MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 February 1939, Page 5

MAORI MEMORIES

TE TIRITI O WAITANGI. (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”) In 1864 the most candid and genuine criticism of the Treaty of Waitangi ever written was given by Sir John Gorst in a book, one of the rare copies of which recently realised £3 5s at an auction sale of a private library. Made at the Bay of Islands in 1840 between Captain Hobson, the first N.Z. Governor, and the alleged chiefs of the Ngapuhi tribe, the Treaty was hawked about the country and signed by any of them who could be persuaded to affix his Tohu (mark) in a form like a Chinese letter. The Maoris could not write in those early days.

According to authorities there were subtle but important differences between the Maori ' and the English versions. According to the Maori wording Queen Victoria guaranteed them full Chieftainship over their lands, and they gave her full Governorship, and the right to buy, if they desired to sell. The Queen gave them the full rights of British subjects. According to fixed ideas of control and ownership the law of Ringa Tu

(the strong right arm) was the paramount law. How then could we explain or expect them to understand or observe such expressions as ’"governorship” when there was no such word in their language. The words Kuini for Queen, Kawana for governor, and Tiriti for treaty, had no significance for a people whose language or tradi-J tion had no such terms of equivalent. If we had educated the MabrL and

fitted them for the education and equality promised in the last article of the Treaty, we would have gained the undying gratitude and obedience of the race.