MAORI MEMORIES

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3843, 7 December 1936, Page 5

MAORI MEMORIES

WHY THE MAORI REVOLTED. (By J.H.S.) It is quite natural that those of us who in early years were privileged to have frequently seen and literally worshipped the “Queen’s Boy,” as we then regarded Governor Grey who chatted with the children, the settlers, or the Maoris as one of themselves, should still regard his administration of both races as an ideal. It therefore comes as a shock to read the verdict of a genuine student of history, I. G. G. Sutherland: “Sir George Grey, twice Governor of New Zealand, was genuinely interested in the Maori race, yet he contrived to make a thorough mess of his administration of them.” The Maori was quick to see the object of our seeming friendship when we induced (him to part with his only svmbol of everlasting life, the land. They earnestly desired to retain that one medium of self - government, but finding that a king without a kingdom was utterly futile, they naturally fought to the bitter end. Twenty thousand soldiers during the early days of 1863 and 64 managed to annex three mlliion acres of the Maori heritage reducing them to a condition of bitter hatred. This gave rise to the fanatical Hau Hau rebellion under the prophet Te Ua, who taught his followers from the warlike doctrines of the Old Testament. In justifying their decision to appoint a Maori King, Wi Tamihana, the King Maker, quoted our own gospel: “One from among thy own brethren shalt thou set king over thee.” A follower said: “Whv should the Queen be angry—wei only wish to be her allies.” Sir John Gorst approved of the proposed kingship for the self-govern-ment of the Maori peonle, and if any European was qualified to judge, he was the man. The immediate cause of the final revolt was the utterly unjust committal of the loyal chief, Te Kooti, to the Chatham Island prison without just cause and without trial.