MAORI COUNCILS

Otago Witness, Issue 2649, 21 December 1904, Page 34 (Supplement)

MAORI COUNCILS

These were constituted under an Act of PailkiiiKiiit p<iss d in 1900, and weie instituted A\ith the object of conferring a limited measure of self-government on members of the Maori race.

The preamble to tli-e Act set out that reiteivted implications had been made by the inhabitants of Maori centres and Mir- nindings for the establishment within those districts of some simple mielunery of local solf-governinent, by means of which, snch Maori inhabitants 'might be enabled to frame for themselves such rules aJid regulations on matters of local concernment as might appear best adapted to their own speciaJ wants. The powers of the Councils include the making of provision for the public health of the inhabitants, for enforcing cleanliness in the houses, for the suppression of common nuisances, for the prevention ot drunkenness and sly grog-selling, and of the introduction of alcoholic liquors into any Maori kainga, village, or pa, for regulating the proceedings of tohungas, for the protection i>f meeting houses, for the registration of dogs and the branding and marking of cattle, sheep, and pigs, for the protection and management of eel weirs, for the control

of burial grounds, and also of recreation grounds, for regulating the sale of goods by hawkers, for the prevention of smoking by children and of gambling, for the construction of water supply works, and tne maintenance and control of such supplies, for the construction of proper systems of drainage, for the prevention of diseases of animals, etc., etc. A fairly comprehensive field in short for Maori reform and improvement in civil and social ethics

Another Act, also passed in 1900, authorised the establishment oi Maori Land Councils to provide for the administration of native landsin such a way as to secure ''the better settlement and utilisation ot large areas of Maori lands at present lying unoccupied and unproductive, aitd the encouragement of the Alaorl in efforts of industry and self-help.''

If, in the distant future the veiy existence of the Maori is fated to be merged in that of the PaJceha., and the final home of the Brown Sea-Rover know him no more, we can but hope that some strain of so noble and intelligent a race, strong enough and loyal enough to trace with pride descent from such warrior chiefs os Hongi, Rangihaeta, ani Hone Heke, or such loyal and faithful allies as Te Puni, Rangitake, Ropata, Topia, ;uid others, may blend their characteristics with those of the Pakeha.

Nor can this hope find a liappier or more apposite forecast of fulfilment than may be found by quoting part of a Maori hymn written by the Rev. Mr Stowell, a descendant of the great warrior chief, Hong. Hika :

" Lord, who our wandering fathers bore From sea to sea,, from shore to shore, And sacred Mana gave, When far upon the trackless main, They cried aloud to Thee — nor vain 'lhou didst their wearying hearts sustain, O Hangi, Rongo, Tane, Tv, Be with us still, however few.

Lord, Thou hast known us through all time,

Of every sea, and land, and clime ; Thou art the pilgrim's hope. Our infant lives were vowed to Thee W.th spunking branch of sacred tree, O Rangi, Rongo, Tane, Tv, Be with us still, however few.