Page:Advanced Australia.djvu/145

 numbers are being thinned by disease, and, though slowly, they appear to be experiencing the inevitable fate of a weaker race coming into contact with a stronger one. Generally, the tribes hold land in common, on which they subsist; others hold large areas of land, and are comparatively wealthy; while others again, having sold their land, find it difficult to procure enough to live on. However, as they still have left them some 10,000,000 acres, valued at £3,000,000; and as they only number 40,000 souls (exclusive of 5000 half-castes of all sorts), it will be seen they are not without resources. And their representatives in the Legislature hold a record for stone-walling. For the rest, strong and active in body, and of undoubted ability, they make excellent farm hands; but their natural indolence is a decided disadvantage. They are good horsemen, are fond of racing, and dearly love to talk, some of their "huis" or meetings extending over several days. Generally law-abiding, they easily succumb to diseases brought on by intemperance and the insanitary conditions under which they live. Steps are being taken to provide them, where possible, with medical aid, and to instil in their minds some understanding of the laws of hygiene; and if this is done, there is every reason to hope that the decadence of the Maori may be arrested for very many years. But to anyone desirous of obtaining information about them, let me recommend a charming book, entitled "Old New Zealand, by a Pakeha Maori." It is most delightful reading, and full of details of Maori life.

It has for some time past been generally admitted by the leading technical journals that New Zealand leads the world in one department of mining—that of gold-dredging: a special and cryptic branch of the art, indeed, which is all but unknown, as yet, elsewhere.