MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 January 1939, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

ELOQUENCE.

(Recorded by J.H.S. tor “Times-Age.”)

In 1861, replying to an urgent appeal from all Waikato chiefs to protect their people from the degrading effects of the drink traffic. Sir George Grey said it could be done, and the Government would help the Maoris in the matter. When this message was given to the Chief Tamihana, lie said that hitherto every such urgent mesage had been in vain. The Maori people must therefore have a King of their own to save them from this disgrace. “We do not trust in promises; we want action. If a weka (wdodhen) once escapes from a snare, that same bird is never caught again.” Ti Oriori. another powerful chief, said: “By vain promises, the Governor seeks to do away with our King. The way to catch an owl (ruru) is to shake some bright thing before his eyes while your friend slips a noose (tari) over its head." Sir George’s eloquence caused the Maoris to modify their claims for a dictatorship, and Tamihana became his helpful ally, yet persevered in his allegiance to the Maori King as the only hope to avoid war. In a characteristic speech of more than an hour, Sir George covered every aspect of the differences between the interests of the Maori and the Pakcha. Knowing the Maori and his language as well or better than themselves, his influence was pronounced in one or more directions, particularly in the restitution by hundreds of Maoris who had looted valuable property of all descriptions.