Goethe’s Maori Grandsons

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 572, 26 January 1929, Page 26

Goethe’s Maori Grandsons

Descendants of Famous German Poet Now Living in N.Z. Village.]

Written for THE SUM by

'I’HKRK is a village in Rangitikei County named Bulls—quite an obscure little place, nothing much to boast of as villages go these days. But it possesses one distinction that no other place in New Zealand can approach. Of course we are all familiar with the name of Goethe, the greatest German poet of all time. He is dead and gone long ago, but the little village of Bulls can lay claim to harbouring two direct descendants of his —brothers they are —and to cap it — they are half-caste Maoris! In point: of fact they are the immortal Goethe s grandsons, and are to be .found living a secluded life in a native settlement just outside Bulls. It cams about this way. Goethe had a son who was attending one of the Fatherland's leading universities, which in those days were hatching-grounds for much of the political strife that troubled the country. Among the hot-headed young agitators of his own particular university, Goethe, jun., was a leader. So virulent did his activities become in time that the appropriate authorities eventually thought it best to deport the young man He wandered from place to place and from clime to clime, and “nowhere did abide,” until his wanderings finally brought him to New Zealand. Here he came upon a wealthy and “landed” young Maori woman, with attractive qualities. His fiery and impetuous energies had apparently abated In the course of his globe-trot-ting, and he saw an opportunity to spend the rest of his days in ease and

REX H. R. WARREN)

comfort. He married the Maori belle, and from then on he lived with his wife’s people, and but rarely associated with those of his own race. He had his two sons. George and Jack, sent Home to Oxford, there to receive an academic education. The two boys distinguished themselves, 1 gaining many scholastic honours—particularly in the literary and the elocutionary fields. From Oxford, flushed with their j successes, they returned to “the home-town,” the modest little settlement near Bulls. Here they were feted and lionised by ' their friends and relatives, eager to show appreciation of the honours their co-villagers had attained. The celebrations were truly lavish. Despite the fields of opportunity , that were open to them—fields in which their education and inherent talents could have been turned to adI vantage—these grandsons of a world- | renowned poet and writer decided in 1 favour of the Quietude and peace cf the village in which they were reared. And so they settled down to the life to which they were born and bred; the life they loved, free from care and mundane troubles. They took unto themselves wives of the native . race, made their homes where they j were, and are still to be found living ! in tranquillity and contentment within : the walls of the place that gave them j birth. It is interesting to note that their father, many years ago, changed the family name from Goethe to Gotty. In fact, it is doubtful if there is anyone now living who knew them by any name other than the latter.