MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 March 1939, Page 8

MAORI MEMORIES

WAR. (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”) Official records show that the Provincial Government had started to make a rough bush track from Drury through the Huntia forest to the Waikato river. This had caused jealousy among the tribes, and to avoid trouble the work was stopped two miles from the river, by order of the Colonial Government. Without a good road through this vast forest the Maoris laughed at Governor Browne’s threat to invade Waikato. The massed British troops were living in idleness around the cantonments to the great advantage of traders, and their own danger since they had ceased fighting at Taranaki. Sir George Grey determined to put an end to this social danger, and without disclosing their real objective, to make the military occupation of Waikato comparatively easy by employing the troops, armed and equipped with axes and shovels, fire sticks and bullock teams, to cut and metal a military highway through this natural forest fortress of the Waikato plains. The Maoris were fully aware of the Governor’s purpose. They saw that he made no threats which he could not carry into effect; but soothed them with words while preparing to conquer them in silent works. This road was a blow to the Maori hopes of a peaceful settlement between their King and the British Queen. Peace was thus impossible, and the Maoris were now certain that Sir George meant war. When he appealed in an eloquent speech for peace, the Maori Chief replied—“ The land is a living thing—men are but mortal,” and war it was.