CHAPTER Xll.—(Concluded)

Otago Witness, Issue 2649, 21 December 1904, Page 80

CHAPTER Xll.— (Concluded)

The Maox v is have been enrolled and drilled with the white settlers in Volunteer Corps, and held commissions in them ; and they <3id us credit in the contingent that accompanied the Premier to the Commonwealth celebrations. So naturally they volunteered for South Africa, and were much cast down at the inexorable refusal they met with.

The following paragraph appeared in the London papers of February 9, 1901 : — "This week a cable message has been received stating that New Zealand had resolved to include 100 Maoris in the next contingent to be sent to Scuth Africa. This has raised the question as to whether such procedxire does not amount to a breach, of the agreement that ' black ' should not be employed against 'white.' A representative of a London, news agency saw Mr .Reeves on Thursday in regard to this matter, and 1 Mr Reeves replied : — ' Setting 'aside the principle of employing coloured peoplo to fight, against white, a question I have nothing to do with, I only wish to point out that the Maoris are not savages, They are a civilised race, most of them well educated, and those who would go to South Africa would be for the most part well-to-do. And it, must also be remembered that thoy are free citizens, and ably assist, n the government of the colony, and therefore cannot be placed on a level with subject races, They are a kindly, homely, and humane people, equal in these le&'pects to any white people. I undertake to say that nothing will be found in their conduct on the battlefield to take the j slightest objection to. They will be | courageous and humane." But it could not be ; it was to be a White Man's War, and the Maoris took the disappointment with the dignity and good feeling that is the distinguishing mark of the national character.' The following is a translation of a farewell, addressed by the East Coast chief, Tuta, Nihoniho, "to the youths of Now Zealand who are goings to fight against the Boers" : — "0 my children, gc in the noble resalvo and loving attachment for our parent England, who has been wronged by the Boers and those people wlio assist them ; go, then, and 1 face the guns of the Boers and the sudden death which may be the fate of any one of you. Gc, go, then, there is no other refuge either in front or behind you but the refuge mentioned in the 46thi Psalm of David in the Bible. All such deeds as drinking und such like pastimes must be left behind you in New Zealand. When you are afloat on the ocean continually look to God for guidance. Go, go, then, and take my name — that of the lka-roa-a-Maui-Tikitiki-o-Taranga (the long fish of Maui, the Topknot of Taranga), known to the Europeans as the two islands of New Zealand. Take it, make it known amongst the nations. Go, be brave ; receive your wounds in front, that being the mark of a chief (that is, of tie brave) ; for he who receives hifc wound behind is put down as a coward ; go, therefore, like the chief (as tlw brave). Great was the love for you and the grief for ourselves the Maoris, because the native people were not permitted to go with you to the assistance of our Mother England. Now, Omy children, this is a new thing to me undei the sun, i;amely, having two children, one white and the other brown, that when trouble overtakes me, their parent, that I should forbid my brown, child to come to my | assistance and invite my white child to die with me. What, then, is to be done with regard to the acute pangs of love of my brown child towards me, its parent? There are two aspects to this question — (1) a loving regard lest harm should befall a much-beloved child ; or (2) a feeling that the child is despised as being incapable of accomplishing any great deed ; but the [ Maori proverb says : ' Big morsel or little morsel, the jaw has to move all the same.' j Fure'w'ell, then, be brave; set your , thoughts on God to help you. By so doing you will return with honour to us, your parents, and we, your parents, on our part, not knowing what is in store for you, will leave you in the hands of God. Go then>, and may God be with you always. God save King Edward the Seventh. From your friend Tuta Nihoniho, Captain, Ngatiporou Rifles." An amusing story went the rounds at that time of "the disappointed Maori".^-

"The Maoris are incensed. because they arc not allowed to go to Africa to ' kilci te Poa,' " says the Pahiatua Herald." A few days ago in the wilds of Whangapoua, a stalwart Maori heard that there was a Boer gumdigger working with spade and spear not far from hi& ancestral whare. He sallied out to battle. He found the Dutchman sitting at the door of his whare. ' Yovl to Poa?' he said. 'Yes, I'm a Boer; what d' want, nigcer?' The Maori commenced dancing a %vild war dance around his victim, and made a very wicked rush foi his enemy to wipe him off the face of the oarth at one fell swoop. Apparently the Dutchman did not mind. He pounded what iss commonly called ' seven bells ' out of the ' zwarfc schelm,' and sitting oa his fallen enemy, iillec l his pipe. 'You are going to kill the Boer now?' he queried, a? he applied the match. 'My word,' ans-n cred the Maori, ' I t'ink you tell a lie; I b'leevfe you a Noc Zealander like myself !' "

The Maoris showed their ungrudging sympathy -with, their white brothers by making up for each contingent a separate war-cry, and the young New Zeala-nders used these awe-inspiring yells with great effect upon more than one occasion. Is there any record of white and brown of any other ]and being on such fraternal terms as the New Zealanders?

The next proposal of these ardent loyalists was referred to by the London St James on March 15, 1902, as follows : — "Mr Seddon. telL us that 5000 of the 43,000 Maoris in the islands want to be allowed to relieve Biitlsh regiments stationed in other parts of the Empire, so that more British soldier 3 may be set free

to take their part in the war.

We can-

not help hoping that 5 may be found possible, in some way, to accede to their request. The Maoris have been bitterly disappointed at not being able to take any part in the war, and iL J ir enthusiasm and loyalty to the Crow 1 deserve recognition. The difficulty is, of course, to find a station to which they could be sent. There are objections to India, and you cannot very well empty Egypt of white troops. But there ought to be some means of showing these magnificent Natives that England appreciates the spirit in which they make their offer. We are told that they ' especially want the . King to know ' that they are ready to go. We have no doubt that his Majesty, if it is found impossible to do all that they want, will take some means or other to show them that their request has given him pleasure."

