THE MAORI WARS

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 57, 4 September 1920, Page 9

THE MAORI WARS

MAJOR-GENERAL ROBLEY

SOLDIER AND ARTIST

(A Sketch by H. Fildes.)

During a portion of last year I had tho privilege of being stationed in London, where 1 experienced the pleasure of meeting Major-General Henry Gordon Robley, a veteran of the Tauranga Maori cam paign of 1863-66, and from him I was able to learn a few particulars of his interesting career. Perhaps with the possible ex ceiption of the late Major-General Sir V. .E. Alexander, it is doubtful if any Im perial officer who took part in those stirring times so closely identified himsell with this country, or subsequently showed the same interest in it as Major-General ltobley. Ho was born on the 28th June, 1840, when the colonisation of New' Zealand was in its early processes, and is, therefore, now over the four-score When the second unfortunate Maori War of 1860 burst into flame Ensign Robley, then a young man of twenty, was stationed in India with the 68th Regiment, now known as the Durham Light Infantry, and subseSuenfc to the siege oi Delhi, followed by le capture of its old, feeble, and senile Kiug, Bahadur Shah 11., with hit banishment to Rangoon, was in charge of the guard placed over that dusky potentate. The two or three years Major-Generali Robley was quartered in Burmah with his regiment, gave him the opportunity to study the arts, mythology, and beliefs of the Burmese, and, being proficient in the use of both pencil and lirush, he has left on record many striking sketches of that application^ besides illustrations of incidental experiences and strange things witnessed. His sojourn in Burmah was terminated with the outbreak of tho Maori War of 1860, a conflict that, perhaps, could have been avoided if the governing powers of the day had displayed more skill and tact than were shown. The province of Taranaki was the scene of the initial conflict, where the measures taken to subjugate it were far from successful; and in a very short time the Ngati-Mania-poto, a powerful Waikato tribe, were sending bands of fighting men to the assistance of the Taranaki tribes; while elsewhere in the Auckland provinpe other tribes were engendering a strong feeling of antagonism to the Europeans. Meanwhile Governor Gore-Browne had been recalled, Sir Georee Grey appointed in his stead, and in the space of two years some 6000 British troops frdm England, India, China, and Australia had been poured into the colony, oomtnanded by officers who had rendered distinguished services in the Crimean and Indian Wars. A LANDING IN AUCKLAND. In 1863 the 68th Regiment was ordered to leave Burmah for active service in New Zealand, and with the headquarters' staff wont Ensign Robley, landing at Auckland from the transport Australian on the Bth January, 1864, in wet and wintry weather conditions, he having the honour of carrying ashore the Queen's colours. So soon as the regiments were quartered in Albert Barracks-square to the tune of their own quick step, Ensign Robley wont into the embryo city, where he purchased a Maori vocabulary and Judge Maning's fine book oh Maori life and the war in tho North, called "Old New Zealand." This work had just then been published. From a study of both of them he obtained his first insight of Maori customs and a knowledge of the language, which, by further study, led to him becoming an authority on these subjects. Prior to this the war had spread into the Waikato, and by April, 1864, it had in a way been terminated, whereat General Cameron removed his headquarters to Tauranga, where an outbreak was threatened, the 68th Regiment, commanded by Colonel Greer, being ordered there. The campaign that soon followed was made memorable by the disastrous reverse for our troops at Gate Pa and the victory at Te Ranga. Ensign Rob-ley,-who was now a lieutenant, and an Instructor of Musketry, served through the whole of this campaign, and was able to leave on record scores of drawings and water-colour views, depicting scenes ho went through and personalities mot. That he came through the campaign unscathed is a matter for wonder. It would seem as if through his sojourn in tho East the mystification of that part of the world had somewhat impressed him, for he relates that prior to leaving for New Zealand a friend of his, an old yellow-robed Bhuddist monk, in who3e rnonastry at Rangoon he had been permitted to make sketches, prevailed upon him to have pricked on his right arm a sacred red emblem which would make him invulnerable to the hurt of all weapons. This General Robley afterwards humourously characterised as quite a one-sided arrangement, and unfair to tho Maoris. Following the capitulation of the Maori chief William Thompson in June, 1865, the necessity of retaining the British troops in New Zealand no longer prevailed; the country had been won over to the selfreliant policy, whereby the termination of the war was to be effected by the employment of colonial-raised troops, and amongst other regiments that were evacuated was the 68th, which was ordered to Cape Colony and Zululand, in 1866. It was while in Zululand that Lieutenant Robley first met an officer who became famous in tlie Great War, Major-General Allenby, and their friendship has continued to the present time. From Cape Colony the 68th Regiment was ordered home, Lieutenant Robley obtaining a transfer to tho Ist Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, who for a period were quartered at Stirling, and so proud was he of his connection with this famous regiment, of which he subsequently became Colonel, that he wrote and published its history, extending from 1794 to 1887, in which latter year he retired with the rank of Maipr-General and took up his residence in London, where he has ever since resided. The leiaure lie now enjoyed gave him the opportunity of further pursuing the search for knowledge of all that appertained to Maori life and oustoms, and in 1896 he published that remarkable and unique work entitled "Moko, or Maori Tattooing," the first part of which relates to its subject name, while the second half of the book, named "Mokomokai," is devoted to dried Maori heads. It should be explained that the word "tattoo" is not a New Zealand, Maori word, but a Polynesian one; a native of this country, in ea.rly times at any rate, would Tefer to the moko, not tattoo, lines on hie body, while the word "mokomokai" siraply means "dried head." This valuable work if enriched with numerous illustrations, many of which the author is responsible for, and it is well it is so, as photography was not at all suitable for placing on record the wonderful facial and body delineations of this now vanished art of the Maori. It is extremely doubtful i£ there is now a native to be found whose face is well covered with tattoo, while twenty-five and thirty years ago oases wore fairly numerous. The two subjects which comprise this work are quite akin, as every dried head would have an elaborate facial design. It :s true, however, that when European and American museums were keenly desirous of obtaining specimens, and the demand for such exceeded tho supply, many a poor unfortunate Maori slave or prisoner, whose face perhaps bore no tattoo scroll and lino pattern, was killed for the express purpoee of having his face incised with tho art of the tattooer. This is referred to as post-mortem moko, and can bo recognised as such through the cuttings in tho flesh not healinsr as they would in life, but remaining striated, while another ourious fact rolating. to it, and not generally known to those who have seen specimens in our Dominion museums, is that if the head was that of a friend tho lips would be brought together in the process of embalminn;, while in that of an enemy they would be drawn far back, exposing the white teeth in the paroxyism of death. A COLLECTOR. OF HEADS. /is «n authority on this subject General Robley stood alone. No one olso has attempted ifc. so therefore this work of his, based on hie own careful investigations and the few brief references made by early voyagers, is all that wo have. Fov many years lie possessed a. collection of thirty-five head?, obtained by him at great trouble and expense from the British and other cu.-io_ c.nulors, and in 1908 came to tho conclusion that tho time had arrived to Wco iramo atop* i.o nrosotvinj i.h<j cql» lection as v, whole. With this end in

