THE- "KINO COUNTRY" IN NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15169, 7 December 1912, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE- "KINO COUNTRY" IN NEW ZEALAND.

• •■ • ."■ ■» '■ ■■■■•' BT MRS. E. M. DUSLTJP. ■ Not half a century has passed since the day when Sir George Grey met the Waikato Maoris at Ngamawahia and discussed with them the subject of the establishment of a kingly power among the native tribes of the inland districts which lie . between Taupo and the West Coast. The representative Maori chiefs desired to discover whether the Government intended to oppose by warfare, the power of the newlyappointed. Maori king. "I shall not ;fight against him with the swortH," replied the Diplomatist. " I shall dig siound' him until he falls of his own accord." . . Te Wherowhero was proclaimed the first Maori "king" at Ngaruawahia in July, 1858. :."';. -';:" '~'. During, many previous years difficulties between natives arid Europeans had been assuming a serious aspect. The Maoris, exercising their natural sagacity, were watching with intense interest the arrangements being made with Europeans for the gradual development of law and order. The appointment of magistrates, judges, arbitrators, and commissioners attracted their keen admiration and inspired many of their leading spirits with the ambition to enjoy advantage of similar institutions among themselves. Ever imitative, they conceived the idea, like the Israelites of old, of choosing a king to reign over them, and establishing authorities of their own. The idea spread, with rapidity, and much disputation ended in the appointment by the Maoris of a king, and their choice fell upon Te Wherowhero, an aged chief who had been friendly to Europeans from their first occupation of the country. He took tho name of Potatau. and was solemnly crowned by the Waikato and North Taranaki Maoris. The movement was viewed by Europeans with differing opinions. Some considered that the new institution would in reality tend to the furtherance of order in thecountry, regarding the appointment as rather that of a chief Maori magistrate than of a sovereign power ; other parties deemed the establishment of a Maori kingship likely to prove derogatory to the sovereignty of Her , Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria. A difficult situation was thus created. Governor Gore Browne was in power, and his method of meeting the situation did not give satisfaction to all parties. He was politely recalled by tho authorities at Home, and was appointed ' Governor of Tasmania. Sir George Grey was recalled from the Cape, and was appointed in his stead. When Sir George Grey arrived.he pursued a conciliatory policy towards the natives. Old Potatau had died and had been succeeded by his son Tawhiao, who was not so wise or so friendly to Europeans. '.'.... ■ '- • Continued warfare in Taranaki complicated the situation, and it was aft act of personal bravery when Sir George Grey, without escort, proceeded to Ngaruawahia in the new year of 1863, via the Waikato River,, to meet tho assembled Maori chiefs who were 'supporters of the Maori kingship. • They themselves cent canoes and a Maori eßcort, numbering two hundred to attend the Governor 'bring! him into their midst. :He travelled alone with them to Taupiri, and thenco rode on alone to Ngaruawahia. ■.' It is related - that he dismounted at Te Wherowhero's (Potatau) tomb and silently did reverence while the awestruck natives gathered around. • He was afterwards welcomed by Tamihana as the emissary of the Maori king, who himself did not attend. It was at this crucial meeting that the historic utterance was made. "We shall not fight against your kingship with the sword ; we shall dig around yon with the spade until your kingship falls." The policy of the Government intended the pushing on of the roads and the opening up of the country. The progress of animosity could not be stayed, and the long Waikato war followed. British forces pushing on with roads and settlement in the face of an active foe, and much good •blood was spilt in the process. \ The tribes which owned allegiance to the so-called Maori king drew constantly further back into the heart of the country, and occupied those lands which lie on the western coasfc of the North Island between the central volcanic region and the sea, and these tracts became known as the King Country, and were for many years practically forbidden ground to Europeans. The country became in a measure a place of refuge for native political and social outcasts, as, reaching the so-called King Country, they were practically immune from the interference of the law, as the policy of more than one Government party lay in ignoring the existence of this part of New Zealand and the claims made by its unauthorised guardians. As settlement and civilisation advanced, however, the situation became more difficult. The Maoris in the King Country were anxious to share freely in the benefit of dealing with Europeans by trade and in ■' other.--ways, and this large block of country stood greatly in the way of settlement and the advance of communication by road and rail. The New Zealand Government has now the power to deal j with large tracts-of land, in the King i Country, which aro thus thrown open for ; settlement under conditions more or less favourable according to opinion. The Maoris are now few and scattered ; no longer living, as a rule, in pas and tribal communities, but rather in families, as Europeans do. . The Constitution of the King Country received a fatal shock when Mahuta, whom death has now removed, made concessions to the New Zealand Government, and himself accepted a seat, in the Legislative Council, and practically obviated his socalled kingship, which had been steadily declining in influence as settlement and civilisation advanced. . A great deal of very beautiful limestone country has been released and is now open to advancement and utility. The country has at one time been the abode of numerous Maoris whose tribes have located their boundaries, followed forest tracks and given names to promontory, hill and streamlet. Now, however, the Maoris aro a scattered people.' New ways, new hopes and ambitions dominate the remnants ot a once powerful and increasing race. Everywhere one realises the prophecy of Dr. Pomaro that the time is not far distant when the Maori race will be absorbed in tho white. Half-castes and quarter-castes everywhere testify to the establishment of peaceful conquest and natural absorption. Not a century back the country was the haunt of a numerous, clever, but utterly savage race. Continual battle Shook the prey crajs And savage shout and agonised death rattle i - Startled the shags. Now the hill's and vales lie silent, solitary, awaiting a new order. Like his grand prototype of the Northern forest, the Maori could not live where the white man came. A generous hand was and is extended to help him onwards and upwards. Never perhaps in history has so great a generosity been shown in the treatment of a subjugated race—subjugated not by the sword but by the revelation of undreamed of and marvellous things. As the kauri fades j,md perishes by the loss of the very mainsprings of bis existence, his grandeur ruling all.forest things, his independent growth, his free native air now spoiled by smoke and heat and flame, so fades the race which grew and multiplied and filled all the land under conditions of danger and hardship, which yet roused their energies and made them a virile people, .