MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 August 1938, Page 7

MAORI MEMORIES

MAORI JUSTICE OR BRITISH LAW. (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”) The settlers felt keenly the killing of the only members of the Branks family. The death of unknown persons is of comparatively little moment to us. Human life was a matter of little interest to the Maoris, probably because death entailed neither the barbarity of eternal fire, nor the special reward of Reo Ngutu (life service). It meant merely the restoration of severed friends. In 1847 six Maori killings were reported in the Auckland district. A father killed his son-in-law because he was a slave, thus preventing the birth of more slaves. Two slaves were killed for suspected bewitching; three others for infidelity. Settlers demanded that a sharp lesson should be given the Maoris as to the sanctity of human life. A Maori named Rata was arrested at Wellington in 1849 for killing a native who had seduced his wife. Had the husband failed in this 'duty, he in turn would be killed. Rata had fired two shots, and to save the Maori tribes retaliating against what they declared would be a graye injustice, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty on the plea “that it was not known which shot had killed the offender against Maori Law!” A native tribunal was set up by the Government to deal with these purely Maori cases. A Maori had killed a rival, who had sought to estrange the affection of the husband. She openly confessed before this amateur court, and within half a minute, a blow on the back of the head had “killed the body before the mind could be degraded by fear.” In 1851 a Maori was arrested for theft and when his tribe attempted a rescue a Maori policeman put the handcuffs on a chief. This indignity nearly caused war, which was only averted by the tactful intervention of Governor Grey.