Mentioning a particular Maori boardingliouse. I mentioned no particular one; taking the Town Hall as a centre, they are more or less the isaine distance apart, and he answers his own question, for he stayed there. If he will again read my letter of Mondaj' last he will find 'that I made no mention of a curing place.

Taking the whole matter as a business deal it seems that an acre or so of land, which is practically under water at spring tides and worth verylittle, is going to be exchanged for land, which has cost thousands •of pounds to reclaim, and I should be one of the first to congratulate Mr. "Insulted Native Resident" if' the deal conies off, for it would be'' verypoor business qii the part of the Harbour Board. I understand from the riverside residents that they have not. seen a health inspector over their way for some years, so that apparently if a hostel were to be erected over there it would be necessary for the inspector to invade that territory to take care of the Natives. In conclusion, I would suggest to both Mr. Kingi and Mr. "Insulted Native Resident" that they destroy a certain paragraph in their petition to the Hon. J. G. Coates. T cannot apologise to Mr. Kingi, as I have said nothing to warrant it. I am not a Riverside resident.—l am, etc., PROGRESS. July 13, 1925.