A Maori Survivor’s Story

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LII, Issue 8616, 13 June 1924, Page 5 (Supplement)

A Maori Survivor’s Story

An introduction by Mr James Cowan. When Hori Ngatai, an aged chief of Xgaiterangi was in Wellington for the last time in 1903, he was induced to tell the story of the Gate Pa fight t-. a select company of Europeans. Of all the conflicts between Maori and Pakfihn in the war days of the sixties, no engagement surpassed m thrilling interest the battle of the Gate Pa, fought at Tauranga on April 29th., 18(34. The heroic stand of Maniapoto, Xgatiraukawa and ITcwcra Maoris at OraUau. in the Vpper Waikato, a few weeks previously, ended in the utter defeat of the valiant,, Kingites with a loss of more than half their number slain. The hostile attitude of the natives in tho Bay of Plenty drew upon them the attention of tho Imperial troops and on the Pukehinahina, Isthmus, a short distance from the pretty town of Tanranga, was fought the memorable battle of the (Gate Pa, ending in the rout of the British'forces. An army of about 1(380 men baffled and defeated by u bravo little Maori band numbering less than one-tenth oi the white General s force s. In the repulse which followed the assault on the hastily built I’a, many men of the land and naval forces fell killed or wounded—-the proportion of the officers killed was remarkably heavy. In tho little green cemetery in the famous old I’a of Otamataha at Tauranga, overlooking the noble harbour, the gallant Englishmen sleep their last sleep, and their Colonel Booth ami his grand old enemy Kanin slumber side by side, true, warriors ami . brave, who fell, cadi fighting for bis nation's honour, deadly foe-men, that stirring day of '6-1, but now united in the rest which reconciles all men.

HOW THE NGAITERANGI REPULSED THE PAKEHA AT THE BATTLE OF THE GATE PA

« - Hori Ngatai. the narrator .of this story of the fight, is a fine typo of .Maori chief. A tall, soldierly old Rangatirn, with a steady, determined eye, which one can well imagine to have flashed defiance at the pakeha hosts. His well cut face is marked with the blue lines of the moko on checks and chin, and a short grey heard lends an air of benevolence to the veteran warrior’s ieatnros. Hori is the principal chief of the Ngaiterangi tribe of Tanranga, and sets his people a line example of industry. He is pleased ami proud to tell of, the plucky stand made by his people at the Gate I’a. a stand distinguished by many a liable act of chivalry on the Maori sido. This is llori Ngatai’s story as told in ’Wellington, in answer to questions put by Captain Mair, of the Native Department, and translated by him to the short-hand reporter. He spose very modestly of his own share in the lighting, hut his comrades -bear witness to his energy and courage. THE WARRIOR SPEAKri. ‘T was a young man of about twen-ty-five when we fought the Pakeha >’t the CJate Pa. I had already seen some service wiiii my tnpara (d.h, fowling piece.) When the war began 1 and some of my people vent to assist oar Kinsmen and joined tnc Kingites at Meromero in the Waikato River. There we exchanged shots with the British gun boats on the river, and were under rifle and shell lire. My second gagement was at Otahu. The Gate ”-i vas my third fight, and then came our ■ repulse at Te Rangn, where over one hundred and fifty of our people were slain by the Imperial and Colonial soldiers, who stormed our nnanisned position at the point of the bayonet.

That was a hlack clay for Ngaiterangi, hut I will tell of that another time. I will speak of the Gate Pa eugagaement. In the New Year many of our people had gone to assist the "Waikato natives. AVo were waiting to ho attacked hy the Imperial troops. At Te Tiki-o-to Ihinga-Haiigi, between Cambridge and Maungatantari, when news came that rollers had been landed at Te Papa, Tauranga, so we hurried hack across country to defend our own homes. On arrival in our homeland wo decided to fortify our pas and fight t> the last against the pakeha. The majority of Ngaiterangi selected a strong old pa at IV aok n at upper "Waimapn, which we strengthened and waited to ho attacked. Other .sections tcok P

