THE MAORI WARS.

NZ Truth, Issue 62, 25 August 1906, Page 7

THE MAORI WARS.

TE KOOTI AND TITO KOWARU.

Still on the War-path.

REPRISALS ON THE ENEMY.

No. XXI.

The month of March, ol the year 1869, was one of alarms m New Zealand-* TE KOOTI AND HIS LIEUTENANT TITO KOWAJRU,. though short of men, ammunition and food, kept tho British troops and friendly natives constantly on the move. The slaughter of Mr. Wtfiteley and Lieutenant Gascoyne and - his family and associates j

seemed the prelude to a repetition of hostilities on a scale of a.tealth and cunning. In connection with the Gascoyne tragedy muoh excitement was occasioned through the arrest, for complicity m the murder, of Michael Murphy, 4 an ex-private of the 57th Regiment, who had been arrested at New Plymouth, Taranaki. The information against Murphy was laid by the Provincial Secretary, and the pri* soner was remanded. Mrs. Gascoyne's body was mutilated; her finger being cut off to obtain the wedding ring. Murphy was a half-witted fellow who bad been loafing amongst the Maori's south of

Taranaki. He had just moved into tho town, and the day before tho murders were supposed to have been committed crossed over the Waitara ferry towards the White Cliffs, telling the ferryman that something serious was going to happen. Just before the news of the murders was published Murphy had returned and recrossed the river, and told the boatman that what he had mentioned before had happened. Tho coincidence

(Bt J.M.F.)

EXCITED SUSPICION, and he was apprehended, more with a view of allaying doubts than with any belief m his actual complicity with the crime. After several remands without any evidence of complicity, Murphy Was discharged from custody. The Gascoyno children being found m their night clothes and Mrs. Gascoyno partly undressed proved that they were murdered near bed-time- All the bodies were tomahawked except that of Mr. Whiteley, which had five bullet wounds m it, the shots having apparently been fired from the roadside scrub, The settlers sent their families to New Plymouth from all the surrounding country, as the general impression was that the White .Glitts murders were intended as a

1 DECLARATION OF WAR. Colopel Hamilton on hearing of the murders took from Wanganui 100 Armed Constabulary m the steamer Sturt. A special messenger had been sent to Colonel Whitonore with news that SOO Ngatimaniapotos were • assembled near White Cliffs awaiting assistance. Albout this time a number of Tito Kowaru's followers had seceded and. given , important information to Whitmore, who hoped to be able to spare a couple of, hundred more of the Armed Constabulary. i

In the middle of March — on the 12th to be accurate — Colonel Whitmore marched his men m two -columns a little under 400 and 200 strong by both banks of the Patea River. Tho Colonel "was with the larger columm, which was intended to attack the enemy, and had reached the jungle side at daybreak without adventure of any sort. Lieutenant- Colonel St. John was m command of the minor column, and also reached the bush early at Otoia— locally known as "Gentle Annie." Colonel St. John's object was to intercept the enemy m retreat. On approaching the enemy's camp, Colonel Whitmore's 400 threw off' their pack 3 and prepared for fight. The site was on high ground conumKnding the wholo* open country from Puthi to Kakaramea, on thc range above tho Patea River. Otoia must have been some miles below the stream, as the bank only of

"GENTLE ANNTE" was visible, The spot was not a kainga — an unenclosed village br town— of former times, but simply a camp chosen for its suitability by Tito Kowaru. A heavy mist covered the spot at daylight which rendered Whitmore's observation almost imDbssible, views at a few yards being the utmost extent. These mists of morning favored Whitmore's approach, but embarrassed him very much during the attack, and prevented Tito Kowaru's defeat being a TOTAL ANNIHILATION OF HIS FORCE. Whitmore divided his 400 into two columns of attack, with a reserve. Tho right, column was commanded by the most reliable of allies, Keepa (Major Kemp m English), with his own troops and Native Militia, No. 1 A.C., under Sub-inspector Gascoyne, m support. The left by .Captain Gundrx consisted .of No.

