“MAORI LORE”

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 121, 24 April 1925, Page 7

“MAORI LORE”

LECTURE BY MR J. H. STEVENS. An interesting lecture on “Maori Lore and Customs,” at which Air D. G. Anderson presided, was delivered at tho Congregational Hall last evening by Mr J. H. Stevens. Air Stevens has known the Maori since tho stirring war days—ho was born alongside a pah ho told his audience last evening—and could believe in some of them as ho could not believe in some of the pakehas he had come in contact with. First of all ho dealt with the Native language, with its five vowels and eight consonants, a language that was first committed to writing 105 yoaiw ago and now practically dead, und whose distinctions and beauties had been disclosed by a Alaori who was the greatest living genius of his race—Hare Hongi. The audience were then treated to the interpretation of certain Alaori terms.

Speaking of the law of tape, the lecturer said that tapu was universal ill its influence and seemed to imply restriction rather than worship. It was undoubtedly used as a means of subduing the ignorant and superstitious. That the law of tapu was universally observed throughout Polynesia, the records of early observers quite clearly established. The head of a person of any particular standing was always regarded as being tapu. The Alaori devised and fashioned all things with long and loving labour, and the workman came next to the chief. He, too, was tapu. Drossee of twenty-one kinds were made to last for 100 years, being fashioned from flax dressed with a shell, skin or hair of the native dog, or of bird skins; and feathered axes and weapons of stone,whalebone and hard wood were ulso made.

Tho chiefs were ordained by right of birth. Their wisdom and nobility were fostered by assiduous teaching which alone was tho care and duty of the tohunga or priests. There being no written language, no effort was spared to teach them tho traditions, philosophy, science and morale of the race and tho tribe. A desperate defeat might bo turned to victory if an old upoko arilci could bo brought to the danger line, for the tribe would lay down their lives to protect the tapu of sucli a chief. Referring to the marriage customs, tho speaker 6aid that, though the ceremony was made up of mutual consent, or, failing that, the vigorous use of a club, it was as eacred in its tuithful observance as our own marriage law. The lose of ancestral lands, ostracism or death were penalties of unfaithful husbands, though wives had more freedom. Rauparaha and Titokowaru, two of tho cleverest and most popular war chiefs in New Zealand history, fell und were cast out by their followers because they were unfaithful. Tribal and family interest and safety were the primal considerations in marriage. A Alaori maid’s marriage was directed by tho males of the tribe, rather than by her father. Plurality of wives was encouraged for certain reasons. The Native Land Courts had placed on record a wonderful system of ancient Maori land tenure, as inviolable as our own certificate of title. The “tiki” or title, was of eight distinct rights: Aforal force, discovery, conquest, defensive occupation, undisiuibed use, transfer or cession, gilt or adoption, ancestral. According to the exigencies of each of these eight titles, ©very one was as inviolable as death, hence the bitter warfaro. Aiurriugo rights and land tenure were so closely associated as to bo ineeperuble, tiie woman and the land being the origin of life and its very existence they became tho only means of maintaining the continuity ot family and tribal life in its most sacred form. Aiusic and song were divided into chant, victory, lament, love song or epic, and became an essential part of the welfare of every community whose social Jife depended upon oral delivery, because they knew no written language. The audience were then tojd of tho names the Aluoris hud for the stars. The double star in the constellation of Orion was regarded as the most beautiful object in the sky and was named punga rua Alatariku (the wanderer) was their name for Pleiades and the reappearance of one of its stars marked tho xtiaori New Year, June 16. Canopus was aoluki (the lone one) because it does not appear to move with the stars of tho Zodiac. Mars was matawhero (the red face), the great Jupiter was kopunui (the great paunch). Saturn was known as pari-a-rau (the chaplet of leaves)—a reference to the lings which were seen only by the aid of the telescope. A double tailed comet was te-manu-i-te-ra (the bud of tho sky). After further instructive remarks the lecturer concluded with “’I ho Alaori hymn to the Creator,” composed by liare Hongi. Hearing it one was reminded of Kiphng’s “Recessional.” “Thp Ilynin to the Creator” was, however, published long before Kipling's work. One of its verses reuds: — “Lord of the nations ’tvvaa to Thee Our father’.; last bed the sacred tree, The over blessed Toi; In Thee our tribes were blessed of old Thy boundless greatness e’er behold 1 Oti Rangi ! Bongo ! Tane ! Tu ! Be with ua still, however few.