MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 August 1939, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

THE ONLY. SURVIVOR OF MASSACRE. (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”) Te Kooti escaped from Chatham Island about 1866 in the Government schooner which he and his fellow prisoners had captured by clever strategy. Having been the innocent victim of grave injustice through the jealousy of a British officer, he naturally sought revenge under the sacred Maori law of Utu (reprisal). The Poverty Bay massacre was the first of his so-called “atrocities.” Jim Wilson, aged six years, saved his wounded mother's life by collecting eggs from the fowl run. but the poor soul died of a broken heart within a few weeks. When the lad grow to manhood he lived in England for some years to escape the horrors of his environment; but never recovered from the mental and physical effect of the tragedy. Nearing his 80th year he returned to New Zealand in poor circumstances and ill health, but proudly maintained himself until overcome by weakness, yet he refused to apply personally or to the Government for help. Through a friend, an uncle of his heard of his distress, and like a good sport, he sent him a cheque for £lOO with a message to say that if the “young devil did not let him know when he was in want of more, he would come and give him a damn good hiding.” I am specially interested in his life as he and I were visiting his uncle at Otakapo.. Rangitikei in ’6B. when he advised me quite seriously to “hide in a briar bush if Ta Kooti came there."