THE MAORI AND MEDICAL SCIENCE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7335, 13 January 1911, Page 1

THE MAORI AND MEDICAL SCIENCE

CONSUMPTION PREVALENT ERECTION OF HOME AT MASTERTON SUGGESTED. SPECIAL TO TUB "TIMES/* MASTERTON,. January 12. A proposal is on foot to erect a Maori Home for -consumptives in Master ton, and during- this week Dr Ponxar© has been here in connection with the matter. There would appear to ho a very great deal of consumption among the Maoris of Wairarapa—far more than the average person would suspect. Within the past two weeks or so three young Maoris ha ve died from the disease, and there are a number of others dangerously ill, many being in the last stages. It is anticipated that the homo will ho erected in the district before May nest. TOHUNGAISM IN WAIRARAPA EDUCATED MAORIS COMBATING THE SUPERSTITION. SPECIAL TO THE "TIMES." MASTERTON, January 12. ‘"Tohungaiein” is gold to still he rife among the Maoris in the Wairarapa, and. it is reported that during the past few days several natives have journeyed to Foxton to consult a tohunga in that district. A number who visited this tohunga before Christmas, in the hope of being cured of diseases they were suffering from, have returned poorer in pocket and no better in health. An influential local Maori says the young, educated native is doing his host amongst his people to kill this foolish superstition, hut “tohungaism” such a hold that Hie task' is a hard, uphill ono.