The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1867-09-14
The Maori King-Maker.
CINCINNATI, o., September 9th, 1867.

GENTLEMEN The following sketch OF the renowned leader
of the "nobe" savages of New Zealand would think be
instructive your Irish readers 1t taken from an Eng
lish periodical called CuSSelps Magazine Yours,
There are two races in New Zealand the Maories and
the Pakehas. A Maori native, Pakeha stranger
the first term is applied to all the aboriginal tribes the
second to all the European settlers There has recently been
fierce struggle for supremacy between these Two races @
after of five years. the Maori has had the worst OF
have driven him back into his mountain Businesses and
concated nearly millions of acres OF his land We have
not much reason however, to be proud of laureswe
have suffered heavy loss and frequent repulse alarmed
unscpined band of thousand savages kept the British
regiments at bay for years. and succumbed only to the force
of superior numbers.
my experience during this war; meanwhile | shall
conne myself "reminiscences of William Thompson
who was one of the principal actors in it. In England
feel only langud interest in the affairs of island
New Zealand and knowledge of local matters
member of ParIiament declared to the House that the
Maori chief Tauranga had joined the rebels 1t is still dis
puted among commentators whether Gamaliel
mountain; it admits of no dispute that Iauranga is flour
shing settlement and rebel chief the honorable
member imagined About the time the Bishop of Ok
ford usually well informed every question he handles
announced missionary meeting that the New Zealand
at end inasmuch as William Thompson, the
Maori king had given in his submission The Bishops
would not have been greater if he had called Lord
Derby King of Great Britain.
William Thompson something more than king; he
the maker of kings the Warwick of New Zealand He
certainly the most remarkable the Maori has
produced and must occupy prominent place in
the history of his country. His native Ma Wi Tanu-
hama tie Waheroa he the OF sanguinary chief who
carried his victorious through almost every part of the
northern island and, satisfied with killing his enemies
devoured them after death.
While still boy entreated his father allow him
missionary school, The old chief would rather have
him dancing the wardance welding the omahawk
but he could refuse nothing his favorte His tribe
had given twenty thousand of land to the Church Mis-
sonary Society for her the employee of that society at
Tauranga could we'll afford to educate his Tauranga
where William Thompson spent his YOUTH is situated the
of the northern island midway between Auckland
and Napier and will be of the most aourishng
towns in the colony 1t has noble harbor sheltered from
the heavy surf by neck of land terminating in the
mountain of Mongonu, the summit of which the Maores
used bury their dead 1t here, in 1864 that the
Maories up TIE Papa, the Gateka and repused
forces with the loss of nine officers who shot down by
the enemy when deserted by their own men, it was here
also month later that soldiers who had yielded
sudden panic retrieved their character by defeating the
enemy with great slaughter. Many battles had been fought
among the natives themselves this spot before
Archdeacon Browne settled there missionary, thirty
years and received one of his pupils Ma Wi Tanu
in such cases. baptized William Thompson by which
name he has since been known.
In point of intellect the Maores superior any other
Poynesan they learn all that learn and
their mental development is arrested early period
They inferior to peasany in the knowledge of the
practical arts they live in uts which are worse than dog
kennels they clothes which the inmates of union
would reject with scon their only furniture is bed of fen
their only covering mat of wild flax but while inferior
peasanty In these respects they superior to them
education and general intelligence They read and
write they know the Old Testament almost by heart they
familiar with their history and the political aspects
of the times They pasonately fond of war; and for
four hundred years. since they landed in the island the
tribes have been engaged constant warfare We have done
little or nothing this warfare we have allowed the
natives to fight their battles within sight of settlements
and to commit every kind Of outrage with impuny SO long
as our lives and property respected nereed
In theory the natives British subjects though they had
never been conquered acknowledged supremacy In
point of fact they independent of sway and cared
nothing for our laws and institutions.
Such was the state of the island when William Thompson
reached the years of manhood ~ found my country he
says covered with torrents bood To arrest this blood
shed and restore peace his distracted country became the
work of his life His mission that of the peacemaker
and noy did he discharge its duties Whenever he heard
that had broken out between two tribes ne hurried to
the SPOT often threw himself between the combaants and
never ceased his efforts till he had persuaded them lay
aside their arms strange thing to see the son of