MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Daily Times, 23 February 1935, Page 4

MAORI MEMORIES

(By J.H.S. for “The Daily Times.”)

RATJPARAHA (BROAD SWORD).

Raunaraha’s capture in 1846 has been so frequently told and *^ AVIVS that the narrative of a. mecuca officer then stationed in the vicinity is ° f relative of KauparaSf’SuT'E? tbe'wairau Massacre, Eauparaba’s fear S the English had turned to morbid, hatred and that his appearance ot conversion to Christian virtues was mere Pr piiendly Maoris who suav J^^fptain oisrsa r" ImdTado new proverbs “to see through the schemes of R r Pa ’’\nd V ‘CtJngue r wa n s with but his hand Avith Rangicunning, he was before onTsrd July, 130 S”rom a Sic“ and placed lU He°bit, Struggled, and behaved like a wild animal until assured that he was not to be hanged at the yard arm. Men Avhose lives are spent in attacking, s ioaa their craven spirit Avlien attacked. t Rangihaeata (the dawn of day) whose personality, bravery, mental y, and gift of eloquence would have ear ed fame in any community, overshadowed all by the exercise of a low cun “His splendid orations to’ tlio fugitive tribes wore committed to memory and to writing by several followers. T y werLjreat tributes to Ms relative Earn paraha, the prisoner of war noiv I-IM.S. Calliope. , , The final verse slioavs lioav he Avas to revenge Rauparalia’s seizure. “Hence vain lamenting —hence away. Hence all the brood of soitoav born. There will be time enough to mourn In the long days of summer, ere the Is cropped abundant for the Avork of blood. , Now I must marshal in compact array Great thoughts that eroAvding come Of an avenging day.”