STORIES OF NEW ZEALAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 253, 24 October 1936, Page 2 (Supplement)

STORIES OF NEW ZEALAND.

B y james cowan.

TARANAKI'S FIRST WAR — THE SETTLER AND THE MAORI — THE STORY OF BELL BLOCK STOCKADE.

IN our last story the causes of trouble between pakeha ancl Maori were explained, and • the looming war in South Auckland was discussed. But Taranaki was the first scene of strife, after a long period of peace and progress throughout the island. War came in 1860; it was the beginning of more than ten years of combat between the two races, in one place and another. From Taranaki it spread to Waikato, in 1863; and the various campaigns and expeditions extended as far as the East Cape, to Hawke's Bay, and inland to the shores of Lake Taupo and the wonderful country that is now the Tongariro National Park. Like most of the wars in the ■world's history, these little wars in New Zealand could have been avoided. They were unnecessary because a peaceful understanding could have been arrived at between the races had reason and unselfishness and charity prevailed. Land was the root of the trouble. Pakeha ignorance of Maori land tenures, and pakeha desire to obtain Maori land, -were the causes of a tragic invasion which had not been provoked by the Maori. The Maori Fanners of Waitara. The Ati-Awa tribe, who owned most of the country between New Plymouth and the Waitara River, had sold some of their lands to the founders of the little colony of Englishmen in Taranaki. By 1860 there were numerous small farming settlements north and south of the town. But the Maoris naturally kept for themselves their ancient cultivation lands, the choice places which their ancestors had held for centuries. They had been raided and driven out by the Waikato warriors, but returned after the hoisting of the British flag, for Waikato did not occupy the land. In ten years they made the open country south of Waitara Heads a productive farm district. They grew wheat and potatoes and other crops; they had many cattle and horses, and they carted their produce into New Plymouth for sale. — - Tie Disputed Land Sale. This desirable Waitara country was coveted by the English settlers of Taranaki. They needed more land to provide for their growing numbers. The Waitara owners declined

to sell. The Government was then requested to take measures to obtain the land. A minor chief named Teira' (Taylor) was persuaded by the officials to offer 600 acres of the land to the Government, at a price of fl per acre. This area, the Pekapeka block, was on the left bank of the Waitara, near the mouth,, and included the land on which the town of Waitara now stands. A number of Teira's people supported him and his friend Ihaia (Ee-liye-ah; the Bible name Isaiah), but the' great majority of the tribe, headed by the high chief Wiremu Kingi (William King), strongly opposed the sale. They argued rightly that no one was entitled to part with land that belonged to the tribal estate without general consent. It was against Maori custom and tribal policy to allow a kind of wedge to be driven into the land, contrary to the popular wish. The land, was closely populated and was tlie common property of several hundreds of people. Teira and Ihaia-were enemies, of Kingi, and this offer of sale was their way of getting even with him. The Strong Arm. The Government, of course, should have given up the idea of buying part of Waitara when the paramount chief and most of the tribe opposed it. But no; the officials, urged on by

the leaders of the New Plymouth settlers, went on with the purchase. Surveyors went to lay out the boundaries of the block. They were obstructed by "the Maoris. The military authorities were then ordered by Governor Gore Browne to occupy the disputed land, and build fortified camps. , Wiremu Kingi was called on to. apologise, for stopping the survey, and to cease his opposition to the sale. The old chief calmly replied that he did not desire war, that he loved the white people, but he intended to hold the land. '' Upon this martial law'was proclaimed. This meant that the ordinary civil laws were replaced for the time being by military rule. The commander of the British troops, acting under the orders of the Governor, controlled affairs in Taranaki. The Raid on Waitara. That, in short, was the beginning of the wars which lasted for nine years in Taranaki. The white Government was clearly in the wrong. The Maoris defended their home land, which was taken from them by force of arms. Bpth sides built forte, many battles and skirmishes were fought, the whole of the Taranaki coast became a fighting ground. The troops under; Colonel Gold began by attacking a pa", entrenched and stockaded, which the Maoris had hastily built on the Pekapeka block. The first shot, artillery, was fired on March 17, 'I'SOO. That fateful date is still kept in mind by the Taranaki tribes.

To this day patriotic meetings in remembrance of the day are held in some of the principal villages, and the old chants recounting tlie Maori grievances are sung. When the Maoris were driven from their land, and their villages were plundered and burned, and cultivations robbed or laid waste, they naturally sought revenge. They looted and burned the outlying settlers' homes. They were careful, however, to spare the churches. These were respected as tapu;_so were the homes of the ministers. Wiremu Kingi complained that the white soldiers did not show like respect to the Maori churches when they destroyed the villages. The Settlers' Side. The English settlers and townspeople armed to assist the Regular troops. There were between 500 and 000 men and youths of fighting age. Many of these were experienced bushmen, and under such leaders as Harry Atkinson (afterwards major and khiglit and premier of the colony) they made excellent forest rangers as the war went on. Most of the population took shelter in New Plymouth. The town was entrenched and fortified. Most of the women and young children were sent away to Nelson and elsewhere for safety until conditions improved, but some plucky women refused to go, and remained to assist their husbands and sons and brothers. , (Continued on page 63.)