EUROPEAN AND MAORI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20427, 2 December 1929, Page 13

EUROPEAN AND MAORI.

THE SPIRIT OF HARMONY. MEMORIALS AT PUKEKOHE EAST GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S TRIBUTE. [B? TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] PUKEKOHE, Sunday. " It is good to know that those who wero once enoiriies now dwell together as one people," said tho Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, this afternoon, when unveiling tho memorial erected at tho Pukekoho East Church in memory of thoso who took part in tho engagement at tho church on September 14, 1863, during tho Maori War. "The Maoris in those days were opposing us face to face," said His Excellency, " but their noble assistance and brotherhood toward us in tho Great War completed tho cementing of the two races."

Tho function was attended by several hundred people, including the descendants to tho fourth generation of persons who took part in the engagement. In addition, ex-residents and residents of tho Pukekoho East district and surrounding areas wero included in large numbers. Tho memorial to tho settlers who defended the church, a simple brass tablet erected on the wall of tho church, was unveiled by His Excellency in tho prt> sence of a crowded congregation. Sir Charles referred to the fact that the Maori War was to be regarded as a bad incident in the history of British colonisa tion. Two peoples, speaking different lan guages and thinking on different lines, had met and had started to intermingle when, apparently through failure to appreciate each other's viewpoint and intentions, suspicion was aroused. Bloodshed was the outcome, but ho believed it was true that British colonisation generally, although marked by tho imperfections which attended all human endeavour, had been founded on generous and uplifting principles. Thus, it was gratifying to know that the unfortunate period of tho Maori War had been followed by tho perfect harmonising of tho two races. The courage, perseveranco and loyalty of tho settlers, whom the tablet commemorated, should act as an inspiration to the piesent generation and those of futuro years. A dedicatory prayer was offered by tho Rev. J. Hubbard and tho hymn "0 God Our Help in Ages Past" was sung. His Excellency then proceeded to the memorial to the natives who fell in tho engagement —a rugged stono set on a base of concrete. In inviting the GovernorGeneral to unveil tho memorial, the Rev. W. J. Comrio said the stono had been dedicated in a memorial in a spirit of thankfulness for peaco and goodwill between pakeha and Maori. After His Excellency had unveiled tho stone the Benediction was pronounced by the Eev. W. D. Morrison-Sutherland, moderator of the Auckland Presbytery.