69

H.—3l

old friend and associate, of your own tribe and blood, have successfully performed my mission amongst you, to stop your tears, to make you healthy, wealthy, and wise. Without your health all your wealth and wisdom will be of little worth to you ; therefore, adopt this measure which will make you wiser and better men, in your homes and out of them, in the school and in the State." Thus argued the speaker, waxing eloquent as his theme opened before him, and his auditors appreciated his earnestness and desire to improve the social and moral condition of his people. "Do not blame the pakeha for your vices which you have voluntarily accepted, but for the future choose the good and eschew the evil. Take what is given you for your comfort and advancement, learn to govern yourselves well, so that you may ultimately share in the good government of the beautiful and fertile country which you have the privilege to occupy for the span of your existence." The speaker then sketched the main provisions of the Maori Councils Act, and its many advantages, pointing to the serious consequences which flow from the neglect of the laws of health, inattention to cleanliness, and the like, the effect of insobriety, with its debasing characteristics, the excessive use of tobacco, &c. He urged that they should not delay the good work, but should at once do everything which would insure the election of a trustworthy representative Council before his return to the mainland ; and he likewise urged that that Council should earnestly perform the duties which would devolve upon them. This was his night-and-day dream, and the desire of his life ; let them see that the love he bore them should be reciprocated, and that he should return to the Government of New Zealand and to their Maori brethren throughout the length and breadth of the land with the joyful tidings that they had decided to lead new lives, to be foremost in the van of progress. These remarks were received with approbation, and soon one Native speaker after another followed, giving his view of the movement, and generally supporting the adoption of the Act. All the speeches were markedly courteous, and replete with good sense, and displayed a wonderful grasp of the subject of discussion. The Hon. Major Steward was then called upon to address the meeting, and did so, Dr. Pomare acting as interpreter. He told of the high appreciation in which the Native race was held by the people of New Zealand, and of the efforts made to elevate them and teach them to understand and appreciate the advantages of social reform. He passed in review the various enactments which had been introduced from time to time in the Parliament of New Zealand to improve the condition of the Natives, and finally dealt with the Maori Councils Act. itself, section by section, making running comments thereon as he passed. He urged them to adopt that Act, and so apply it to themselves that its practical utility would soon become apparent to all coming in contact with them ; and, in conclusion, he thanked the meeting for its attention. The Stipendiary Magistrate, Mr. Florance, next addressed the meeting. He spoke of the pleasure he experienced at being present on this memorable occasion when a new regime was about to be brought in which would bring the Maori and pakeha into much closer union of thought and action than heretofore. The speaker complimented the Natives of the islands upon their high moral tone, and the manner in which they had backed him in the performance of the manifold duties of his office during his three years' sojourn with them. He felt confident, judging from the past, that the pleasant relationship which had hitherto existed would continue, especially as they knew how anxious he was to do everything necessary for their welfare. He hoped they would look upon him as their friend and adviser in any difficulty which the Council might meet with in the early stages of its existence. They might rest assured that their desire to improve their conditions of life would always meet with the hearty support of any representative of the Government who might be there ; indeed, it was tacitly understood that no officer in charge of this district should do anything antagonistic or detrimental to the well-being of the community at large. They ought not to neglect the opportunity now offered them of managing their own affairs effectually and successfully. He urged them not only to take immediate action to constitute the Council, but also to take such further steps as would set that body in actual working-order with the least possible delay, and thus prove their earnestness and their full acceptance of the benefits offered them through their old friend and fellow-citizen, who to look upon was to respect and admire, for he practised what he preached, and was a walking exemplification of the good results which follow from better conditions of life. There was a place in the world —in the arctic regions—where the sun rose slowly day by day until it melted the ice barriers under its beneficent rays ; and in like manner, in these islands, the light was slowly, yet surely, increasing in the hearts and minds of the Maori people, and leading them on to the perfect day when all hearts would be joined in one, and Maori and pakeha would become one people. The speaker concluded by thanking the doctor for his kindness in acting as interpreter, and the people for a patient hearing freely accorded. Major Steward and Mr. Florance were invited to partake of refreshments in the Chief's residence, which invitation they accepted; and they then retired well pleased with what they had seen and heard. Morioris. This unhappy race is all but extinct. There are only eight pure Morioris living. The youngest is a man about twenty, and there are no women of his age, or that he could marry ; thus he becomes the last of his race. In 1862 a census was taken by the Morioris. A copy of the original document is now in my possession. According to this census, there were 945 males and 727 females living when the Maoris landed in 1836. The history of the decay of this race can easily be traced. Apart from the few who were slaughtered by the New Zealanders upon their arrival, the diseases which were introduced, both by the pakeha and Maori, carried off the majority. It is stated that long before the Maori came a ship was wrecked near the Islands coast. Several of the survivors were received by the Natives.