Twenty-seven Years Ago.
The mission of the Maori King Tawhiao, to Her Majesty the Queen brings to mind the great meeting of Maoris at Rangiriri (Waikato), in 1857, to consider the election of Tawhaio's father, Potatau, as king. These were two of the arguments used by two of the speakers:—
" Paora.—The Gospel oamo. Then came the Queen. At that time we werefoolwh and ignorant; now we. know. At the first missionaries said,.' Make a king to keep convicts and bad Pakehas away.' • Bat we did wrong, we agreed to the Queen. Now we are grown up we are no longer children, we can walk alone. We are fit for a king. You can't find anywhere in the Bible that the Queen should have the only honor. Show me where, that I may know. We cannot be always in childhood.
'• Tarahawaiki.—Let me epeak. Don't say. Why should We add honor to Potatuu ? Remember the honor conferred upon him will belong to us all. What is the use of eyes, arms, and body without a head ?
" Paora.—God is good; Israel were his people ; they had a king. I see no reason why any nation should not have a king if they wish for one. The Gospel does not say that we are not to have a king. It says, ' Honor the king, love the-brotherhood.' Why should the Queen be angry ? Wo shall be in alliance with her, and friendship will be preserved. Let us have order, that we may grow as the Pakehaß grow. Why should we disappear from the country ? New Zealand ie ours. I love it."
Is there not in this a high-soaled, pious patriotism which awakens admiration, even though it would be inconvenient for existing interests to concede what is inferred ?—iEgles in the Australasian.
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THS18840501.2.16
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4777, 1 May 1884, Page 2
Word count
Tapeke kupu
296Twenty-seven Years Ago. Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4777, 1 May 1884, Page 2
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.