MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 March 1939, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

FOUGHT, BUT NO GOLD

(Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”)

Sir George Grey’s diplomacy in regard to the "gold mines” at Coromandel ended in the Maoris receiving large sums of money for gold that was not found. Perhaps while labouring under this disappointment Sir George wrote to the Maori King rather an angry letter in which he would not permit "Mister” Matutaera to march about the country with men whom he chose to call his soldiers, terrorising all well disposed and peaceful settlers. Punishment would be inflicted for such evil deeds.

The letter in its original Maori was published in their newspaper "Te Hokioi” (The Bird), together with the King’s reply—"lf the Governor will point out that portion of the Queen’s territory which had been invaded by the King’s soldiers, let him know which European settlement had been terrified, or the individual person who had suffered any damage by the soldiers going to Hauraki, the Maoris would readily pay compensation if misconduct were proven; but if nobody had been harmed, then it was idle to talk of punishing the King for evil deeds which had no foundation in fact.”

Sir George Grey's letter had the important result of confirming the opinion of all Waikato Maoris that the Governor was just as strongly opposed to the Maori King as his predecessor had been, and that they would regretfully have to fight for.their independence.

On August 21, 1863, six weeks after the invasion of Waikato, Potatau wrote to the Hawke’s Bay Maoris': “Friends — The Governor has made up his mind — He went to Taranaki but his thoughts were on Waikato.”