MAORI MEMORIES.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 28 January 1933, Page 5

MAORI MEMORIES.

- ■- 1 oRATANA’S GRANDFATHER AND THE IRISH. An interesting series of Maori memories 'is being published in the Palmerston Times from the pen of “ J.H.5.,” a well-known Maori scholar. In to-day's issue he narrates the following amusing incident: — Ratana Ngahina, of Parewanui, 'grandfather of “The Prophet,” was a handsome Maori, intelligent, six feet, and with a long silken beard. Naturally he was selected as representative of the Maori race at the Commonwealth celebration in Melbourne. When Lord Ranfurly was coming here as Governor, Ratana wrote to him in terms of loyalty and sympathy, expressing his disapproval of the Irish Fenians. His letter, written in Maori of the old school, concluded with (t May the Atua bless and protect the beloved queen of our hearts—mo paka te aim.” Sir James Carroll declared his inability to translate the four dual wordSj but on his receiving a subsequent explanation, that it was an innocent attempt in our language to condemn the Irish, his Excellency laughed till the tears ran down his cheeks. Reverting to his mother tongue he said, ‘ ‘ God bless me sowl, but I'm an Irishman mesilf. ” In a letter to a Rangitikei resident some five years later Lord Ranfurly said, “Tell our old friend Ratana his well remembered letter has dispelled the British idea that the Maori are a race of savages. It has been read with great effect at many an after-dinner speech, even in old Ireland herself. ’' His grandson, “The Prophet” may yet redeem his people who are amenable to teaching by one who really understands them.