MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 July 1940, Page 8

MAORI MEMORIES

KAURI GUM AND GOLD. (Recorded by J.H.S., of Palmerston North, for the “Times-Age.”) In 1856 both the Maori folk and the settlers were heartened by a sudden rise in the value of Pia Kauri (Kauri gum) for export to England. Five foreigners who had mastered the Maori tongue, and later on, the more difficult English, had a monopoly in that newly discovered commodity and its uses. They grew quickly rich but remained to all appearances merely workmen. A few small discoveries of gold wore made in Nelson province in 1854; but it was three years before the inexperienced diggers found nuggets. The attitude of the Maoris toward this Kapurangi (worthless rubbish) as compared with their useful emblem of wealth. Pounamu (greenstone), was humourous rather than cynical. It was not long, however, before their rare gift of observation taught them that it was readily accepted by these Pakeha kuare (foolish white men) in exchange for guns, rum, tobacco and blankets. Their natural capacity for mahi apa (working in company) made them useful and faithful helpers to the gold seekers, at a ridiculously low wage. The commerce and finance of each province was quite separate from the others. Wellington had spent £5.000 for passages of useful workmen and their families from England, who on arrival had been diverted to Nelson by the gold rush. The Wellington Provincial Council with Hitler-like spirit passed an act to prevent settlers leaving the Province: but it was ruled rail by the Governor. Gold was then discovered all along the West Coast of the South Island, .and the extinction of the Maori titles so ably managed by' Donald McLean was a subject of congratulation by the colonists, and of Apili (curse) by the Maoris. It was the altruism of a Nelson minej owner which inspired Mark Twain to i say when he visited that spot: “A gold i mine is a hole in the ground, and the j owner of that hole is a liar.”