MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Daily Times, 8 December 1937, Page 4

MAORI MEMORIES

(By.J.H.S. for “The Daily Times.”) FAITH, HOPE AND ROBBERY. In 1862, Sir George Grey’s road through Hunua forest to Mangatawhiri (the signal vale) was looked upon Avith grave suspicion. Had it not been on the Queen’s land, the military workers would have been killed to a man. The Mission Schools had taught the Maoris the lessons .of history. Reading and Avriting appealed to them as a miracle, so their aptitude was far greater than that of any European scholars. They read that Rome had civilised England, and decided to defend themselves against similar fate at any cost. Tamihana Avrote to say that the forests and SAvamps were the bulwarks of Waikato, and that no money could induce them to remove the tapu from their beloved land. Near Maungatautari they had bridged the Waikato River between two projecting rocks, by felling a forest giant across the gap, and even that was tapu against all Pakeha people. Though missionaries, the Government and the people were extending the hand, of friendship to the Maori, everywhere they looked upon us Avith suspicion. From the forties onivard to 1860, we had their confidence. Then, Avith the adA 7 ent of the land speculator, the liquor seller, and the natural instinct of self preservation, came the horror and hatred of war.

By the Treaty of Waitangi, our Queen guaranteed to the Maoris the full “Chieftainship” over all their land and property. Their Avord for this privilege was “Rangatira tanga, ” in which there could not be any ambiguity. Upon this assurance, and . the bribe of a red blanket for each signature, there were no refusals. The Maori translation of the Treaty differs from the English wording, which to them was of course a sealed book.