MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 December 1940, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

NO GOLDEN CROWN FOR THE KING. (Recorded by J.H.S., of Palmerston North; for the “Times-Age.”) Extravagant reports of gold discoveries at Coromandel stated to outrival the splendid finds in Otago were published in the Auckland papers. The richest were stated to be on Maori land which the owners refused to sell, let, or even examine at any price. The Press, the public and the diggers began to call for forcible entry against the wish of the Maoris and the Government. The King party tried to pursuade the owners to hand them the administration of the land for mutual profit. A meeting was held at Piako attended by the King and a large number of most interested including the King’s | guard. A rush of diggers from Otago was expected and war was thought by all parties to be imminent. The Government sought to peaceably acquire the land, and thus avoid force by the eager miners,

Sir George Grey’s personal charm and tact prevailed upon the obstinate owners to give way. This was said to be due to the fact that their leader was a charming young Maori lady, who, like all her tribal sisters, had secret hopes of a union with “Royalty” through that source. Large sums as royalty were paid by diggers, with poor returns. Gold was [here, but mainly in deep quartz veins.

In the Maori paper “Te Hokioi,” dated August, 1863, Sir George found fault with the King for permitting his so-called soldiers to travel the country and dismay the settlers. The King invited His Excellency to prove a single instance of trespass, promising full compensation if he could. No probf was forthcoming. This confirmed the opinion of the Maoris that Sir George was as strongly opposed to their King as his predecessor had been. .