positions at Kaimai, Poripori, and AVairoa, etc., on tho main roads leading from Tanranga to Waikato. My own people occupied To Wairoa. There- wo wore joined by two noted fighting men of tho Whakatohoa (Opotiki) tribe, named T’amaki and To Poihipi. Meetings were hold and a plan of action agreed upon. THE e\VAI! HI OR‘B (’ll AHIJSN 08. AVo drew up a challenge in the form of a letter to the British General i iviting him to meet ns and fight it out. This letter was sent hiy a herald to tho pakcha camp at To Papa, and wo, waited a reply. All was excitement. The clansmen wore busy preparing for the fray, making cartridges, sharpening tomahawks, cleaning guns, getting food -supplies and so forth. Martial councils were held and great war dances took place daily to put our young men in form and to arouse their warlike spirits. Our leaders drew up a cotie of regulations for the conduct of the fighting. It was resolved that barbarous customs should not bo practised by ns, that the wounded should ho spared, and tho dead should not ho mutilated. We resolved too, that we should not harm non-combatants or unarmed persons. In short to fight fairly and squarely on the same lines as the pakeha. Those regulations were put in by Rawiri Pnhirako. This document was lost by ns at To llangi and found by the Europeans in the trenches there, and is, I believe, still in existence. For some time vve waited for a reply to our challenges, hut none came. AVo considered it very discourteous of the English that fhoy did not even acknowledge that letter. A v o could not understand them making no move of any sort. AVe became Impatient and it was decided to attack the soldiers camp at To Papa. Our party starts'! out one night and selected men from the other detachments who joined up at Kopurerorua. Just ns they were starting a gun accidentally exploded, wounding one of onr men and giving the alarm, so we abandoned the attack and returned to onr quarters.

THE BUILDING OF THE FORT. ffomo days went by ami at last wo resolved to occupy and fortify a position on tbo ridge known as Pukehinahina. about throe miles from the town of To Papa, the present town of Tnuranga. This place was called the Gate Pa, by the Europeans, because a ditch and bank bad been-made, across Hie narrow bridge that ran up the two anus of Tuuranga harbour. AA'aiknreao and AVaimapu. In the evening we set out for this place, every person carrying bundles ot flax, small nianuku, and tupakihi pules and sticks for building our redoubt—you know how scarce timber is at Taurange.. We crossed liigb up the Kopurererua and met the Haerini and AVaoku detachments in rear«*of Pukehinahina. Ate leached the position about midnight, and started at once to build two pa s>. AVe trenched out one (the smaller ot the two), oil the western side of the ridge. This was built by the Fivirakan (hu.sh denizens) and Ngaitamawhariua hapu's of Ngaiteranpi and t.ie Koheriki people. Heta and from thirty to thirty-five men garrisoned .t. The large pa on the eastern side of the ridge was garrisoned by about two hundred men of the Ngaitcrangi. Dur women "ere withns, working as haid as the men, tarrying hack loads of material for the defences and Tood tor the warriors. AVo sent them away to sah • ty before the lighting began. AA c weio

very sliort of wood for tho stockade, sc next night a number of us went down toward tho township quite cbi-c to tho soldier’s quarters and pulled down Mr- Clarke’s fence and collected all the timber we could, also demolishing a stockyard and hauled the rads back to our position. They came m handy for the pa. "With the material so obtained we built a light low fence enclosing the two redoubts. Resides tho fences there were- parapets, ditches and rifle pits, and within the redou'bt shelters were dug for the protection ot the garrison. Men went to Pukcrcia to collect timber to roof over our rifle pits and covered ways. AVliile so engaged three Europeans were seen approaching on horseback. Our men concealed themselves in the fern and the pakohas rode straight up to where they lay. T think Colonel Harington was one. They suddenly came upon tho Maoris, but were not molested, and seemed very glad to escape, going back faster than they came. Then we knew why tho pakeha chief had not sent a reply to our challenge. It was because the Europeans were wailing for reinforcements' from Auckland, and now they had come; so wo girded up ourselves for tho fight, and our loaders spoke words of valiant encouragement, bidding us be strong and fearless and strike hard for our homes, though all the might of Ingarangi (England) assailed us. The tall masted ships lauded their men, stores and big guns on the beach; tin's work occupied two days. One vessel landed all her coal and stores at Horoipia, below the Narrows, and thus lightened, steamed up and anchored opposite '! e I’apa township. Tho white tents of tho Queen's soldiorß covered the foreshore, tho huglo called to ns on Pukchinn ridge. One morning wo were all out at tho back of our fortification where the food was being cooked, waiting for our breakfast. One man, Poihipi (tho dVhakatohea Chief) remained in tho redoubt as sentry. Suddenly, as our eyes ranged over the country towards Tc Papa, we saw unusual activity in tho soldiers’ camp. r lho warriors of tho Queen, soldiers and sailors, wore marshalled in array of battle, and then they advanced towards us. T’was an array that marched against onr fort — a great body of infantry and a number of cannon. Anann! The hour was at hand. Te Poihipi, a cool Ifciravo man, called out to us from his post on tho parapet: —“Eat well, oh friends. Eat leisurely—mako one more hearty meal. I will watch hero and give you timely warning.” “E. Tama! When we gazed on those soldiers, how could we eat? Those warriors of the Queen, ' how grandly-'did they march : Strode they towards ns as one man, with measured resounding footsteps, their bright bayonets flashing in the sun, and their great guns rumbling along —those terrible guns, which we thought would soon blow- our frail defences into tho air. Oh friend, when we gazed on those sons of thunder, launched forward in their might, can you wonder that the cooked potatoes ficcmed to have lost their sweetness and that many a one of us forgot Ins hunger? THE ATTACK. ; The British column came to within five or six hundred yards of our front, then most of tho soldiers turned to the right on to Pnkereia Hill, where , they mounted'their guns and pitched tents.’ One of the cannon Vthe UOlb Armstrong) was planted in tho middle of ibo road, -right opposite our pa. Some of tho soldiers came quite dose to us, walking leisurely about smoking their pipes. This was on Ap'd 23th. Soon tin re was a flash and a roar and a shell nmu tin big gun flew whistling l.ke a ikeliua) spirit over our bends, Several other shots followed, and some rockets were tired at us without mud) effect. Tiie troops tn front made a s irt of sham attack, while a large force (tho GStli -Regiment under Colonel Greer; deployed round by Huatuna, guided by Tupoiahi and Hamiora Tn, and under the cover of darkness took up a position in onr rear. So the next morning the pakeha were in front ot ns, on onr left flank and in our rear, and then the fight began, in earnest. The big gnus poured shot and shell into our-potation-and the rifle balls whistled round us.

