MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 October 1939, Page 8

MAORI MEMORIES

A MAORI MIRACLE. (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”) The eloquence and power of convincing an audience depends very much upon their interest or actual belief and credulity in regard to the subject and the speaker. Post mortem analysis of matters pertaining to spiritual manifestations must be looked upon with suspicion, mainly because there is no power to disprove them but by contrary beliefs and what we call logic. Popular fiction and a sensational Press are the main features of our literature today, causing 'one quaint philosopher to name their authors “experienced liars.” and another to warn us that “The main punishment of the liar is that he soon begins to believe in his own lies.’’ The Maori nature, training and environment made him susceptible in all beliefs of the power of mind over matter. Our science and logic tend rather to the idea that imagination plays upon reason, as it did with the Maori under the influence of his wily priests, the ariki and tohunga. As there is no living witness we should take the “historic” story of Te Heuheu and the good Bishop Selwyn with more than the usual grain of salt. To me it sounds like a fairy tale, though still popular in certain quaint beliefs. Te Heuheu, “the heathen,” is said to have challenged the Bishop to perform a miracle. When, told that only God could do so. the old Chief said: “Then I am a god.” He took the dry branch of a tawa tree, with withered brown leaves, threw it in the air, and it fell as green as spring foliage. Selwyn is reported to have said from his pulpit: “I have seen Satan face to face!” ____________