Many things had happened
while Sir George Grey was in South Africa; he was the problem-solver
called in late.
'You might put it broadly,' he expressed the problem, 'that the Maoris
were making a last stand for their fatherland, and credit be to them in
that sense. They, no doubt, wished to be full governors of New Zealand,
and they talked of driving out the Europeans. I set to work, with my best
energies, to smooth away the troubles which threatened so thickly.'
Sir George went quietly among the disaffected natives, hence a dramatic
scene at the graveside of Te-Whero-Whero. He journeyed alone to the Maori
headquarters, feeling that he was in no danger. When he arrived, the
place was almost deserted, the Maoris being elsewhere in council. He
sought out the grave of Te-Whero-Whero, bowed his head in tribute over
it, and there stood to ruminate on old associations. Thus the Maoris
discovered him, to their astonishment, and they cried: 'Come here! Come
here!' If there had been no welcome for him the Maori cry would have
been: 'Go away! Go away!'
'Word of my presence,' Sir George remembered, 'was sent to King Tawhiao,
and he started to ride to me, but was unable, being worn out, to complete
his journey. With royal etiquette, he had a certificate to that purport
made out and sent on to me for my satisfaction.
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