THE MAORI NEWSPAPER LITERATURE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14926, 31 August 1910, Page 3

THE MAORI NEWSPAPER LITERATURE.

l O ; j Br THE L.VTB Dit. Hockes. I (Continued.) On/September 20, 1849, at Wellington, ho frVst number was published of Ko te iou Alarama (The New World). It was issuodt fortnightly, and its aim was lo foster/ a spint of industry amongst the Natives and' to acquaint them' with the cuslojns Of their-wliito neighbours, 'lb-tnbsp-Viption was 6> per annum, but 1 do nqtf think it survived more than b \ x irfbllths. ,-' "To Haeta" (The Dawn of Day) was a (religious pui>er issued monthly by the Wcsioyaii Methodists. The first number uppSo*»«d at Auckland on April 1, 1b59, and t,W lost in March, 1862. ft, was a small (suarto 6ize of four pages and triple dolumns. ITho Inst throe of Hie five were brought out by Mr C. 0. Davis, who "evidently had a (great penchant for writing and for iustmicting. the Natives. One was "Te Whelii 0 te Tau" (Tho Star of the 'J:ear); another was; "To Waka o to Iwi" (The Canoe of tlhe Tribes). I think that not more than three numbers of each were issued, ami that"; they appeared in Auckland about 1859-60. The last was "Ko Aotcaroa, or tho Maori Keeordor," of Bvo size. Tlicvo wero but two numbers dating January, 1851 and January, Kb'i, of 21 and Si pages respectively. T'lioy icfer largely to the Waitar-i tr-«blc anil lo subjects of general interest to the Kativßi. Tho .next two ncivspapi*; on our. list which nin as it wore in opposition to eiieh other, recently had their ancient fame revived during the visit, to New Zealand Wt year of Sir John Gorst, the editor of one of them. They were the "Te Hokioi" and the "To l'ihoihoi Mokemoke," and both recall very stirring incidents in the history of the King movement and the King Country during 1862 and 1863 shortly before the names of war, extending from the Waitara, broko out in the Waikato. Te Hokioi, which appeared lirst has the distinction of boing tho first newspaper edited, if tho term bo applicable, by a Native for his brethren. Sonic of its further distinctions aj-e thnf it was printed on variously sized paper of poor quality, tho typo is often blotty and irregularly displayed as ,tho printer would call it, and tho title, not always the same, is sometimes placed where it should bo, at others at the bottom or won in tho middle of a page. These trifles make it difficult of description, but selecting a good specimen dated June 15, 1862, its titlo is "To Hokioi, 0 Nui-Tironi, e rore atuna" (The Hokioi of New Zealand which flics far nnd It was of quarto size with four pages in ono, two or three columns, issued very irregularly at Ngaruawahia, tho Maori capital, by Palara, a cousin of the King Matutaera Potatau. 1 am thus somewhat minute in its description as the only copies I know- of are in my possession. The articles wero full of wit and ability, supported, of courso, the King movement, scattered tho seeds of that discontent which presently brought forth tho fruit rebellion and war. Its first number was issued probably about the latter part of 1851, and its last on tho 24th of March, 1863. Tho Hokioi was a mythical bird 1 never ecen, but known by its terrifying scream, which presaged war and death. It °wan to countervail this ill-omened bird that Sir Georgo Grey determined to'estab-

