THE FEAST AT ONAWE.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XX, Issue 1532, 20 March 1891, Page 2

THE FEAST AT ONAWE.

Tuesday witnessed the largest gathering of Peninsula people yet held. Some two or three thousand in all assembled at On awe, and of these only ifome two hundred were non residents. Of these about 60 came in the s.s. Akaroa, and 30 over the hill from Pigeon Bay, having come there in the Jane Douglas, The others were part of tbe crew of the' Cur*ooa, who appeared to enjoy themselves mightily. As can be imagined, the nonparticipation of the Maoris q'iite-jpaet all the arrangements of tbe Committee* It was the express attraction that the food (Vas to be cooked in Maori ovens, and there -vas no time for other arrangemouts. Consequently only half tbe bullock was roasted, and potatoes, the great plum puddings, and many other things were never cooked at all. Even then, however, bad the provisions t>6en kept baok all might have been right, but the crowd began to arrive at a very early hour, and at once began operations in the tent in which the provisions were placed. Bnd at a very early hour moat of tbe food was consumed, and many who came from a distance got little or nothing. This is much to be regretted, aud it is to be hoped better precautions will be taken on any futuie occasion of tbe kind. Mr Oallaghan'e bouse was open all day. _nd everything possible waa done by Mrs Callaghan >to minister to tbe wants of the visitors. At the conclusion of the gathering cheers were given for Mr and Mrs Callaghan, and others who had interested themselves. A photographer was present, and took several views, which promise greit excellence. We can hardly speak too highly of the energy displayed by Mr Junes Piper, who waa here, there, and everywhere doing his very best, and though we do not like particularising where bo many | help, Messrs A Wright, Kel'y, and C. W. Hensley must be mentioned, laboring aa they did as dispensers of liquor and order keepers during* the whole day. A puzzle, entitled " How to find the cemetery?" which, we hear, waß the work of Mr George Piper, was exceedingly amusing. Tuesday morning was beautifully fine, end tbe day could not have been a better one for the festival. A bright sunny day with a cool breeze blowing over the harbor was sufficient to tempt out anyone. The launch left the wharf at half-past nine for the scene with a good load of passengers, and the band, She ran all through tie day and was loaded each, time The trip across was very pleasant, and thoroughly enjoyed by the pleasure seekers ;it afforded each an opportunity for viewing tbe harbor under the most favourable auspices. Several parties went from Akaroa and the harbor bays in boats, and tbe Mahanga sailed up to the island, anchoring close to the spot where the most desperate struggle amongst the Maoris took place. By Pigeon Bay about forty visitors came from town, and owing to the admirable a'rrangments made by Mr Lee were enabled to be on the scene of the festival early iv the day. The At_aroa from Lyttelton was seen coming up tbe hnrbor at about noon b'inging D&any Christchurch visitors. She called in it Akaroa and brought on i great number, among them many of the blue jackets, who took advantage of the ocoasion to judge of the hospitality of the Peninsula settlers, and they were conspicuous all through the day at Onawe, seeming to thoroughly enjoy the outing. It was vary surprising indeed to see the number of horses at Head of the Hay. Every paddock was occupied, the fences, were lined with them, and at Mr Cal-' laghan'B own place there was quite a gathering. At half past eight in ibe morning the bay people commenced coming in. At fi-_t in twos and threes they came, then like detachments of cavalry, and by half past nine a procession. .The people poured in until nearly noon. The gathering was wi'hnut doubt one of the largest that the Peninsula has ever witnessed in spite ef the know'edge tbat the programme could not be carried out with tbe completeness tbat wan at first intended.

The visitors 'issembled in the paddock at the back of Mr Callaghan's house. This was a tnost suitable spot, as Onawe co_id be seen plainly from it, and the scene Of tha massacre whs presented to the onlooker as from a birdseye view. DuriDg the day many went over the island examining the Bpot where the Ngai Tahu met their defeat, and tbe place is well worth a visit. In the paddock where the days' rejoicings were to be held (and the eprt elevated, and having shady ngaios all through it was pleasantly cool all day) the tents were pitched. One from which the provisions were dealt out, and the other where liquid refreshment could be procured. The committee and those assisting them had a difficult task. On the ground were directions to the different places round the harbor, and also to thoße places of interest about On a we. A chart, from which an aocurate idea of tbe whole of On awe could be obtained, wbb placed where everyone could examine it. The Committee spared no pains to place before the picnicers every opportunity of gaining complete knowledge of one of the most interesting events in Maori history. Tbe Unipn Jack X floated proudly on tbe summit 1 of On a we, tbe spot where dwelt the Atua in tbe days of yore, and judging by the number that climbed up to this romantic spot, many ladies amongst them, there appeared to be little fear that they should be asked why they trspassed on saoied ground. The Island seems formed for . defensive , purposes, and it is only by aittii ib the ' spot that the foresight of the Ngai Tahu in choosing a place so strong naturally can be admired The approach by land is very narrow, and tbe sides of the Peninsula Are bold and precipitous- Besides, the land slopes up from the isthmuß. Probably had Rangatahara been patient enough to stand a siege, Rauparaha would have been wearied before gaining -any advantage over him. It seems aa though, in spite of the great fortress nature offered them as a Btronghold, the Ngai T.dm were doomed to fall a prey to the bloodthirsty Northern chief. Their unwise sortie, the manner in which they resolved to give eqnal battle, appear to have been the very meant by which they could be most easily overthrown. From the mainland Onawe is approached across the isthmus by a path that can be " traversed comfortably only in single: file. This path leads down the narrow tongue of land almost to the eea level. Then there is a break in tbe island, betraying its volcanio origin. Tbe waters of each bay ' all but meet at high tide, being only a foot or two apart, and sometimes, indeed, Onawe is an island propor. From.., this point again the path aßoends, widening more and more the nearer the visitor ap- "X prpaoheß to the Peninsula! and at last S emerges on a terrace, which, sloping op-

