MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 June 1940, Page 3

MAORI MEMORIES

BRITISH LAW AND MAORI CUSTOM. (Recorded by of Palmerston North, for the “Times-Age.”) When our men returned from the Californian gold rush thoroughly disappointed and almost penniless, they found property was greatly reduced in value here. At this time a letter was received from the Secretary of State offering to send us “a plentiful supply of convict labourers.” Despite the prospect of a large British expenditure for their maintenance here, both Maoris and Pakehas voiced their strong objection to New Zealand becom a receptacle for the dregs of Britain’s criminals and drunken sots. At that lime the Maoris, who outnumbered the whites, refused to be ruled by British laws, loyally conformed to ancient Maori custom. Governor Grey attempted to solve this problem by appointing Maori paid assessors to sit on the bench with our Magistrates when trying Maoris. A blow or a curse is the customary way to end a quarrel with British rabble; but to every Maori it is a lasting disgrace, and can only be removed by Utu (reprisal). Every Maori who had been in prison carries the disgrace of it to his grave—unless he can obtain redress. This Maori custom coincides with that of British gentlemen of the period to whom the only means of reprisal for an insult was a duel with a sword or pistol. Maroro (powerful), a young chief, was in prison for four months. On the night of release he killed Mr Branks and his two children with an axe at Porirua, taking Mr Branks watch and blood-stained clothes as evidence ol success (toa). He had never previously seen or heard of Mr Branks. His sentence was death, and he met it with the stoicism of a Hindu.