The Timaru Herald. MONDAY, MAY 13, 1901.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3559, 13 May 1901, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. MONDAY, MAY 13, 1901.

According- to the recent Maori census-tho numbers of the native race- have increased aiii.ee the census of 1836. The official figures are as follows, and thoy appear to have been generally accepted as accu- ,-„;,- -North Island, 1901; 40,611; 1896, :'.7,100. :Soutli Island, 1901, 2028; 1K96, :-;324. Chatham Islands, 1901, 212; 1595, 199. Totals, 1901, 43,851; 1896, 39,623. But if we go back further, to the census of 1891, and compare- its result with that of 1896, wo find (hat in the interval between, thono two years there was a decrease of upwards of 2000. These figures na'.tvra!ly give rise to a suspicion that there has been an error in at least one of the counts. It is hard to. believe that if there was a substantial decrease between 1891 and 1896, thero was a yet more substantial increase between 1896 and 1901. Those who have accepted- tho returns as correct are at no loss to discover plausible reasons for tho increase, but considering the short time during which it is alleged to have taken place, they do not strike us as at all convincing. Tho "Evening Post" says: " This striking change during the last quinquennial period would seem to indicate, or at all event* hold out the hope that the Maori race has weathered the fatal point in its intercourse with.the white people, and is now adapting itself to civilised surroundings. If this is the case, so much the- better for the Maori; if it is not so, then the present increase is temporary and meaningless. Most people , will prefer to believe that the census is a-true indicator, that the incres-e is psr- . manerit, and. that civilisation will not be the. lor.g-predicted curse to the native, but ja blessing. There have besa n:r>ny uplifting influences, religious and educational, among the Maoris, each and till of which will doubtless claim a sh?re of credit. But this revival cannot be ascribed -to one more than the other; the influences are probably general, and include anything that tends to help the Maori to conquer his acquired vices and lead a healthy life. The local home government and sanitary instruction placed at the disposal of the Maoris ?.re of too recent a date to be considered among the causes of the forward movement, but they may assist in sustaining it." Our contemporary is doubtless right in eliminating the somewhat improved sanitary conditions amongst' a pro-

[ portion of the native settlements from the list of reasons for the increase. As the lc Evening Post" observes, tho improved sanitary condiMous have not bean of sufficiently long standing to tell much on fhe •Ka' st.i.HrHi-',- fi r the, Mnnr.i-ra.ce. B' 1 ' !' r - ctl"-!' c:n::-a': m.-.-i;ior.ei.! —liie many '?:- •i:'ii".:g i;-ifr.:o''iees. religious and e-flucatiov. -have been in existence for a long period of years, and it would be strange indeed if, whilst they could not' avert the decrease of tb« Maori race between 1891 and 1895, they not only stopped a further decline between 1896 and 1901, but brought about an addition of 3000 or more to the native population. The fact is that a

Maori ceimis is not a thing that can be implicitly relied on; and where, as in the present instance, something altogether abnormal is to be observed in regard to the results of the numbering, it is not an unfair inference that a mistake has been made. We remember that, in respect of a Maori census taken a good many years ago, it was alleged that some hundreds of the natives had been counted twice. There is reason to think that the assertion was true.- 'lt is remarkable that the recent census shows a decrease in' the South Island, where, owing to the more settled habits of the' Maoris; there is far less probability of error than there is in the North Island:' • We, in common with a great •many other observers, believe that the Maori race is doomed to extinction, though .such a forecast would be no justification for relaxing the efforts being made by the State, the missionaries, and others, to avert the catastrophe. Undoubtedly the condition of large numbers of the native population is improving, and that being so, Khs final doom may be delayed. But the race is no longer what it was • physically. ; Its stamina, has been weakened to an alarming extent. The birth-rate is miserably small,, and the children in many instances' are weakly and have a tendency to chest diseases. Looking at the whole of the available information (excluding the figures of the census returns) is it likely that there should have been an almost sudden reversal of a* process which has been going on ever since the foundation of the colony, and which' there is good reason, for believing had commenced before a European set foot on the shores of New Zealand.