view, he twice' offered it to the New Zealand Government for the sura of £1100, but though the late Hon. Mr. Seddon was disposed to purchase, other influences in New Zealand prevailed. In 1909 the collection was on view in the Liverpool Museum, and when seen bj a representative of a U.S.A. museum, who gathered it was in the market, he immediately cabled to his principals, who promptly and 'briefly replied "buy," and so all of them, with the exception oE five, found,a home in the United States for the sum of £1253, or a matter of £41 for each specimen. The five that were oxcepted were some of the best, and these General Robley had reserved, trusting that this country would yet see its way to acquire thorn for the -national collection, and so restore these wandering heads to the land of their origin. Notwithstanding he gave New Zealand every opportunity to possess them, no interest was shown, and in course of time they found ready and satisfactory purchasers abroad. There are perhaps not more than seven preserved Maori heads in the v/hoie of New Zealand. Both the Auckland and G'hristchurch Museums have each possessed two specimens for many years past, but they are not oE the beet. Those at Auckland are of two chiefs named Moetarau and Koukou, who were kilied in a fight at Opua about 1820. The Hocken collection at Dunedin has a rather inferior Bpecimen obtained by Dr. Hocken from General Robley, while of late years the Dominion Museum procured one from Tasmania, while a second specimen on view is privately owned. Quite a- number of European museums possess these heads; the Paris Museum of Natural History has six obtained by early French voyagers, the | Berlin Museum has two, while in various museums in the United Kingdom, there are at least sixty. At. the bottom of tho Red Sea are two, keeping company with Pharaoh's army. In 1919 the writer of this article was present at Steven and Co.'b tiuction rooms, near Covent Garden, and saw a fine specimen sold to a dealer for £30, who would perhaps obtain as much as £50 to £76 for it. Following the publication of .his work, "Moko," *a book which the author considered somewhat hastily written, General Robley assiduously applied himself for a period of ten years collecting additional matter with the view ot t, second arid vnlarged edition, but ho found that increasing ag'3 had placed the task beyond him. At this time Dr. Hocken, of Dunedin, was on a visit to England, .where he met the author,_ who made over to him the whole of his additional notes, besides his own copy of the work, containing marginal corrections and additions, and at the same time Dr. Hocken, with characteristic thoroughness, negotiated with the publishers for the purchase of the complete set of original printing blockß to the illustrations, and with these in his possession he hoped to issue a second edition, an intention that was frustrated by the death of the Doctor in 1903, The material is now in the Hocken collection, waiting to be taken in hand by some one having the necessary enthusiasm and knowledge of the subject. The three years General Robley was in New Zealand he used his pen, pencil ant! brush to some purpose, placing on record many of the historic scenes he went through or was witness of, besides making water colour sketches of many of the leading Maori warrior chiefs, rebel and friendly. At one time he offered the Tauranga Borough Council a set of portraits of the most prominent chiefs in the Tauranga campaign, but this offer was also refused, a3 not being- of sufficient interest. However, in 1905, ho was more fortunate, when the New Zealand Government purchased seventy of his water colour sketches, These are now in the Dominion Museum, and though poorly displayed, through lack of proper wall space or suitable cases, are deeply interesting. They represent his best work, and all depict scenes and inoidenbs in the Tauranga campaign. It is of interest to not© here that the artist was of opinion that the missionary, the Rev.' C. S. Volkner, of Opotiki, was put to death by the Hau Hau fanatics on 2nd March, 1865, as utu for the capture of the rebel chief Tupaea, who they believed had been put to death. As an illustrator of Maori physiognomy, carvings, and art generally, Major-General Robley stands almost unrivalled. His drawings of natives are certainly more true to type than are those of that