A MAORI GENTLEMAN

Evening Star, Issue 19385, 20 October 1926, Page 4

A MAORI GENTLEMAN

LATE SIR JAMES CARROLL TRIBUTE OF THE HOH. J. A, KANAH Graceful tributes to the character and ability of a fine Maori gentleman were paid by the Hon. J. A. Hananwhen ho became reminiscent ol the lateSii James Carroll, with whom ho was intimately acquainted in Parliament for many years. As a gentleman, a legislator, a sportsman, and an orator ot rare ability, the lamented Maori chief held a high place in the esteem of all who knew Jiim. ~ , , „• “I first set eyes upon the late bir James Carroll when 1 was Mayor oi Invercargill,” said the Hon. Mr Hanan. “ I approached him tor a grant to open up the track to Preservation Inlet, and he promised £I,OOO for the purpose. The promise was kept, and the road made helped materially to open up a terra incognita. When I entered larharaent twenty-six years ago I was attracted to Sir James by. bis ability as a speaker and his great command ot diction. His delivery made a strong impression on me,' and in all sincerity I can say that lie was the most polished speaker 1 heard all tho time 1 was in Parliament. He was a big-hearted man; there was nothing mean-spirited, petty, or vindictive in him. His knowledge of literature, particularly of Shakespeare, and of all the poets, was, remarkable, it give him groat pleasure to make apt quotations from tho hooks ho had read, tie had a phenomenal memory, and, with his command of language, was able to impart his knowledge to others. A rare gift of spelling and of the meaning of words was possessed by Sir James, the Hon. Mr Hanan went on to point out, and these wero possessed in spite of tho fact that the deceased did not have the advantage of many years’ schooling. “Wo often had a spelling bee,” said Mr Hanan, “ and in our competitions Sir James always had first place. This recalls to my mind an instance worthy recording. _ A gentleman well known in literary circles in Australia and New Zealand, who boasted of his knowledge of the English language and of his ability to spell, was invited to meet members of the House. A bet was made that he would bo beaten by a man who had had only a few years’ schooling, and who was not a European. The competition took place in one of the rooms of Parliament, and Sir James Carroll was declared the winner.”

*‘ Sir James Carroll also had a great lovo for music,” continued Mr Hanan. “ Whenever he heard a piano being played in the social room or the House, be was soon under the sway, and could not resist being attracted to the room. In the musical evenings wo had at Bellamy’s in Mr Pod don's days, Sir James was in his element. Tho most popular item of those evenings wore to hoar Sir James and old Honi Heke sing in the Maori tongue. I am reminded of an evening when Sir James, in company with Mr Ngata and old Mr Charles Parata, paid a visit to the house of the then mayoress of Invercargill. After thanking tho hostess in the charming way that he alone could, Sir James and his colleagues sang in Maori ‘ Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms,’ and ‘Homo, Sweet Home.’ Those who heard the songs so charmingly sung will always retain pleasurable feelings of the fine sentiments and spirits that animated the deceased statesman. “ At a haka it was most interesting to notice how Sir James entered into tho spirit of tho proceedings. How delighted ho was to take part in leading the song or dance. At any Maori gathering he was tho ‘great arika,' and tho beaming countenance of the Natives showed what love aud admiration they had for the great chief. In his speeches ho always made a point of impressing upon members of tho House that, while anxious to meet tho wishes of the pakeha in dealing with Maori problems, he could not forget that he had a duty to .see that justice was done to the race from which ho sprung. “ Possessing a remarkable fund of anecdote, Sir James was always welcomed in tho gentlemen’s clubs throughout the country, his_ kindly and genial attributes winning his way into the hearts of all. He first entered Parliament as an interpreter, and his choice of expression enabled him to transform tho most ordinary utterance into a gem of a speech. His interpretation was often a masterpiece of oratory. Sir James saw service ns a soldier in this country, afterwards became an interpreter, and later became the member for Gisborne. He took a great interest in sport of all kinds, and was very proud of the achievements of the Maori footballers. “Truly a fine and remarkable man has passed away.”