MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 August 1938, Page 3

MAORI MEMORIES

TYPICAL OLD MAORIS (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”) Pomare, who died in 1850,' aged 75, was described by both Maori and Pakeha as a noble-hearted fellow. Through some grave breach of honour on our part, never yet explained, he was actually arrested by the direction of a British officer, whilst approaching under a flag of truce to negotiate terms of peace. The respect and sympathy of Europeans was therefore accorded him perhaps in greater degree than he merited. He lost all confidence and faith in our honour, and shrank into the obscurity of a ruined life, took to drink, and was seen staggering along the beach at Kororareka, shunned by his people and ours. Kawhiti, a typical Maori noble, fell a victim to another of our introduced evils, measles, at the age of 85, and died in 1854. Grief in the loss of two sons who fell at Ohaewai chilled his respect for all white folk. His last two years were spent in converting his people to peace. Taniwha (the “Sea God”) known as “Hooknose,” the last living contemporary of Captain Cook, died in 1853. He told with graphic detail and interest of the Maori’s first view of a boat being rowed ashore “backwards,” when the Maoris gathered round and felt the back of each sailor’s head to find his Kanohi Kimuri (back eye). They thought roast pork was whales flesh, and that Captain Cook was very reserved, for he never spoke a Maori word. They wondered why he waved his hand violently as he walked, but found he was sowing seeds of fruit, flowers, corn and vegetables. Bred in strife, Taniwha became a genuine man of peace in the Christian folds, and in on of his lay sermons told how they thought Cook’s ship was a winged whale from the sky, and every white face was worshipped as a god.