MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 November 1939, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

—» GRATITUDE. (Recorded by J.H.S. for "Times-Age.”) In the pioneer period of Pakeha friendship and Maori industry, ere yet land robbery and rum soakage had cursed their unfortunate victims, two Maori lads were hard at work pit sawing heart timber for a prosperous white settler’s new home and woolshed at the poor price of 5s per 100. The proceeds were to be devoted to warm winter clothing for their aged mother. Despair had followed the discovery that their cross cut saw (named after a Maori dance “Kani Kani”) had de- | velopcd a buckle and sadly needed setting, faults for which they knew no remedy. The loss of wages which they desperately needed was a secondary consideration, for in those days Pono (honour) was an essential of manhood. To break their contract with the Pakeha would brand them with disgrace (whakakino) among Iheir own people. Along came a white horseman who ■ had been hospitably received at the village a mile away. As a reo maori (Maori linguist) he heard of their trouble from the mother. At dawn they went to the saw pit and found the lads ' at work swearing volubly in our language, the first English words learned by them. Half an hour's skilful work with saw set. file and hammer put their Kani ; Kani in excellent order. Work went on and their language changed to Maori chant in tune with the hum of Iho saw. The mother embraced the embarrassed Pakeha artisan and cried "Alas! 1 have no daughter to share your home.’ Stripping off her beautiful hand-wo-ven Kakahu (feather mat) and tying it round his shoulders, she gave him her next best treasure.