THE MAORI RACE

Otago Witness, Issue 4042, 1 September 1931, Page 6

THE MAORI RACE

HISTORY AND LEGENDS ADDRESS BY REV. H. J. FLETCHER, A very interesting and informative address on the subject, “ The . Peopling of , ' v Zealand by the- Polynesians,” was delivered to members of the Otago Branch of the New Zealand Historical Association and of the Institute of Pacific Rela“°ns on Thursday evening by the Rev. H. J-I’letch er, of Seacliff. Mr Fletcher spent--35 years in mission work in the Taupo district, and during that time took the opportunity of investigating the history and traditions of the Maori people. Dr J. R. Elder was in the chair, and introduced the speaker. Fletcher said that the compiling of Maori history was largely a matter of learning the legends of the different tribes, and then comparing them, after which a process of deduction had to be carried out. The Maoris had no sense of time, and would frequently regard as current happenings events which had taken place over several centuries. The principal migration from Polynesia, he said, took place about 1350; but Toi, one of the first of his race to settle in New Zealand, had readied this country about 950 a.d. Regarding the navigation of loi s canoe, Mr Fletcher said that he had often thought that the mariners might have been guided bj’ the star Canopus, by which thej’ would be able to ascertain roughly how far south they were. It was well known that this star was at times not visible in the North Island, -while it was never out of sight in the South Island.

Over half the Maori population of New Zealand, . continued the lecturer, was centred in the Auckland province, and this could be attributed to the fact that when the early Polj’nesians arrived here they bad settled in the North Island, where the climate was more amenable. The South Island had been peopled by the weaker tribes, which had been driven across the straits as the more favoured parts of the North Island had been inhabited by more warlike members of tneir race. One tribe, said Mr Fletcher, had frequently been spoken of as having been exterminated b.v another, but it ivas not the practice of the conquering side to wipe out its opponents. All the fighting men were massacred, hut the children were absorbed by the victorious tribe, and the women of marriageable age became the wives of their victors.

Many other aspects of the subject were touched on by Mr Fletcher, who showed that he had an intimate knowledge of the Maori race, his remarks being fully appreciated by the audience. At the conclusion of his address he was accorded a hearty vote of thanks, on the motion of Dr Benson.