Sir George Grey and the Maoris

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 234, 2 October 1937, Page 2 (Supplement)

Sir George Grey and the Maoris

IN previous articles on this page many references were made to Sir George Grey's regime an Governor of New Zealand, and to the events in which ho was the most commtiuding figure. A great deal more could bo written nlmul his statesmanship, his scholarly accomplishments, his far seeing care for the future. JI <• was practically a dictator in his first Governorship, but a fair and generous dictator. A Governor really governed in those early years of New Zealand, end Grey was a. benevolent ntl'tocrat. He was a peacemaker, be found this country distracted with war, and he left it a. lurid of quiet, industry anil progress. To-dav I shall recall the end of that Hr-<t Governorship when, after eight years of strenuous effort. Grev left the colony to become Governor at the Cape of (lood Hope, Tt was in those fight years that he won the hearts of Ihe Maori people by his vcrv practical interest, in their welfare. The Tribal Farewells. Never was any ruler of a land with a native race no greeted and lamented fls Sir George Grey was when he was leaving Auckland'at the end of IS.VI. T)eputirtlons of chiefs and addt of farewell from all parts of the Island expressed the grief of the pooplo at his departure. I quote some of these parting speeches ("mllii" is the Maori word); they show the sincerity and depth of the Maori gratitude. That golden age. when the Maori villages and lands became scenes of fruit fulness and progress in pakclm arts, was presently ruined bv wars, which most probably never would have occurred had Grey remained here. The Waikato tribes' letters of fareWell were pathetic in the light of after events. One chief after another recalled the gifts of schools, of agricultural instruction. "You have made our lands important and valuable by your teaching." "You have elevated us and given 'lis teachers to instruct our children and implant good principles." That was the burden of the Waipa tribal farmers' "mihl." One chief after another in various tribes expressed the hope that the next Governor ■would be such » man as Grey. There was always tho fear of the future, mingled with their gratitude for the good deeds of the past. The Arawa "Mihl." A party of the Rotorua Maoris, led by Chief To Rangi-Kaheke, waited on tho Governor in Auckland and the Arawa chanted songs of farewell and sorrow in subdued tones. Then tho chief read an addrese of praise nnd parting. One of the passages in tho address described the Governor'* Influence for peace and the advancement of the Maori. There had been "a little fear" among the people before he became Governor. (Thia was a gentle i ference to the war in the North In 1845.) "But when you dune, 0' Governor Grey, it vm like

His First Governorship and the Peoples Gratitude

By JAMES COWAN.

the shock of iin earthquake. Yo*:r fume rose to ttie centre of the island jit ml extended to the waves of the ocean shore. . . . You encou aged j industry in the cultivation of the | .-oil. showed the way to acquire properly, and rained the island to it* present state of comfort. You have taught us to shun evil. You liavo lieen as one of the ministers of the churches. Therefore we call you l)y these names: The Peacemaker, the Moiioura 11 ]e, the Friendly One. the Lo\ injr One, the Kind One, the Director, the Protector, the Far-famed One. the Lifter-lip and the Father." The Arawa sang all together .< parting chant, in which there was a reference to the farewell gifts that they laid at the Governor's feet: "Brlnir forth the feathers of th* hnln, Thnt hi rd so prized that flits across The lowering range of Tarnrua: And hrlnir the feathers of ttie albatross, The bird that sldnis along The mountain wave; Hrlnir them to crown the brow Of our beloved one. Who lenves us for bis father's Jand." The Ideal Governor. In a letter of farewell the old Ngapuhi chief, Patu-one, who lived nt Awataha, on the northern side of Auckland harbour, paid his respects to the Governor and Grey: . . Now should you remain away and another Governor be appointed see yon to this: Select a person like yourself as ft Governor for us. Let iiiin be considerate and kind, and let his heart shine brightly. If I discover any evil during your absence I will make it known to you. But now the land i» quiet."

Then, in a poetic flight, the ancient warrior of Ngnptihi, invoked th»; wintry wind* that pierced his iikin nnd hade thein cease while he scaled the hill of Tapeka Point, at the Bay of Islands, where once he had gone to see his Governor's ehip sail away: "Perchnnce my friend Is still In sight And wnlts for me. . . . Ainu, Micro's nought npon the deep But one wide wave." Orakei and the "Wolves." There 'is a prophetic ring in part of the address sent to Sir George by tho Ngati-Whatua tribe, of Orakei, signed by their Chief Te Kawan te Tawa and their spiritual teacher Wiremu Hopihana (William Hohson). They greeted Grey as -their father and they begged him to be mindful of them, his Maori children, to whom he had shown so much benevolence. They gave expression to their anxiety about the future of their ancestral lands. "With yon two (Bishop Selwyn and the Governor) are our thoughts during your absence,

because we do not know t ie day the wolves may come and tear the sheep, and some will be scattered. O friend Governor, when you reach the other aide of the ocean speak to the Queen about the good arrangements you have made in regard to the formation of a township on our land, and let this land be reserved for our own use for ever, nnd let us have a deed that will endure, so that it may be safe."' Their anxiety for the safety of their land was apparently aroused even in 1853 by pakeha efforta to separate tl&in from their little estate on the Waiteniata <shore. There w a pathetic reminder in the letter of the debt that the Auckland people owe to the Orakei tribe: "The hands of the Ngati-Whatua have not touched a gun to alarm or molest the Europeans. You will remember that when the Jfgati-Paoa (the tribe of the Hauraki Oulf coast and the islands) sought to quarrel

with the Europeans of Auckland and came to our place we gave them no assistance." Thifl was a reference to the fa<rt that when the war-canoe fleet of Ngati-Paoa made a raid, or a threatening demonstration against Auckland town in 1831, landing at Mechanics' Bay, they put into Okahu Bay, Orakei, after being compelled by tho troope to leave the beach. But the chiefs of Orakei were all for peace and through their intervention with the Governor friendship was restored. Had the Ngati-Whatua chosen to take the part of the HaurakiGulf warriors—who had gathered to demand redress for the wrongful arrest of one of their chiefs—this incident might have resulted ill battle and bloodshed. Consistently for the last century the Orakei people, whose last little fragment of land is coveted by the never-satisfied pakeha of the city, have held to their pact of loyalty and friendship.