THE MAORIS AND THE IRISH

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9272, 26 June 1908, Page 1

THE MAORIS AND THE IRISH

, I J.XJ.JU uliiUHiM __-i. —• —-— — — — — - — ♦" i The reference made by Bishop Neli- • gan at the Pan-Anglican Synod recent- • ly to the Maori people as Irishmen • browned by ihe sun, the "New Zeaa land Times " says, is not the first time i such a comparison has been made, and by Irishmen at that. The late Dr ■< Grace, M.L.C., in his "Sketch of the •' Maori War," tells how on one occasion ■ the troops were advancing • against a ' small tribe that had come out into the • open to give battle to a vastly superior ! force. " Their prospect," says ne, "was distinctly hopeless; wo had them oom--1 pletely at our power. . Thie made no difference to tho Maori. He fought in the open, delivering his fire, retiring slowly, loading in a dignified manner. The women fought beside the men, the boys in front of all. The dignity and martial bearing of the Maori touched the hearts of the soldiers. Very few of the Maoris were killed, and their woun--1 ded were handled with infinite tenderness by our men. The majority of the defenders got away scathless, and everyone on our side was equally delighted. The British soldier's neart was not in the struggle." The men with whom Dr Grace, who was present, was acting, belonged to an Irish regiment, and he describes how he heard them saying what they thought of the business. He heavd one say: " Begorra it's

. murder to shoot them. Sure t«hoy a*# . our own people with their potatoes and r fish ahd childer. Who lo_qw» l>ttt «rh*| s they are Irishmen, with \ faces a little - darkened by the sun, who esoaped 4niv .. ing the persecutions of OomwiD?" j \