PAGES FROM THE PAST

Taranaki Daily News, 22 April 1922, Page 9

PAGES FROM THE PAST

A GREAT AND NOBLE CHARACTER.

THE LATE MR. S. PERCY SMITH.

A WONDERFUL JOURNEY,

(By

“Juvenis.”)

The death this week of Mr, S. PercySmith removes from the life of New Zealand one of its worthiest and most notable sons. He led an active, useful, and full life, ever striving for the welfare of others and of the New Zealand he loved so much. His work in Polynesian philology and ethnology alone will accord him a place among the world’s intellectual investigators and discoverers, and his memory will ever be honored’. To-day the public cannot properly appraise the value of his great work, but posterity, with a better perspective, will assuredly do so. No man pursued his enquiries and investigations in these, fields more thoroughly or more persistently; no one had such an access to the knowledge and information, for the reason that no one had the confidence of the old chiefs and tohungas in New Zealand and in the Polynesian islands in the same measure as he. And no one was more careful in sifting his information and in setting down the facts. The late Mr. Smith would spend weeks and months in the company of a particular Maori or South Sea islander, in their homes, or he would invite them to his own home in New Plymouth. Afterwards he would test the accuracy of their karakias, legends, mythologies, or genealogies bv reference to his store of like information, and. when he wrote, it was with the fullest authority. He recognised that he was laying down the basis of all future investigation in these fields, and had the scientist’s and scholar’s regard for truth and accuracy. So that future writers will be able to depend absolutely upon the statements made in the various works that he published, works that accordingly have a value, that is difficult to assess at the present time.

DESERVED TITULAR DISTINCTION. To those like myself, who have read his works and enjoyed his friendship and help in an understanding of Taranaki’s early history and Maori lore, it has always been surprising that the late Mr. Smith’s Services, disinterested as they were invaluable, were never recognised by the Government of his country. If anyone deserved and earned a knighthood it was Stephenson Percy Smith. He. of course, never sought any such honor; he was an unassuming, retiring man. who preferred to do his duty as he found it, ever thinking of others and of his beloved Dominion. But it would have been a gracious act on the part of the authorities to have conferred this distinction upon one of its noblest and greatest sons. Compare his unselfish and fruitful endeavors in the domains of science and knowledge with the work of some of those who have received titular distinction in New Zealand in recent years —and then you wonder why our late townsman’s services were overlooked.

The late Mr. Smith was an ardent lover of the Maoris, whose confidence he enjoyed in quite a wonderful degree. When any trouble occurred between tribes as to the division of hapu lands, or between individuals, the advice and help of “Pete Meta” (Percy Smith) was at once sought, and his decision never questioned. The secret of his hold over the Maori was his knowledge of his mind, his history, his customs, and his outlook on life. He brought his superior, scientific mind to bear upon the Maori, and thinking along the same lines as he did was able to appreciate the Maori’s difficulties and understand his viewpoint in a way that perhaps no other European in later days could. When with the Maoris, he thought just as they did, hence his wonderful influence over them, and the facilities they afforded him in garnering information regarding thear past for recording purposes. The late Mr. Smith was an industrious worker all his life, and was just as keen in late years (except for a few months before his death) as he was as a young man in the survey field. He never spared himself. He always said he preferred to wear out to rusting out, and he had his wish gratified. What an example his life is to the younger generation! It is hoped it will be followed, for the country would be the richer by having in its midst young men inspired by the same high ideals and conception of duty. He was the most unselfish of men, never thinking of himself, but always of others. He had found throughout life that the truest and most lasting joy was found in serving others and in denying and sacrificing himself.

AN OVERLAND JOURNEY. One could write columns regarding this noble character, his life, his experiences and his works, but perhaps this is not the place. I set out to reprint an account of a wonderful journey made overland by the late Mr. Smith in 1858, but I could not resist the opportunity of paying my tribute, however inadequate, to the memory of one of the finest and most interesting men who ever lived in Taranaki, or in New Zealand.

The party consisted of F. Murray, whose father was Lieut.-Colonel Murray, commanding the troops in New Plymouth; J. S. McKellar (who is still with us); A. Standish, (who died in 1916); Wm. Hursthouse (Chief Engineer of Roads, who died at Lowen Hutt in 1911): and the late Mr. S. Percy Smith. F.R.G.S. The account of the journey was published in several numbers of the Taranaki News in 1858, and makes interesting reading at this time. They l p ff town at 8 a.m., walked to Waitara. were ferried over the river there (none of the party had crossed the river before). and then trudged through fine undulating country, covered with old pas to the Taniwa stream, which was the’ former boundary of the settlement. There were some patches of wheat and potatoes hereabouts, and later they came to the Onaero. a pretty river in those days, and then to the Urenui. where the Maoris wanted 2s (id each to canoe them over, but the party preferred to walk up stream, and then another lot of Maoris offered to take them over for 3s the lot, which oiler was accepted. Next morning they found from the mailman that they could have waded over the river. UP THE MOKAU RIVER. The party crossed the Mimi river, and observed several pas isolated from the main land, of formidable strength. They passed Wai-iti, and then “an old pa called Pukearuhe,” and ascended a

