The Maori Newspaper Literature

Tu Tangata, Issue 31, 1 August 1986, Page 46

The Maori Newspaper Literature

T.M. Hocken

(edited by Neil Grove)

He Whakairiwhare Department of Maori Studies Victoria University of Wellington New Zealand

Foreword

In the introduction to Dr Hocken’s “Maori Bibliography” he cites his own paper “presented to the Maori Congress in July, 1906 (and printed in their proceedings), on ‘The Maori Newspaper Literature of New Zealand’ ” (Hocken 1909:499). For several years sporadic efforts were made to locate a copy of those proceedings or other information on the presentation. These met with no success until finally at the National Archives a 1912 catalogue for the Hocken Library was found to have an item in Flotsam 8r Jetsam listed as “The Maori Newspaper Literature (1910)” (Trimble 1912:94). Hocken Library kindly produced a photocopy of the item, which turned out to be a clipping from the Otago Daily Times of 20 July 1910. This comprised about a third of Dr Hocken’s paper and was followed by “(to be continued)”. The balance of the paper was then located by searching succeeding issues of the same newspaper until 31 August was reached.

The Hocken Library, built to house Dr Hocken’s own collection, was opened on 23 March 1910; two months later Dr Hock-

en’s long and productive life came to an end. Two months after his death the article was published, prefaced by the explanation that it had not been previously given.

The paper had been scheduled for the very last of the agenda on 20 July 1908, the seventh and final day of the Maori Congress (Plate 1). No specific reason for cancellation of the lecture has been found. The Evening Post for that final day, however, reported that a large number of resolutions were placed before the congress and various commendatory motions passed. This business apparently concluded the meeting for in the afternoon, according to the report, a deputation of the Maori leaders met the Prime Minister. Therefore, regardless of any other reasons for the

paper not being given, it seems that no time was available for it during that final session.

Dr Hocken’s paper, which follows, discusses most of the Maori journals published during the preceding century, expanding the concise explanations of the author’s Bibliography. William’s (1975) Bibliography provides a helpful and accurate adjunct, and is perhaps a bit more considerate in some of its judgements. Footnotes have been provided to explain or amplify some of the statements in Dr Hocken’s paper and paragraphing has been added to facilitate its reading.

The Maori Newspaper Literature*

by the late Dr Hocken

The following paper was prepared by the late Dr Hocken for submission to one of the annual Maori congresses. As, however, it was never read, we have pleasure in now giving publication to it:

It is a matter of sincere congratulations on the part of all well-wishers that a congress of so important a kind as this has been constituted. Everyone must hope that its results will be far-reaching, and will be effective in raising the Maori to that position to which he is entitled, not only by his own high qualities, but by that brotherhood and fellowship which make him an equal partner with the British race.

About 70 years have now passed since the date of colonisation in these islands, and during this long period the points of contact between the two races have gradually become closer and more numerous. Notwithstanding this, the Native race has suffered a gradual decline, not in numbers merely, though these have fallen from 100,000 to 40,000, but also in a deterioration of those virtues which once stamped a famous people. An

important and instructive study - one particularly demanded by the functions of this congress should be made as to the causes which have led to this condition. Questions of this sort are not, it appears to me, so readily answered as would seem on the surface. Many are prepared with the ready and stereotyped answer that it is a law of nature that wherever the white man treads the ancient dweller must disappear before him. He is infected with his deadly vices and receives none of his virtues. But this off-hand and oft-repeated reply does not appeal to me, and I firmly believe that those inherent qualities of industry, courage, dignity, and great intelligence which were once such marked characteristics of the race will again develop when suitable opportunities are given. With the utterance of this hope and belief I proceed to say something on the special subject which Mr Ngata has allotted to me— some account of Maori newspaper literature.

There can be no doubt that from the beginning of colonisation the greatest care was taken of Native interests, not only by the Governor himself, to whom at that time they were solely entrusted by the British Government, but also by a large body of the most influential colonists. The lands were scrupulously protected from the greed of the landsharks, and not an acre of ground could change hands without undergoing scrutiny. Amongst the eminent men who devoted themselves to the service and improvement of the Native people the names of Bishop Selwyn, Chief Justice Sir William Martin, William Swainson, and Sir George Grey stand forth especially. They spared no effort to instruct their new friends, to develop friendly sentiments towards the recent comers, and to make plain and pleasant the new path which both races were to tread together under the changed order of things. Doubtless all would have gone well and this congress would never have sat had it not been for the evil words and deeds

of designing men, and it must also be allowed, for the misunderstandings between the two races which were sure to arise, and which, unfortunately, resulted in such sad consequences later on.

