MAORI WORK.

White Ribbon, Volume 16, Issue 190, 19 April 1911, Page 15

MAORI WORK.

An unusual amount of interest has been shown in this branch of work. I be presence of Miss H**ra Stirling and other Maori Sisters at the Invercargill Convention and tin* part tliey plavisl in the various gatherings, brought the native work prominently before the members of the Convention. It was unanimously decided that something definite must be attempted during the year. Lack of funds for active organisation, brought into operation, tlirough the fertile brain of Miss Powell, tin* scheme of raising money by means of collecting cards, and all will be more than pleased to learn that through the distribution of these little wjiite messengers,the handsome sum of €7O 17s Id has been collected and forwarded to the Maori Treasurer. We had hoped that Miss Stirling might have given us seevral months of active work, but her marriage in November last, to the Rev. Him* Mumo, of Pakipaki, prevented this. Miss Rebecca Smith, of Hokianga, is now engaged as a worker, and as soon as possible will spend her time among her own people as a ' W hite Ribbon” organiser.

Very practical sympathy with our Maori sisters was shown in Napier in October last, when the Hukarere Lids’ School was burned to the ground. The inmates escaped with their lives only, no-Ming else being sated.

Mrs Oldli atn’s aitioi in giving very prompt and practical assistance, has done more to convince the Maoris as a whole that we ‘ practise what we preach,” when we call them “sisters.”

It was thought well we should recognise the great help so willingly given to the W.C’.T.U. at the time hy Mi>s Stirling, and as a token of appreciation a silver kettle and stand was sent to her as a wedding present.

I uenty-throe I nions hav» sent in donations, Wellington heading tin* list with £l3 is (id, tlioiigli fti Is (><l of this amount was xTit tlirotign Mrs Hoxall, of Wcilington, from Wi>.s Barton, now of Victoria, with the wish tiiat it should ho list'd for tin* Maoris ot the “Far North,’* as was Wellington’.- second donation of f< .’is, collected hy Mr. Brewer, of Blenheim and tho members of .Mrs Hoxall's Hihlo class. These amounts art* inoludod in tin* general balance sheet, hut the distribution of them must of necessity wait till some definite work is taken up in the district for which tho money was collected. To all we tend our heartiest thanks, knowing well that each donation represents earnest and arduous work on the part of kind friends. Napier reports at their pro\incial l nion that four .Maori I nions were represented, and much interest is taken hy tlie natives generally in W.C.T.I . work.

(iisborne.— I hey made a very satisfactory beginning early in last year, but owing to much sickness and many sad deaths among the Maoris, and to a \ery wet winter and exceptionally bad roads for several months, meetings were not as regular as they would otherwise have been. I lie Ma >ri Superintendent attended all the meetings held. Two country branches with small memberships united wit.i the (dsborne European I nion, and the Maori officers attend the parent I nio:i meetings, and by so doing will be fetter qualified later on to guide their o.vn l nion ;. In October (iisborne formed a »rt of l nion in connection with tin* Maori members, and met weekly for the purpore of sewing, and nrovided a st t!l to raise funds for printing literature for them, and to send a delegate.

lari ki, in Taranaki, colleeted Jiirty shillings for Maori extension, and sent elothing to he distributed to t.’.e natives of the King Country.

Lyttelton has done good work, the Superintendent having Msited the Maori pa occasionally, while literature has been circulated, sick ones visited, and a Christmas tree held for the young folk, e\ery child receiving a gift. Timaru has been very active all the year, and has sent in a fine report of much good work having been done. A concert was given in aid of tin* school funds at Tcmuku bv a number of “Y’s.

Visits were paid to several pas, and gospel and temperance addresses given. Maori Testaments were distributed. We hone to have Maori babes on our Cradle Roll. Over has been received from all sources during the year. We trust that our efforts will be redoubled, and that much good work will he accomplished.

Donations. Invercargill £7 Ss (id, Hamilton £2 11s (id, Timaru £1 Os 7d, (iishorno £3 13s, Wellington £l3 7s Gd, Hastings £3 1 Is, Nelson £2 18s, Matapu £2, Dunedin £1 8s (id, Otahuhu £1 os, Waikari £l, Si aster ton II 17>s, New Plymouth £8 Os (id, Wanganui £3 Is 6d. North Kast Valley £1 Bs, Waimate £1 10s, Otautau £2, Waitara £l, Walkworth 17s 6d, Lyttelton 10s, Core l()s, Richmond 10s, C|»j»er Unit os. Total, £7O 17s Id.

HALANCK SHKKT.

E H HENDERSON, N.Z. Superintendent.

Receipts. f s d To cash in hand 9 1 s To amounts rmeived as private donations •> .") 0 lo amounts remixed from I'liions per cards 70 17 1 £82 (> 9 Expenditure. f s d Itv travelling expen>es 1 i7 0 (Misses Stirline, 1'oxxcll, Smith etc.) My donations to funds for Maori work 1(1 3 0 Mv hank charge 0 0 Mv printing 1 12 ti By stamps, stationery, exchange, and telegrams 3 o 11 Bv balance •*>!) 3 1 182 ♦j 9