THE WAIKATO FLOODS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9287, 24 August 1893, Page 5

THE WAIKATO FLOODS.

CONDITION OF THE NATIVES.

if kstkrda Y the Rev. W. Gittos, Wesley an native missionary in Waikato, had an interview with His Worship tho Mayor (Mr. W. Crowther) in reference to the destitute condition of the natives through the recent Hoods. He suggested to the Mayor to write to Mr. Mainwaring, of Kihikihi, and Mr. Ormsby, of Upper Waipa, who wore well aware of the state of affairs, and would give tho relief committee the necessary information thoy required so far as the upper partof the Waikato was concerned. It appears there are two classes'of natives (as well as Europeans] suffering, those whose crops were swept away by tho former floods a few months ago residont principolly on- the Waipa and tho line of the Puniu, and those who have suffered from the floods of the past month, who aro principally resident in Lower Waikato, between Taupiri and Mercer. The former floods swept away the crops of potatoes, corn, wheat, oats, pumpkins, melons, etc., on tho Waipa, so that the natives there had nothing more to destroy when tho recent floods came. Since the earlier calamity the natives have been subsisting upon what their friends have given them, who have been more fortunate through residing on the higher lands. Some of tho settlors and fanners have also supplied them with food as far as they were able to do so. Mr. Mainwaring has given them nearly two tons of potatoes, and others have also rendered assistance. Mr. Gittos has, from his own resources, aided the natives as far as possible by giving them stores, principally flour. Hehascommunicated with the member for the district (Mr. Lake, M.H.K.), requesting him to urge upon the Government the duty of seeing something done to relieve the natives in their present distress. Mr. Gittos suggests that no money should be given to the natives, but simply supplies of food to tide them over, principally potatoes, both for consumption and for soed next season. The more fortunately situated natives have holped thoir brethren till thoir own supplies are about exhausted. Mr. Gittos states that ho has visited all tho native districts affected by the floods, and he feels satisfied that unless the natives are relieved temporarily they will not be able to get through the winter. To show the condition they are in, he found they had even gone back to fern root, their old stand-by, but owing to tho fires in the district the fern had been destroyed or had deteriorated. They had been endeavouring to use the roots of the cabbage tree and tho large fern (Koran), but the former tree had also been largely destroyed by tire, and they would have to go miles for it, and the parawhemui, a bulb which grows in the bush. In order to supplement their scanty food supply they had been trying to secure eels, but with little success (owing to the floods), and in his opinion they were using every means to get a subsistence. They were coming round among the settlers—men, women, and children—asking for work. At three native settlements Mr. Gittos visited they were unable" to place even a meal consisting of potatoes before him. They were taking the small potatoes (kotzro), sodden and swollen through being under water, oniy fit for pigs' food, and drying them in the sun, were using thorn for food. At Whatawhata the natives are getting some gum digging, and will be able to tide over. Mr. Gittos states that to relieve the necessitous cases, native and European—and among the latter there are some grievous casos of loss and hardship—will require about £600, and therefore the balance of the Queensland Rolief Fund will fall considerably short of what is needed. Ho states that he has sufficient confidence in the citizens of Auckland to believo that having shown their readiness to relieve the distress in Queensland occasioned by floods, they will nob be less ready to help their afflicted brethren at their own doors.

His Worship the .Mayor informed a Hkkald representative yesterday that the Relief Committee would not spend a single penny until they had full information from the heads of local bodies and resident settlers as to the lossos incurred and the cases requiring assistance, when they would bo in a position to know whether afresh appeal should be made to the public. The Committee are communicating with leading settlers in the Waikato, and Mr. Gittos gave the Mayor several names during his interview yesterday. Apparently it is nob the intention, from what the Mayor says, to deal with cases of hardship arising out of the earlier floods, or with districts above Taupiri, so that the natives on tho Upper Walpa and the line of the Puniu will bo outside the benefit of the relief fund if that intention is adhered to.