MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 January 1939, Page 3

MAORI MEMORIES

WIREMU TAMIHANA.

(Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”)

In the early days of 1860 individual white men. women, and children were as safe throughout the vast Maori country of Waikato as they wore in the town of Auckland. Traders and visitors traversed the country without risk, and were hospitably entertained, even to the offer of marriage provided they agreed to become a residentmember of the tribe, with a wedding present of land for cultivation, and a raupo whare artistically lined with toi canes.

Owing to some difference between the Maori courts of jjustice and the Governor concerning native land in Taranaki, the chief Wiremu Tamihana with a strong war party came down the Waikato River. Their journey to the scone of the trouble was delayed by the murder of a Maori of which a pakeha was suspected. In accordance with Maori law and custom there was a unanimous demand that he should be handed over to them for trial.

Most of the pioneers who understood the Maori and his ideally simple language were impressed by the for-

bearance and good sense of the chiefs. Their courts of justice were conducted by a combination of common sense and instinct aided by the natural simplicity of the accused (whakapa he), who appeared to lose all sense of that cunning which was a prominent feature in tribal wars. At that time the Maori King, Potatau, had recently died, leaving his crown to Matutaera, a weakling quite under the influence of Wiremu Tamihana who was a natural leader of men. The government and even the missionaries unjustly threw doubts upon this great, chief’s sincerity, and thus turned him into an enemy.