MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 March 1939, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

TALKERS ARE NOT DOERS. (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”) At a meeting organised to consult with Mr. Fox. Rewi sat beside the new European Magistrate, who was to preside over the Maori law courts. The old chief said, "l"m sorry you are coming here as magistrate, because it will be my painful duty to drive you away. Why not come as a trader, or even as a missionary? I would send off the other preacher whose old-fashioned talk makes us tired. He looks back through his pae manti (collar bone).” Then Te Heu Heu, the Taupo chief, gave a long speech beginning at the Creation and slowly reaching modern problems, until his audience went to sleep, half of them proclaiming the fact loudly. This enraged the speaker who went off into a storm of passion, arousing the sleepers. Several Taupo chiefs, who came to confer with a view to a peaceful settlement. retired in disgust, saying Rewi and Te Heu Heu had spoiled the meeting. They secured a quiet personal interview next day when the proposals were discussed and accepted. Meantime the King had met over 1000 of his lower Waikato subjects at Rangiriri, where, true to its name (the day of anger) there was intense excitement. Flags Hying, soldiers drilling, horns, trumpets and drums sounding. Many urged an attack while the soldiers were busy road-making, but no true Maori will light without a “Take” (challenge). As the soldiers were roadmaking on the Queen’s land there was no just papa (cause of war).