N.Z. HISTORY THE EARLY JOURNALS OF AN OUTSTANDING MISSIONARY

Press, Volume C, Issue 29674, 18 November 1961, Page 3

N.Z. HISTORY THE EARLY JOURNALS OF AN OUTSTANDING MISSIONARY

[Reviewed by A.R.i

The Early Journals af Henry ; Williams. Senior Missionary fa New Zealand of the Church Missionary , Society. Edited by Law- : ereme M. Royers Pegasus : Press, Christchurch 526 PPHenry Williams was almost certainly the outstanding missionary in nineteenth century ’ New Zealand. Modern historians might find some dif- • ficulty in accepting the state- ! ment made by Lord Bledisloe for the 1948 revised edition of . Hugh Carleton’s “Life” that “there is probably no man to whom New Zealand, in her relatively short and romantic history, owes more than to Archdeacon Henry Williams.” ' Most of them would, however, find themselves in agreement with the minute on Williams of September 27, 1939, in which the Committee of the Church Missionary Society recorded: “they wish to place on record their conviction that New Zealand owes more to him than to any other individual missionary.”

Bom in 1792. Henry Williams entered the Royal Navy when only fourteen. He saw action at Copenhagen in 1807 and on other accasions during the Napoleonic Wars. He was ordained as deacon and then as priest in 1822. His arrival with Samuel Marsden at the Bay of Islands in August 1823 inaugrated a new era in the history of the Church Missionary Society in New Zealand. At that time the Society had only tw*o by no means strong stations in the Bay of Islands. By 1840, largely due to the heroic endeavours of Henry Williams, it had more than twenty mission stations distributed throughout the North Island. Fearless, wonderfully energetic, utterly determined and dedicated, Williams provided the leadership which gave the Mission permanence and a widespread influence.

The publication of his early journals for the period 1826-40 is an event paralleling in importance the issue of “The Letters and Journals of Samuel Marsden” in 1932. While Williams may not write at such length as Marsden, it must be remembered that Marsden was an infrequent visitor to this country while Williams was a resident for nearly forty-four years. His early journals are of great value for the student of an important period in New Zealand history, both because of his quality as a man and because of his unique opportunities for observing and making history.

The Rev. Lawrence M. ; Rogers is to be congratulated i on the way in which he has i edited these journals. He has i provided a short but adequate ! biographical introduction, 1 many highly informative foot- i notes which will aid the s reader to identify places and i people mentioned in the text, and a series of useful ap- 1 pendices dealing with the : family of Henry Williams, i Maori Orthography, the vexed i subject of Land Purchases, the ship “Herald,” and the C.M.S. Vindication of Williams. In all these, as in his comprehensive bibliographical note. Mr Rogers has shown himself highly competent and very considerate of : the possible needs of the readers of these journals. Two mistakes which might be corrected are the reference to "the late Professor J. R. Elder,” who is still alive, and the mis-spelling. "MeLymont,” for “McClymont.” But, of course, it is the content of the journals which is of primary importance. Here the choice had to be made between selection and publication in full. Cost usually determines the adoption of the former course but, in this case, the financial assistance given by descendants of Archdeacon Henry Williams made possible the publication of the unabridged journals. Making available “as accurate a copy as possible” of the microfilms of the manuscripts is of the greatest importance to students of the period covered. They know they have no need to travel to consult the originals. While full publication means the revelation of much of the everyday life of the early missionaries, including the dangers and discomforts they experienced, it also means the inclusion of much that is apparently unimportant such as references to the weather, to the sewing of "a patch upon my trousers” and to other domestic details. But the culminative effect of such entries is to give a more comprehensive impression than eould be given in any other way. For example, the subject of “fleas” is not listed in the index, but comes in for mention half a dozen times at widely spaced intervals. “Much disturbed all night by fleas, as our beds were laid in Mr TapseTs store in which a large dog was generally kept.” Innumerable fleas: literally devoured: not a sound spot from head to feet.” "Truly miserable night; thousands of fleas and dogs howling most pitifully; almost disposed to join them.” This book will be widely read for the light it throws upon relations between Maoris and Europeans in New Zealand before British annexation. Social anthropologists will probably make useful deductions from the rich material they find here. While Henry Williams was far from being a tolerant or objective observer of Maori customs, he did describe in detail some of the practices to which be took exception. Thus, there are several tales of "muru” or the plundering of an individual or group for some offence committed {b

