SCENES OF THE NEW ZEALAND WAR.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7782, 9 February 1891, Page 6

SCENES OF THE NEW ZEALAND WAR.

■ Weekly Prese. New Year's morning found the people oflvanhoe astir at an early hour. A settler coming to the village reported having seen a Maori skulking about, with tomahawk and gun; he did not like his looks at all, and had cleared out as quickly as possible. A sawyer—a young colonial—came in at nine o'clock,saying that his mate had been shot on the top of the log as soon as they began work (for being jammed with aeontract, they were not taking a holiday). He had dropped into the pit; the man below had instantly jumped out on the side furthest from that on which the report of the gun came from, and under cover of the great pine log on the pit he escaped into the bush, making his way " full bat" to the village. Every one was cow alarmed. The Vigilance committee met in haste; the commander of the redoubt sent out four patrols, each of twenty-five men, to roam about the country round tbe edges of the busb and protect life and property as far as possible. Fif £• more men were marched down to the neighbourhood of the village, to act as supports, in any direction. The com mitt $ advised the calling out of the militia and arming of volunteers, the erection of one block house in the village and two others further afield for the protection of stock and property. The settlers determined to send all women and children in at once, and to guard them, and their most valuable property at the village, till better measures could be devised. The news of the desertion ot the little Maori village had reached Ivanhoe through an interpreter, who had been sent to interview them, and pick up information. No one doubted but they had joined our enemies. Their absence confirmed the opinion that a general rising had commenced. ' Captain Lees, in command of a patrol, bad been directed to call on a back settler, as no one seemed to know if he had, as yet, been warned. He was a small settler of the labouring class. They found these people going about their daily work as usual, nothing having alarmed them. Tne captain ascertained that one boy and one girl were away with the four cows; they had taken their dinner with them.

They intended to watch the cows and a few young cattle in an old Maori garden till evening. The Captain left fifteen men to help these good people pick their solitary horse, yoke their pair of bullocks, and pack up their few valuables, clothing and bedding. Sentries were posted, while some worked. The Captain himself took ten men, and a strong, active son of the bouse, aged ten, to act as guide. He passed through a belt of standing bush, the bare-headed, bare-legged, hatless lad, leading the way. They crossed a bush rivulet and came to the old grass and weed-covered garden. The boy cooeed— no reply; again he called—the echoes alone replied. Then the men shouted all together, but no answer came from the voices of happy children; no answer ever more would come from them, they were still forever. The boy pointed out a rata tree at the bottom of the old clearing, as the place where they played and ate their dinners, when here.

The party warily made in that direction. The bush and open land was so calm, so peaceful, so soft in the balmy spicery of Its kawa kawa laden summer airs; it was hard to connect such a scene with deeds of blood and murder.