wards again, meets another terrace, from which point the summit is easily reached, On either Bide the isthmus is a trench reaching down to the water's edge, and so constructed that a few men, themselves protected, could pick off the enemy ooming on to the attack, and so keep an army in check. A few yards behind this again is another trench, so admirably situated that under its cover the whole of the isthmus and the closer part of the mainland could be swept. From this spot Onawe broadens out, and a hundred yards further on, the square enclosed by deep trenches shows that tbia w.s the pah. About half an acre is'.thns enclosed, and though tbe fences bave now, of course, disappeared, one j can imagine its immense strength ; and it is a matter for astonishment such a wonderful performance was accomplished by a people with the primitive tools then in use by them. The whole of the defences fire bo strong, the spot chosen bo advantageous for defensive purposes naturally, that it would do credit in European warfare. Held by a resolute body of men. the chances of capture would seem very small. Tbe subsequent misfortunes of Tangatabara and bis followers appear to have been brought about by ilLadvißed haste and anxiety to close with the foe, so that the struggle might be decided as quickly as possible. About a hundred of the Curacoa'e men were present, and evidently enjoyed their outing. The Committee saw that they were properly attended to, and they were on attraction, games being got up in which they participated with all the joyousness of Jack-tar ashore. He had a splendid opportunity for that luxury to the sailor— a ride. They appear to look upon the horse as tbe animal out of which they can

get tbe most fun.

The Band, which

acquitted itself admirably throughout the day, and indeed it is difficult to say what could have been done without their services, played dance music, of which a large number took advantage. The green whs circled by numerous couples, among which the blue-jackets were conspicuous again. Games, Buch as •• kips in the ring " were got up, and were thoroughly enjoyed by the participators. The youth and beauty of the Peninsula were gathered together, so that it was but natural such schemes of enjoyment should be hatched. The large orowd assembled cojld, without aid from outside, succeed in pleasing each other, and it was an enjoyment in itself to wander through tbe well-dressed Assemblage and see the pleasant faces on ail eides. It was a picnic on a gigantic scale, and such an opportunity of meeting so many Peninsula friends all at once has seldom presented itself.

In the course of the afternoon there was a wrestling contest. J. Coop. W. Shadbolt, P. Shadbolt, jun., 0. Hunt, and otherß entered.. J. Coop won, W. Shadbolt coming second. In a hundred yards race on the flat in Barry's Biy H. Livingstone came in first, S. Curry, jun., following closely. A great number entered. The men-of-wars men also bad two or three one hundred-yards races. In a hundred yards race for boys under sixteen, for wbioh over thirty entered. J. Hemmingway was the winner Tho hunters' trial then took place. The oourse was also on the flat in Barry's Bny. and there were eeveral diffioolt jumps. Six horses entered. A. Shadbolt on Sunshine balked at tbe first jump, but after this went round without a mistake. J. Coop on Aue went round tbe whole course flying, without tbe least trouble. He was judged as the winner. Sunshine being placed second, and Mr Joyce's Tommy third. Mr Tatam's Baltszaar, Mr Coop'e Onawe, and Mr Piper's Punch were tbe other competitors. By five o'clock tbe launch commenced conveying her passengers back to Aktroa. She made three tripe before the crowd at Head of the Bay wharf melted away. In the last (rip came the band, and in spite of their exertions during the day they played as the launch returned. The passages were very pleasant, and at a little after seven o'clock the pleasure seekers reached the wharf tired and hungry after the day's outing. The Akaroa came to Head of B*iy ot about five o'clock also but stuck in the mud a short distance from tbe wbarf, the tide being very low. She did not get away from Akaroa with her passengers until nearly six, reaching Lyttelton just in time to catch the last train. A dance took place in Mrs Chamberlain's room at the back of the hotel, but was not iargely attended and concluded by eleven o'clock, by which time Head of the Bay

had assumed its normal state again