CHAPTER XXVIII.

NEW ZEALAND WARFARE.

THE RIVAL RACES IN NEW ZEALAND-THE MAORI WARS OF 1843 AND THE FOLLOWING YEARS-THE SUBSEQUENT CONDITION OF THE MAORIS-THEIR CIVILIZATION-THEIR NUMBERS-THE RENEWAL OF HOSTILITIES THE KING-MOVEMENT AND ITS ISSUE HOSTILITIES IN 1860 AND 1861-THE WAR OF 1863-1865 -NATURE OF THE STRIFE-LATER GUERILLA WARFARE-THE PAI-MARIRE OR HAU-HAU SUPERSTITION-THE FUTURE OF NEW

ZEALAND. [1843-1869.]

D

URING some three hundred years, if not for a much longer time, the Maoris were in undisturbed possession of New Zealand. They cultivated their fields and caught their fish and game, and enjoyed themselves in their own barbarous way. Endless warfare prevailed between rival tribes and clans, and it was often attended by hideous atrocities; but in spite of this and other drawbacks, a fine race of savages grew up, almost superior to any other savage race of which we know. Then the Pakehas came among them, some as missionaries, others as traders; and though their numbers were few, their influence was rapidly felt among nearly the whole community of natives. Civilization, partly good and partly bad, but equally powerful whether good or bad, began a rapid disintegration of the barbarous elements; and, though many held aloof in sullen wrath, the great majority

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of the Maoris were attracted to European institutions, like iron to the loadstone. That preparation for English colonization lasted for about thirty years, and it was followed by regular colonial enterprise, which has lasted for just thirty other years. That it will continue and increase, until "the Britain of the South" becomes worthy of its title, cannot be doubted, and the only question to be solved is as to the length of time that must elapse before the natives are altogether driven out, and the whole of Maori-land becomes Pakeha-land; but there are some features in the struggle now going on, and apparently approaching its end, which are well worth noting.

That New Zealand should cease to be a mere haunt of lawless savages, however noble may be some characteristics of their savage life, and should become the great centre of civilized enterprise and civilizing agency for which its natural features and its place in the South Pacific Ocean make it specially adapted, is a change of which the wisest and most far-seeing philanthropy cannot but approve, however much we may deplore some of the conditions of the change. Even the natives themselves are conscious of the necessity, and, while loth to give up the struggle, know that it cannot be carried on for very much longer. "As the Pakeha fly has driven out the Maori fly," they sing, in one of their plaintive chants; as the Pakeha grass has killed the Maori grass; as the Pakeha rat has slain the Maori rat; as the Pakeha clover has starved the Maori fern; so will the Pakeha push back and destroy the Maori." The destroying work has proceeded with equal rapidity during the periods in which the doomed race has quietly suc

cumbed to its destiny, and during those in which it has striven desperately to avert the evil, or, at any rate, to punish its authors.

With one exception, there was not much resistance shown till 1861. The exception was in 1843 and the four following years. In 1843 Colonel Wakefield,

having had a dispute about land with some chiefs, had determined to take the law into his own hands, and had accordingly gone into their district on the banks of the Wairau, in Nelson, with armed followers, and handcuffs and leg-irons for making captives of the chiefs. The natives resenting this procedure, he had fired upon them, and thus caused a small battle, ending in the defeat of the English intruders, with serious loss of life. "So manifestly illegal, unjust, and unwise were the martial array and the command to advance," said Lord Stanley (the present Earl of Derby), who was then Colonial Secretary, "that the authors of that order must be held responsible for all that followed in natural and immediate sequence upon it. The natives only exercised the rights of self-defence and of mutual protection against an imminent, overwhelming, and deadly danger. Revolting to our feelings as Christians, and to our opinions as members of a civilized State, as was the ultimate massacre, it is impossible to deny to our savage antagonists the benefits of the apology which is to be urged in their behalf. They who provoke an indefensible warfare with barbarous tribes are hardly entitled to complain of the barbarities inseparable from such contests." 1

The effect of this catastrophe was most disastrous. 1 "Report of Select Parliamentary Committee," 1844, pp. 172-174.

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Exaggerated reports of it were spread over both the islands, and the irons seized from the English aggressors were exhibited both as tokens of what they meant to do with the Maoris, if they could, and as trophies of the prowess by which they had been, and might again and again be, successfully resisted. Tribes that had hitherto submitted quietly to British rule now gave visible signs of their discontent, and the tribes that had always been inimical, now had a powerful argument in favour of violent opposition. An open feud between Maoris and Pakehas began, never to be thoroughly healed.

It found expression in several acts of hostility during the few years ensuing. It extended so far north that, in March 1845, Kororarika was invaded and destroyed, the missionaries' quarter alone being spared. "The natives carried on their work of plunder," said Bishop Selwyn, who witnessed it, "with perfect composure; neither quarrelling among themselves, nor resenting any attempt on the part of the English to recover portions of their property. Several of the people of the town landed in the midst of them, and were allowed to carry off such things as were not particularly desired by the spoilers."1

Here and elsewhere the Maoris showed remarkable moderation in their resistance of the colonists. Violent in their opposition to those who sought to dispossess them of what they reasonably regarded as their lawful property, they did no harm to friendly missionaries and traders, and even allowed them to mix freely with their armies, and use all the conciliatory arts that they possessed. Praiseworthy modera

1 "Annals of the Diocese of New Zealand," p. 193.

tion also was shown by Governor Fitzroy and his successor Governor Grey. They were forced to obtain from England military reinforcements for the protection of the colonists, but they used them with a prudence which gave great offence to the more hotheaded and vindictive of these colonists. By help of friendly natives peace was made with many hostile tribes; and those which still carried on the war were gradually, and without unnecessary severity, driven out of the fastnesses which they occupied as centres of guerilla warfare during 1845, 1846, and 1847.

The result was a pacification which then and for fourteen years after was thought to be final. The natives confined themselves to their tribal wars, and these became rarer every year. The old grudges were not forgotten by them, but they found profit in intercourse with the colonists. "They are fond of agriculture," said Sir George Grey in 1849, "take great pleasure in cattle and horses, like the sea and form good sailors, are attached to Europeans and admire their customs and manners, are extremely ambitious of rising in civilization, and of becoming skilled in European arts. They are apt at learning, in many respects extremely conscientious and observant of their word, are ambitious of honours, and are probably the most covetous race in the world. They are also agreeable in manners, and attachments of a lasting character readily spring up between them and the Europeans." Civilized ways took the place of barbarism, and Christianity, which satisfied its teachers, superseded the mild polytheism or nature-worship which had formerly been dominant. Civilization, however, enervating a race which seemed only fit for