MAORI MEMORIES.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 June 1938, Page 9

MAORI MEMORIES.

EARLY FAILURES. (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age”) As ho person was ever convinced or converted except in a language with which he is familiar, and as the Maori vocal organs could not pronounce the letters BCDFGJLQSVXYZ, they could only articulate words in which those sounds appear, thus, governor, glory and box became kawana, kororia and pouka. The difficulties of the early teachers and preachers may be realised, so advantage was taken of the visit of Hongi, Waikato, and Rev Kendall to refer the matter to the great linguist, Professor Lee, of Cambridge, in 1820. He wisely omitted those 15 sounds, using only AEHIKMNOPRTUW, adding their nasal sound, NG.

In 1835, portions of the Kawenata Hou (new covenant) were printed, and in 1837 the work was completed by Bishop Henry Williams. The first printing press was erected in 1835 at Paihia. The Maoris were amazed to see the white paper impressed with black magic in the form of words; yet it was to the Pakeha God, and not to the Devil, that this miracle was attributed.

Nearly 100,000 Maori books and papers were handed out by the churches; but as Bishop Pompallier reported that “evil-minded Pakehas read the Bible upside down when it crossed their purposes in dealing with the Maoris, it became a two-edged sword.”

For 15 years the preachers were as men crying-, in the wilderness, and they often said aeir seed was cast upon the rocks. Six years after their arrival, there was not one convert.

In 1825 Bishop Williams reported that “the Maoris were as insensible to the need for redemption as brutes.” The Wesleyans thought of withdrawing because of this failure.”