MAORI HISTORY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 227, 25 September 1922, Page 7

MAORI HISTORY.

THE ROTARY CEUB. LECTURE BY DR. P- H. BUCK. "Maori Customs and Legends" was the topic chosen by Dr. P. H. Buck for his lecture at the Rotary Club's luncheon this afternoon. Dr- Buck pointed out that in our schools history was taught and the traditions that came down through it from time immemorial had inspired poets, artists and writers, but with Maori history there were no written pages, and it had been handed dorwn by memory, a method that often failed. He pointed out the Maoris at one tiro; had houses of learning, where only the children of a chief or those of high rank went, but owing to the teachers passing away or breaks, only- fragments concerning them could be gathered. This could never be rectified, but at the same time much could be done towards making a complete record. This was important. History showed that the smaller races were always absorbed by the larger races, and no matter what their sympathies were with the Maoris the race would disappear, but by recording Maori history they would be recording the history of their own country. One of the greatest recorders was the late Mr. P. S. Smith, who in 18112 . formed the Polynesian Society, which wa_, still in existence, and had done valu- . able work in recording the history of the Maoris. Tlie speaker also referred to the publications of Mr. E. Best, whom he thought waa the best ethnologist in the country. He instanced the various gods the Maoris used to have, and showed that the Maoris had reached a j very high standard of culture, besides i 'being astronomers and very fine navigators. Tn the Auckland Museum they I had a very fine collection of Maori ctir'OS land he thought this formed one of the j finest laboratories for the learning and teaching of Maori history.