The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-04-14

countries OF WHICH, we nave any
knowledge, New Zealand comes near
est the Hawaiian Kindom in respect
of this question.
For many years it was illegal in
New Zealand to sell intoxicating
drinks to the Maori people, yet they
readily procured spirits, and many Of
them drank to excess. This legisla-
ton emanated from the old Provin-
cial Councils, and when the provinces
were abolished the Colonial Parlia-
ment embodied the same policy in its
general law. AS We have said, how
ever, the natives had no difficulty
whatever in procuring whatever drink
they craved for, although the white
population as q rule did not approve
of this illegal traffic, and did moth
ing to encourage it. Indeed, there
was very little direct intercourse be-
tween the races, each living apart as
much as possible. In this respect, it
will be seen, the conditions differ
widely from those in the Hawaiian
Islands, which difference really sug
gests most of the difficulty expert
enced in dealing with the question as
a local issue in this Kingdom.
The New Zealand Parliament en-
bodied the principle of local option in
the general licensing law, and by a
wise foresight, it made a special pro-
vision in the law for applying it in
native districts. The consequences of
| this provision is far-reaching. as shall
be presently seen.
During the long race contest in New
Zealand, the Maoris in the interior
segregated themselves, and succeeded
| in establishing a clearly defined ter
| ritorial division of the North Island,
known as the King country" 1t
was death for a O0Eeh0, or white
man, to cross this lire. By degrees,
however, the natives began TO tire of
their isolation, and interviews were
held between King TawhaiO and
members of the Colonial Government
| with view to common understand
ing. The end of all was that the
King, accompanied by several Chiefs,
recently visited England to lay the
land grievances of their race before
the Queen. Before leaving New Zea-
land, Sir George Grey, formerly Gov
ernor OF New Zealand, and Il warm
friend of the Maori people, induced
Tawhaio to join the blue ribbon y
organization and abstain from intOXi-
cants till his return. This was a
| great deprivation to Tawhaio and his
escort, whose fondness for rum was
proverbial; but they all Loyalty OBJ
served their pledge, and were mi
tiated as Good Templars with much
ceremonial, while in England. The
Aborigines Protection Society took
them in hand, and Exeter Hall
smiled upon them.
King Tawhaio returned to New
Zealand without securing the object
of his visit, but he showed that he
had profited by his journey. The
tdpu was taken off his territory, and
a survey for trunk line of railroad
is in progress. The fine harbOr OF
| nav uldJ OH Cl1C w GSG OOdSl3 HAS
been thrown open; and the natives
without sacrificing their land, will
derive large rentals from portions OF
their territory, which is well tim
bered and watered, full of minerals
and having broad alluviaI valleys
It is perhaps the most interesting
and beautiful country in the southern
hemisphere.
But the Maori King and his people
have resolved upon one thing which
will make their Kingdom" unique
if not permanent. They are tired Of
their Haul Hau fanaticism-"a BLEND
of Christian and Pagan Titualism and
creeds which they adopted for wal
purposes"-and are casting around
for a new religion. They are puzzled
by the multiplicity of Christian sects
and want a religion which will EN-
body the idea of unity and develop
ment. But they are agreed abso-
lutely upon one point-the Maori
religion of the future in the King
country must "embody the prin
ciples of Blue Ribbonism." Like
prudent men, they have left nothing
to chance. They applied to the Gov
ernor to put the prohibition clauses o.
the Licensing act In operation in
their district.
This law provides that if the native
owners of any land, on which 8
license for the sale of Intoxicating
drink has not been granted, make
application to the Governor to have
their lands exempt from the opera.
ton of the Licensing act, the Gov.
ernor in Council shall make procla-
nation declaring that no license fol
the sale of drinks shall be granted
within such areas. Friends of tenn
perance in the colony brought this
provision of the law under notice OF
the natives, and from Tawhaio, the
King, down to the humblest of his
clansmen, they resolved to adopt it.
Application to Governor Sir VIM
Jervois was made in due form, and
the proclamation has issued which
dedicates three million acres of the
| 6poct Iard i'm New Zealand forever tC