MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Daily Times, 19 January 1933, Page 4

MAORI MEMORIES

(By J. H. S. for "The Daily Times'") SELWYN’S FIRST SERMON. Had Selwyn but known the five vowel sounds of the Maori tongue this would not have happened. For twenty years, when the annual meeting of Synod, in New Zealand was opened, touching reference was made by the President to the wondrous reception of Christian teaching by the Maori people. Always this story was told: —‘‘ Selwyn arrived in sunshine, welcomed on the shore by thousands of Maoris, who asked for a korero. The Maoris, squatting on the ground, listened intently. When the last words of his benediction were feelingly spoken, every man and woman, boy and girl, touched him on the shoulder and retired in silence, too overcome for words.” Hemi Matenga, husband of Julia Martin, the New Zealand Grace Darling, said: “I have heard that story in Synod for twenty years, but now all are dead and no one’s feelings can be hurt, the truth must be told. The fact is that our wellbeloved Selwyn had learned all his Maori from books, and not one of us undertsood a word of it. Silence was the only way to express our deep sympathy. ’ ’

’Subsequently, when Selwyn’s great mana and his acquired command of the language had made him an idol to these simple people, one devoted follower said: “Nou are an ideal bishop, but you should not fight; we saw you with an upraised sword at Rangiriri.” Selwyn was the first bald-headed man they had ever known, and they regarded him as a saint set apart from common men. The swordsman was a British soldier, but they did not believe there could be another saint like their own.