GREATER LOVE

Horowhenua Chronicle, 16 October 1913, Page 4

GREATER LOVE

A NEW ZEALAND IIOMAxXCE

(JJy Mis. I)'. May.)

[The following story lias been awarded iir.st prize by the literary judges oi the Gisbornc Competitions Society in tho short story competition. The author's name was disclosed at the Festival as that ui' Mrs 1 ,1 . May, of Uisborne.]

Afternoon of a day in early summer and the Maori kainga lay bathed in the warm rays of (he westering sun ; before the entrance (o the wharopuni a group of men were seated on a mound overlooking the river.

They were of all ages and drcssd in a variety of styles, from the riding breeches ami leggings of the up-to-date youth to the llax mat and feather of the more ancient representative of the race; whilst the colouring and features of at least two members of the party testified to the fact that they wore pakehas.

Through' the blue haze of pungent tobacco smoke came the low hum of conversation, punctuated by outbursts of infectious laughter.

At their feet the ground sloped sharply to the river, where several canoes lay drawn up on llie shore in mid-channel: a diver, its white breast Hashing in the sun, fished industriously, whilst upon a tall pine a black shag sat fanning its wings in the gentle breeze that blew up the rive] , .'

A narrow path to the left gave access io a large sirelch. of grazing land, the condition of the fences and general air of precision and neatness indicating that here at least was no .Maori farm, but was the work of other ami more industrious hands. Such, indeed, was the case, for most of the tribal lands had been sold or leased to the pakehas: who now lived amicably side by side with I heir darkskinned brethren in peace and contentinent; as exemplified in the case of the pakeha visitors, who were paying an afternoon call upon I heir Maori landlords.

To Ihe right a strong and high wire fence enclosed a paddock, in which was confined a huge bull: more noted for the excellence of his breeding than for the sweetness of his temper; the latter a group of youths were testing lo the utmost: the frantic, though fruitless attempts of (he infuriated animal to reach his tormentors being greeted with uproarious laughter. Suddenly from the dim recesses of an adjacent whare a figure advanced will) faltering footsteps, Hirini-te-Eruera, the last tribal representative of the ancient Maori veteran. A (all old warrior, still retaining some traces of his former ereclness: a hawk-like face, embellished with (he graceful and iiil ricate curves of the moke or tattoo, a huge hooked nose and eye: , , that once clear and pieiriug "'ere now faded and dim. hi his hands, which were a dark and mahogany colour with gnarled and twisted lingers, lie held a long staff. Lgnoring ihe greet inn , thai welcomed his appearance lie advanced until he slood beside the group and slowly surveyed the visitors. "Teliakoc, pakeha,"he grunted, a :i(l then accept ing from Ihe ha lid of (life of his kinsmen the proffered pipe, he seated himself and was soon lost in medilat'ion. Conversation gradually ceased, t-he party smoking their pipes in silence the warm sunshine lit up the form of the bnltle-scarred veteran: there was no energy in (he tired old frame, no lire in the faded eyes, his hands hung inert between his knees, his evelids drooped. A loud crash and a. prolonged entangling of the wires, as the youthful tormentors still tantalised their furious victim: aroused the old chief from his lethargy some long-forgotten chord of memory was stirred by the sound, some old-time remembrance. lie can hear again (he thundering r-hylh-mic stamp of the warlike haka : see the swaying tonus, the savage faces: again to his memory comes the harsh barking llau-Ilau ol' the dancers: the wild tribal yell: Ihe crashing report of ritles: the shock and whirl of couiliat : airain comes the jarring clash of the war club and mere on polished gun barrel. The distended nostrils of I he old warrior snuffed the scent of battle and his heart responded to the call.

With head thrust forward and a curious suggestion of strength in his manner, the man rose slowly to his feet again conies the clash of the wires his form slowly stiffened, his eyes glowed with the fire of battle." Again he was a young man a"*nd a warrior.

Turning with extended arm he faced his amazed listeners: "Thus," he said in Ih|uhl Maori, indicating the enraged nnininl: "thus do the Maori race sli-ivc to overcome the might of the pakeha, but no, strive and struggle as we

niiiv thev still remain the victors.

