DEATHS OF MAORIS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12879, 27 September 1912, Page 3

DEATHS OF MAORIS.

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. Ihe. Herald's Taumarunui correspondent telegraphs an incident that reveals too clearly the pitiful waste of life that goes on among the fine native race of this country. Last week Dr. HoM-ard. of Taumarunui, was directed by the Health Department to go to Tawata. . near the house-boat on the Wanganui river, to visit a Maori kainga afflicted with sickness. Accompanied 1 by Rev. J. E. Ward (Maori missionary) as interpreter, he went down by special boat and found a shocking- state of affairs existing. Three young natives, aged respectively 5, 15, and 17. had already died, and were buried, no burial certificate being necessary m the case of Maoris. A number of others were huddled together m a stifling whare without a. chimney, with no ventilation and with a fire m a, kerosene tin to keep them warm. The first thing the visitors did was to knock a couple of boards off the roof to admit air, then to throw the kerosene tin with its contents out of doors, the natives meanwhile offering no objection, but, on the contrary, a^sisting them. After this the doctor treated the Maoris, gave them medicine and advice, and returned. The Native Council established some years ago is expected to see to the health of the Maori kaingas and is permitted -to collect certain taxes for the purpose. The facts recorded above would show that their efforts, if they ever made any, have met with little success