MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 May 1940, Page 8

MAORI MEMORIES

MAORI CHIVALRY. (Recorded by J.H.S., or Palmerston North, for the ‘‘Times-Age.”) In the early days of settlement in Manawatu, Mr J. O. Bachelar acquired a fine block of land on the southern bank of the Manawatu river, on which lis now situated the Dairy Research section of Massey Agricultural College. When ploughing a portion near the } river he was amazed to find that he had quite unwittingly desecrated a Maori Urupa (burial place) for which under the sacred law of Tapu he was liable to sudden death by being knocked on the head with a Patu Pounamu (greenstone club). Hastily covering the numerous skulls and bones in fear, he said nothing for many years. When it came to my knowledge, 1 cautiously questioned an old Maori chief at Rangiotu (Brave days), who told in more graphic language than I can adequately translate into English, the following tragic story which illustrates the Maori law of equity, even in savage warfare • —"That spot was a Pa (fortified village). Maoris on the north bank intended to attack it. but finding that the main enemy force was away bird snaring and fishing, they generously postponed it tilll their return a week later. Then after desperate fighting, with the loss of 100 men. they killed all the men occupants, and took the women for wives and the children for future warriors."