Fifteen months after the seat of Government had been removed form Kororareka to Auckland the first Maori newspaper commenced publication. This was entitled “Te Karere o Nui Tireni”, and the first number appeared on Saturday, January 1, 1842 (See Plate 2, p.B). It was of folio size, the same as that of the Government Gazette, and contained four pages with double columns. It was well-printed by John Moore, the Government Printer, and afterwards by Christopher Suttont. The editors or conductors were chiefly Mr George Clarke, Chief Protector of Aborigines, Mr Thomas Spencer Forsaith, a Sub-protector, and Dr Edward Shortland. Mr Clark had previously from 1822 - been connected with the early New Zealand mission, and from his intimate acquaintance with the Maori race and on account of other qualities, had been selected by Captain Hobson to the office of Chief Protector. Mr Forsaith had been a settler and storekeeper at the Hokianga, and was later long connected with the Government of New Zealand. His name will be remembered with the “clean shirt” Ministry. Dr Edward Shortland, who practiced as a medical man, came of a race of naval officers long settled at Plymouth, and was the brother of Lieutenant Willoughby Shortland, the first Colonial Secretary of New Zealand. He devoted himself entirely to the interests of the Native race, and is well know as the author of several valuable and standard works relating to this country.

Such was the personnel of this first paper. Under slightly varying titles, different sizes, and breaks in continuity, it continued until 1863 and was, without doubt, the most important and interesting of all those that succeeded it [sic]. Needless to say, the whole publication is very rare, especially that first portion extending from 1842 to January, 1846, now under review. Of this I know of but two perfect copies, one in the Auckland Free Library, the other in my own. It is to be hoped that in due time the whole will be translated into English, as there is a good deal of old history contained in its pages, many letters from celebrated chiefs amongst them. Every effort is made throughout to promote good feeling, to explain the beneficent laws of civilisation, and to insist on the point that the Treaty of Waitangi enfolded both parties to the contract. On these lines the paper continued until its last number of January 15, 1846, when it ceased. This was due no doubt to the increasing disaffection following Heke’s

war, which deprived the paper of its power of appeal. It suffered sadly, too, at the hands of The New Zealander newspaper, which had just started as an opponent of Government measures. The New Zealander ridiculed the oriental style -as it was pleased to call it in which many of the articles were written. But this was the very imagery the Maori loved and in which he indulged. Altogether there were 49 numbers published which at one a month spread over four years.

Three years now elapsed before “The Maori Messenger, Te Karere Maori” issued the first number on January 4, 1849. This time its size was demy folio, that of the New Zealand journals of today. It was in four columns, alternately English and Maori; a valuable feature, as it helped not only to spread a knowledge of the English tongue but induced many of the colonists to subscribe and take an interest in whatever might benefit the aborigines. Political and polemical subjects were forbidden, those of general interest and value being alone admitted. Special attention was, of course, paid to the cultivation of land and flax and the management of sheep and cattle. Journals of expeditions* to various parts of New Zealand, old history, news from the outside world, indeed, any interesting matter of the sort that at this day finds place in magazines had insertion. It therefore, like its predecessor, contains much of value that would repay examination today. Governor Grey took a close interest in the success of the paper, which was issued under the sanction of the Government. It continued publication until 1854, to what precise date I cannot say; the last number in my possession is April 5 of that year.

On January 1, 1855, appeared the old friend under the old name, but in a new dress, it was a small quarto size with double columns, issued fortnightly (as before) an<jj with the same advantage of an English translation. A great feature was the brightly-coloured wrapper upon which was printed the contents.

The number of pages was usually 16, but this varied from eight to even as much as 79. The first and principal editor was Mr C.O. Davis, well known as an accomplished Maori linguist and interpreter and a devoted friend to the Maori race. He came from New South Wales to Hokianga in the late thirties, and acted as a tutor to the children of the Wesleyan missionaries who were stationed there. When the mission there was broken up he came to Auckland. As indicated, Mr Davis was a fine

Maori scholar, acquainted with the genius of the language and well able to write and speak wit that occult imagery which the “New Zealander” had so scarified years before when ridiculing the “Oriental style”. He was also an author, and produced that now rare book, “Maori Mementos”, which was a series of addresses presented by the Native people to Sir George Grey when leaving New Zealand in December, 1853. He wrote various little poems, temperance and other hymns for the use of the Natives, and translated into English many of their tangi and waiata laments and songs. His friendly attitude and advice towards certain of the rebellious Natives during the Waikato campaign involved him in serious trouble, nothing less than a charge of treasonable conduct or sedition being made against him. The charge was not, however brought home to him, though he suffered greatly from the bitter accusations and aspersions which in those angry times were poured upon so many who, whilst thoroughly loyal, had the courage to defend the Maoris and to condemn acts of their own countrymen.

