USE OF ARDENT SPIRITS BY NATIVES.

Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives, 1856 Session I

1 85 6. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

USE OF ARDENT SPIRITS BY NATIVES.

Transmitted to the House April 29, 1856, and ordered to be printed. THOMAS GORE BROWNE, Ar Governor. Messa 9 e No ' 9 " The Governor transmits to the House of Representatives the accompanying copies of letters, together with their translation, from the Waikato Native Tribes, addressed to the Governor and the General Assembly, praying the enactment of a law for the prevention of the sale of spirits to the Natives.. Government House, Auckland, 29th 1856. To the Governor and the Assembly. Friend the Governor, —Salutations to you, the father of all the tribes in New Zealand Father, be you loving to us, and cause to be removed from us this death of misery, that is to say, the spirits. This is our word to you —do not let any intoxicating drinks come to this land, to Waipa, but let it be kept there [i. e., Auckland] at the inns. Let the Maori law, which has been assented to by all the chiefs of this place and Waikato, be sacred, namely, that the Natives be not allowed to drink spirits. If the Natives persist in drinking spirits, let them pay for their offence; and if they have no payment, let him [the singular number " ia" is often used to denote a tribe or people] be sent to Hobart Town, there to die. Friend the Governor, let the law be of an enlightened nature; let it be based upon the principles of the Gospel that God may be glorified in this land, for we have been saved by the Gospel from error and numerous calamities. If we had done evil to the Europeans, it would be right for them to deceive us. Bear in mind those Natives who disregard this law; be not undecided (in regard to punishing those who break the law) whether they are Europeans or Natives. God claims the Maori people, and claims the Europeans; and the Maori people are the subjects of the Queen, as are also the Europeans the Queen's subjects, therefore let there be one principle of action in all things. Let us be instructed in good things, in good principles. Some of our actions have become good, because we have been instructed, by the Word of God. This is our word to you, 0 Father, let this drink be done away with; that is to say, this death, for it is not food, but death. Our calamities in former times were like those brought about by the indulgence in spirits, we were bewitched or maddened with our own passions; hut those evils have passed away by the "Word of God, and they are being given back to us by intoxicating drinks. This is the worst thing hitherto brought to New Zealand. Friend; B.—No. L

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Friend,' do not let this matter lie low, but raise it up, so that all the people of this land Wt'alfin this wicked or frightful death, drunkenness. It is a drink fit only for the foolish, and for the evil spirit;—it is a drmk that causes men to die, it is a drink that bring about murder: we have determined, therefore, not to allow it to be used, or we advocate the prmciple of its being done away with, and that it be not given to the Native people, and that those things which cause death be not brought hither. Enough. (Signed) Tahatika) Wiremu Kokiri, Takerei Te Rau, Tareti Paetun, Heta Tarawhiti, Paora Hurakia, Nepe Ngakau, Finpi Ngahuka. Tamiora Te Ngahiri, By the Natimaliuta of Te W hakapaka. „1. . . . . , . The whole of us have consented that there shall be an end of drinking spirits, because it brings about great evil. (Signed) „ .T . Kaituna, Heperi Te Roma, Pita Neke Nikorima Te Kapoto, Himiona Te Taiki, Rupuha Te Raka, Naniura Hamiora Komekome, Eruete Tikora, Taraliawaiki, Matena Ruta Haowhenua, Hori Taiepa, Karaka Hopekau, Paora Te Roma, Tahiti Pirika Takahi, Amatana Nganatie, Taraka lliko, Ineka Waihekura, Paratene Maioha, Aperaliama Te Oke, Apiata Motuiti, Hakipa Mangahana, Hakaraia Ngapu. Patara Te Rangi, These are all. To the Governor and Assembly.

To the Governor and the Assembly^ Fritnds, Salutations to all of you. Friends, be good, loving, and attentive to the word which all the tribes of Waikato have assented to, namely, that the Natives be not allowed to use spirits and the Europeans be not permitted to give spirits to the Natives. What benefit does this drink of the evil spirit confer ? Perhaps death will be the result of its indulgence. Friends, be you all gracious or kindly towards us. You have numerous things to bestow, but this one thing, keep it hence, let it be for the use of the Europeans only. We are an ignorant people, let us not therefore be deceived by the white man, but rather do you cause every one to be judged who breaks this law, whether he be a European or a ISative, and let not this thing be the cause of disturbance between the two races. Let us be loving one toward the other. You are our parent, therefore 0 Father, do you chide the elder brother who is burning his younger brother [the elder brother means the European population, and the younger brother the Maori] with fire, or is pushing him over the clitt. Be you angry with our elder brother, the European, that he may not burn us with nie, that is to say, with spirits, and not push us over the cliff, lest we die by this drink. There are many kinds of death awaiting us all, and drunkenness is pleaded as an excuse tor the murderer, „ , AT Let not this evil be the means of extinguishing the love of the Europeans toward us i\ atives, and our love towards them. Lo ! if this carnal heart [i.e., vice] is permitted to increase, evil will grow up amongst us, and we shall return to our former [heathenish] practices which are condemned by the law ot God, and the law of man. The law says, " Thou shalt not kill," but we do kill; "Do not commit adultery, but we do commit adultery ; " Thou shalt not be drunken," and yet we are drunken. We see nothing in the work of God in reference to cannibalism, but the use of spirits will become the means of returning to this practice for the desire of the drunkard is to kill men. x ather,.

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Father, we have become fearful of those disorderly ones amongst us, who continue to indulge in this drink, we have thought therefore that a law should be made to meet this evil, lest troubles should arise; but let us live in unity and peace. Enough. By the people of Taupiri. (Signed) Parati Takoki, Eparaima Te Ratapu, Te Koromehu Ngawhare, Ihaia Rongo, Te Manihera Houhiri, Hopa Ngaroi, Kereopa Kahu, Rupene Ngarepo, Apera Te Ngahuru, Erueti Ngakainga, Apiata, Ahimereka Kihore, Karaka Te Taniwha, Wiremu Te Taniwha,