“PASSING MAORI MEMORIES”

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 307, 24 November 1934, Page 2

“PASSING MAORI MEMORIES”

(Recorded by J.H.S. for “The Maiiawatu Evening Standard.”) Marsden. Reo tika (Man of his word). Marsden, first and last great educator of the primitive Maori, had a wild time from what he called the “irregular four-cornered influence.” These were the Governor of New South Wales, who was then Administrator of this “Dependency,” the British Government, New Zealand provincial influence, and the contending Maori Chiefs. All four at variance. Marsden’s home was near Sydney. Hongi, his greatest admirer and protector in New Zealand, gave him little peace. Hongi’s cruel slaughter of enemy tribes caused Marsden and his missioners much anxious thought. In 1821 Macquarie, Governor of New South Wales, accused Marsden of profiteering in the sale of sly grog at Paramatta in that Colony, and struck his name off the list of Justices of the Peace. A British commission found there was not a particle of truth in Macquarie’s base charges. He was removed from office, and Marsden’ij name restored to the Commission of the Peace. Marsden was handsomely commended, and his salary raised. The new' Governor became the faithful ally of the Colonial Chaplain in New South Wales, and Director of the great mission in New Zealand. The annual reports of his missioners were entirely free from exaggeration, sensation, or egotism; but they show a complete want of method in the practical things upon which the comfort, peace and economy of a new settlement must depend for its success. Unfortunately, Marsden was educated in a city. In his otherwise excellent report to the Mission Society, he advised that a carpenter, a blacksmith, and a flax spinner be sent out; hut never a thought of a farmer or farm labourer. He thought anyone could farm, and even to-day the same idea prevails in regard to the education of 100,000 eligible boys in our schools. The very cows supplied to the mission were as wild as mountain goats. Despite these grave physical defects, the minds of the Maoris were being fed with w'holesome material, and their really fine mental and moral capacity was being demonstrated on a small scale by the good influence.

A British Blunder. It is only ninety-nine years since a brutal outrage upon the Taranaki Maoris w’as committed by the officers and crew of H.M.S. Alligator. In a storehouse of memories, preserved through the centuries by the absence of writing or reading, old Maoris in the vicinity still have the details of the wreck of the barque Harriet, and the rescue by the Maoris of Captain Guard with his wife, children, and crew of 22. Neither can they forget the subsequent ingratitude of British officers and sailors tow'ard the kindly hosts. The first newspaper accounts of the occurrence depended solely upon the excited imagination of local newcomers, none of w’liom understood the Maori or his language. Hope Blake’s account, gathered at first hand from both sides, may be regarded as more impartial. From Blake’s book we learn that until a quarrel provoked by our sailors arose, all were treated kindly. Tw'enty-five Maoris and twelve sailors were killed. After that the rest were regarded as prisoners, but were not subjected to harshness. The captain and some sailors were then allowed to go to Sydney, leaving several others with his wife and children as hostages for payment in gunpowder for the food and protection given. On the Alligator’s boat coming ashore, Captain Guard rubbed noses with the chief, and the promise of gunpowder was repeated. Mrs Guard and one child were handed over; the younger child clinging round the neck of her Maori friend and protector, seemed afraid to leave him. This man, who was identified by Mrs Guard as having been the best friend of her children, was shot dead, while the little girl still clung to the dead body for protection. Having got all on hoard, the ship’s guns opened fire and killed many Maoris, smashed their canoes, and destroyed the two villages within their reach. It would have been well if we could say that acts of injustice and ignorance were committed only by outlaws or escaped convicts, for whose acts we could scarcely be regarded as responsible.

The Rise and Fall of An Empire. Mr Alfred Saunders vividly describes the rapid rise and the sudden fall of the process of converting the Maoris in the far north to Christian ethics. It would appear that during his long reign over the Church Mission, Marsden confined his teachers to a patient method of reforming conduct and morals, and to improving the conditions of life. The principle of returning good for evil was so entirely new to the Maoris that they quite forgot their centuries old law of Utu. In 1834 the Mission was transferred from Whangaroa to Ma ngu ngu at Hokianga, where vessels could be anchored 100 yards from the dwelling. The new native chapel was crowded to excess and hundreds sat outside. Marriages and baptisms were celebrated in hundreds. On Sundays more than fifty canoes carried a thousand worshippers from the various out stations. After service, men and women pupils were examined in reading and writing. One may imagine the childlike pleasure they felt in this novel art of “making pictures of words” (whaka ahua korero). Within three years there were fifteen chapels where mirth and laughter marked the advent of this new gospel of joy and peace. Then came the miracle of the printing press when 1000 copies of the “message” in a form just suited to the minds of these children were put into their hands. By 1840 there were 1300 faithful converts, and 600 more probationers. During all this prosperity the personal foresight and kindness of Marsden were manifested in many directions.

“So long as Marsden lived, the faith and trust of the Maoris were never disturbed by senseless sectarian exaggerations as to the importance of any difference between the doctrines of Cranmer and Wesley.” Later alas, these assumed alarming proportions, and the Maoris instinctively reverted to the old effective law of reprisal (Utu) for the defence of their newly acquired joy of life. The results were pitifully disastrous to both races.