lish a rival, and tho duty was entrusted to ! -Mr (sorst, who for some time had bwn ■■ established at Otawhao, close to Dr Morgan's mission station at Awamutii. in the Upper Waikato. Here ]ic effectively disI eliarged ilio <hitics of a schoolmaster, rcsi-' dent magistrate, uikl a man of peace amonrpl Ihu turbulent Natives. To thes:o ' 'ho nv.v :k!(fed those of editor of the " Tei, l'ihoihoi" '(The lonely ground-lark perched I on tlis house top). It was of small quarto j tdze, four pages, and chiefly double I eolr.mns. The fir.sl. number appeared on I February 2, 1863; tho fifth and last on i March 23; so that it existed barely two I month?, (ientle though the chirping of thi? I liltls bird was, it immediately proved j iiself a formidable rival to the fierce j foreams of tho- Hokioi as the N'cliw.s spc.v.lily found. ft denounced the mischief of Kingism, showed the snd j-.x-ial constitution of many of the tribes, toe nerd for the suppression of intoxicating liquor and the headlong path which was b?ing pursued. Mutters soon came to a, climax, as it was not possible for Maori human nature to boar such • onslaughts. On the afternoon of the 24th of March, .vhiist the paper was being struck off, about 50 Native*, armed with guns and- Native weapons came .down and stationed themselves in front, of tho printing office. Mr Vc.ii Dad-alasioii—afterward* the Hegistrargcnorol,—who was Ilia printer, locked the coor and walked out. The further proceedings commenced with prayers, a, practice f» oftsn pursued by the Natives when umlc-rt-iking some important business, and prhajH akin to their old incantations. Then after a severe scuffle the door was broken cpan and the wholo place emptied oi tv|« and nvois, whieli were carried away to Kihikihi. Mr Gorst was not present at tii3 time, but ho received soeedy .notice from the angry Natives that unless he left the district he would be driven away by force, a,nd perhaps murdered. However, thanks to the magnanimity ~ a often displayed by the Maori to his-kx<cmj-, he did not, leave for mora than a h'Hnight and until his arrangements wore <joinpletei. Amongst assaults upon an oGitor this instaiKo must stand out- in special relief. Before leaving Awamutu it must hav o been some consolation to Mr Gorst to loam that the Hokioi had received its deathblow from tho Pihoihoi. It is need•css to say what an important place the« pa»ers occupy in tho history of the time and of Natlvo literature. It is satisfactory to know that on the cccraion of Sir Jojin (Jorst's recent visit tho two rival editors, now old l .men,- mot each otto with open arms. Copies of his old papt-r' wero collected with some trouble and presented to him, but I fear old Patara'fc had been so effectually killed by Mr Gorst's chirping little .bird that no searohi could discover any of its remains. Barely was tho life of tho l'ihoihoi extinct than tho next paper on our list sprang into existence. This was "To Waka Maori o Ahiiriri," whose first number appeared at Napier oit the 13th of June, 1863, printed by Hemi. Wa.ru (James Wood). It was can. foL, a size it retained to the end, and of four pages, though as the years passed on thee© increased in number, and were of double columns. It was entirely in Maori until Octobor, 1873, 10 years after its commencement, and then its alternate columns were in English. It was introduced to tho notice of its readers as follows;—"As Hoturoa of old launched his oanoo Tainui nt'.oti the waters at Hawaiki to explore an unknown ocean and to seek a homo in other, as ~-et undiscovered lands, so wo in like manner launch our little canoe,' To Waka Maori, upon tho troubled and ivnowtoin waters of public opinion." It was indeed,destined to float on troubled waters and to como to an end as untimely if not quite as dramatic as that of its predecessors, and in its fall it all but dragged with, it tho Atkineon-Whitakcr Ministry of 1877. On its title page it adopted old King Potatau's motto, "Ko to tika, ko te pono, ko to aroha"—observe the law, religion, and love. Had it conducted its business by tliese lofty sentiments no misfortune would have'befallen it. The Alhiriri or Napier district was than, as' now, important ami flourishing because of its magnificent landa and largo Native population, lor tha lands there was eager competition on the part of the 6otllcrs, and they were quickly changing ownership. Thus it .was that tho paper gradually added to its proper function of purveying news and k .:ring good feeling botwean tho •] 33 that of a strong partisanship x.i tho matter of land purchase. From tho fired; it had always been published with tho approval and assistance of Government, but in 1871 and with its eighth volume its placo of publication was changed from Napier to Wellington, and its tiito to that of "To Waka Maori o Km Tirani." It was printed by tho Government printer, bad