"In the days of my youth we , fought bravely and well to resist their advance, but our efforts were of no avail, like the sands on the seashore, like the blades of grass upon the mountain side, in numbers are tho pakehas." 'Tor tho Maori who was slain there was no successor, but the pakeha, for each one wp slew, many came from the black water in their big canoes to replace

them; still we fought, at the stockade, in tko dark gullies and on the mountain side, they fell, and many were left in that far oJl' land to mourn their loss;.but the end was the same—strive as we might, like the bird in the snare of the fo-wlcr -all our struggles were in vain and we were conquered --• and then ' followed

peace !'

Abruptly he fell silent, After a pause lie resujtned Jiis speech. "Then came Te Kooti and his dark deeds, with (he slayuig of the jlooiniui in open combat '1 find no fault; that is the work of men; but the killing , of helpless women and children- that is tlio work of cowards !' "

"Maori and pakeha alike united to pursue and punish the perpetrators of a deed so dark and dreadful; aud among the number were some of niy hapu, burning with a desire for ulii (vengeance). We set out, but for days we gained no tidings of the fugitives. At last we found them camped in a pah in the forest."

"The position was of great strength, and it was evident that cunning and not might would prevail. That nig'ht the pakeha chief laid his plans, and we were to attack at dawn. So warily did we approach that the watchm in the rata trees saw us not to me was yivcn the task of opening the gate for the pake-has."

"Silently .1 made my way to the stockade, and as the first gleam of early dawn pierced the morning mist my entry was accomplished. A guard stood within- hiifr 1 slew and giving the signal scream of the kaka, J threw wide the gate and gave entry to the pakehas: and the slayers of innocent women and children lay before

1 carried no gun that day, on-

ly the weapon of my forefathers, and as J. "grasped my trusty mere 1 shouted aloud, in my joy, and a red mif-Ji gathered before my Twice my weapon drank blood: they fought bravely that day, but to many came death death swift and certain- for we spared none. Some there were standing together on a knoll and

among ilicin was Te Kooti himself: and with a rush like unto (lie north wind I was among them. One was there who disputed my way. Again my mere swung and one more warrior gave lo the blow a good blow and a strong and with a shout I sprang to the chief himself. Hut it was not to be: blows rained thickly upon me, and for long 1 lay in the land ol' dark shadows. , ' "JJut who ran tell how such things arc done!" Old incus memories lade and grow dim, but victory rested with the paiceha and Te Ivooti fled lied to far-oil' Te Kuililauga: where upon its slopes like the great brown hand, dwells Taoiiui Jlikaka and his people, and there 'uealli the shelter of his wing Te Jvooti found refuge safe alike from the vengeance of the Maori and the pakolia. , ' "There also to this day stands the carved gift house of TV Kooti l\n-le-to-kanganui-a-iioho, on the plain of Taupiri-o-te-Uangi, as a token of gratitude for the sanctuary granted to (he slayers of the young and helpless." "lint Jliriiii-te-Eruera grows old old men are full of nerves thev see meal dangers and fear them only the past and its memoiies remain. "There, - " extending his hand in a gesture of resignation, _ "still (lows the river. I ho mountains are there as of old, but like the leaves before the western wind, have peo!ple of my name and race been driven : and now only a memory remains. Soon 1, 100, shall depart, and it is time, for I am old, old and weary." ' The feeble old voice gradually ceased. The sun dipped slowly to the horizon across the slanting rays of light; (he smoke eddied strangely, over I lie landscape lay a beaufiful haze of pale blue and crimson: from the distant forest came the single bell-like note of the ,tui -intermingled with the sharp, shrill scream of the weka : a morepork hooted dismally, the darkness slowly descended. . ■ A bright day. warm and genial, the bees hummed drowsily among the (lowers: across the "pniltl«K-k (ottered and stumbled, a tiny figure, dressed in scarlet, with a cap of (lie same colour perched upon i his .fairly curly hair; eyes like ] blue forgel-nie-nols, opened wideSly as he pursued his erratic course and in his childish hand was clas- ; pod a bunch of grasses and flowers. ; (To be con lin ned to-morrow).