ALLEGED MAORI SICKNESS AT HOKIANGA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6997, 21 April 1884, Page 5

ALLEGED MAORI SICKNESS AT HOKIANGA.

The startling intelligence that has .so pro* minently appeared in yonr columns with reference to the outbreak of typhoid fever among the natives at Herekino and. Whangape, and which Mrs. Hardiman and Mr. J. M. Grace have magnified with a persistence worthy of : a better cause; "your correspondent " thinking, or at least hoping, thattho reports which have appeared "were unwittingly • and incautiously exaggerated,' wisely or not,- determined to ascertain the' exact truth, so as to - set at rest the uneasy: 1 feeling which,' naturally enough,: pervaded the mind 3 of the Europeans of this district— i.e., the river district. ; of Hokianga. To this end 1 have' made a personal investigation of the sanitary- condition of the before-mentioned and also have compiled a list of the actual deaths from all causes daring the past year, which should a 6 once allay the fears engendered in the minds of the people by the unfounded-reports aforesaid.—Whangape :—There havo been eleven deaths ;as follows : —Three from old age ; one ■ from menstrual suppression, tho Jesuit of cold and exposure; one boy, from rupture ; two girls and one boy from fever two infants from influenza; and one girl from dropsy.—Herekino There been six deaths-, at this, place, viz.,'-,one from consumption, one from flooding,-two' children from fever, one adult -male, and one adult female,. also from fever. To sum up, seventeen deaths have occurred in a population of six hundred during one year/ seven from fever, and ten from other: causes."

I am'also informed from areliable source that no death fjrom typhoid haa taken place at ■ Pakepoto' village, and that the deaths there -fewer: during 1 • thb past twpive months than • for- years*-past. .• Thu foregoing are theplain; unvarnished facts, for which I can vouoh, and produce evidence to substantiate, having been • to thoroughly unalyse tho vaguo andinconBistent assertions of thosa t>vo worthies,- by proaeouting exhaustively ,thi» matter-to a conclusion' that mast -be to all satisfactory;' Should the:. Government appoint, a' Oommis-' sion of Enquiry, I have no: aonbt Hri Orace • will exceedingly - regret having so pertinaciously. ployed the -part .< he has done in-this matter. - - As regards Mrs.. Hardiman's action I will Bay - nothing, i. it; being : considered nilgentlemanly to ■- contradict a : lady, or by. ' innuendo or otherwise to reflect s upon "hep > doings.—{Own Correspondent, l ; April; 16, 1 :■ j :