REMINISCENCE.

Otaki Mail, 4 September 1922, Page 3

REMINISCENCE.

• (By Rapotini.) i In the little community of early I settlers who, "in tiie 40's," toot up Ismail holdings at Karori as a first | venture in the ne*v land, was a fa- | mily of three—fattier, mother and little child. The newly-built cottage I stood near the newly-formed road. : The background was primeval forest; from the depths of which would be heard the rhythmic swish of the pit-saw, carving timber for the Landing of yet more homes. . "... tiie glorious ceiling Of the azure-vaulted sky " was always a marvel to those who had been accustomed only to the duller skies of Engiland. #.* * * .

The number of that little household (would sometimes be reduced to two, when tiie .exigency of business took the breadwinner from home. Those were solitary times for mother and child; for neighbours were far between. Yet the woman kept, up bravely, and we know the child was happy. For, give an imaginative child a few picture books, flowers, a doll and a kitten and she will make a world of her own. The fringe ot the bush afforded interest also, for it abounded in birds; and there was always a chance to discover a tiny nest. The merry little grey warblers and the inquisitive little fahtails were quite friendly, and when one j alighted for a moment on the child's : head, her delight knew no bounds. But when the incident was breathlessly recounted, an old man neighbour, who was present, solemnly remarked that it was "a sign of death." The busli was a thing ol beauty and •a joy for ever"! Spoils ol ferns and mosses and foliage were gathered and taken to the mother; and, to please the child, they would decorate the cottage until it resembled a bower! Still, when night came, and darkness closed around the lonely cot, there was no denying the lonesomeness. Hut the wood fire leaped and sparkled—- " Till the ratters glow with tho ruddy blaze" and the mother's sweet, tuneful voice would dispel the silence with song.

But one day it was told that two prisoners had escaped from the gaol at Wellington. This did not make lor cheer when evening came; and alter mother and child had retired to rest they were awakened by the sound of heavy footsteps and the clanking of a chain. Ineason was in abeyance. Their only thought was ol escaped prisoners, as they tremblingly listened to heavy steps approaching nearer and nearer to the window. There was a moment's pause—a moment of horrified suspense—and then the air was rent with the loud blare

of a donkey braying! A donkey, owned by .lodge Chapman, had strayed and made an unseasonable \istt. It is not certain that the mother, in the excess ol her relief, did not kiss the creature's stolid, harmless old face. Harnossed with pun niers, the donkey was a mean.- ot transit for Judge Chapman's children; and he would often be seen ambling to to.wn with a little child seated in each pannier.

Noblesse oblige! A stalwart Maori requested "a light tor the pipe." He was bidden to enter the cottage, and a child observer] him with interest as, squatting before the hearth, he proceeded to -'light up" with a red coal from the wood fire, which he cleverly manipulated with bare finger?. When satisfied that the pipe was well. he produced a hit of rag, and untying it. displayed several hu liu grubs {the large white grubs found in decaying timber). Making a place for them in the hot ashes, lie allowed them to reniaiji there for a few minutes. Then selecting a fine one, and alter patting it (from hand to "hand to free it from the ashes, and finally blowing upon it that none might remain, lie offered it to the child When the dainty was declined with thanks, he popped it into his mouth with evident relish.

When the fine old Maori Church at Otaki was in the building the late Mrs Williams, wife of the late Archdeacon Williams, gave to a child a small bag of acacia seeds and a trowel and Lade her plant the seeds about the rising ground at the back of the Church and Mission House. One wonders if descendants of those acacia trees survive. Some scenes in relation to the. building of the Church ate well remembered; notably that o.f a long team of Maori men hauling on ropes that were attached to the large totara spars Uitit form the columns in the Church, the men chanting as they hauled.

■'Rlripi" wa» a confection highly appreciated by these busy workmen. It consisted of a sort of porridge, made with flour and water, and made very sweet. The women cooked n in large pots; then tipped it into what, appeared to be a small canoe. Sugar was poured into it from the bag. When the dinner call was given the men came with alacrity; and sitting rour.a the "canoe" they aie with much gusto and some" noise. For spoons they used shells or chips cjf wood, and some, more primitive still, used the | hollow of the hand. This band of willing workers in the erection of their Church was skilfully organised by the Rev. Samuel William's; afterwards Archdeacon, Williams. 'About that time occurred the death v>f the renowned old chief Te Rau-para-ha. The tangi, as befitted his rank, was great and prolonged. There were amazing sfecks of food; there was waiting? a- d There Xra£ - easun e ; sn<i also exceedingly animated speechifying by Maori orators, The writer's ' father? who at the .time, was school-!mas-er of the Mission School, superintended the funeral arrangements; and hi 1 was the/last one who looked. I on the face" of the old warrior who tfas I on~e the terrcr of the land. I ! • * ' " Ta.i cfcief, Rajpgi-hae-at-a—wh.os« nejae' had be»a jcine* with thai of T«.

I Rau-paraha, as njames of dread in earlier days, came to Otaki lor ihe funeral, and Te Rau-paraha's son, Mr I Thompson Rau-paraha, had provided I a fine suit of broadcloth for Rangi- ! hae-ata to wear. When the garments were shown to him, he examined ; them with unmoved face; then enquir- : ed if they were such as "te Kawana" ' (Governor) would wear. When assuri ed that they were, he gave a grunt of approval and a curt order to "lay 1 them aside." j But when the procession was about to leave, he took a shorter route, alone, and still clad in his Maori mat. Taking a position on the high ground overlooking the graveyard he remained seated there during the service. But when the earth was about to be cast into the grave, he rose and shouted one word which in the Maori language signifies "Stand aside!" Instantly, as though a shot had been fired through the crowd, they parted to right and left, forming a lane through which he passetl to the graveside There he stood, looking down into the grave until all was covered. |

It. would have been interesting to know what weie the thoughts or memories passing in the brain of Rangi-hae-ata as he looked into the grave of Te Rau-paraha.