MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 November 1939, Page 3

MAORI MEMORIES

CIVILISATION. (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times ■Age.”) An example of the brilliant Maori men who have learned the English language in our schools is given in the personality of Dr. Wi Repa. About ten years ago he gave an example of their symbolism in an address id his associated British and Maori friends on civilisation: —“Imagine Kiwa and Paoa. our leaders of 600 years ago, coming to life today at Turanganui. Old Kiwa would speak the words of Shakespeare: ‘What a piece of work is man.

How noble in reason, How infinite in faculty. In action how like an angel. In apprehension how like a god.’ “He would look for his descendants and see only Chinese gardeners, Hindu hawkers, and white-faced fairies riding giant rats called horses. When we stood on this spot six centuries past the kie-kie grew up the tree trunks of the swamp land, food for men and birds. The kahika berries, too. were in plenty. The trees of our Forest God gave shelter from storm, and there was no river erosion and flooding of homes. The beauty of the sacred trees desecrated. Where are our people? Sacrificed to the cupidity of the pakeha. Yet they came from the other side of the wide world just as we did in our canoes. “Then they destroyed our work, Which is life. Now life is in their mar-,

vellous machines, and mankind will quickly degenerate, first spiritually, then mentally, and at last physically. Animals that toil for food will grow in numbers and strength. They will devour us and once aga.’in own the earth."