HAWKE’S BAY HISTORY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 232, 13 September 1934, Page 6

HAWKE’S BAY HISTORY

Meeting of Society PLANS FOR THE FUTURE A meeting of the Hastings branch of the Hawke’s Buy Historical Society, called primarily for the purpose ,ot hearing an address by Mr. I’. H. Tomoana, reported elsewhere in this issue, was held at the High School yesterday, and was presided over by Mr. W. A. G. I’enlington. It had been hoped, said the chairman, that representatives of other societies in Napier, Dannevirke, and elsewhere in the province would be present at the meeting, but unfortunately none of the other towns had been able to do anything definite towards the formation of branches. Napier had replied, however, that something was being done, but Waipawu did not sound promising. It appeared at the moment that Hastings was the sole constituent, of the Hawke’s Buv Historical Association. “That need not discourage us," said Mr. I’enlington. "We can go ahead confidently, and' yhen we gat going others will follow our lead." ” Mr. I’enlington went on to say that in his own view European history was the Maoris’ as well as ours, and ours was the Maoris’, There should be a mutual interest in each other’s historical records. The day was coming when the two races must fuse, and he could think of no other country where the circumstances for racial fusion were more favourable. That fused race would have a double history —the history of the Maori and the history of the pukeha. Nothing much would be achieved by forming a society, but its formation would give members the means of achieving something in the future, A number of people had been working individually in collecting historical data, and were still working, but the establishment of the society would enable chose people to put their work on record, and to have the benefit of the researches carried out by other workers, Also it would give publicity to the llndings of those who were collecting history. “We belong to the society for tho fun of the thing," said Mr. I’enlington, “and we huve no tiresome obligations.” MODEL MAORI PA. Mr. i’enlington expressed a welcome to lan Lyons, of Groenhill, and a pupil at Wanganui College, and who, he said, had already done a tremendous amount of research work on his own account. He would be a very useful member of the society. Apparently, Mr. I’enlington went on to say, Hawke’s Bay was covered with the sites of old Maori pas, but few people knew where those sites were. He was not certain that even the Maoris could give names to them, though some of the pas had been in existence within the memory of people still living. Among the objects of Hie society would be the tracing and interpretation of Maori place-names, stories, and legends, the recording of Maori history from tho time of the Maoris' arrival, and Hie pakphu history of the province. Another object was the establishment of an old colonists’ museum, and a place for storing documents and records. Till a more suitable place became available the society could make use of tho High School. The question was; what was the society going to do next? Every one of the members was looking for -a definite lead. Mr. W. T. Chaplin, secretary, suggested that the executive should meet and draw up a plan of activities for the iulure. Then those who were prepared to do the spade-work might be called together. Some means of crystallising the work diyie by members would of course have to be devised. Dr. 1). A. Bathgate remarked that he would like to see a reconstruction of a Maori fighting pa near Hastings. So far as he knew, there was only one in New Zealand, and that was at Whakarewarewu. “And 1 don’t think it is a very good one.”

The Rev. I’. Hakiwai: No, it isn't. Mr, P. H. Tomoana agreed with the proposal, and suggested that Chambers Park might be u suitable site. “Or else wo could reconstruct the one right at Mr. Mason Chambers' door,” he added, “but it would be on condition that Mr Chambers done not ask me to tell him the story of it.”