MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Daily Times, 12 September 1936, Page 4

MAORI MEMORIES

(By J.H.S. for “The Daily Times.”) OUR FIRST SEAL AND CHARTER. The severe press criticism against the land jobbing tolerated by the Church Missionary Society of England, led to somewhat drastic action by that body against individual members, one of whom was. suspended for five years. Their treatment of this venerable Missionary, the father of the Mission, who had served with zeal for more than 25 years, w r as stigmatised in New Zealand. But other times and other parts of the world will affirm that his suspension and eventual restoration were carried out by the Society with equity and justice. The British House of Commons and House of Lords, titles by the way which were not acceptable for New Zealanders, granted us self government in 1846. We were to have a Governor in Chief, M.H.R’s., and M.L.C’s., the two latter bodies to be nominated by His Excellency. In addition there was to be a Lieutenant Governor and a House of Representatives for each Island, then to be known as New "Ulster and New Munster, elected by, the people. The charter was to begin in January, 1848, George Grey was appointed Governor in Chief, George Eyre Lieutenant Governor of New Munster, find MajorGeneral Pitt of New' Ulster, Maoris who could read aifd write English had a vote.

Her Majesty the Queen granted a seal to the new Colony on which was a Maori in war dress with a spear, and a Pakelia in the robe of a city mayor. The spear held by the Maori v r as wrong end up, perhaps to show that strife was ended.

Religion and justice w r ere indicated by the cross and the scales. Some s.aw in that picture His Holiness the Pope in European garb, and v r ere deeply concerned.

With the seal and charter came a despatch from Earl Gray asserting that the savages had no right to any unoccupied lands. Bishop Selwyn, Chief Justice Martin, and some Maori Chiefs sent an address to Her Majesty protesting against this act of injustice. The Bishop also sent a strongly worded protest to Earl Gray who in reply accused him of misrepresenting his meaning. By quoting the memorable words of a Maori Chief to the Queen’s representative the Bishop silenced the Earl—- “ Speak your words openly, speak as you mean to act, do not speak one thing and mean another.’ ’