The Maoris had chants about it, and in their
legends it was described as "Bed-fellow of earth-shaking thunder." 'Very
well, Sir John Gorst replied to their grand title by another in Maori,
signifying: "The Lonely Sparrow on the House Top." This, of course, was
suggested by the Scriptures, and its force of contrast at once tickled
the Maori sense of humour. Sir John Gorst's satire was so keen that they
could not, themselves, help laughing over the fun which "The Lonely
Sparrow on the House Top" made of "The Giant Eagle Flying Aloft." It went
on for several numbers, perhaps half-a-dozen, when the Maoris informed
Sir John that he must stop his paper, or they would throw his printing
materials into the river.
'The conductors of "The Giant Eagle Flying Aloft" had the view, if I am
not mistaken, that "The Lonely Sparrow on the House Top" did not fight
with adequate dignity. It was too anxious to make merriment of its
adversary, so causing the latter to appear ridiculous to many Maoris. Sir
John Gorst paid no heed to the threats against him, and next, there
arrived a band of Maoris who uprooted his printing machinery. He happened
to be from home at the time, and when he returned it was to find this
disorder, and the Maoris in possession. 'The scheme thus to dispossess
him and the "Lonely Sparrow on the House Top," had been headed by the
chief Rewi.
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