A PAGE OF HISTORY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 125, 5 September 1910, Page 7

A PAGE OF HISTORY.

MAORI WHO TOURED THE WORLD IN 1824. London, July 15. While making some researches in the Record Office, in London, a few days ago, Mr. H. T. B. Drew, of Wellingto came across a page of early New Zeals; A history in the shape of a letter dated April 18, 1825, describing the visit of a Maori chief to England in the previous year. The manner in which the chief, Tippahi Kupa, came to make the voyage is rather interesting. Captain R. K. Reynolds, of the ship Urania, was the writer of the letter, which was addressed to Lord Bathurst, Secretary of State for- the Colonies. Captain Reynolds says that while ho was becalmed in Cook Strait on February 20, 1824, he lay five or six miles from the land. Here he perceived three native canoes full of savages coming off. He prepared his ship for action, and when the '•grand" war'canoe of the party got within hailing distance he told them to keep off. The chief, however, made signs of peace, and, perceiving that the party seemed peacably inclined, the captain allowed the leader to come alongside. Indeed, he could not have kept him off unless he had fired, which was the last thing he would have done, because fearful retaliation would have been made upon subsequent traders. The leader jumped on board, virtually naked, and asked for arms.

I gave him to understand that I had none. Then he signed that he would remain on board and go to Europe and see King George, whose name lie pronounced plainly. He was ordered into his canoe, but he had sent her off already, and would not allow her to come near the ship. I attempted to heave him over, so that the canoe could pick him up, but he put it out of my power. Then a breeze sprang up, and the Urania was put to sea. The chief called out to the canoes that he was goinc to Europe and would soon return. At" the mouth of Cook Strait another attempt was made to send the chief ashore, but in doing so the skipper nearly lost his ship. The writer goes on to say that he made up his mind then to bring the savage to England. He believed the influence of the trip would lead to many lives being saved, as the chief was the head man in the south of the North Island of New Zealand. At Lima and Buenos Ay res the chief lived and messed with the captain. He would not leave the latter even for an hour. They both became personally very attached to one another, though the Maori made little ■effort to learn English. He adopted European clothes. On arrival in England he lived both in London and Liverpool, In London he caught chicken-pox and measles, and was really very ill. He remained in England about twelve months, (being shown the great manufacturing towns of the Midlands. There was little doubt, however, that his visit was primarily undertaken in order to obtain arms. When he was to return (at the Government's expense), he took with him many useful articles and clothes and agricultural implements. Captain Reynolds assumed charge of him all the time he was in England, the Government paying him £1 a day and other expenses, the total cost of the chief's visit to the Home Treasury being £3OO.