Under his management the Karere Maori attained a high standard of excellence and was widely circulated. The chief occurrences of the day were set forth, inclusive of European intelligence and all Native news of interest. Numerous articles on Maori history and tradition, others on agriculture, geography, political occurrences in which the Natives were concerned, and a mass of general information agreeably told, filled the pages. A great feature was the commercial and maritime report, giving market prices of all produce in which

the Maoris dealt, the arrival of canoes and small coasters, with particulars of their freight - a subject sure to be of great interest. The proceedings of important Native meetings are reported at great length, especially that of the Kohimarama Conference in 1860, which occupies some 260 pages.

In 1861, and for nearly a year, Mr (afterwards Sir) Walter Buller took the editorship and changed the name to that of “Te Manuhiri Tuarangi, and Maori Intelligencer”, meaning “The Visitor from Afar”. Mr Buller was the son of the well-known Wesleyan missioner, the Rev. James Buller, who wrote “Forty Years in New Zealand”. He became a New Zealand barrister, and in that capacity is well known in connection with the purchase of Native lands. Still better is he known as the author of the splendid work on the “Birds of New Zealand”. The new editing is speedily apparent. It was at the time when the air was full of the Taranaki outbreak, which, alas! finally developed into the prolonged Taranaki and Waikato war. Unlike his gentle predecessor, who was content to describe the sad occurrences and to comment on them in a tone of good advice and appeal, the new editor wrote in a more strenuous though excellent fashion. The consequences of breaking the law were pointed out, and it was indicated what the Governor must do if the disaffected continued unrepentant.

At the end of 1861 Sir George Grey arrived from the Cape, for the second time assuming the reins of office, and on the 16th of December of that year the paper resumed its old name, at the same time considerably losing its old newsy character. The efforts and addresses of the Governor to establish peace and order, his scheme for introducing runangas or simple parliaments throughout New Zealand, letters from Natives, and reports of the discussions held as various meetings, give quite a new and important complexion to the paper that had existed for nigh on to 20 years. As we know, all these and other efforts were of no avail. The issue, instead of being a regular fortnightly one, became irregular, once a month or even six weeks elapsing between the several numbers until it finally ceased publication on the 28th September, 1863, containing chiefly a few unimportant letters from chiefs. Such is a short sketch of this first Maori newspaper, which must always be a repository of old and valuable Native history.

I did not interrupt the tenor of this account, extending over 21 years, to say that in this period no fewer than five other Maori papers appeared. They were not, however, of great importance, and, with but one exception, but short life .. .(To be continued)

On September 20, 1849**, at Wellington, the first number was published of “Ko te Ao Marama” (The New World).

It was issued fortnightly, and its aim was to foster a spirit of industry amongst the Natives and to acquaint them with the customs of their white neighbours. The subscription was 6s per annum, but I do not think it survived more than six months.tt “Te Haeta”[sic]44 (The Dawn of Day) was a religious paper issued monthly by the Wesleyan Methodists. The first number appeared in Auckland on April 2, 1859, and the last in March, 1862. It was a small quarto size of four pages and triple colours.

The last three of the five were brought out by Mr C.C. Davis, who evidently had a great penchant for writing and for instructing the Natives. One was “Te Whetu o te Tau” (The Star of the Year); another was “Te Waka o te Iwi” (The Canoe of the Tribes). I think that not more than three numbers of each were issued, and that they appeared in Auckland about 1859-60. The last was “Ko Aotearoa”, orThe Maori Recorder, of Bvo size. There were but two numbers dating January, 1861 and January, 1862, of 24 and 52 pages respectively. They refer largely to the Waitara trouble and to subjects of general interest to the Natives.

** Ibid, 31 August 1910. ft Two issues (Williams 1975:xiv). 44 Te Haeata is also misspelled in the Bibliography (Hocken 1909:542).

* Otago Daily Times 20 July 1910.

t Fulton, i.e. Kiritopa Purutana (Williams 1975:23).

$ Greenwood’s Journey to Taupo and Grey’s Journey to Taranaki first appeared there (Williams 1975:45).