Till-: FATE OF THE MAORI CHAPLAINS. Or.o of the most remarkable incidents of the seige was the killing of both our tohunga. We had two men of prayer in our camp. One who was a Christian minister named lhaka tisane), who fortified us with the rites ot the pakeha religion. The other was a heathen priest, one To Wano. who performed the war rites of our forefathers and recited the olden time karakia s (invocations) for victory in the fight. So we were making things right with both sides —the Christian Ood and the Atnas of the Maori. It was all tino tika (very correct). The cannonade that morning began just as wo were about to cat our meal of potatoes. (Unchristian tohunga. lhaka, clad in a white surplice, was standing up in a very conspicuous position invoking a blessing. Just as ho tittered the words: —“May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and love of —'' a shell from one of the big gnus struck him in the waist, and bursting, scattered his body all over the place. Ane. (alas) what a sight. Panepane, one of muold men, a tatooed veteran, had leaned his gun against the earthworks while ho joined in the prayers. After the burst of tho shell he went to pick uphis gun and found some of the dead Minister's intestines were wrapped round and round tho barrel, and a grim joke oven at the cannon’s month did the old warrior utter “He hiiui aim kai roto i to purepo a te pakeha,“ (“See, the white man oven load and fire delicacies at ns through their big

guns.") A few hours later our other tohuuga wps killed in a precisely similar manlier. Tc TVano was standing up in- an elevated position exhorting ns and reciting olden incantations when a cannon shot took him short ami he parted from ns. STOKMEI) AT WITH SHOT ANI> SHKIX. The cannonade became heavier. An a wliil lire was concent rated on our redoubt. Eighteen hig guns (so we learned afterwards) were hurling their projectiles at ns and shells were bursting all round. Our fences and frail parapets crumbled away under the heavy artillery fire, and splinters and earth were continually flying through the air. We were every now jjjk! then smothered with the dirt thrown up hy the exploding shells, and this the rain, which had set in, soon converted into mml. To add to our suffering, the troops who hal crossed an arm of the Kopmererna swamp had. I>y dint of laving down planks and fascines, managed to pet a hig gnu across, which tliev placed on a hill to our left and it completely raked onr position. The troops in onr rear (the GBth) began to close in on us. The chief, Te Hawa, stood np on the mined parapet shouting defiance at them and calling on ns to meet their attack with courage. Onr position now seemed desperate. All our defences above ground had been demolished and levelled flat while as we took shelter in our trenches uo were all more or less covered with mud and drenched with the rain. Onr leaders Hawiri, .Tuaia, Hakaraia, Maliika, Timoti, and Poihipi showed valiant front, directing our affairs with cool courage. They ordered ns not to utter a word or fire a shot till the proper time came for the order.

A party of our people tried to break away through the troops in the rear. Thev were met l>v the OSth and fired on heavily. The chiefs, Te Kani and Keni ami a number of men were killed, ami several badly wounded, ineluding Te Ipu and AViari. Tc Ninilu and Pom are gob tiiroiigh and escaped to AVairoa. All the others wlio could, hastily rejoined their comrades in the pa who were now resisting the storming party. THE BRITISH REPULSED. The British assault on the Pa delivered about four o'clock in the afternoon. The storming party, soldiers and sailors of the Naval Brigade and -Uni Regiment (in all about 000 mujt i ichud gaihmth to lb- .Uia< k. Theu wo loosed our fire on them when they got well within range- stiil-they charged on. with bayonets fixed anti? swords w.-ning, cheering as they-. cants*. Through ami over the breach walls they lushed ; they entered the ruins id the larger pa ; most of u was in their possession. But all at cure the tide of war was changed. Up leaped our men from the rifle pits as if voniitled from the bowels of the earth, and together with three of those w ho had licen forced hack by the 03th Regiment in the rear, began a deadly hand to hand tight with the storming party. The defenders of the smaller pa held their position and raked the attackers wltli a heavy fire. Men fell thick and fast.