accomplished and ambisextrous artist, Georgo .French Angas, who most excels in representing: scenes of Maori life, carvings, and habiliments. SOME LITTLE-KNOWN WORK. Some years ago he prepared illustrations for Mailing's book "Old New Zealand," and though these are still in England, and hay« not been made use of, it is satisfactory to know they were presented by the artist to Mr. R. D. M'Lean, of Hawkes Ba}, aho has them at his London residence, Cadogan-square, along with other examples of the artist's brush. The only other written work relating to New Zealand that has been published was one entitled "Pounamu: Notes on New Zealand Greenstone." His was issued vi 1915, and is profusely illustrated with d/rawinge and photos made and taken by the author. The work has not been placed on sale in this country, and it is doubtful if there iire even half a dozen copies here. It is dedicated to Mus. R. D. M'Lean, through svhose interest, along with that of Mr. M'Lean's, the publication was undertaken, while elsewhere acknowledgment is made to Mr. Elsdon Best and the late Lancm Stack for information supplied. Taking- his collection of Maori heads as models, with those he had eeen in various museums in Europe, he made watercolour drawings, both full and side face, of the best of these, and only as late ac 1918 offered a set of forty to the New Zealand Government for the modest sum of £20: and it is greatly to be regretted that again advantage was not taken of the opportunity to acquire them. The email recompense solicited by the gifted artist' was quite out of proportion to the time, travel, and work involved in their production. From 1886 to 1894, and perhaps _ later, he contributed quite eighty drawings to the London Graphic, but they do nob relate to New Zealand. One of them, a full-page illustration, and full of humour, represents the visit of a unit of Highland Regiment to Paris, and is entitled, "Sihould Mounted Highland Regiment* Wear Kilts?'; From 1864 to 1866 the Illustrated London News reproduced quite a number of his drawings relating to the Maori War, with accompanying letterpress furnished by the artist. The originals are still with that newspaper, which is not disposed to negotiate for their transfer elsewhere. Following General Robley's retirement from the Army, his interest in it was continued in many ways, and for "quite s> period ho acted as Range Officer at Wimbledon Rifle Range, besides acting in tho samo capacity at the annual chainpiori6hips between the Lords and Commons. Throughout the late war ho particularly interested himself in New Zealand troops who happened to be in London, and while perhaps, through belonging to a past generation and unknown to this one, he did not make his identity known, many wounded New Zealand soldiers may recall having been spoken to by an elderly civilian possessing somewhat the cast of countenance and build of the late Lord Roberta, who interrogated them regarding their disablement, and presented them with a hand-painted poetcard, generally characteristic of the Dominion's part in the war, with the request they should write on it the date and locality when and where they received their casualty. In spite of his great age General Robley continues to enjoy fairly good health, and whenever circumstances permit keeps in close touch with the many Maori curios, weapons, etc., that from time to time change hands in the auction rooms, or are deposited in the curio shops of the great metropolis. It is somewhat strange he has never written an account of liia New Zealand war experiences, but information recently to hand indicates that within the last feW months ho has applied himself to this, and before long the manuscript vill be sent out to this country, where perhaps some day it may be plneed in such form as to be available to nil those interested.

That his hand lias not lost its cunning as a painter of Maori scenes was demonstrated only so recently as August of last year,' when ho completed a fine painting, from a skotch furnished by the writer, of a Urge meotiiig of natives nnd settlers held at the I Ja Wlmkairo, Te Aute, in 1863, p-esided over by Sir Donald M'Lean, and the native chiefs Torokuru, Te Moananui, mid Te Hapuku, where the land question v.as uiulor discussion, and incidentally omo of Siv Ooorgo Grey'« (anwuu flour mill* v.v» being preasnted to the natives.