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Waka Maori, Volume 10, Issue 12, 16 June 1874, Page 154

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European correspondents who have a knowledge of Maori are requested to be good enough to forward their communications in both languages. To the Editor of the Waka Maori. Waipiro Bay, sth May, 1574. Mt —Greeting. Allow me to offer a word of advice to the multitudes who indulge to excess in the use of intoxicating drinks. I know a man who was honestly advised by the landlord of the publichouse to drink moderately, so that he might be able to get safely to his home with his goods, but he would not hearken. This man had left in cash £3 15s. of his money, £4< he had expended in clothing for his wife and five children; but, in consequence of his state of helpless intoxication, all was stolen from him. Yes, rum had stolen away his perceptive faculties, and left his drunken body an inert mass of bones and flesh only. His money and his goods w-ere gone, and his living soul was gone too, leaving the body a lifeless mass. When the spirit returned again to his body he was enabled to perceive that his goods were gone, and that the only thing left for him was to lick the flat rocks upon which had crawled the cray-fish of the sea (i.e., lick the glasses which had contained the nectar in which he so much delighted), and to bemoan and grieve over the loss of his £7 15s. It was resolved to take this case before the Native Assessors to have it inquired into by them; but the one before whom it was taken was drunk too ! This is the cause of our ruin (drinking to excess). The Pakcha usually drinks by rule, and when he does not do so a lodging is provided for him in gaol. The Assessors speak no word of reproof to the drunkard, lest he should retort upon them that they also drink. The only sober Assessor I know is Iharaira Te Houkamau ; all the rest rejoice in strong drink. To my mind, a drunkard is like a dog chained to the door of his master's house ; so, by his appetite for glasses, is the drunkard held a prisoner at the public-house door. Let my friends say if this be not the character of the drunkard. There is another kind of intoxication which is destroying us, and that is the absence of determination in the chiefs of the people to suppress land disputes and troubles. Men become intoxicated by these land questions as well as by rum. It is my earnest desire that all disturbiug influences and annoyances should be put down, and that we should promote and foster among us that great blessing, educatiou, so that our ignorance may be dispelled by our children when they shall have acquired a knowledge of the ways and civilization of the Pakeha. From your friend, Hutana Taett. [Although duly appreciating the sentiments of Hutana Taru, as expressed in his letter, we nevertheless doubt, whether the Native Assessors be so bad as he has represented them. We are acquainted with many who are highly respectable men, and who, we are quite sure, would rejoice if the Native people would abandon drinking habits altogether. Doubtless, there are some such on the East Coast. We have heard that there are others who, not considering the position which they hold, do sometimes indulge to excess in intoxicating drinks. To such, we would say, that they were not appointed as Magistrates for the purpose of leading their people into habits of drunkenness, but to put down all evil, and to set an example of sobriety and virtue. They should recollect that, from the exalted position in which they

are placed, the eyes of all the people are upon them, and their example is powerful for good or evil. If they have any respect for themselves, and regard for the welfare of their people, they will at once abandon habits which must ultimately lead to the ruin of both body and soul. To the people, we would say, blame not your chiefs for your own vices, for every man shall be judged according to his own works. If you wish to be a happy and a prosperous people, you must eschew drinking habits altogether. It is a habit which has ruined hundreds of thousands of Pakehas; the drunkenness of parents has brought misery and starvation upon thousands of innocent and helpless children; myriads of lost Spirits in Hell this day ascribe, with never-ending curses, their fall to the intoxicating draught; in short, it may be said of KingAlcohol, as of Saul and David: ""War and Pestilence have slain their thousands ; but King Alcohol has slain his tens of thousands." And will the Maoris, think you, escape the ravages of this all-destroying King P "W~e tell you, that unless you altogether abjure habits of drinking, your days, as a people, are numbered. "We know the misery and suffering which it has produced in our own race, and, therefore, we are the better able to warn you. Rest assured, we would far sooner see you a happy and a prosperous people, living side by side and uniting with us in industrial pursuits, and in striving to make our common home a great country, than be left alone by ourselves in the land. See ye to it.]