PASSING MAORI MEMORIES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 183, 4 July 1936, Page 2

PASSING MAORI MEMORIES

Recorded by J.H.S. for the “Manawatu Evening Standard.” Sir George and General Chute. ‘‘Say naught but good of the dead” may well be written of many a selfappointed critic. The little known historian, however, who tells this story of Sir George Grey, General Cameron, and General Chute, was noted for his kindly thoughts of all with whom he was intimately associated in these stirring days. “Sir George was a polished, gentlemanly, hansome man, with a soft manner, but a seething volcano in his heart. He hated General Cameron with a concentrated rage. The great difficulties experienced by tho General in his negotiations with the Maoris and his military operations against them arose from the Governor’s interference, which resulted in an apparent inconsistency, an attribute despised by tho Maori above all. The reason for this open dispute I am not at liberty to disclose. In a final interview at Wellington with General Chute, I asked how he managed to work so peacefully and free from dictation with Sir George. “ ‘Why,’ said General Chute, ‘we have no difference at all. He sends for me frequently, and lays down a plan of campaign with many intricate military details. Then shows me how to deal with the leading chiefs, whom I am to capture and convert into loyal allies. He concludes by cross questioning me on his detailed plans, and insists upon my assurance that the plan he unfolds will be carried out to the letter. We shake hands cordially, and as soon as I arrive at the scene of operations I write a military despatch as follows: To His Excellency, Sir George Grey, K.C.8., Com-mander-in-Chief of Her Majesty’s Naval and Military Forces. Sir: I have the honour to inform you that I am troubled with a very bad memory, and have quite forgotten all you said to me. Will you be good enough to put your instructions in writing? I have the honour to be, Your most obedient Major-General, Trevor Chute. “ ‘He never put anything in writing, so you see I did as I liked, and we finished the campaign in a few months.’ ” Resource of the Maori. The Maori war in the North Island lasted ten years. Its terrors can be realised only by those who lived within the radius of its operations. Had it not been for the good sense of the Maori, it might have lasted many years longer. What could we do with a numerous people living in their natural environment, subsisting like the birds on what grew around them in their flight through the forest, from one stronghold to another, completely hidden from us? They might have been exterminated—but conquered in a military sense, never. Realising finally that n Maori kingdom, in which the pakelia should be their peaceful and natural subjects, bad at last become an impossibility, they simply ceased fighting. They had never despised or hated the whites. As a matter of statecraft they decided to become one with them, and they have succeeded, the only limitation being on our part. The Maori never faltered in his selfrespect, and no single one of them ever betrayed his own race. He made the best of his position, took all he could get, and yielded as little as possible. For all practical purposes we are now one people, and should be proud of it. There are admittedly degenerates among them, for which we are entirely responsible. Neither in intellect, physique, nor morality can they be regarded as our inferiors. But they are not our equals in sustained industry, and if they fail to correct that weakness,.., must go under. We shall be the first to regret their failure. An instance of Maori resource in what to the pakeha would be hopeless captivity was the escape and complete disappearance of 120 Maoris from the prison hulk anchored four miles out in Wellington Harbour. Among them were their aged chief and the one-leg-ged hero of Kakaramea. During a severe south-east storm, the waves breaking over the deck of the old hulk in pitch darkness, while the military guard were mostly sleeping, the Maoris slid one by one silently through the port-hole. They swam or drifted four miles to Ngahauranga, and effectually escaped to the forest. Only five able swimmers, who had assisted the old chief and the one-legged man to safety became exhausted, and their bodies drifted ashore. Births, Deaths, and Conflicts.

In the year 1844 a New Zealand magistrate ” quaintly pictured our climate as an inducement to young women of England to “come at once and participate in its blessed influences.” Thus “robust health is enjoy-j ed by almost all. The doctors’ occupa-j tion would cease, but for the fact that marriages are undoubtedly more pro-; lific by the same genial air, which j also rears the children in rosy vigour, i This climate is particularly favourable to the increase of population.” Inj drawing attention to the “strange cir-’ cumstiance” that the aborigines never need medicine or medical attendance, he adds, “possibly the ea.ll of their priesthood for more water and less food may be the secret cause of this abnormally healthy condition.” Another significantlv candid record from the same observant official clearly indicates the primary cause of conflict between onr people and the owners of this country by heredity, and their fight of occupation throughout the centuries. ~ , , , . “As early as 1/93 the whale ships of different nations began to touch on the coast. Intercourse with the natives was marked by great cruelty and injustice on our part, great treachery and dishonesty on that of the Maori, and revolting blood thirsty revenge on both sides.” Twenty vears Inter, Dr. John Savage, Major Cruise, and other travellers tell us that the missionaries partlv removed the impression of fear caused bv the reported savngerv of the natives, ‘this result being further promoted bv the visit of the Chiefs Hongi and Waikato, who so artfully adapted themselves to the predilections of the circles to which ther were introduced as to pass for perfect and very devout Christians. . Being exhibited at Cambridge University as recent Christian converts, they fell in with Baron de Thierry, a Frenchman. They led the Baron into the hope of acquiring dominion a.nd chieftainship over vast territories in New Zealand. Rev. Mr Kendall, their interpreter, undertook to act as his agent for that purpose Tins circumstance deserves notice, for it led the French Government to attempt the foundation of a penal settlement in 1840 in the South Island. His agent received a large sum Ba "?” as purchase money, and in j 822 boughta small portion of land for him at Hokianga, for which he paid a very trifling amount.