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Tales of Banks Peninsula

Conclusion

page 47

Conclusion.

The depopulated Peninsula would have continued without Maori inhabitants up to the date of colonisation but for the great change wrought in Rauparaha's warriors by Christianity. Those fierce and cruel men, having been led by the teaching of the Rev. Mr Hadfield, the present Anglican Bishop of Wellington, to embrace Christianity, gave convincing proof of the sincerity by releasing all their Ngai Tahu captives, whose compulsory labours were a great source of wealth and profit to them. But they not. only gave them their freedom, they even allowed them to return to their own land, and, in order to ensure them a safe reception from those who might during their enforced absence have usurped their estates, several notable Northern chiefs accompanied them home Port Levy, Akaroa, Gough's Bay, and Wairewa could again count their inhabitants by scores, if not even by hundreds, while several small hamlets were formed in other places round the coast. Port Levy became the principal centre, and there many important Maori gatherings took place, both before and after colonisation began. It was there that Rauparaha's son and nephew spent some time instructing the people in the doctrines of Christianity and teaching them to read and write in their own language, endeavouring as far as they could to repair the wrongs done to Ngai Tahu by Rauparaha and his warriors. It was there that the northern chiefs met Taiaroa and other influential southern chiefs, and exchanged pledges of peace and good will The re occupation of Kaiapoi, just before the arrival of the Canterbury Pilgrims, tended to thin the Maori population of this district, which has been still further reduced by the fatal effects of European diseases, rendered more destructive than they would otherwise have been from the Maoris having been forced to crowd together on the limited areas reserved for them, where, surrounded by constantly accumulating heaps of pollution, deprived of the excitement of hunting and travel, deprived of all political influence, without any fixed aim or object in life, a prey to page 48careless regrets and chronic depression of spirits, they have fallen easy victims to every form of epidemic that has appeared amongst them.

Knowing the disorganised state into which Maori society had fallen just before colonization began, the public are too ready to credit that event with whatever improvement may be apparent in the present condition of the Natives, and to conclude that the Maoris must be in every way better off than they could have been without the settlement of the country. But, as a matter of fact, it was not to colonization, but to their own acceptance of Christianity that the Maoris owed the restoration of peace and order. When the first colonists arrived the Maoris were a Christian nation. Without saying a word in disparagement of the colonists, who as a whole have honestly endeavoured to treat the Maoris fairly, it cannot be denied that whatever benefits the Maoris have derived from colonization have been the result of indirect rather than any direct efforts made by the colonists for their good. Beyond being spared the prospect of a violent death, it is hard for a Maori to see that he has gained anything; and even that benefit would have been secured to him under the reign of law established by the reception of Christianity. Provision for the education of their children, and for the proper care of the sick and needy, was stipulated for by the Maoris when parting with their lands, so that no credit is due to the Colonial Government for what has been down towards fulfilling the conditions of the original deed of purchase. But whatever faults may be charged against our administration of Native affairs, and however disastrously our mistakes may have affected the interests of individuals of the Native race, it is gratifying to know that the more intelligent amongst them regard their misfortunes, not as the result of any intention on our part to injure them, but rather as the inevitable result of being brought suddenly into contact with a civilisation so far in advance of their own simpler mode of life.

The relations between the English and the Maori inhabitants of the Peninsula have always been of the most page 49friendly kind, and although they do not hesitate to charge us with complicity in the murder of their great chief, Te Mai hara nui, they have never shown the slightest disposition to retaliate, and there is no instance on record of any European being killed by Maoris here, or even suffering violence at their hands. The rarity of convictions for criminal offences speaks well for the general good conduct of the people, and the universal testimony borne to their honesty and kindliness of disposition by their English neighbours show how deeply they have imbibed those Christian principles on which the only real civilisation rests. Though their numbers have dwindled down from thousands to the insignificant total of two hundred and fifty, and the relative number of the two races inhabiting these parts are reversed, may the Maoris never have just cause to regret that they trusted the English.