MEMORIES OF MAORIS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8290, 19 November 1906, Page 5

MEMORIES OF MAORIS.

DISPUTES AND FIGHTS. A CENTENARIAN'S EXPERIENCES. When Mr Henry Hurling, the centenarian, reached Wellington in 1841,. he took up an ocie of iand at Wadestown, but he did not fetfiy there long. He shifted snlwiquetilly to the Lower Hutt, and built whwres In various parts of the wilderness northwards, in the very early days ho carried / the mails- mostly Government despatches — 1 along the "eastioie and through the bush. Later, be drew the fihaiu for the road from Wellington to the Wairarapa, when Mr Fitzgerald was Government Engineer, George Grey. Mr Burling had received no special training for surveying, but his life in Englaud bad always been wrapped up in machinery, so he explained to the Evening Post's representative, 'fhus . Lis eye had been trained, and he could see straight. Experts in these times were scarce, and Mr Fitzgerald was glfid enough to give the sillsprinter employment at blazing trails. In after years Mr Buiiiug was a teamster in a large way, with bul- , locks ohieQy to draw his waggons. NO TROUBLE WITH THE MAORIS. Naturally, Mr Burling, in his lonely pilgrimages through the bush, wag? often met by Maoris, but tbey-ne'ver injured him. They soon learned that the mailman wished them no harm. They called him Tutiri Henry, or plain Tutiri, because be had ohoe held a section of land there. In all his journeys through the bush, even when the Maoris were embittered against the cakebas, Mr Burling never carried weapons. '*My only gun was my pipe," he said, "and 1 loaded it with tobacco." This weed had obarms to soothe the savage breast. He would have a few plugs to eyare, aud a pipe or two to give away. These things and his own reputation for peacefulness were sufficient passports through the natives' haunts. RANGIHAEATA. Defending Rangihaeata,the Golden Bay butcher, Mr Burling said that this chief and Rohulla (the old whalers 1 name for Rauparaha) had oome south from tho Kiug Cjuntry, conquering all along the line. • They considered that the country over whioh they passed victoriously belonged to them by right of "oword," and were determined to stand or fall by their belief. Rangihaeata considered that the Golden Bay district belonged to him, but instead of treating with him peaceably a party of whites fired on hia troops. The attaokers shot awny all their ammunition,and the only result was the death of a girl when Rangihaeata had married a week or two before. Tho pakehas hoisted tbe white flag, but the Maori chief was enraged beyond tbe point of knowing /tneroy. The Europeans were captured, and all, exuept one, who managed to Hide in some flax, were killed. One of them had a horrible death. In the past Rangihaeata considered he had deteoted this person in double dealing, and threatened him thus: 'Forked tongue, if ever you come before me again I shall out your tongue out.' This unfortunate was in tbe ranks of the captured. •'Forked tongue," said Rangihaeata, /''l keep my promises." Straight - away, he out out the poor wretch's tongue and slapped it in his faorf. The single escapee made his way to Nelson and gave out his Bad news, whioh soon orossed the Straits.