PAKEHA AND MAORI

Southland Times, Issue 24106, 20 April 1940, Page 15

PAKEHA AND MAORI

Records Of Early New Zealand

TIKAO TALKS. By Henries Beattie. A. H. and A. W. Reed, Dunedin and Wellington. Price 17/6. THE FOUNDING OF NEW ZEALAND. By J. Rutherford. A. H. and A. W. Reed, Dunedin and Wellington. Price 7/6.

Reviewed by F. G. HALL-JONES. Tikao (1850-1927) was born at Akaroa, the son of a Maori lay preacher; his own son became a captain of the Maori Battalion in France. At the age of 8 Tikao entered on a course of instruction in ancient lore under two tohungas, who died, alas, before the course was complete. About .20 years ago. he gave Mr Beattie an interview which would put tire modern Cabinet Minister to shame. It lasted 11 days, during which Tikao never repeated himself and never referred to a single note or written record. The feat is a striking example of the mental attainments of the Maoris.

Mr Beattie’s notebooks are here written up in a volume of 160 pages covering the creation, the Maui cycle, the deities, mana and superstitions, folk lore and customs and the general history from Hawaiki to present times. Occasionally Tikao puts forth a version which Mr Beattie, in his chapternotes, questions as doubtful or definitely incorrect. A case in point is his exposition of the early tribes in the South. Akaroa was predominantly Ngaitahu, and as the Waitaha and Ngati-mamoe strains are more preserved here the Otago-Southland Maoris are likely to be nearer the truth.

The Maori had no name for east, north, and so on, but used the name of the wind from the particular direction. By the ringing of his ear-drums Tikao could prophesy rain. He remembers snow-drifts 12 feet deep at Akaroa, nd a greater rainfall before the clearing of the bush on the Peninsula. The Maori had a form of draughts before the pakeha came and soon mastered the English game. At the age of 19 Tikao won a challenge match against a pakeha; and later, with Major Kemp, he played a game on a gigantic scale with real men on the squares, a source of great interest and amusement to the onlookers.

In the old days the Maori, if not completely naked, gave the air free access to his skin, which was hard and rough enough to strike a match. With much raw and tough food, he rarely suffered from toothache.

Tikao negatives the “Kaiapohia” version of Kaiapoi. He thinks the Rapuwai were copper-coloured and gingerhaired—presumably what we call the red-headed Maoris. This is of special interest, as a manuscript of 1852 is now available referring to an old settlement of Rapuwai at Ringway, Otautau. He confirms many other Southern Maoris in denying that Kupe was the first to come to New Zealand, and he dates the Waitaha chief Rakaihautu earlier than 900 A.D. He also adds to the evidence of the wreck of the Takitimu canoe in Te Wae Wae Bay and Tamatea’s journey to Lake Te Anau.

The memories of a single individual, however valuable, are not too satisfactory a basis of history. They must be co-ordinated with the memories of others. Mr -Beattie has interviewed many Maoris, and now whets our appetites with the promise of a book on the early inhabitants of the South Island. TREATY NEGOTIATIONS Professor Rutherford was favoured by the gods when he received, for editing, the diary and journal-letters of Felton Mathew and his wife. Those who have read Dr Scholefield’s Life of Hobson will appreciate to the full this day-to-day account of the treaty negotiations and the Mathews’ shrewd comments on the early settlements at Russell and Auckland. There are appropriate footnotes and commentaries by the author.

The appeal of the National Historical Committee for material relating to New Zealand history did not fall on deaf ears, and these manuscripts have been generously donated to the Government by the descendants of Mathew. Mathew accompanied Hobson to New Zealand, and on its arrival the party saw, not only the Union Jack flying over Busby’s cottage, but the French Tricolour over Bishop Pompallier’s mission station at Kororareka. Hobson feared the French had anticipated him, and “if it came to a squabble L’Artemise would sink us in a moment.” Nias and Hobson were Irishmen of equal naval rank and beyond doubt the former treated Hobson badly. “Captain Nias has behaved scandalously in the business .... we have had considerable rows.”

Nene’s speech, or the opening of it, is quoted verbatim: “We do not like the French or Americans: let us take the English, who will protect us.” As for Patuone: “You never saw an English gentleman conduct himself at table with better grace, dignity or propriety.” The purchase of Clendon’s 80 acres for a temporary capital site at a price of £15,000 has often been commented on. Actually, the purchase was repudiated by Sir George Gipps and Clendon received only £2250 and a 10,000 acre block worth 1/6 an acre. Mathew surveyed one site after another at the Bay of Islands and later the capital city at Auckland. The first sections in Auckland brought £555 per acre, as high a figure as in the vicinity of London or Liverpool. It is interesting to read today of the abolition of the Customs duty and the imposition of an income tax of about 2Jd in the £l. A passage concerning the road-makers deserves quoting. “The amount of labour they accomplish is absolutely insignificant ... if anyone is seen approaching they will commence working most vigorously—the moment the traveller has passed they lie down and recommence their favourite amusement of smoking and gossiping.” This was nearly 100 years ago, and the wages were 1/6 a day.

Mathew was the first surveyor-gen-eral of New Zealand under the old constitution. W. Mein Smith was the first to the New Zealand Lan,d Company and J. T. Thomson in 1876, the first under the present constitution. Mathew’s appointment, although he did not realize it, was only a temporary one. After he had organized his department in the face of overwhelming difficulties he was superseded by a fresh appointee from England in the person of C. W. Ligar, who has left his name at Ligar Burn, Blackmount. A disappointed man, Mathew died in 1847 at the early age of 46. Mrs Mathew was a very able and cultured woman, and her journal and autobiography form a valuable contribution to the volume.