Ere this date, however, the King had invited a contingent of New Zealanders to his Coronation festivities, and it was very properly decided that to the Maoris should be allotted the choice of 24 representatives, the pakehas (white men) being almost entirely chosen from among those returned from or at the front. It was amusing to find the heartburnings common on such occasions in the great world cropping up among the Maoris, as at the Rotorua royal meeting. Up-to-date, as usual, the Maori malcontent wrote to the paper as follows —

"The Father of One of the First.—

"Sir, — I wish to draw your attention to the above affair. Now, a month ago, the report came it must be all mo mo rangatira* and good character. Mr W. Uru, of the North Canterbury Mounted Bines, is selecting the men for the South Island. The question is, Has he picked those mo mo. rangatira of good character? — Yours, etc.j

"He: Taxgata. " By "the Father of one of the First" presumably was meant one of the first Maori Contingent to the Queen's Jubilee or the Commonwealth celebrations.

The programme of a Maori gathering to be held afc this time, will show how the Natives manage their affairs : —

•"A Great Maori Gathering. — ■

"The great gathering of Maoris to begin this week near East Cape (says the special correspondent of the Post) is expected to be one of the most important ever held in Poverty Bay. Representative Maoris from all parts of the North Island will attend to discuss various matters interesting the race. Two weeks' festivities will be sandwiched with such important events as a session of the Maori Parliament, a general conference of Maori Councils of the North Island, a huge farewell from tlie Maori people of the colony to the Premier, and the establishment of a fund for the maintenance of Native clergy. Since the support hitherto, extended by the Church Missionary Society of England expires by effluxion of time, it has become necessary for the Maori people to take upon themselves a measure of self-dependence, and they are instituting in the diocese a fund of £0000, of which sum Archdeacon Williams has promised one-third if the Maoris will provide the other two-thirds. The Waionmtini people expect to collect fully £1000 at the meeting. The gathering has been organised by Ngata, the talented leader of the young Native party. Hundreds of invitations have been issued, tons of food procured, large houses and tents erected, the passages of visiting Natives guaranteed,' and no trouble or expense spared to make the meeting a, success. Thursday will be devoted to the reception of the Hon. Mr Carroll, officially, as Native Minister, and Friday to entertaining and bidding farewell to the Premier."

The speeches of the Premier (who is also Defence Minister) and General Babington on the day of farewell will show what the colony proposes to do foi her martial Maori sons.

"In the course of his address, the Premier made important statements of the Government policy with regard to the Maoris. It was intended to spend money in roading and surveying Maori lands, which to the extent of over one million acres had been handed over to the Maori Councils by Native owners. These lands would be leased to settlers by the 'Government for the benefit of the Natives. The Government would also establish mounted Volun-

* Blue-blooded aristocrats.

tcr corps of Maoris all over the colony, and lie hoped within six months to. have 5000 men enrolled under officer oi their own race, ready to be trained for the defence of the country. He had discussed: th°. scheme with the new Commandant, who warmly approved of it. The chic's and people would have a voice in choosing tl'e officers, and these, would then be trained in their duties at Wellington prior to being placed in command of the corps, the Government paying for their keep duringthe period of training. £n the event of our own men being drafted away for any pir.pose, we should have ,a force of Mam-is upon whom we could rely to defend New Zealand. The Premier added that wlien hf» went to England he should ask the King's Advisers not again to refuse the offer of Maori volunteers to 'glit for the Empire.

"General Babington, who was present, briefly addressed the Maori*, and said that he lad every confidence in saying that lie could train them to be good soldiers-. lie was anxious to tea^rh them all he could, in th*s bone that some day he might have the honour oi leading them in action.

"The sentiment of the Premier and General Babington re Maori mounted corps "were received with, loud plaudits by the Natives.

"Before having, the Premier was the recipient of a number of gifts from the Maoris. A farewell address to him and an address, for presentation to the King a*e being prepared, and will be offered for his acceptance next week by a deputation of chiefs who will come to "Wellington." Among those present, in addition to Tamahau Mahupuku, the local chief, were Mr H. Tomoana, M.L.C., Mr Wi Pcre, M.H.R., Captain Tuniarangi Brown, and others. There was the- usual performance of bakas, vnd feasting and speech-making. The Native members of the Coronation Contingent weie trained at the camps of instruction vritli the Europeans. The paptrs mention their beinj; inspected with the European troops by General Babington, and' being visited by members of Parliament, including the Native^ Minister (the Hon. J. Carroll) and H. K. Taiaroa. M.H.R., and being lined up. under Captain Taranaki and Lieutenant Uru, to listen to an address in their native language ; and it is remarked that one trooper was~ the son of the Hon. H Tv. Taiaroa, M.L.0., md another of Mr T Parata, M.H.R.

A press report of the Addington Camp of Instruction says : — '"Eventually, instead of the 24 first talked of, 31 Maoris, undei' Captain Taranaki and Lieutenant Uru, sailed for England in the Coronation Contingent, where, I am sure, their fellowsubjects in London will .give them the right hand of fellowship, at least." The warmth ot British feeling for the New Zealander has lately been most amusingly depicted in a clever parody on Bret Harte's well-known verses, which we need; hardly apologise for transcribing here «s the fitting finis to a book that began "with, grumbles at the "more than kin and less than kind" old attitude of the British public towards its colonies — now to be for ever buried in oblivion : —