MILLIONAIRE’S IDYLL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3975, 25 July 1929, Page 4

MILLIONAIRE’S IDYLL.

MAORI GURUS DEATH-BED GIFT. Recently there lias come into prominence a London-born American millionaire who is anxious to give, .away most of his vast fortune if ho can be satisfied that he is doing- heal good with the money. There are many who will be ready to help him in his philanthropic endeavour. New 'Zealanders will be interested in this benevolent gentleman, as hei was once a resident in this Dominion, and had a romantic acquaintance with a lovely Maori maiden —at least so he has told the London “Daily Sketch,” which publishes the story. Mr. Smith the 'millionaire has related to it, and which is as follows: — He was the youngest son, inheriting the name of Smith, the broken toys of his sisters, and the cut-down clothes of his brothers. He was packed off to an unknown uncle in New Zealand at the age of fifteen. He went out in the White Eagle, . a full-rigged clipper ship, at a time when passengers lived on salt junk and ship’s biscuit, and travelling by sea was; of the roughest. Within a month of his : arrival he experienced one of the most romantic and picturesque episodes of his eventful life, becoming one of the central figures in a! true idyll of the South 'Seas. While employed at his unie'le’s lumber camp, miles away from civilization, be wandered away into the hush and got lost. For three days he lived on the roots of ferns which he dug up with hands and knife. He was “a remarkable fellow!'’

Eventually he found his way to a Maori encampment, where, although he knew only .a Ifew words of the language and the natives could speak little English, he was •hospitably received. It iwas while living with them that he encountered Rahwedia, the beautiful Mjaori gilrl, with whom he fell in love. He had reached the camp utterly exhausted and after taking food fell info a deep sleep. When he awoke it was to look up into the face of Rahwedia. LOVELY VISION. Telling the story, Mr. (Smith says at first he thought it was a dream. He closed his eyes, but reopening them, again beheld the lovely vision—the gi|rl bending over him, her eyes suffused with tears. They became friends, went about together, played together. Rahiwedda taught him the Maori tongue. One day she came with her hands full of flowers, which she wove into ft wreath and placed upon his head. “You are now a Pakeha-Maolri” (white nn'an gone native), she sa-id. “You must have a Maori name. I will call you Unuora.” “Wlhat does that mean? asked the English youth. “Beloved,” she answered, “or dearest in life.* Happy days (followed, Rahwedia, strange, half-turned child of nature, was full of pretty thoughts and ways, and frequently gave expression to heir native and primitive philosophy. “Women,” she said onlee, “are the same in all countries, are they not? They are all made to he lojvcd. Is that not why they are made beautiful? The ones who are not loved wilt and fade as flowers without sun. So women of all naif they , have :not love, must try to Create it.” 'COULD NOT LAST. She had a presentment, however, that itheir romance could not last, and one evening, with tears, she told him so. But the end did not come quite like that. Rahwedia caught a chill and lay at death’s door. “I am dying,” she told him, “but do not grieve. Life would have parted us. It is better that I should leave you by the gate of death.”

Before she died she gave him a •talisman of New Zealand greenstone, which adorned her throat. "Take this,” she"'said. "It is all I have (to give. It is any life, any lo<ve, my all. It will protect you and ward off peril. You will not need to seek your fortune—it will come to you. You will marry a woman of your own race, whoim you will love and who will love you all your life. But. when you win this love, when success and fortune are yours, do not forget Rahwedia.” Young Smith (returned 1 to his own folk in New Zealand, and almost immediately afterwards took ship for San Francisco, there to face life afresh and build a! fortune in a new land. That is why Harold Smith, millionaire, wears on watch-chain a talisman of New Zealand greenstone. "Very like a whale!” New Zealanders will smile, especially over the lumber camp and "Rahwedia!”