TOKEN OF PEACE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 586, 18 July 1933, Page 5

TOKEN OF PEACE

historic patu to be placed in auckland with ahuwhenua • trophy ARAWA TRUST SUGGESTION As a result of a suggestion made by Mr. H. Tai Mitchell on hehalf of the Arawa Trust Board, the Ahuwhenua or "Son of the Soil" trophy which was reeently presented hy the Goveraor-General, Lord Bledisloe, for the encouragement of Maori farming on the native land development schemes, will be lodged in the Maori section of the. Auckland War Memorial Museunr until it is won again next year. The cup was won for the first time by a Ruatoki Maori farmer, Mr. William Swinton, and was presented by His Excellency on his last visit ■ to Rotorua, and has been handed to the board for safe keeping. Mr. Mitchell has also suggested that the "Onewa Patu," which was presented by the Ngapuhi Federation of tribes as a peace token to mark the healing of the long-standing breach between themselves and the Arawa should also be placed with the cup in the museum. The offer has been gratefully accepted by the museum authorities and the Ahuwhemia trophy, together with the patu, will he taken to Auckland this week for safe delivery to the museum. Not only does the patu represent the healing of the breach between two of the great Maori tribes, but it has most interesting historical associations. It was in the process of formation when news was received of the murder of the great Ngapuhi chief, Paeoterangi on Motu Tawa Island in the Green Lake, and the sequel was the bloody vengeance exacted by the Ngapuhis under their famous chief Hongi Hika when they used guns against the Arawas in the slaughter on Mokoia Island. A yaluable greenstone mere and a life-sized Maori head modelled in kauri gum together with other valued heirlooms of the Arawa people are also' to he forwarded to the museum for safe keeping. In the course of a letter to the museum authorities in which he outlined his suggestion, Mr. Mitchell made interesting referenee to the gift of the patu from the Ngapuhi peoples and expressed the hope that it could bo placed alongside the Ahuwhenua trophy in the museum as it was felt by .the tribe that the interest taken in the welfare of the Maori race by Their Excelleneies, Lord and Lady Bledisloe, was largely

responsible for the gesture of reconciliation made by the Ngapjahi people. Arawa's Suggestions Mr. Mitchell's letter ran as f ollows : — ■ His Excellency, Lord Bledisloe, has handed his 'Wonder Cup' which he has named 'The Ahuwhenua Trophy" for the encouragement of Maori farming under what is now popularly known as the 'Ngata Scheme,' to the Arawa District Trust Board for safe-keeping till the following prize-giving date in April oi May next. "Rotorua, as you may he aware, is unsuitable as a place to hold the cup hecause of the action of sulphur I fumes which badly discolour anything silver, so the board has requested me to get in touch with the trustees of your institution to permit the trophy referred to being placed in the museum for the .time being, where it would he seen hy a large number of our people who are interested in farming and where it wonld he safe from atmospheric discolouration. "If the request is favourably considered the board further respectfully suggests that the trophy be displayed in .the Maori section of your building amongst the war weapons of the Maori which the trophy, if I may say so, seeks to displace by diverting the strength of man physical- ] ly and spiritually from thoughts o± war and strife to the cultivation of the soil where true freedom and contentment prevail. "With the trophy it is also proposed to send you an 'Onewa Patu' presented to the Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata during his visit to the North Auckland district in May last. The pre-

sentation was made by Henare Kmgi, a chief of Ngati Kahu tribe, resident at Peria Pa, to mark in tangible form the wish of the Ngepuhi confederation of tribes to officially extinguish the slumbering enibexs of enmity cansed hy former intertribal wars between them and the tribes repre- ( sented by the Hon. Native Minister, in partieular the Arawa tribes. "The Anguished Heart" j "The patu was named "Te Ngakau Mamae" (the anguished heart) because of the fact that whilst it was in the process of being formed the news filtered through of the murder of a great Ngapuhi chief, "Paeoterangi,' on Motu Tawa, the famous island pa in Lake Rotokakahi, other- . wise known as the Green Lake and situated about six miles from Rotorua. The sequel was the massacre of Arawas on Mokoia Island in 1822 by Hongi Hika and his war party of Ngapuhis in which the patu "Te Ngakau Mamae" exacted its fell toll of human lives in that memorable raid when guns were used upon tlie. unarmed Arawas for the first time m •the history of this district. "It was a fitting coincidence, that on the very day the GQvernor-Gen-eral presented his trophy to Mr. Wi - liam Swinton, the first Maori farmer to win the same, the Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata, in an eloquent speech, delivered the Ngapuhi peace cup and placed the patu, 'Te Ngakau Mamae bef ore the larges gathermg of Arawas and other tribes who attended the Governor-General's f uhction earlier m the day. Hung in The Balance "For a few critical moments the future relations of two poweifful tribes hung in the balance., but the natural chivalry of the race asserted itself and amidst a silenee that could | be felt 'Te Ngakau Mamae with its tragic associations with local history was raised by- an Arawa leader from the mat upon which it reposed. In a few words-he, on behalf of the Arawa tribes assembled, formally accepted the .patu as a peace token and m the spirit * in which it was off ered by a ^™^^^^iu^^Tbus^rfte^mor^tha^a

hnndred years, the many incidents of the past were mutually relegated to the tombs of things forgiven. . "May we also suggest that this patu be placed alongside the Ahuwhenua trophy hecause we feel that the remarkable interest' taken ^ by Their Excelleneies, Lord - - Bledisloe and Lady Bledisloe, in all matters appertaining to _ the ( welfare of the Maori and his history undoubtedly inspired to a very larges degree the Ngapuhi gesture which produced the patu as a symbbl of that inspiration. . "I hope to send you also for safe custody one greenstone mere, a head (Maori) in kauri gum life-size, which a f riend , of mine seeured in a London hotel last year, and other valued heirlooms of our people. . . "I will now leave the matter. in your hands for presentation to the trustees of- the Auckland War Memorial Museum and trust that they will favourably consider the request contained herein." ■ - • • ' In tbanking the* board for its o±fer Mr. Gilbert Archie,' a director of the museum, . stated that the museum authorities would be gratified to give safe keeping to the Ahuwhenua .trophy and also to Te Ngakau Mamae as a record of the renewal. of .the friendship between the Arawa, and Ngapuhi peoples and the healing of MJj^rreacl^etweer^hem^^^^^^^