THE PARAWAI " OUTRAGE."

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2542, 28 February 1877, Page 3

THE PARAWAI " OUTRAGE."

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.) Sib,—A sensational article appears in the Advertiser of the 26th headed " Maori Amazons—lawless proceedings of a missionary's wife," and after reviewing the action of the Maoris in proclaiming a quasi martial law among themselves, the writer-describes the " outrage," which a very harmless and quiet old Maori's wife, assisted by a lady friend or two perpetrated upon a piece of land, acquired (so it is stated) many years ago by the Church Missionary Society. First, let us inquire for what purpose this large and now valuable tract of land was acquired. Secondly, was its alienation intended as a direct benefit either spiritually or morally to the people from whom it was cozened for, a " trifling consideration ? " Thirdly, were any stipulations made to respect Native b.urial places and other localities upon which their tapu rested. The answer to the first query maybe— the land was bought (?) as an endowment for a Missionary Society, but ifc would be «pt jog to know if the Maoris were' it the time the field selected for this ionary enterprise was "Africa and the East." One would imagine tbe forlorn condition of these children of nature

giving away their inheritance to these •' pocket-handkerchief " humanitarians "tor a tomahawk or two and a few blankets" was a striking example of how much they stood in need of these endowments themselves. Fancy lands taken from them to evangelise the heathen in "Africa and the East" —what a grotesque idea! May I enquire if thia society has also secured large landed estates on th© same terms from the natives

of those far off regions, as endowments for a kindred society for " Neve Zealand and the West;" I hope it is so. The second question is to some extent anBwered in the foregoing remarks. _ There is too much maudlin sentiment infused at first into missionary matters _ which eventually degenerates into ecclesiastical aordidness. We have no better illustration than the way in which the Parawai missionary estate is farmed. The rent roll easy go to the coffers of Mother CEurch, but I have grave doubts if theoriginal heathen owners of the soil havo derived a modicum of either spiritual or temporal benefit from the alienation of this;;land; Are they not denounced as 11 Maori Amazons" and "Viragos?" Have they not forcibly repelled, the desecration of their " God's acre " by tbe agents of this most Christian society, and for 'that " outrage " the strong arm of the law is invoked to smite them ? These foolish old Maori " viragos" hold in reverent regard the homes of their dead, and - will only allow this site to be occupied by some religious establishment, But our Missionary Society prefers a market garden to a church of any sort.. Not one foot of this land has been set aside for religious, educational, or church purposes; the byroads about which so much has been said and written have* been laid off utterly regardless of the public convenience, the rents have been raised and exacted with rigid promptitude, ftnd the price demanded for the purchase of the freehold has steadily increased from £7 to £30 an, acre, for land; in many cases not worth £1. So much for the missionary farmers, of estates " cadged "from, the Maoris for the salvation of "Africa and the East." In dealing with the last questi6n little; need. be said* Old colonists know , how tenaciously the Maori clings to his immemorial customs; and more especially to the tapu. • The converted native may outwardly be renewed; he will shun the more debasing superstitions of his race; he may acknowledge the higher law of the Christian faith, and become as good, and perhaps a better Christian than even the members of the "Missionary Society for Africa and the East," but a lingering attachment to. the nnforgottett mysteries of the tapu, aljove all Other ceremonies, will remain to him. In this lie changes not. This spot at Parawai is well known to every old resident on the Thames as one strictly tapued, and the fact that up to the present time it. has remained unoccupied by buildings is a convincing proof to me that it was constituted and acknowledged as a special reserve, which could only be used for such it purpose"! have indicated, and therefore the Church Missionary Society and not lihe Rev. Turipona is responsible for the mischief which has been done.—-I am, &c, - - .'.-... ..... FIAT.J.USUXIA..