1872 - Ward, R. Life among the Maories of New Zealand - CHAPTER XXIV. MILITARY SETTLEMENTS.

       
E N Z B       
       Home   |  Browse  |  Search  |  Variant Spellings  |  Links  |  EPUB Downloads
Feedback  |  Conditions of Use      
  1872 - Ward, R. Life among the Maories of New Zealand - CHAPTER XXIV. MILITARY SETTLEMENTS.
 
Previous section | Next section      

CHAPTER XXIV. MILITARY SETTLEMENTS.

[Image of page 458]

CHAPTER XXIV.

MILITARY SETTLEMENTS.

"Yon pictur'd chart
Of lawn, and stream, and mountain's shadowy height,
And rocks in quiet verdure meekly bowered,
Rebukes the pomp of cities and the strife
Of competition, and the lust of gold. The rude native tribes
Fast by the borders of the gentle stream,
Carv'd out their heritage, with rival heart,
And hand uncourteous."
L. H. SIGOURNEY.

A VIEW of New Zealand must necessarily be defective without a distinct notice of the military settlements, seeing that they include several thousand persons, are spread over large portions of the country, and form the nuclei of towns and forming districts which will grow into importance. The order originated with Sir George Grey, or rather the idea of applying it to this colony belongs to his Excellency. It is well known that Rome adopted a similar course in settling countries over which her victorious arms had been carried, where the inhabitants were likely to be troublesome to the empire. Nearly twenty years ago Sir George Grey determined upon this plan of defence for the safety of Auckland, when that neighbourhood was menaced by the redoubtable Hoani Heki. The force raised for that purpose was composed of discharged soldiers. Onehunga, Otahuhu, Panmure, and Howick were settled by them. Happily the force was never called into the field. But the fact that they were there was so far satisfactory to the Governor that

[Image of page 459]

in more troublous times the idea was revived, with such modification as the circumstances of the day required.

The confiscation of land owned by the rebels was deemed necessary, both to make the natives feel the evils of their doings and as sites for such settlements as might preserve the future peace of the country. This is confessedly the most sensitive point in the conduct and consequences of the war. Much fair reasoning has been published on the step, and highly exaggerated statements have been made concerning it. At one time it was proposed to confiscate sufficient land to pay the expenses of the war and to form settlements of defence, and yet to allow ample provision for every person of the native race. But this pleasing dream soon vanished before the startling expenditure which the war was causing. And the fact was forced upon the Government that to confiscate by proclamation was one thing, but to place a body of industrious men upon a disputed block of land, so that their families and property would be safe, was quite another affair. The word confiscation too was an ominous term. It might mean much or little, it might afflict the innocent with the guilty. In its application it might involve our national dishonour, it could be safe only under the most prudent control. Persons were not wanting either in the colony or in Great Britain who demurred to the scheme as a nefarious attempt to wrong the natives, and memorials against it were presented by philanthropic societies of the highest worth for benevolence and general intelligence to the Secretary of State and to the Governor of the colony.

It may safely be admitted that the Maori mind is more sensitive on the subject of losing his land than on any other. Warriors may be shot down on the battle

[Image of page 460]

field and buried by strangers, but this is an incident of war which the excitement of the day will palliate, and utu may possibly be obtained which will satisfy the survivors, and cause them to look upon the death of their chief from a point of honour. But when the land is gone the loss is complete, there is no redeeming thought or feeling growing out of it. Does it remain in its general features the same as when they called it theirs? Then every hill and headland, every stream and gully, every remarkable tree and patch of bush, reminded them of happier times. Or is the ground dotted over with cottages, or parted into fields in which cattle are grazing or corn is growing? Then the changes, however pleasing to the European eye, suggest the fact that the Maori people have submitted to a strange race, whose habits and objects differ widely from their own. It can hardly be expected that the noblest principles of colonization--of peopling the waste places of the earth, of improving an unformed race till it be amalgamated with the most refined portions of mankind, or if remaining distinct yet standing on equal terms with the Anglo-Saxon race--should be freely acknowledged or clearly perceived by them. To contend, then, for their landed rights as seen from the Maori standpoint, or forced to retire to pine in sullen silence, is so natural to the native mind that it should not excite our wonder.

The persons by whom a large portion of these lands are to be settled occupy a prominent place in the present state of the colony. They have been collected from various and distant places. Agents were sent by the Government to the chief towns and gold fields of the Middle Island to enlist for a limited period able-bodied men to risk the chances of war, and at the restoration of peace to settle upon a grant of land.

[Image of page 461]

The military settlers have secured a name for their patience under fatigue and privations, and for their prowess in the field. Disappointed of settling upon their lands so soon as they had expected, by the protraction of the war, and having to leave their wives and children for several months together, while hundreds of miles lay between them, they yet looked cheerfully forward to their homes of peace and plenty. But many already sleep in a soldier's grave; we look over a long list of names representing men who came to this colony with bright hopes, that they should form a pleasant homestead, and build up a family, but they have fallen a prey to the bullet, or the tomahawk, or disease, the wilderness affording them a grave, but leaving hardly a trace by which a mourner may discover the spot.

By the Government returns, made up to the close of 1864, we learn that the number of military settlers was then 6,382, including 1,243 females; and in the number of males there were 1,118 persons under twenty-one years of age. More than 5,000, including women and children, were in the province of Auckland; nearly 1,100 were in Taranaki; 49 were in Wellington province; and 122 were in the province of Hawke's Bay. Since those returns were completed other persons have been added; whether more settlements will be formed than are now contemplated it is difficult to say, if it be not so the present numbers will maintain a respectable position in the colony.


Previous section | Next section