EARLY MISSIONARY INCIDENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 March 1922, Page 7

EARLY MISSIONARY INCIDENT.

A MAORI MARTYR. An interesting- bit of early history was related by Rev. A. C. La wry at the Centenary missionary meeting in the Auckland Town Hall the other night. He told how, when the vessel with the Rev. Samuel Leigh arrived at Russell 100 years ago, the great chief Hongi was returning -from one of his raids. The missionary party threw a handful of biscuits into Hongi’s canoe. “The great Ngapuhi Chief,” said Mr. Lawry, ‘•'was too distinguished a man to receive a present even of biscuits without making some return. He seized a boy from one of the slaves in the canoe, and threw him on board the vessel.” Mr. Lawry also related that there was a baby European on that vessel, and on another trip the little one was placed inside a coil of rope for safety. A sea broke over the vessel and washed the child overboard. The little Maori boy presented by Hongi to the missionaries. promptly jumped into the sea and rescued the child. In 1963 that child was a missionary, and he saved Auckland from being swept away by a Maori raid. Mr. Lawry added yery effectively: “I know it is true, for he was my father,” which evoked great applause. The speaker then told how the Maori hoy was educated by the missionaries, and was sent back to New Zealand. He •forwarded a message to Te Hen Heu, the great cihef of the Taupo tribes, stating he would visit him to tell about the new religion. Te Heu ’Hen replied: “If you do come I will kill you and cat you.” The teacher went to Te Heu Heu and was a martyr for his faith. “His great grand nephew is Robert Taku Poitiki Haddon, who will speak to you to-night,” added Mr. Lawry.