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the northern Maori Councils, states as follows : " The position of the dog-tax in all the northern Councils is unsatisfactory, probably owing to the fact that Ngapuhi have more than once defied the European dog-tax collector, and have gone to prison rather than pay the impost, and owing to a feeling common to all Councils that by lowering the registration-fee a policy of conciliating recalcitrant Natives would be furthered. The receipts from this source have hardly been sufficient to cover the necessary cost." While on this subject I ought to allude to the grievances endured by Natives in their own districts, where Europeans are living in their midst on public roads or by permissive occupation. These Europeans absolutely refuse to pay the very nominal dog-tax, or to restrain their pigs, cattle, and horses from destroying the crops and wandering at large in the villages, thus rendering futile all attempts to keep the settlements clean; whereas the Natives themselves —the real owners of the land —are promptly fined by their respective Councils for any breaches of the by-laws. To prevent such abuses, and the very natural ill feeling caused thereby, I would respectfully ask that attention be given to the resolution adopted by the Rotorua Conference as to the advisability of affording the Maori Councils in Native districts the powers generally exercised by local bodies in such matters, subject, of course, to proper regulations. Additional powers should also be given to the Councils for the better suppression of the liquor traffic and the supplying of tobacco to children of tender years. Another matter of great urgency is to devise some steps that will effectually protect the cemeteries and sacred places of the Maori people from the persistent destruction and desecration carried on by Europeans. Bitter indignation has been caused by unfeeling white savages, who often add insult to injury by sending photographs to the papers illustrating their shameful depredation. The attached picture shows a party of these contemptible creatures in a famous burial-cave at Rotoiti Lake, disturbing the last resting-place of some loyal Arawa who died for their Queen during the war. Unfortunately, there seems to be no law under which such offences against humanity can be punished. How great would be the indignation were a Maori detected committing a similar offence in an European cemetery ! The Rotorua Conference adopted an urgent resolution praying the Government to protect their dead.

MAORI BURIAL CAVE, LAKE ROTOITI, ROTORUA. The cave, which is located in the rocks right on the edge of the lake, is accessible only by boat, and its existence is not generally known.

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