MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 May 1940, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

INDISCREET. (Recorded by J.H.S., or Palmerston North for the “Times-Age.”) After the sad occurrence at Wairau, Captain Fitzroy, the newly appointed Governor antagonised both the Maoris and the settlers by his want of tact, courtesy, or knowledge. Wellington settlers appealed to the Governor in a respectful address asking that Rauparaha and Rangihaeata should be brought to trial in order to elicit the facts leading up to the alleged murders at Wairau.

His Excellency in reply rebuked the Magistrates who had signed warrants for the trial of the two Maori Chiefs. This bitter speech spoken in an irritating manner and tone unfavourably impressed these men suffering under the loss of many intimate friends. Captain Fitzroy’s subsequent visit to Nelson also aggravated the growing hatred of the two races, and left an unfavourable impression of arrogance. Three Magistrates who regarded the Governor as a madman resigned. The Governor's ship anchored under the shelter of Kapiti Island, and he landed at Waikanae to interview Rauparahau, of whose language, laws and customs, he was in total ignorance. Twelve white men and 500 Maoris were at the meeting. Rauparaha gave minute details of the Wairau affair shewing that the alleged land purchase was a fraud and that the Police Magistrate had twice ordered his men to fire on them. . After 30 minutes silence, His Excellency blamed both sides and widened the breach.