KING COUNTRY HEATHENISM?

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10595, 9 November 1897, Page 3

KING COUNTRY HEATHENISM?

; >'-r TO THE EDITOR, •

. Sir,—The appearance of the article in your, columns giving an abstract of the statements! made by Miss Bedggood, referring as it docs in terms so intemperate to the morals and religion of the native community of the King ' Country, has caused widespread indignation, and has by no means enhanced the chances of success which may await the labours of any future European evangelist, who may happen along here. ; In course of conversation anent the utterances of Miss Bedggood, one of the so-called " heathen" remarked, in the most perfect English, "I think the lady ought to look at home for the heathen" before stigma-: tising us, as I am sure I V hare seen more immorality in ; Queen-street iin : one,; night, than I ever would in a hundred nights in the King Country." Upon the lady's own ad* mission, the Maoris'would have none of her. That is not at all to be wondered at, nor jetis it a 'ground for': adjudging the Maoris as heathens, as if there is one person more ( than another upon which the Maoris have a „ set, it is that one which we Anglo-Saxons irreverently term " the religious crank. lie she is a veritable belt voir, to Maoris, more especially when 1 the philanthropy (as Jl informed was the cms with ilna Beag n Qo ,)

jibes the form of peddling Bibles and hymnbooks with undeniable importunity, v People who exercias such doubtful methods of propagating ..theGospel amongst : Maoris are , ■ fnvariably'looked upon by them as harmle« l(^^ though perhaps' mischievous, cranks,. conse-§g|g||s quently fair game for . all i the wits lof the -tribe,v with; a v result», that the en&gjfpgS of • their ■ mission \is ; rarely, if ever, peace. ~ j The natives of this district are # very far from appearing " heathens," when viewed through an unbiassed focus, either theological, physical, or social. ' They ..have, their, own . Anglican and Wesleyain :• ordained; parsons, t &|§ who make regular periodical >- visits to the principal centres of population throughout ; the ■ district, and v are < invariably treated * with , the . utmost .. respect by I f their fellow countrymen and women, aud reverently' listened .to whilst • discoursing. Now with regard to what Miss Bedggood says - about the natives not being able to read or write, I can hardly take her to be serious in this, but still, though a ridiculous statement, it is an imputation that deserves to be refuted,r s', and Ido so most emphatically, : order at) n® once •to ! disillusionise ; the next' zealousphilanthropist who , may be tempted to , hazard .his or her life among the savage . inhabitants of "Darkest New Zealand," and if possible, to tear beforehand irom off their '-'. eyes, Miss Bedggood's veil, I may state that if gs|ig| due notice be given of the intended crusade, a ': r sg. S3 few of the local " heathen" will bo pleased to meet the party on arrival, and the first; ■ -■_ evening will be - devoted ;to music. i \ The apg " heathen" of these parts is decidedly musical Isispl —in fact, the savage breast here is one perpe- (' j> -? tual soothe. Now, with regard to what Hiss ' -.>s*3 Bedggood is pleased to call" drunken orgies," lam not in a position to speak. I have ' ■% never seen any. .I do admit, however, having >pg seen decided traces of intemperance during •• Va: tana's in the district, but I will ask anyone who knows the natives and . their ways, whether the absence of intemperance from a function of that description would not form igmm, the exceptionjratherthan the rale. The Maori, }masjj yon must know, sir, is naturally of a much, more joyous disposition than his phlegmatic half-brother, the Anglo-Saxon, and consefluently, two or three glasses of liquor made him, as a rule, exceedingly noisy, but he very pMg rarely fights, simply kicks up a great row, gljigjg and thereby, from his way of thinking, de- vhij clares his own vast superiority over hislellows. Behaviour such as this is doubtless shocking jgyg to the eyes of any cultured European lady, That the natives consume liquor in consider-; ; , able quantities at times in the King country s can neither be denied nor yet pnta stop to, _ . under existing circumstances. One remark >,r, under this head will suffice, and , that M:-£js@|g Chat until the Government grants licenses : .i : the King country, the sly grog traffic will s > • wish.— am, etc. S. R. Stewart. itorohanga, 30th October, 1897. . 1 . .