8 A.C. (armed constabulary), No. 2. A. C. supported him. The word was given at about 6 o'clock, and both columns marched briskly forward. At the start a blunder occurred, for which the mist perhaps was accountable. A Hau Hau sentry while escaping was fired upon by tho left column, and their shots gavo Tito Kowaru warning. Unable to see the way, and almost immediately Dred upon by the Hau Hau guard or picket, which promptly turned out, the Arawas, and No. 8 and No. 2 Armed Constabulary, moved forward, under great disadvantage, and were at length compelled to halt, holding their ground unjtil the

MISTS HAD CLEARED AWAY. The right column had also moved forward to what had proved almost within a few yards of the camp, but were obliged to take cover from the same cause and with the same object m view. The attacking force of British and friendlies while thus practically 1 inactive suffered loss. Hit from points invisible to them, but which proved afterwards to have been cunningly prepared for the purpose; at first tho men thought that they had been shot at from tho rear.- At length the "clouds rolled by," or more correctly speaking, the "mists lifted high," and Major Kemp, who had been sent round to the right, reported the enemy's camp as being close by. A general advance was ordered, and Major Kemp, followed by the whole of his men from the right flank, rushed into that side, while No. 1 descended directly on th-a front, and tho Arawas and No. 2, against .whom, the resistance was most protracted, at last drove the enemy past his position and entered from the left. Major Kemp ■pushed on with his men, tlfe guides and No. 8 — , ' - ' ■

DRIVING THE ENEMY BEFORE THEM. At noon Colonel Whitmore had the satisfaction of hearing Colonel .St. John's men open fire on some of the fugitives Shortly after Colonel Whitmore collected his force and bivouacked. Major Kemp had returned with the party which had pressed farthest m pursuit, bringing With him two female prisoners. The Major had also "overtaken and killed several - wounded fugitives" — so Whitinore's despatch said — though the bush was' so thick and tho country so" precipitous that he had been unable to overtake the main body. Major Kee pa. had prevented them crossing at the main ford, but the Ngatiruauni were celebrated as I the best bushmen m Maoriland, except possibly tho Ngatipourl and the Uri-

wera. They were, moreover, on their own land, so that Kemp and the Arawas, some of whom only had a general knowledge of the country, could not overtake the FLYING BRAVES OF THE HAU HAUB. The behaviour of WMtmore and St.John's men is said to have been beyond praise, both natives and Europeans striving their best, and showing the greatest desire and anxiety to come into close quarters with the enemy. The latter left dead seven or eight men, and had lost aU his camp, bell-tents, baggage, many arms, saddles, tools of every description, and a great many commonly used pipes, so great was the panic when the fog lifted. A great quantity of food was also secured, fresh meat and potted meat, fruit and potatoes, likewise clothing and blankets, and almost everything, down to tomahawks- and Maori spears'; .*■■•» * From the female prisoners Whitmore learned that Tito Kowaru was himself present, . and narrowly escaped, having to swim the river; that his force consisted

of about 400 ; that they only heard of j Whitmore's approaching force when the sentry was fired upon ; and- that great • discussions had prevailed m the camp since Tito's failure to carry out his . promises and the retreat from Taraugaika. In his ', CASUALTY LIST, j Colonel Whitmore recorded eight seriously wounded and one fatally, amongst them being one who bore the historic name of Bonaparte; six were slightly wounded, while the guide, who bore a French name, Fleurs, was dangerously ■ hit. ■ . j Five days after Whitmore's exploit, an expedition of 5.0 friendly natives went to Felix Gtoulit's house, near Wairoa, and found it rifled.; The bodies of two natives who had been sliot and the traces of a War party were also found close to the European settlement of Turiroa. Te Kooti on March 9 had burned the village of Whakatane, including tho ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSION and European houses; Major Mair took

the Sold to face him< but was not strong enough.Te Kooti had with him m his attack on Hohoaia's pah, Whakatane, 100 men. Ho advanced to the pah under a white flag. When- his intentions became evident the garrison opened a brisk fire, Te Kooti being ultimately repulsed with a loss of 17 men* There were two friendly natives killed:

Te Kooti then sapped up to the pah and accomplished the task m three days, and there being no further chance of a ■uccessful defence the garrison surrendered. Te Kooti then attacked a small pah occupied by a Frenchman and some natives. The Frenchman was killed and one friendly native wounded. Major Mair, with his 100, was camped within two miles of Te Kooti.; The Whakatane settlement was entirely devastated and 45 Hau Haus were said to have been killed. Certainly Te Kooti and Tito KoWaru had the

CAT'S PROVERBIAL NINE LIVES, with an extra one given m. Colonel Harrington was m command at ITe Papa with 25 cavalry and settlers. ! On a Tuesday Kereopa, Hakaria and 400 I rebels surrounded Te Papa, threatening |an attack. Te Kooti attacked Major I Mair's position and failed. He then left; but whether to join. Kereopa or had gone into the interior was not known.- The alarm was continuing. The natives had reported that Te Kooti's raid waa only the commencement of a general rising. Wuikato, Rotorua, Hauriki and Tauranga were to be similarly attacked. The settlers were called m and the Militia and Volunteers put on pay. Free passes to Auckland were given to women and children. Twenty men about to start for Auckland were promptly stopped and placed on the pay sheet. The people of Taur*anga were most anxious for .rein- [ forcements. About this time the last of the British regiments,