steep hill, where they had to stop for some time until the tide went down. They were under the White Cliffs (Parinini), which towered above for 200 feet. Along the top of the cliff' they continued. Ascending and descending the cliffs, they eventually reached Tongaporutu, where they found a pa and entered a whare for the night. Next morning, refreshed by sleep, they crossed the Mohakatino, and when at Tarakihi caught their first glimpse of the Mokau river, where they were taken over in a canoe, and met the missionary, Mr. Schnackenburg, who received them hospitably. Next morning they proceeded to Awakino, shot some birds, and returned to the Mokau. The Maoris wanted £BO “to let us go to Taupo, but afterwards came doivn to £13.” Later the party made a deal with two natives to take them to Taupo and back for £lO. They canoed it up the Mokau river, the bush on the sides of which was wonderfully picturesque, and saw coal seams abutting on the river’s edge. Three days were spent on the river, and then the party left the Mokau and struck across to Taupo, traversing some interesting country and coming across a beautiful valley house in which lived a white man named Tommy. who had deserted from the 58th Regiment, and who was hired by the Maoris to look after cattle.

BUSH ROBINSON CRUSOES. From a very high hill they got a fine view of Mt. Egmont, Tongariro and Ruapehu. Then the going was hard. “We had to wade through swamps and wet -ferns. It began to rain. What with the swamps and the rain, we were now thoroughly soaked We soon after struck a path running at right angles to our course, which our guide took. Then up to some clearings and houses. Here we found two women and three children, who seemed considerably astonished at seeing us. They soon came round when we assured them that, though very.hungry, we were not going to make a meal of them. They set to work and prepared us a good meal of pork and potatoes. They made us comfortable for the night. ’»Ve learned that the husbands of the two women had left their tribe some years before, probably tired of the conventionalities of Maori life, and retired to the bush with their wives and families. The men had subsequently died, and the women then lived by themselves. They were regular bush Robinson Crusoes. The children had not seen white people before.”

The party next day crossed a range of mountains called Arawatu. There wa.< a good track, and the party struck the Obura river, near by which they slept the night, and next day crossed the Ongarue river. Groups of Maoris were met with en route, and the weather at times was vile. They entered a deserted house and made a fire, while one of the party obtained some fern root,- which was cooked, and tasted something like tough new bread. “We passed through some bush, and then to our great joy we got our first view of the great Lake Taupo, looking like the sea in the distance. We gave a great cheer. We came to the celebrated pa of Tc Heuheu, and entering the pa saw some natives, who did not seem to be the least surprised at our appearance. They seemed to hold white people very cheaply. They told us Te Heuheu was at church, but would soon be out. We went' to the chief’s house, and Te Heuheu later arrived and shook hands all round, enquiring whence we had come, etc.” A TRYING ENTERPRISE. Next morning they heard a great row outside, and on investigating found that it was caused by Te Heuheu. who was administering a little “supplejack sauce” to his women for their tardiness in getting out of bod. Wonder what you young lady of to-day, who stays in bed till the last minute, would think if she were given this treatment! The partj' then proceeded to Rotomahana. crossing streams and rivers, and meeting with all kinds of. experiences. The thermal features were a source of great interest and wonder. Here they met the Rev. Spencer, who was in charge of the Maori mission, and who hospitably entertained the party. From the top of a hill they were able to see Rotorua Lake. The terraces at Wakatarata were particularly fine, and the bathing near by was delightful. The party returned to Te Heuheu’s village, and thence struck out for home, not. however, via the Mokau. but towards the coast between Rangitikei and Wanganui, which they eventually reached after many trying experiences. The party stayed with friends on the Wanganui river, some with Captain Good and others with Captain Wymess. The first day they travelled by bush track as far as Kai Iwi, and then followed the Maori traffic up the coast, sleeping in Maori whares at night. The Maori population was fairly numerous. From Waitotara to Omata there was a fortified pa every few miles, and each would contain from 100 to 200 people, whose attitude towards the pakehas just then was not very friendly. The party reached home safely after their 606-mile trek. To-day a 606-mile motor trip, with < all its comfort, would be considered an arduous one, and as for a 606-mile walk —who amongst the younger generation would be willing to take part in such an enterprise? <