PRISONERS ALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 99, 29 April 1933, Page 6

PRISONERS ALL.

TALE OF EARLY DAYS-

main trunk line survey.

MAORIS DECIDE ON MASSACRE

Mr. E. C. Williams, aged 75, who resides at Day Street, Newton, was with the Rochfort surveying party when they were mapping out the trial Main Trunk railway line about 55 years ago. The party of twelve, including Mr. Williams, who was at that time, not more than 17 years of age, were captured by Maoris and held prisoners and threatened with their lives.

Mr. Williams said, in an interview to-dav, that ho came out to New Zealand at the age of 14 on the Bulwark, from London docks to Auckland, and the trip took 8-J months. Theife were ei"hfc passengers aboard, and their relatives, who despaired of their ever ari h - ing, actually went into mourning. The ship, which was a very old one and slow as a snail, was delayed mostly by of bad weather," said Mr. Williams. On one occasion everything on deck, including lifeboats, was washed overboard. "On arrival in Auckland I ran aw;iv from the ship in one of the milk boats, which in those days used to visit the ships coming into port to supply them with fresh provisions. I gave the miu boy a sovereign to come back to tno ship at midnight and take me off." Hid in Potato Pit. Mr. Williams said that at 7.30 next morning he went to Ngaruawaliia by one of Cobb's coaches. On arrival there 'he walked 12 miles to Whatawliata, where he asked a farmer if he could trive him a job and shelter. I that I was a runaway," Mr. Williams said. " 'I'll fix that for you,'" the farmer said good-naturedly, and he hid me in a large empty potato pit for six weeks. He supplied me with plenty of food and blankets, and there I remained until it was thought safe to emerge.

"About a year later I went to Wanganui, and then on to Ohakune, continued the old gentleman. "Then I heard that Mr. Rochfort was going on the trial Main Trunk line survey trip, and I asked to be enlisted with the part}. We got as far as Waimarino Plains. About a mile and a half from a section of bush where we emerged was a large Maori pa, housing 50 or 60 Maoiin. When we were passing the pa the Maoris saw us, and all rushed out, and tlie •chief said he wanted to know our business. Mr. Rochfort told them that we were there under Government instructions to map out a Main Trunk railway line from Wellington to Auckland. The chief, Tangitairua, said that he would not allow the- party to pass through his lands for that purpose. From that moment he took us prisoner. He spoke in Maori, but a half-caste native interpreted his speech to us in broken English. They searched every one of us, took our instruments and personal effects, and sent us on to Rangitaihapa, thence to Puketupu, where there was an even larger Maori pa than the first, housing some 100 natives." Saved by Maori Chief. Mr. Williams said that the Maoris held a meeting and decided to massacre all of them. The half-caste, who was rather friendly, told the party what fate awaited them. Luckily, however, another Maori chief advised against such a procedure, saying that no good could come of such an action, and. on his advice the Europeans were taken by canoes down the Wanganui River to Waiigaiiui, and allowed to go free. 'We were, nevertheless, minus all our instruments," said the old-timer. "Mr. Rochfort then took the party to Wanganui township, where, at the expense of the Government, he got up clothes and accommodation. I then accompanied Mr. Rochfort to Wellington, he told the whole story to the Government. The Government said that the Main Trunk line must go on at any cost. Wo risked our lives oncc, and we aro not.going to do it again,' Mr. Rochfort said emphatically. But the Government got Major Kemp to send a party of 40 soldiers under a leader with Mr. Rochfort and his party by the same route as the survey party had taken before. Six of the previous party said _ they would not go again under any circumstances. The soldiers and a new party called at tlie pa where the survey instruments of the first party had been taken, and demanded their return. The natives gave them up promptly."

Mr. Williams saicl that lie accom-. panied Mr. Roclifort on otlicr survey trips in connection with the main line, and for the greater part of his life he had been a surveyor's assistant. He married a Maori chieftainess_ at the age of 22, and lived happily with her for many years, until she died. Some years later he married again.