WORK AMONG MAORIS.

White Ribbon, Volume 1, Issue 5, 1 November 1895, Page 6

WORK AMONG MAORIS.

This department of W.C.T.U. work has been started and carried on by tho superintendent, Mrs Duff Hewelt, whose attention to the Maoris was first attracted by a circumstance which was the result of wearing the blue ribbon. The little bow of blue attracted and aroused the indignation of some tipsy Maoris. The ringleader pointed at Mrs Hewett, making grimaces, and saying, “ No good the blue ribbon 5 ” and instead of retiring from this formidable person, Mrs Hewett returned the compliment by pointing him, and said, “ No good the Waipero;” and then, advancing towards him, she touched his arm and said, “ If you take too much Waipero you go down there (pointing downwards); you will never see the beautiful heaven and a beautiful Christ (pointing upwards). You will go down down to be with li n aou. J * He looked surprised (as also did the others) at being talked to in this way, and said “ I want the blue ribbon now ! ” Mrs Hewett said “ You must come and talk to me at my house, and he went the following Sunday, and signed the pledge. Mrs Hewett shewed him a picture of the Saviour, and said, Remember Ariki, you have promised Him that you will take no more Waipero. He said, “ I know, I will keep my pledge.” And after keeping perfectly sober for more than a year, he brought six other Maoris to sign the pledge. He was so well known as a drunkard both among Maoris and Europeans that his reformation had great effect. Mrs Hewett th *n suggested that the Maoris should be again taken up as a department of work in the W.C.T.U., and at the next Conv'„?.t’cn, some months afterwards, she was appointed Superintendent of Work among Maoris. On the 30th of Juiy, 1891, a meeting was convened by Mrs Hewett, and he.d in Mrs B.dcombe Brown’s drawing-room, Wellington. Ovor forty ladies and gentlemen were present. The erreui, reature of that meeting was the speech from Te Heu Heu, the Taupo Chief. The dignity of the

speaker impressed all, and the politeness and refinement of the interpreter, Mr Hone Heke, charmed everyone. Te Hen Heu spok em-nestlv as to the evils of waipero amongst the Maorip. He ca'’ed it “ that great monster,” devouring alike both Pakeha and Maori. He most courteously thanked the W.C.T.U. and Mrs Hewett for taking up the work, and said he would do all he could to promote the cause amongst his people, and invited Mrs Hewett to visit them at Taupo. At the close of the meeting Mrs Hewett s*id funds would be required for the printing in Maori of pledge cards and temperance tracts, also New Testaments and other books for distribution. (Her travelling expenses she has paid herself.) The first lady to come forward with a subscription was Mrs H. D. Bell; and amongst others who have kindly contributed is our Governor’s wife, the Countess of Glasgow, who has expressed in the kindest terms her sympathy with this department of W.C.T.U. work. In her address, Mrs Hewett said : This work not only stirs up to activity the more educated of the Maoris, but gives a helping hand to those who see the evils of taking alcohol but who are not strong enough to step on to the side of temperance alone. Many opportunities for speaking of our Saviour arise. At our meeting in the open air Pipikiki l was told there were Maoris of ali religions there, and after speaking a few words one Maori asked, “ You Catholic?” and I said “ Yes.” Another said, “ You Church of England ?” Again I answered “ Yos.” They then began to laugh, but continued to question. “ You Wesleyan ?” “ Yes,” I replied. “ You Salvation Army ?”—“Yes.” They then turned away with derisive looks and laughter; but I arrested them by saying, “ Look at this,” and I held up before them a picture of our Saviour on the cross. An instant of silence, then off went all their hats. I said, with a smile of joy, “ I see you know the Christ.” I said, “He died for all—the Catholic, the Church of England, the Wesleyan, the Salvation Army. He is my Saviour; He is the Saviour of all who love and obey Him—Catholic, Church of England, Wesleyan, Salvation Army.” They smiled and said, “ Kapai” “ One God, one Jesus Christ, one religion.” “ Kaipai ; we all the same as you.” That is the way in which I overcame the difficulty of so many different religions, which the Maoris say so puzzles them.