MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 April 1940, Page 3

MAORI MEMORIES

MARSDEN’S IDEAL. (Recorded by J.U.S. for the “Times-Age.”) Tito earliest European traders in New Zealand were a disgrace to humanity. Springing from the convicts at the New South Wales penal settlement on the oiie side, they offered rum and guns to typical savages whose only knowledge of payment was "utii” (reprisal for injuries), and whoso most favoured '•coinage" was the tattooed head of an enemy, which realised a high price by curio seekers in Europe. Then with the sale of the kauri timber for masts and spars, much valued overseas for its novelty and quality, the climax camo when the Maoris first realised that, by making a ripeka pango (a black cross) they had been deluded into parting with To whenua o to Atua (God's earth), the very symbol of life for this and all coming generations. In 1814 Marsden came with Kendall. Hall and King to face this deplorable condition. Summing up the special capacity of each colleague. Marsden promoted special industries, made peace between rival tribes who had been at war for several generations, and taught the simple principles of Christianity. He. made no Jess Ilian seven visits to New Zealand, making each return journey of 2400 miles in his little sailing vessel. Could he but have eliminated the curse of our greed with its rum. guns and cheating, lie would have produced a modern Utopia among these ideal people.