MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 July 1940, Page 3

MAORI MEMORIES

MAORI JUSTICE. (Recorded by J.H.S.. of Palmerston North, for the ‘'Times-Age.”) In 1847 numerous murders among themselves by Maoris occurred through the teachings of so. called prophets. These were confirmed by Dr Logan Campbell. Captain Nugent of the 58th Regiment, reported that all were caused by an abnormal outbreak of superstition. Men with a knowledge of Maori customs and character urged that this evil should be checked by the trial and execution of a culprit. This first selection for trial was singularly illchosen. In 1849 a Maori named Ratea was arrested at Wellington because he had killed another Maori who had seduced Ratea's wife six years earlier. The killing was in strict accordance with the sacred Maori law of fidelity, and fortunately the prisoner’s life was saved by a legal quibble. The victim had received two bullet wounds, and the Attorney-General could not say which one was fatal, so the jury acquitted the prisoner. The second case was equally unfortunate as an example. A Maori woman named Ana destroyed some baskets of seed potatoes and was seized by the owner’s wife who held her head under water till she died. Then the murderess wept and asked to be killed. A committee of Maoris tried her and hahged her at the scene of the crime.