THE 18th ROYAL IRISH, was on the move to leave New Zealand. They came to Sydney en route home. Volunteers were called for at the Thames and at Auckland. The AraWas were ex-> cited and were expected to do good work. The Tauranga natives were a doubtful quantity. They asked for arms, but it was deemed unwise to grant the request. An application by the resident minister for troops to garrison Tauranga was not granted. The Government had chartered the Duke of Rdinburgh steamer to take away the settlers warned ofl by Te Hira. The warning ran thus :— "Clouds are darkening. • God is good. ' Te Kooti is abroad."

Altogether the month of March m the year eighteen hundred and Bixty-nine was unsettled m Maoriland. '

Still m March we find more trouble. On the sth of the month a Mr. Elston,while passing a Kainga (native village) near Patutaki, was attracted by a white flag flying m front of the camp, which he reconnoitred, and - found to contain about 20 people. Not knowing their character or intentions, and declining to believe m

THE FLAG OF TRUCE, which might have beejj a cunning ruse, Elston retired before being discovered, and went to the constabulary camp at Makaraka, where he obtained the assist--ance of two of the force, who accompanied him back, but the two constabulary men incontinently bolted and left Elston to his own devices. After some

i time ho ascertained that the party con- | sisted of some refugees from Te Kooti, who had been wandering m the bush since the fall of Ngatapa. Amongst them were seven fighting men, three of whom Elston discovered to be scoundrels who had assisted m the murders of Biggs, Wilson, Walsh, Newenham, Willie Wylie, and Mr. Benson's sister-in-law, her husband and child. There were several rifles among them, and the party was m charge of Keke, A CHATHAM ISLAND PRISONER, who declined to leave Wharekauri with Te Kooti, and who had been living quietly and respectably for some time previously. At least so said the Turauganui correspondent of the "Hawkes Bay Herald." Keke had been into the bush m search of fugitives, and was on his way to Turauganui with his prisoners when discovered by Mr. Elston. Te Iho Ariki, : Nikora,' and Peka were amongst Keke's prisoners. It sounds like the story of the Irish corporal, who, having three pr four enemies m front, volunteered to capture them single-handed by "surrounding them." Anyhow, the three lastnamed prisoners had been concerned m ail the Poverty Bay massacres, and Ariki bad m addition murdered ' Willie Wylie. It was determined that, as there was no way of bringing them to trial, and Major Westrop and Captain Tuke both declined to

ORDER THEIR EXECUTION without it, they should all three be summarilly despatched. On Friday night at 11 o'clock, Messrs. Wylie (father of the boy murdered), Benson, Suche (cousin of Mokena) and Wi Brown; a half-caste, whose, brother Pukua was brutally murdered and mangled, his head being pounded to a jelly, on Whitmore's Pakitapu expedition, by Te Iho Ariki, arrived , at Keke'a camp neat Patutahi. The prisoners were sleeping round their fire. Walking into the midst of tho group, Mr. Wylie said, "Nikor'a, I know you are here,

GET UP AND DIE." Nikora then got up and moving past Wylie made for a Idw fence. He was fired at by the European party, but nevertheless scrambled over, and was seen reeling into the scrub. After Nikola's departure Mr. Wyllie and his friends returned to camp, and then Ariki, the murderer of his son, was ordered t6 rise. He complied at once, and nearly touching , the carbine ot Mr. Benson, was shot m

the breast. He was finally despatched by Mr. Wylie and others, who shot him through the brain. Peka, the remaining' scoundrel, was .to have been shot also, but three hours previously he had cleared out for Murewai. The Maoris there would have nothing to do with him, but sent him and three others prisoners to Tarauganui. Wylie's conduct was generally approved of, although there were some dissentients. The two constables who had bolted from Mr. Elston proceed to the Makarara camp and raised an> alarm that the HAU HAUS WERE ADVANCING, when the conduct that followed was simply disgraceful. Horses, saddles, and the whole camp material were, it was statod, at once abandoned, everyone seeking safety m flight to Tarauganui, where the panic spread. The confusion baffled description, men rushing to arms, women and children, weeping bitterly. No one appeared to have been prepared fbr a serious emergency. The fears of the 'community were only allayed by mess&gva from Rcki ond Wr. ELstna.