the Royal Arms on its ,title page, and( in fact, .had; became an official organ, a Mr James Grinc'ell, of the Native Department, being its official editor, Yery 6oon it became tho defendant in an action for libel connected with the sale of Native land, and it abused its power with its Native subscribers by politically influencing them and their votes. It was at this point and from these causes that an. opposition paper, the "Te Wananga," arose, of which wo shall presently speak. When Parliament met in 1876 tho' obnoxious deeds of the paper wore fully set forth, and it was .decided that no funds should bo voted for its continuance; in fact-, that it should suffer tho happy despatch. But no 6uch fato befell it, and with littlo intermissir-t it continued' its publication, in do. .:o of all that tho House .had so positively determined. At tho following session in 1877 the matter was bitterly discussed for threo days, and it was made a question of want of. confidence. Ministers defended themselves on the plea that to have allowed so important a Native paper of 14- years' standing to expire would indeed have been, calamitous, and that as numerous outcries had! been raised on every side against suoh a course they had determined to continue the paper at their own expenso chiefly. Tho hollowness of this excuse was soon shown, and by a very narrow margin Ministers retained their scats, only to receive their mittimus a fortnight later. And so on the 17th of July it predeceased ate last sponsore in ita then shape. Yet it resuscitated under the efforts of its former editor, James Grindoll, who managed to make.a small private company with tho aid of some Natives. This time, it appeared at Turanga-that is to say, Gisborne—with No. i. vol. I, on August 21, 1878, presenting much tho'same appearanco as before, and certainly not lacking the bitter comments and language of tho previous issue. But there was 110 fear of action, for libel this time. Still the whole is interesting, and abounds-with Native nows and an occasional waiata. Tho filth number and all thereafter are adorned with a_ frontal headpiece or woodcut of a canoe tilled with warriors paddling at high speed, and with the stimulating words beneath, "Hoca te Waka, ha I" Tho title, however, is aofieiont in the words "0 Niu Tirani. 1 ' The editor and his paper return to Napier with No. 32, and in. No. 42, October _ 25, 1879, ho informs his readers that owing to tho inadequate support received thoro will bo no further issue, that the shareholders have decided to liquidate, and that the plant of the Waka Maori is for sale. In a' "bitter,' if jocular, manner he suggests, referring to his old enemy, that "as Mr Sheehan i 6 now in want of employment ho might bo induced to edit a paper in tho Waikato for hia friends ttewi and King Tawhiao for tlie benefit of tho whole island. This is Mr Grindell's last fling. Wonderful to relate, the Waka again revived in its old dress and name, but with the addition of the words "o Aotearoa." I can say little of tliis beyond that it was entirely in Maori; that its first number appeared at Gisborne on March '14-, 1824; and that its editor ivas Mr George Henry Wilson, who for many years -was in the Government Stationery Department at Wellington, and was the-author of the interesting \olllme "Ena, or tlie Ancient Maori." Whether thore have been, or aro any other editions of -this apparently inoxtinguishablo papc,r it seems impossible to say; thoro may bo/ ~ Tho paper next 'in order, startoioT -as a counterblast and rival of tho Waka; was tho To Wananga, with the quaint add'-' t'p" " I-o -anuitanga tena kia kito koutou. lihn Mauri-ora'"— "Tho Medium. 1 ' „ Tho proclamation that all may know : God bless you." _ It was quarto size,' double columns, varied from 4 to 16 pns«J. supl»sed to be issued weekly, and considerable portions of it were •translated into English. Tho first number, appeared on August 5, 1874, printed -by Henry Hill, of Napier, and published at Pakowhaipa, iu miles from Napier, by the proprietor, Heriaro Tomcsna. Tho first few numbers are very amusing from tho primitive' way in which tho English translation and spelling are effected by the Native proprietor. But ho was not long without valuable r.ikeha assistance. In a few weeks the publication was removed to Napier, and became a valuable repository of whatever related to Nntivo interests, parliamentary report,', Native Lands' Court, Native meetings', ' articles on land questions, and numerous letters from well-known Natives settimr forth their grievances, and intelligcirfc orit'ioisni3 on important events. In tad, whilst the Waka was the mouthpiece of the Government party, as represented bv Sir Donald M'Lcan, the Wananga fought tho battle on tho other side. In addition to all this political matter there was. a f'-ad deal of old history and other specia",

