The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-01-21
The Maories of New Zealand.

A letter from Mr.. Whitney calls atten-
ton to the Maories as immigrants. This
is not Il new scheme, as in 1866 the Hon.
VIM. Hoapili Kaauwai went to New Zea-
land to open a negotiation for the emigra-
ton of Maories to the Hawaiian Archipela-
go. Hoapili Kaauwai, who died in 1873,
was a Hawaiian of noble and enlightened
views. He discussed with the editor of this
journal in 1860, the scheme of establishing
communication between the two cognate
branches of the Malayo-Polynesian family,
between the peoples of the Hawaiian and
New Zealand Archipeiagoes. Kaauwai had
this great object in view, when e and his
lady, Kiliwe Foapili, sailed from their
native islanl mpany with Her Maj
esty Queen Dc ger Emma, who was pro-
ceeding on a visit to the Court of England,
This young Chief and his wife, after re-
ceiving distinguished attention in Europe,
sailed from London on board the ship Nor
wood for New Zealand, and arrived in
Auckland, August, 1866. They proceeded at
once to visit the Maori Chiefs of the North
Island, or Ika na Maui and were en-
tertained by the Prince Tamehana, and
other high Maori Chiefs. Hoapili found
little difficulty in carrying on conversation
with his Maori friends. He was an enlight-
ened man and a Jealous student, and readi-
ly adapted his Hawaiian-Maori language
to the New Zealand Maori language. His
views in rega.L to Maori migration to Ha-
wall were cordially entertained by Tame
hama. Many patriotic Maories objected to
the scheme, deeming it almost a sacrilege
to abandon their fatherland, but a large
number took another view, saying that
their country was virtually lost to them
the whites, who so far outnumbered them,
were in complete possession of it but that
in Hawaii, an ancient sister land, there
were their own blood and lineage, ruled by
a acknowledgements King. After a time
Hoapili wrote home to Minister Hutchi-
son and to the editor of this journal that he
was prepared to lead an emigration of sew
eral thousand MaOries, if the Hawaiian
Government would enable him to carry out
his negotiation. But the King-Kameha-
meha V-had taken umbrage at he action
of HoapiIi. He had proceeded as a vOlun-
teer, independent Commissioner and it was
supposed would arrogate to himself too
much consequence in case he should return
to Hawaii with n colony of Maories under
his guidance and influence. So this volun-
teer Hawaiian negotiator received letters
from home disappearing of his independent
action, and warming him not to attempt to
promote any migration of MEaories without
the full sanction of the Government of his
country. Hoapili was undoubtedly indis-
Greet in his action in thism matter, and rea-
sonably provoked the objection of his Sow
ereign. 1t was understood when he set
out from Hawaii that he would proceed to
New Zealand for information solely, and by
II favorable report induce the Government
to take some action, but he was so much
affected by the sympathy and good will Of
the MaOries and their eager desire to be-
come compatriots with him in his W
country, that he took in hand at once a
plan of emigration which would, as he gave
assurance in his letters, be carried out en-
tirely at the expense of the Maories them
selves. However, Hoapili had to dismiss
his plan for the time, and he and his wife
| returned to their home in the islands.
The visit of Hoapill to the Maories awak-
ened hopes in regard to the migration of
Maories to Hawaii, and views on the sub
iect often entertained are now revived by
the letter of Mr.. Whitney on the subject.
From what we can learn. however. there il
at present, little likelihood that any great
number of Maories could be induced to
come here. Perhaps if the King should
pay a visit to New Zealand and make a tour
through those districts in which the natives
are still numerous, His Majesty's presence
would attract the attention of some of the
more adventurous spirits and dispose them
to emigrate to a land in which one of their
W race occupies the throne. They would
not, however, be induced to come here as
laborers in any numbers, and there are
many drawbacks in the way of inviting
them as settlers. The Government has no
large lands to offer to provide for the settle
ment of a body of colOnists whilst in New
Zealand, each Maori tribe has an ample
domain of it's own. AS a cognate peo-
pie to promote population, the migration of
Maories to this Archipelago is eminently
deserving of attention and as His Majesty
the South Pacific we feel sure it will not
escape his attention.