MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 March 1939, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

AMATEUR COUNCILLORS. (Recorded by J.H.S. for "Times-Age.”) The Runanga (discussions) ,as applied to the purely Maori questions, was a useful institution; but as a solution of the new pakeha problems can only be regarded as farcical. In 1861 these rUnangas were held throughout the Waikato to settle all the differences between the new settlers and their hosts, their landlords. The proceedings were usually a comedy based upon those seen in our own courts, and were the Maoris' first experience of the stage —men, women and children, pigs, dogs and fowls were among the audience. These hui (meetings) were held seated in the marae (yard) , in front of the meeting house. Sir George Grey, in an endeavour to maintain what he thought was real Maori custom, appointed KukUtai as a paid officer of the new court at Tatlpari. Among the terms and conditions laid down at their first hui were these:— No. 3.—We agree that the Governor must give us eight bullocks to bring our rusty ploughs into use. No. 5. —We agree that the Governor shall give us grass seed without weeds for our farm. Later on they swore allegiance to our Queen, coupling it with an order for the presentation of “a wooden court house a blacksmith to repair our ploughs, a doctor to cure sickness, an elderly one who will not misconduct himself with our women, one who will neither drink rum nor prescribe it to them!”