MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Daily Times, 19 June 1936, Page 5

MAORI MEMORIES

<By J.H.S. for “The Daily Times.’’) HOBSON’S CHOICE. In 1837 Captain Hobson, Commander of H.AI.S. “Rattlesnake,” was sent by gir Richard l Bourke, Governor of “to protect British subjects report upon the lawless proceed- ' ings of the Maoris at Kororareka. ’ ’ After a complete survey of the situation, he reported in August of the same year upon the great decrease in the number of Natives and a simultaneous increase of British subjects, and suggested that * ‘ certain remedial action should be taken to avert the disastrous consequences likely to ensue from the conduct of many of the Europeans toward the Natives ! ” Kororareka was the only large settlement in New Zealand. Its fluctuating population was then 1000 Europeans and perhaps 5000 Maoris. It was the seat of the Church Alission. Dr. Thompson, the British Army Aledical Officer, says: “It had one church, five hotels, and numberless grog shops. Eor six successive years 100 whale ships were anchored in the Bay. In 1826 no less than 36 large whale ships ' were anchored there at one time. In 1838, 56 American vessels entered the Bay, 23 English, 21 French, 1 Breman, 24 New South Wales., and 6 from the Coast.” One hundred and thirty-one vessels, with crews of approximately 1500, all intent upon killing whales with barbed darts «nd men with poisonous liquor! Captain Hobson’s outspoken report ehould have been an example to the world and to this country in particular. ...' He hit the nail on the head, but it was too rusty to enter the concrete brain of our statesmen. In Alay, 1838, the Kororareka Association was formed to determine the best means of protecting life and property, and a bill embodying their views was presented to the British Parliament by Francis Baring, but it was opposed by Her Majesty’s Ministers and consigned’ to the wastepaper basket. In April, 1839, a luxurious dinner was given at West India Dock Tavern, Blackwall, to celebrate the equipment of a vessel for the purposes of settlements in New Zealand. Mr Hutt, M.P., whose memory is preserved in a place name, presided. John Lambton and Edward Gibbon Wakefield, whose names

are similarly honoured, were said to have been responsible for its success. / Their chief difficulty was in the unicry of “Cannibalism.”