THE MAORIS AND HISTORY

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21198, 23 June 1934, Page 19

THE MAORIS AND HISTORY

TO TIIK EDITOR OF THS PRESS. Sir,—The worthy and tijoughtful let of their Excellencies in bestowing tie Vvaitangi Estate on the nation has !K )used a sense of profound admirals among the Maori people. New Zealand is confronted with the most wave dangers, one of which is her Mure to develop her historic sense, to recent years a great revival of the historic spirit has taken place in Engjjnd Our beloved Governor-General las preached the gospel of historic revival as well a.s contributing most Onerously as witnessed in the Waiting! Estate. "Waitangi," states Mr jj D. Bennett, "in the political field is j star in the firmament." A century bas almost passed, and though the Maori has lost his glorious heritage, bis life at any rate is saved. He has bad to struggle with elements hitherto unknown to him. The remnant of this proud and warlike people stands (o-day on the brink of an economic chasm, to some almost unbridgeable, Hid they meditate on what Waitangi aid the invasion of a new culture have brought in their wake. But there is no remorse. The Maori appreciates all that has been done for him and he knows that there is time yet to right such wrongs (and there be many) as still remain uncorrected. A report of an address given by Mr A. J. Campbell on "Maori Wars" was interesting, particularly when he stated that the fundamental cause of the wars was the clash of two peoples cf widely-divergent cultures. The Maori prefers to offer two reasons: (!) The creed and land-lust on the part of the white man; (2) the interference on the part of white men with Maori women. There are Maori proverbs in use to substantiate these two reasons. The report further states that Te Rooti was never captured. The following lament is Te Kooti's lament or mi hi for his distant tribe and homeland when he was in exile in the prison-isle of Whare Kauri (Chathair Island), 1866-68: F, pa to hau, he muri ruro If? croha, K:a t ngi utu flu i H? "nro'ha kite Iwi. Ka mornotu ki tawhili ki Taerau, Yn v.'i'i e Vite atu? K r i whoa aku hon i mua ra ? T •" tnmii tanrra ka liaere mai T tH k" tau-wehe, ka raunga iti au. Trmrlation: Kn-'- ve northern breezes, Vive ami sorrow laden. V- fiH my soul with s idncss TYr ' inr.folk far nv-ny, r«v tho.»c li-vond dread J'netau, T'" * liiovni jiir s o* the tn,. < ~.-e b<-ho!<is them there', i.v.- r „ fiiends of other Java, T'- .'irs of my youth and fame? T'j r.il'''''i far froiu nit; II ■ pii'ie is shorn away. T'-o oroof of historical facts is tc be found in Maori poems and songs. Vau-s ctC., TE ARITAUA PITAMA. June 21, 193!.