MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Daily Times, 8 October 1936, Page 7

MAORI MEMORIES

(By J.H.S. for “The Daily Times.”) KAWANA KEREI. On the departure Of Governor Grey in 1854 the Maoris pointed with superstitious awe to the initials “G.G.” on the track between Roto Mali ana (hot lake) and Taupo. This was done by Sir George in ,1850; but he required no mural monument in New Zealand. By the Maoris he will be long remembered as the man who captured Ruapekapeka pa (the bat’s nest fort) and Rauparaha, the murderous chief, as the man who subdued Heke and Rangihaeata, also for the schools and hospitals he endowed and established, for his ordinance preventing the sale of fire water and fire arms to Maoris, for the Resident Magistrates’ Act, and for rescuing their songs, and legends from oblivion. He is remembered by the settlers as the last' Governor , who had despotic power and used it wisely and well, for the peace and prosperity of his rule, for cheap land, for retarding self-rule for five years, and for the foundation of a constitution more liberal than, that of the U.S.A. .

No man armed with despotic power is ever popular among an intelligent people such as the average Anglo Saxons. Irresponsible rulers, however, may have this satisfaction, that if they do any good thing, they become popular after death, which, like departure, “Openeth the gate to good fame and extinguisheth envy.” Then too we are told that “No truly great man arrives until after he has departed.’.’ When Sir George Grey arrived in England lie was created D.C.L. by Oxford University and the undergraduates gave three resounding cheers for “The King of the Cannibal Islands,” and that was the name by which New Zealand was then known. In the Commons and the House of Lords', members complained that Governor Grey abused the power vested in him regarding waste lands,. by disregarding the injunction of the Supreme Court, and by appropriating the revenue without authority. The Duke of Newcastle-warmly vindicated him and announced that Her Majesty had appointed him Governor of that “difficult dependency” The Cape of Good Hope.