GRIM MEMORIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 30, 6 February 1933, Page 8

GRIM MEMORIES.

WOMAN AT ONEHUNGA

EXPERIENCES IN MAORI WAR.

GRATITUDE OF YOUTH.

An Onehunga resident, Sirs. Ellen Jeffs, who, after 70 years spent in Zealand, lias reached the age of 87, to' grim memories of her experiences in the _ Maori wars. She recalls that the gratitude of a Maori youth, whom she hii nursed' back to health after an illness, once saved her life and that of three British soldiers from attack by Hauhau warriors who were lying in ambush. In describing the incident to-day, Mrs. -Jeffs said the Maori youth had been sent one day with two other natives to attack the boat used by the soldiers and settlers to cross tile Opotiki River, -a" ambush was laid, and it was the intention of the Maoris to fire on anyone a the. boat. When the youth saw that one was the woman who had befriended In® he persuaded the other Maoris not shoot, and all were allowed to la™ safely. They knew nothing oL their danger until" Mrs. Jeffs was told of >' later by a friendly Maori woman. r - Another incident illustrating the gn® side of colonial life during the strugp 8 with, the Maoris was related by 3w* Jeffs. She said a Roman Catholic prie" had invited her to occupy his cottage Opotiki while he was absent for tbr months 011 a circuit tour, and & pointed out to her the place, abo>e mantelpiece, where some Maoris had® the skull of a murdered clergyman, t Rev. C. S. Volkner. Among her possessions is a telescope which belonged; !Mr Volkner, and also a hand-pamteo sketch of the tree on which he ? hanged before the body was cut do • She also has the sword of her late n band, Lieut. C. K. Jeffs, which was broken in combat with a Maori. > Mrs. Jeffs arrived in Auckland in l»w by the ship Statesman, and marnea Lieut. Jeffs, of the Waikato Reg ll "®" l ,' three years later. In 1881 they se ill Onehunga, where Lieut. Jeffs.diea--7 908. Mr -enjoys-spte -heaito.