MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 July 1938, Page 7

MAORI MEMORIES

WAS IT MERCY OR FEAR? (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”) Our Provincial Act in 1848 for selfgovernment was described as “a sham which gave our people no control of finance, and as an ordinance for creating recrimination in Provincial debating clubs.” When listening by radio to the undignified squabbles in Parliament today, one may easily realise the truth of that criticism. Because of this agitation, men forgot that Rauparaha, the terror, was a prisoner. He was kept for safety on H.M.S. Calliope for nearly a year; then allowed to occupy Te Where Whero’s house under guards in Auckland Domain. In 1847, 200 Maori Chiefs visited him. All knew of his deed, but few had ever seen him. Both Maoris and Pakehas tried to lessen his sorrow by personal kindness. In 1848 he asked permission and was granted leave to return to his home at Otaki. His Excellency, the Governor, and several powerful Maori Chiefs escorted him on board H.M.S. Inflexible. On arrival at Otaki, the visitors were entertained by the old chief’s son. Tamihana. A huge bullock roasted whole, spitted on a log, suspended across a fire of embers and regularly turned by long hooks for twelve hours, formed the principal part of the menu. Every bone, muscle and sinew -was cleaned off by hungry teeth, and marrow scraped from the cracked remains. Representatives of Royalty, the Church and the Government conforming with relish to the customs of their hosts.

Colonel Wakefield, with many Wellington and Nelson settlers, subsequently denounced the Governor’s clemency to Rauparaha as fear. With taunting jests they made the old warrior feel bitterly his humiliation. They declared that Governor Grey hanged men of no mark, like Luther, but feared - to strike this blood-stained tiger of the forest.