material. In fact, it may here be remem--tared that a. careful searching through all tno old Native newspapers would carry a valuable reward to" him who took this trouble. Tlie .last number was issued on. the 2lst of December, 1878, and it is then stated that, owing to rartain alterations and new arrangements in connection with a.proposcd enlargement of the paper there will be no further isitw for a few weeks. Jjut. it. is probable that, duo to tho decease of its adversary, there was no need for its continuance.

More than thr-23 years now elapsed before tho appearance of the next.Maori paper te Korimako, or the Bell Bird, so entirely dillerent, in character from the for preceding controversial ones. Below its title was "He mircpvv whakaatu i nja rmiga 0 to Ao Katoa, nga tikanga o te Wliakarcno ma era atu mea"-"a newspaper giving (lie news of the whole world, the rws(i::ii for belief and other things." It was ifsucd monthly from Auckland, and was of quarto sisc, 4 to 12 paged, of three columns, and wholly in Maori. The first r.umber appeared in March, 1882, and I know of no later number than No. 75, of May 16, 18S8. Cur old friend, Mr 0. 0. Davis, was the editor mid the history o£ Ins publication is imoresling. Mr and' Mrs Snow wor.i wealthy and charitable young Americans, who came to Auckland in 1880, and settled on tho borders of Lake Tarav era. Here they devoted themselves to the advancement of the Natives, especially in connection with tho temperance cause. They also provided funds for the support of a missionary, and then carried out tho idea of this paper. After a stay of threo years they proceeded homeward by the Red Sea. During the passage through Mr. Snow was seized with fever, to which lie succumbed.; As' might''be expected, the paper was of a' high-moral and religious chatacter.iperhaps somewhat tco much so. But.^the -paragraphs and articles dealt with, a, wide, range, of subjects of an instructive kind.

Ot all extraordinary Maori publications surely the official organ of King Tawhiao, which comes next, is so extraordinary as to bafflo description, nor, despite numerous inquiries have I.been able to learn imdi reliable about it. Like it 3 predecessor, the Hokioi, it is printed on paper of various sizes, though always on largo' sheets varying from quarto to large fo'io. It is entitled

"To Paki 0 Matariki," "Tho Giidlo of tho Pleiades." was published four times a year at_ Maungaknwa or Camhridge, and edited if 0110 may misapply the term by Rawhiti private secretary to Mahuta. The first number was apparently issued in 1891, and the last that is in my pcesession is November 20, 1894, though I believe the last was on October 6, ISO 2. Commencing with an early number thn front page is decorated with an amazing and mythical representation of apparently tho Maori gods ■Supporting a piece of carvin-j and a cross which, refits on a. heart; above this aro tho coven 6tats forming the Matariki, or Ploiades. This constellation was well known to tho Maoris, \vho were competent, stargazers, and was visible' throughout the winter months. Tho whole was doubtless supposed to bo an excellent analogue of the Boyal Arms seeii on our official notifications and gazettes. The contents aro of no interest whatever, the sole interest of the publication lying in its curious features, not the least of which are its odd translations into English of King Tawhiao's addresses, to bs Great Council, and it*-, curious misspellings, its own English titlo bains once spelt Pile ads. From such a publication it is a pleasure to turn to Te Puke-Ki-Hikurangi, a purely Maori newspaper, which commenced its career in 1898 at Greytown, Wairarapa. and continued in altered appearance until the sixth volume in 1904. Due to the natriotisnr and liberality of Niniwa-i-te-rangi, a chicftainess of high rank, an English edition of its Novcmbsr number thero appeared, and continued monthly thereafter, as a "Maori liecord. a journal devoted to the advancement of the Maori People." Its object was to stimulate a deeper and more effective interest amongst the colonists for their native brethren, and the lines on' which this has been attempted admit of but little imm-ove-ment. In closiw? this perhaps too lengthy paper, I should have wished to make f'ulW references to the " Wairarapa Matuiii Press," commenced in 1903. and the "Te Piipiwharauroa he Kupu Whakamnrain.i," published monthly since 189?, hut time forbids. Of the latter Archdeacon W'll:?m s can give the best account as from lir. Te Ea.ll Prers at Gisborne tho one hundred and twenty-fourth number is now proceeding. _ In considering the various questions which will be brought before this congress for the advancement of the Native race, that of a suitable journal or newspaper should not be left out of the discussion.