against the raiding tribe. Williams usually refers to this as "stripping.” In general, he condemns the rites of the Moari as superstitions or as evidence that the Evil One holds sway. Non-missionary Europeans also had a great influence on the Maoris of the day. Williams chronicles several accasions when visiting sailors were drunk and disorderly. For example, on November 27, 1831, he wrote “Very many sailors rolling about intoxicated. What a constrast to the natives.” This comment and others of a like nature suggest that the Maori had to be taught to like alcohol. But this did not take long, as an entry of December 30, 1832 shows. "We were disturbed by some native youths who were intoxicated and boxing in true English style . . . After they were parted, which was effected with difficulty, they fell upon everyone they met, like two young bulls, upsetting old and young. This is a new acquisition, and will ere long prove destructive to many. Rum is now imported in large quantities, and several of the Chiefs are acquiring a relish for it” WZ/ZLVLV Williams also gives several instances of Maori women, including quite young girls, being employed, mainly as prostitutes, aboard visiting ships. Thus, on February 13, 1827, he was much distressed by the absence of four young girls from the mission school at Paihia. “. . . they had been decoyed by girls

who frequent the ships: these j were, however, very little girls whom we had considered safe, for some years . . . that ; girls so young should wish to ! pursue so abondoned a course, 1 is distressing indeed. I can- j not think that females any- ' where are faster within satan s grasp than these. j Independent of any wish they may have to go on board the ' shipping, they are urged by their parents and relatives. The Captains and crews of- 1 fer them that which to a NewZealander is irresistible, — muskets, powder and oil The conduct of our countrymen in this respect is shocking: they are the destroyers to this people, both soul and body.” The reputation of Henry Williams as a peacemaker between warring Maori tribes is well known. In his journal, he does not boast of his successess in this direction, but he does describe occasions when he successfully intervened between the Ngapuhi and their enemies. Frequently, it seems, both sides wanted peace but dared not lose face by offering to discuss terms. The courageous missionary took his life in his hands on these occasions and he experienced as much excitement as if he had been an active participant When he intervened in the “Girls’ War” he “landed at the scene of action but could not see anyone of any rank, as all were concealed by fences and screens. The parties were about 20 yards apart. I made as much noise as I could, but to no immediate effect . . . Tuaiangi. a young chief -was deputed to accompany me. We had not proceeded far before the firing ceased. Rewa came forward and waved to the parties to desist. As we drew to the spot we learnt that many were killed and wounded . . . However numbers surrounded me and all attention was given to what I had to say.” But for the Archdeacon the great struggle was not between one tribe and another but between the forces of good and evil, personified for him as God and Satan. , Frequently, the latter is held responsible for the Maori wars as also for the worst deeds of the whalers and traders. “Surely Satan must 1 be driven to some of his last ’ holds from the malice we ; witness amongst these ; whalers.” Normally, apart . from temporary disappoint- ’ ments, Williams is upheld by ’ his strong faith. “January 1, : 1833. The past year has been ' a season of considerable ‘ anxiety on behalf of our poor ' natives, and conflict with the ' great Adversary of our souls; 1 but more were they who were for us than those who were against us; for the Lord of ■ Hosts was with us. the God i of Jacob was our refuge.” i Any number of interesting i characters appear in the i pages of these journals. . Among the Maori chiefs, we . have Hongi Hika. Hone Heke. i Tohi Tapu. and Patuone. First . hand stories are given of s Captains Peter Dillon, J. R. - Clendon. Brind and Dacre j and of such visitors as i Augustus Earle and J. S. Pos lack who have left their own . accounts of northern New s Zealand. An interesting report

on the arrival of James Busby is given while some of the more entertaining

pages of the book deal witi the great overland journej Williams made in late 1839 He had taken the Rev. Octavius Hadfield south to establish a mission station at Otaki where he had interesting meetings with Te Rauparaha. He returned through Wanganui, up the river, round the base of Mt. Tongariro and via Taupo and Rotorua to Tauranga, where he met his brother William Williams. Soon after his return to Paihia. he was called to meet Lieutenant Governor Hobson. This book closes with the brief entry for January 31. 1840. The following week was to see the conclusion of the first stage of the Treaty of Waitangi and the following year the realisation of one of the missionary's hopes, the establishment of British sovereignty, law and order. There is no promise of a second volume, but the editor’s notes on the remaining journals and the manuscript letters collected by Mr Algar Williams of Christchurch hold out hope that another similar work will eventually be published. If such a volume is produced, it could not be better printed and published than the present book has been by the Pegasus Press. Christchurch.