Tomahawk clashed on cutlass anil bayonet —tupara (double and single barrel fowlipieces) met rifle and pistol. Skulls were cloven —Maoris were bayoneted —Ngaticrangi patiu (hatchets) bit deep into white heads and shoulders. The place was soon full of dying and dead men, pnkeha and Maori. Wo iu the eastern position of the large pa stood linn. It was terrible work, hnt soon over. The pakehas were driven clean out of the pa ; as they ran our men falling upon them. They fell L.-tck on their main body below our works, leaving many of their dead and wounded strewn on the battle ground. The Maoris, though victorious, had .suffered severely. My parent Ilawiri, fell with seven gunshot wounds. Too troops suffered most from getting into a cross fire between the two pas, hut particularly from the smaller one. The soldiers and sailors were all mixed np together and were equally bravo. A MAORI TO A. I was amused at the coolness of one of our warriors in the thickest of the fight. Ho was a deeply tatoood old man of the past generation of teas (braves). He had six or seven bullets in his body, and being shot through both thighs was quite helpless. Ho was leaning against the remains of the parapet, had taken out Ilia pipe and was wanting to have a consoling smoke, but could not fxml a light. So he kept calling out “Give mo a light.” (‘Homai to mati mo toku paipa.”) He was not. as you may imagine. attended to, for everyone was fighting for dear life. Still his voice could be heard now and then above the tumult, especially when his excitement would over-master him and. Jjp,,. would cry ‘‘Fight on. fight on, my hearties.give it to them.’’ JVith one hresi th. would ask for a light, and then with*; n the nest he would urge on the battling trilK’Rinen. Such queer things are but the ways of war. MAORI CHIVALRY. AVe adhered strictly to the terms of the battle-covenant, and harmed not; The wounded nor interfered with the' bodies of the dead. The British Col-j ; onel (Booth) foil mortally wounded, just inside the gateway, and there he lay all night. In the hours of darkness his voice could he heard calling for -. water. One of our people went and got some and ministered to his wants. It has been said that Te Ipu gave the . dying soldier water, but ho was bad-, ly wounded (foot smashed) and quite incapacitated. One of the Maoris took Colonel Booth's sword. Another wounded officer left behind after hia men had retreated dropped Ids sword a , little distance away. A Maori picked itup and.wont to restore it to the officer. The pateha squared himself up as well, as he could to meet Ids death-blow, but to his surprise the Maori turned' the hilt toward him (the officer) and req s turned his weapon. . j ’ Ah! Those were glorious days. Every , fighter was a rangatira, and one was proud to meet cadi other in battle. AVbatcvor the reverses were to either side no bitter feelings were engendered , to form any permanent hatred. Vfo wore all friends immediately there pas , no fighting. THE MAORI RETREAT. In tho night we collected arms, accoutrements ami ammunition, from the British dead. Then recognising that our defences no longer existed wo abandoned the ruined pa under cover of darkness, retiring in good order and i spirits. AVe crept quietly through tho. , lines of the 03th at the .rear. Tho. toldiers kept firing on us, but none ofus were killed, only a few wounded. i believe that some of the soldiers were , accidentally killed by their own comrades. AA'o retired to tho AVaoku pa- _ and then dispersed to our various 6lalinns along the edge of the forest. || My younger relative look away a spy glass belonging t-T Captain Hamilton (mortally wounded in the fight), hut on being himself wounded afterwards by tho 08th bo threw it away. Our firearms were only light double-barrelled and singlebarrelled fowling pieces, and some Hint muskets, and most of our powder uas” wot with rain or expended during the ; fight. _ =■ 3 r Onr loss in the fight was about 11-A ; men killed, including the following.-- . Rclarika-Te-Jicwcti .Afnii.itini (Uik- ; on next day to 1 c I’apn, . where lie died), Kru Puhirake, . To Kani, Ueka Tamatea, Ihaka, Te . AVano, Te Rauhuhu, Tikuku, Te Rangi- c ■ tau, Te Kent To AVharenonri, and Parawai, AVe Heti was both bayonet ted and shot but got away, also Hone TaV harangi and Te Jloananui, the ' latter with gun shot wounds. ' . . Our leader, Rawiri, was killed -at To Ranga a few weeks afterward-;; . Ibis is all. -■ ' . *