MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 February 1940, Page 3

MAORI MEMORIES

THE KING RULES.

1 Recorded by J.H.S. for the “Times-Age.

Potatau the First was appointed by the main tribes as Maori King in 1858. Being then well past his prime, the luxury of royalty caused his early departure.for Te Reinga, the earthly heaven of the Maori. His son. succeeded to the throne as Potatau 11. During the first years of his reign no white man could enter the King’s vast domain until 1863-64, when General Cameron with 20,000 troops drove the Maoris south and west. Then followed confiscation of Maori lands on a large scale. Prior to this for 40 years the vast King Country was quite unknown to white people, and effectively protected against enemy Maori tribes by the universal law of tapu.

Centres of population occupied by quickly increasing numbers of whites were separated by this huge tract of forbidden King Country. Sir George Grey and Sir Donald Maclean entered into friendly relations with King Tawhiao in 1878-79. and offered to return all lands west of the Waikato river ini exchange for the right to construct a highway through the King Country, j adding a proposal to convey certain 1 high honours on Tawhiao. This was promptly refused on the ground that) no mere layman could possibly confer, honours upon a King. In 1882 the Hon. John Bryce, as Native Minister, offered to restore all confiscated lands, and to elect the King to the Upper House. As this meant, abdication it was also thrown out by the whole Maori race. So Tawhaio still reigned over this vast tract of fertile country.