SONG OF TE HAKEKE.

Shannon News, 30 November 1926, Page 2

SONG OF TE HAKEKE.

A conetemporary reprints a poem composed thirty years ago by the late Sir James Carroll. It is really a classical translation of a song which first stirred the air under circumstances described in Thomas Bracken’s Annual for 1896 in the following terms:— .SONG OF TE IIAKEKE TO HIS INFANT SON.

A few words'of preface are necessary to the right understanding of this song. In the twenty years preceding the arrival of the first ship of the New Zealand company to colonise New Zealand (1839), the coast south of Wangaeliu was invaded by the Chief Te Rauparaha and numerous allies of the Ngatiawa and Ngatiraekawa from Kawhia, Taranaki and Waikato. The tribal territory of the Ngatiapa tribe extended from the Wangaeliu fiver to the Manawatu. The tenitory of the Muaupoko tribe extended southwards from the Manawatu to Pukerua and included the island of Kapiti. In our time the records of ! the Native Land Court.show that the extreme valour and.no less politic conduct of the Ngatiapa chief, Te Hakeke, sufficed to prevent the conquest of dffie territory of his tribe, but he could not prevent the invaders from over-running the territory of the Mauapoko and nearly annihilating that tribe. The wife of Te Ilakeke was Kao we. a chieftainess of Muaupoko, from Horo--whenua. On the birth of their son “Te rara-oRe-rangi” (Rib of :he sky), the father, Te Ilakeke, took the infant'in his arms and sung to him this.song devoting the child to the recovery of his mother’s land, and the rescue from degradation of her people which lie, the father, was, owing to the circumstances of the time, ur.able to attempt or accomplish. The history of the chi d, Te Rara o-te-rangi, well known to all settleis on the west coast as Kawana Huliit (his missionary name) shows how ‘well lie carried out the task to which his father had devoted nun in infancy. TRANSLATION. Cease to rest within your house, my son, Come forth, and traverse the plains of Whakaari (1) ; If asked your name, answer “Te Rara o-te-rangi!” (2). Let not the common under ray, “It is useless against 'numbers, ” It is I, who am reduced from high position by appearance of strength, Think, though, of the fathers, t lie last of them, ‘ ‘ Whakataupoaiki, ’ ’ supported o f the sky above, You will issue to the lights to the bright world. Hasten thy steps to summit of Pa'koria! v i Glance undismayed, and with gestures of challenge over Manawatu — There stood the fathers on battlefield, now without men, Go steadfastly on into Horowhenua, The shades of your mother’s beckoning you forward; the daughters of Waka undegraded by blows — Feather of Huia, too quean, for your person, Your head ornament a feather of “llo* kioi,” the bird of mystery unseen by the multitude. Wreath on sands outside of Wairoifi and up the stream.of Waikavva (3). Climb steep Pukehou, look forth over liaukawa (4), sea struck by paddles of forefathers, Stretching boyong sight to Hakaiki. —James Carroll. Notes. —(1) now Sandon: (2) “Rib of the Sky”; (3) near Foxton; (4) Cook’s Strait.