A GRAND OLD MAN.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 April 1917, Page 8

A GRAND OLD MAN.

PIONEER MAORI MISSIONARY.

REV. T. G. HAMMOND HONORED.

The Rev. T. Ci. Hammond, wlio has been appointed general Miporintciulent of the Maori Missions, was farowolled at Ijawera on Thursday night. The meeting 'hall was packed. The Mayor (Air. E. .Dixon) presided. Complimentary speeches were, made by the Kev. E. (j. lilaiuirra, Rev. Mr. Haddon (Maori Missionary), Mr. ],. A. Bono (Hawera Presbyterian chureh), Kev. R. B. Tinsley (Stratford), and Mr. M. .1. Lynskey (president of the Hawera Chamber of Commerce). The Mayor presented Mr. Hammond with an illuminated address, setting forth the value of his services to Taranaki and the esteem in which he was everywhere held, and a purse containing a cheque for £IOO. The Rev. Mr. Hammond, on rising to reply, was received villi prolonged applause. Mr. Hammond, who spoke with considerable feeling, said lie dirt not expect anything like what had taken place; lie did not deserve half of the goed things said of him. But for his own sake, for the sake of his family, lie was very thankful, and he did not pretend to say how thankful. There were many things he would like to speak of, •but time would not permit, and lie might have an opportunity to do so on another occasion. He wanted to say, however, that, while' he was indebted to the people of this coast, ho was also indebted very much to the Maori people of Taranaki. (Applause). He had given these people the best of his service, although he was conscious that he had not done all ho might have done. His association and close personal contact with the Taranaki Maori people had taught him that these natives were the most able men of any native people in New Zealand. (Applause). He knew that that was contrary to the opinion held by some people, but still lie spoke as one who had been in close touch with the native race all over the country. What he recognised as most important was that the brainiest of the native race came from Taranaki. (Taranaki natives were subtle in their instinct, wonderful in their understanding, and quick in their ingenuity, and they would make a fine people if they were properly cared for. It was a remarkable thing that no Taranaki Maori, apart from the war, from the beginning until now, had ever committed murder, although murders had been committed near the borders of the province. Reference had been made to the. difficulties of the Maori work—well, these difficulties had been very real, and there had been no imagination about it either. Nowhere had the work been so difficult as in Taranaki. He could enumerate a whole list of the troubles, but he would just say this: During the :i0 years of his missionary work among'tlie native people it had been one big light, and he wondered sometimes that lie had not gone away. He had in the early days been advised to give up the work—that was the kind of encouragement he had received. But when he commenced the work he did so with the determination of seeing it through. He was not sorry that lie had stayed in Taranaki, and was very thankful for what had already lieen accomplished. There had been a great deal of critic-ism of the Maori people—that they were not what they ought to be. The Taranaki people were just a lair reflex of their civilisation, and a large number of European, people with whom the Maoris liad come into contact had not always set the natives the best example. The Maoris were no better than what could bo expected under those circumstances, Tho difficulties had come from without as well as from within—they had come from the Europeans as well as the Maoris. There were the difficulties of land settlement and administration! which had brought him itito conflict with many in regard to this matter; there had never been bad feeling, because tho people expected him to "stick up" for his Maori people, whom he regarded as his children and grandchildren, because tlie old pcoplo who had passed away had expressly given thoir children into hi* charge, and a« lie had protected their interests whenever possible. He could not speak too highly of Mr and Mrs Haddon. The people of Taranaki did not know what a tine man they had in Mr Haddon. (Applause.) They did not know of bis splendid ability—they wanted tn pee him among his own people. Mrs Haddon, with Sister Kfellie, had done valuable work among the Maori people In attending to the sick, and had saved the lives of many children. They had performed a real self-sacrificing work, of. which lie could not speak too highly. (Mr Hammond explained that although lie was leaving the district, he would be visiting his native people quarterly, and said-tiiat tho church, recognising that more responsibility should be placed upon the Maoris, had appointed Mr Haddon to bo superintendent of the Tar-anaki-Wanganui district, and he trusted the people would give Mr Haddon very real encouragement in his work, as he would have many disappointments. He would like to mention that the hit? Mr W, Williams (father of Mr D. .1. Willianis, of Merenierc) had given him wonderful assistance in the early days, hecause he thoroughly understood the Maori mind, and to him ho was greatly indebted. Mr Hammond went on to say that he had set his face against Maoii schools, believing that mixed schools of pakehas and Maoris were the lust. So far these schools had turned out exceedingly well—no harm had eon-e to the morals of the pakeha children as a result. Mr paid a warm tribute to the Rev. Mr. Blamires, whose help lie had always obtained; M.- Jliamires 'had been loyal to hini; so had, been Mr Tinsley and all the Methodist ministers in Taranaki, His relationship with the church had always been a very happy one, and there had never been an angry word between tlm ministers and himself. He would probably make Te Kuiti his headquarters, so that ho could be in touch with all of his Maori people, He would occupy his new position" for about throe years, and aft-sr that time he might look forward to settling down permanently, because ho would bo fret to do so. When he did retire it would be one of the hardest breaks of his life.