THE CHATHAM ISLANDERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18171, 17 August 1922, Page 3

THE CHATHAM ISLANDERS.

t Sir,—l wonder if the Maori word 'morehu," meaning "fragment, survivor," occurs in tha Mociori dialect.. Perhaps " W. 8., Otorohanga," may fcaow and kindly enlighten us. The word Occurred frequently in Maori correspondence * in the early 'TO's of the -last century,, "At important meetings, of the Maori people the speakers invariably referred to the Maori race as .*'morehu.'". A great gathering of the representative Maoris of the whole of the Hawk«i"B Bay province was held at the late residence jof Sir Donald McLean, shortly after his death, in the early part of 1877. Oratcjical .etiquette appeared to demand thaA the Maori oraiors, and they were famong speakers spe|ially chosen for tliie rod.assembly, should express the sorrow of the Maori' - people at the departure of the spirit of ;i the great white chief; and in doing so, jihould refer to themselves as " tnimvors/' '•fragments.'' Mi".; ho\ir Sit James, Car-; ....... roll,' was the interpreter on the occasion. The < present writer reported the proceed- ■■ -, ings for the Hawke's. Bay Herald. The > report was shortly after published in \% Maorii and English in the Waka Maori, a Government publication of that time. It was only the condensation necessary " y for the press that prevented every speakers allusion to " raorehu" being published. If it can be shown that the; Moriori traditions recognise the Morion * to bo "morehu," a I connecting link, however frail, mav ha found, coupling, the j Chatham Islanaers with the jgreat Tolyv nesian raije, of which the Maori tribesj. as we know them* « t re but the i "the fraghifints," remaining. 'M.J.G.