CHRISTIANITY SUPERSEDED

Waipa Post, Volume 32, Issue 1926, 26 October 1926, Page 8

CHRISTIANITY SUPERSEDED

, THE PAEMAIKI CULT. HOW AND WIHY IT SPREAD IN THE KUIMG COUNTRY. Mr Andrew Kay, of Parawera. has • firirwarded some moat linlterestlnig obsiervations upon life and conditions prevailing on the borderland of the Waikato and King 'Counbriy in 'the earMer days of white settlement. "Looking back now," says Mr Kay, "to early in 1863, 'when Sir George Orey -was ready to 'begin this conquest ■of, -the Waikato, I recall Itlhat a proclamation was issued directing all natives in and! around Auckland-, Manure, Wairoa. Drury, Pukfkobe and Hunua to assemble in a compound and submit to military control. The alternative to this was that they cllear ouVof the, tlis'trict. Not unnaturally. tfcev chose the latter bourse, leaving most tot their worldly belognings behind, and joined tlieiir brethren in the Waikato, with whom thfey Sympathised in their laspfsations to retain Ithe bulk of the rich Waikato lands for itbem--1 selves. Remember, t'but from 1860 to 1870 there had been continuous war in the North Island from Auckland down to Taupo, and down both coasts, and fchfe'whoJe colony was tired of warfare. The Imperial troops had departed, and we.colonists were short of money and man-power. After the fall of Oralcau in 1864. the. natives broke up Unto small parties and toiok Meifuge away back in the (mountain's, fearing pursuit. When they found that the killing had ceased they gradually drifted back to some of their old settlements, suclh' as A'ratiafcia. Wharep&pa. Kora-konut and other near-by settlements. IT may add that up to 1562 Ithe Vv'aikato natives were ail converted Christians, .and ithey had unanimously'adopted the Christian falith as preached by the missionaries; but when Bisnbp Sel'wyjni turnteid tlhe old missionary. Morgan, out of Ithe Te Awamutu Church and .bua'ildings, and plait John Gorst in occupancy, the natives began to doubt. When 'later the bishop was invariably seen in General Cameron's camp, and they also saw the bishop leading the ! troop :S linto Te Awamutu where he witnessed the .killing of .old men, women and children, and the 'looting of their property in Rangiaobia, ithe Christian religion got into disrepute arid evtainltually it was abandoned by almoslt all the na't'ivies. Gracp. • .the Taupo m'issionary, came to To Awamutu after the 'troops left, and he stayed with me nearly a month. But Whkm he wished tlo return to h'is Taupo mission station the Maori s ■refused to have any further parley with him. Yelt prior to the incidents I have related he was a man much respected and appreciated. Their refusal was indicative of the changed ifieel'ings isO engendered by the enmity (towards Bishop iSelwyn. .Amongst the Maoris at that, time waft a 'desire —indeed, it was a eraving —for some ne'w brand of religion more nearly typifying their ideals. The '•cul': !of Jia|ibau and paiimar'M wa's, teonsequer/.ly, largely adopted. The iprincip'3.l apostle for the spread of the palimar'iri cult was Klereopa, but he .made- the mistake of istar.ting to murder heretics, .commencing with, tihat good man Volkner, thje Opotiki miseiofier, and James FaV.oon, an adopted ('son of ; S'ir Donald McLean, an educated gentleman atttachkldi to the Native 'Department. Falloon was at one time a resident of Te Awamutu, being a member of 'Go'rst's staff in 1863. Inei•d&njtally 'I may 'mention that lin that year -Gorst, as a magli&trate, was holding a court in ItlMa middle Waikato, (trying, a negro for stealing a native's hcirse. The m'agisj&rate, during the hearing, sat on a stool in the open. Falloon was elrek of the court, and did, Ifche swealring-'in of witnesses, o! which I was one. Tbte prisoner wa« Sn charge o! a natiive constable, was "found guilty, and sentenced to three months'. imprisonment. There was no 'lock-np in the vililage, and, as might have (been (Expected, during the night the pris'craler escaped, an'di so Hie never served the term of imprisonment imposed. But. I have (digressed. Kereopa " acquired a considerable following and fought many battles. He eluded capture from 1865 to 1872. .'There was a reward of £IOOO offered for his capture, and' Captain Porter eventually .earned it. From the £IOOO he save each o.f his 1 officers £25, and £lO to .each : man of his party. Kereopa Was trie'jdi. found guu'lty of murde'r, and, hanged. As ifch troops advanced into the Waikato 'the natflVes removed their cattle, sheep l , and many of their best horses far inland —beyond the soldiers' reach. Being acquainted with many of (She W ! aikato natives' before the war, I was permitted to visit them in their' wayback country settlements. The Old Maori Voad inland was up Ithe valley of the Waipa stream via Paewhenua , thence to Taumarunui and the Upper Wanganui district. I once got 300 sheep from beyond the 'Paewjhenna. That place was a handy trading centre, for one cou'ld •always find 'a reliable native whom I supplied w'ith 'money to go further iriland and purchase sheep. My 3ast vlisit to Paewhenua was in 1867. I had igiven one native about £6O with which to purchase stock. AMowing my agenit sufficient time to make his purchases* and 'be back to Paewhenua, I Visited the village anlJ there was quietly viewed by Kereopa the murderer, who had 'come overfend from ike East Coast. On arrival I notjiced a 'large number o? strange Maoris, and I was somewha't perturbed as to the success of my mission. It was my custom to stay at the settlement forcible inight, and I could always get a young lad to take charge of my horse for me ,for a small fee. On my arrival on the occasion referred to I. was bluntly toW my presence was not desired and to go away home to Te < Awamutu at once. I considered that the Maoris =.had resolved upon confiscation and of the. money I had giv->n;>to-my native agent to purchase stock. The natives were most determined that I should fleave at once, . a.nd would on no accouiit premit me to stay the night! I tried to'play on their known hospitality, saying that I liftd come a (long way (and was hun^

gry. A ■ were offered me, but-1 deettihecr : theni, mounted my 'horso'and left,liuicli Llisgusted at the treatment'received. .

Some few • daysjra'fter reaching Te Awamutu again E went ILo the Tham es goldfleldsi and'-fangot all about my Paewlienua- vislit. .Months later it was related'uo-int;! that Kereopa was in the setitemen't' and that lie-had viewed my arrival from a disltance; hence the hostile reception I had met with. His avbwfc'd "religion" w3a,.to. kill, or try to kill, all white- men at sight. I never 'heard of Kereopa's vis'it to the King Country bult I am satisfied he was at Paewhlsn|ua. He may 'have 'bes ntirying to spread his new ! religio.n,.>or perhaps he was looking for a.haven,.or asylum, as be had made 'his , old haunlts on the coast too hot aor. him. His presence in the King: Country was discouraged by: the resident natives.