“PASSING MAORI MEMORIES.”

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 331, 12 January 1937, Page 3

“PASSING MAORI MEMORIES.”

RECORDED BY J.H.S. FOR “THE TARANAKI CENTRAL, PRESS.”

Early Heroes.

Lacking many modern appliances, and depending solely upon fickle breezes' for their movements, Cook and D’Urville made enduring fame among navigators, who alone can realise the difficulties of their craft. When completing the outlines of the New Zealand coast in 1856, Drury declared they were comparable only to those of Great Britain in accuracy. Of early exploits recited in their day as wonders, Tom Brunner’s .journey from coast to coast earned the gold medal of the Royal Geographical Society, Dr Munro drove the first flock of sheep from Nelson, to Wairau, cattle were driven from Otago to Canterbury in 1853, Dieffen- / bach stood on the top of Egmont, Bidwell and Dyson looked down the crater of Tongariro. In consternation, many an old Maori warrior left for Te Reinga becdrese of the incursions of civilisation, Heke died of consumption in 1850, aged 42. After his surrender j to the English he kept up agitation by talk and pen. In 1849 he wrote Queen Victoria df his interview w’ith George the Fourth, who refused to send soldiers to New Zealand lest ’ the Maoris should lose their land. He would send missionaries, Heko ! said these good men acquired the •

I land all the same, but by different methods. His long letter, which appears in records of ths House of Lords shows much wisdom and insight of character. Embittered by the death of g son, Heke sotfght an illicit alliance in the hope of perpetuating his magic name. Though in accord’with Maori custom, his devoted and beautiful wife bitterly resented it. Heke wrote Governor Grey “My sickness is great, but this is not the lasting home of the spirit. My thoughts are sad, I have a vision that the missionaries will toll their bell in vain, for soon there will be none to answer the call.’.’ His bones I were hidden in an immense cavern ■ most difficult of access, near Kaikohe. Pomare died the same year, aged 75. He sprang from a noble family; but being embittered through his capture by Europeans while bearing a flag of truce, he became a drunkard. Kawiti died in 1854, aged 80. Famed for sagacity in council and bravery in action, he said, “I suffered from your artillery all my life, and in the end was subdued by God.”