They reached the tree Indicated, and there, heaped up, they found all that was left of those they sought; all that remaided of two bright, happy children, who had none forth so joyously, less than two hours before. Thrown one over the other the maugled bodies lay. The heads were cut and split in many places, the features all defaced, a white limb was found here and another there. Six such; three arms, and three legs, as white as death, were found thrown around. ■ Tnose hardened men stood still, and .looked on this fiendish work, their faces all twisted and writhing. They looked in each other's eyes, as well as blinding salt tears, which would not overflow, permitted, and some of them groaned aloud; and the red-breasted kaka climbed the rough bark of the tree, screaming his croaking, raven-like cry of 111 omen. The black g ossy tui flew to the topmost branches, and poured forth his flood of flute-like melody, as though giving hopes of better things above. Then the Captain spoke, low, as if stifling : "Come boys, we've seen these things before, we must do our duty—our turo will come, and that soon——" "My God," cried one, " when it does we'll give it to them hot." '" Auaeu," was the answer. The Captain said: " Here, take my coat for one." Soon three or four of them pulled off serge jumpers to hide their ghastly burtheu in ; and so laden, guided by the stuplfied boy, who had to be shaken, they made their way by a short cut, buck to Ivanhoe, to increase the terror aud sorrow there. The Captain turned back with four of bis ten men, to rejoin those he had left at the cottage. lie had a hard duty to perform, breaking the news, gently, to the bereaved parents. The poor mother broke up completely; she had to be held and supported by two men, as they took their melancholy way from the home that had cost such toll, patience, aud perseverance to create. They were not to see it again for many a weary month. Where v\ as Blue Bell, while all these terrible events were happening ? Nob idle, we may be sure, but composed, thoughtful, self-reliant, helping all she could,, directing and consoling; she had, at once, thought of her poor helpless friends, their old servants, the Polgreens. She had spoken to Captain Leigbton about them, and he Ji*d at once despatched a party of men, with a stretcher, to carry out the poor man whose injured back would not permit his riding in a cart over such roads. The party took with them the cart from the redoubt, also Major Stewart's horse and cart, and then, with the smaller and more precious things carried away in the men's hands, saw these good people, and all that could, at present, be saved of theirs, in safety. It was only about ten o'clock when the party returned with the fragments of the i murdered girl and boy. The former eleven, the latter nine years of age. Then It was seen, that to remain longer away from armed protection would be madness, especially as the men on their return had seen a party of ten or twelve Maoris crossing from one piece of bush to another. • hiding, ana working mischief evidently. So a lew certs were found as they came in from farms at a greater distance. The Major's piano, or rather Blue Bell's, his books and plate chest, with other valuable furniture, were taken to the redoubt and stowed, for the time being, in one of the iron commissariat stores mentioned before. , The ladies would not leave the district till all other women and children were on the way to the settlement. ■ The old farmer, whom we saw singing " The Female Smuggler," and swearing a little one night in the street at Ivanhoe, lived on the edge of the forest. A son of his, in business at the township, was sent to bring in the old gentleman and his two stalwart sons, with the daughter who kept house for him since his wife's death. They now came in. "Us had a terrible job with the old man," baid the eldest son to Major Stewart, " a terrible job, sure enough; ha swore ha wouldn't come in. There was no Maoris there, he said, and if one came had find his match. Ha would't come In unless his driv. At last he had tdlaehun." "Oh, so you got him all right then; that's well. "Is 9. he's in the cart all right, bat he's swearing terrible; would you kindly speak a word to muo. ha might listen to you, ha won't to we. The Major went, and found the old man as stated, lashed hand and foot, tied down in the care. He was in a "tear;" and he would not listen to the major, or the Captain, who tried to reason with him. " They've lashed mer here, lite a blasted Die," was his cry, '* for all the world like a blasted pi*. They'ra ten thousand times worse than the Moories any day ; my own sons too, Jle't like a blasted pig, I be- „ T | ey could do nothing, so Blue Bell went. She tried no reasoning. "You ought to be ashamed of yourself, farmer Penham," she said. " You are not half a man, you ought to be up helping, and advising mc. God knows 1 want help badly enough." Thia was a new idea. He looked upon the firm set.but tearstained face, so sweetly expressive of sympathy, and vra3 conquered. She saw it, and added: "If yon saw the eights brought In since the messenger left to warn you, you would thank God for His mercy, in givloe: you sons, strong and able to take care of you, instead of cursing them; you wicked, ungrateful old creature. Get up, and look at those poor mangled children just brought in, and thank God it was cot you." The dd man shook again as he saM, ** I mus* be nwzad, I must be mazed, surely. Tell man to let I out. I'll do aught yus axes, ias I will; co, now,

do'ee, there's a f them he was all right F boundary-gate. TheJLi■**• 14 front of the house. Bte WRs oa«|: , The carts, with their »*«. * U <<> Kolng slowly toward,'S* 4 ««eo- I ; Major and Captain LeUfe* T J"W \*« slowly on a short dii « orx M Old Mick stood P tress and heard her l h ?V l ; wud be a clever man W OT* W in her eye, so it *vfi*"*LmW was unbounded. The e«w ■ l ° T *W I - spree had not yet passed oKfo*. kept up more or less br*^ I **?* I and " nips " whioh the old too*** bsfl ! to get during the the evening of the dance h? Jftj! f ? his room with a good deal f s <%tt } malniugin a bottle he hadlil ft Thus shaky in nerves and r*H 4 his affections, the old man m J- 4 perambulator In Rlu* Bell in her childhood hAV°« the toys she played with whin *Ssi if "darling." The old veffiwwe^ c I stowed away in the hwnJ!* , '•"Wg I toys were placed upon a ahLSil board there, and often when ;, ,a *<t i harness or stirrup Iron? V"***? If pulled them out. looking wkft 8 XI thinking with loving i times and scenes they re5J&?J*3 I Now, the idea came I bead that that perambaiatL^ s %6 I toys might be taken byThJBL."? 4 4 1 c desecrated by the use and ;?*'*» f those murderous wretches <usm it went after them. He |S£L 1 laughed at for his affeetffiuS* *k I brauce of such trifles. passing backwards, and forwffit? ** 1 ing along tbe path he took, particular heed to the old fiSSI moment. No one did I say! $*5 P one who did The clump of oLS I trees, it will be remembered left front of the house ; it P paddock, and consequently- h.rH Iγ house than the road, lt 3 idL-iT* 1 considerable nearer. Now these largo trees a pair of ffii r*P« I' cruel eyes, in a dark-skinnedh^l '\r all that was going on with i may be imagined better ttt»s P The old man did just whffH 'i tended. He came out S,H J garden ticket gate, drirtogtftJM* vehicle In front of him mP* out into the field. Tohia lSd* 21 e h behind him, lay the bush, that is the end neSJLfi?* ! furthest from the outer gate. dark figure emerged from jf« lightly ?t bounded, naked, dffifi'i even for a Maori. The bushy, black hair was « tied in a huge buuch ffffteg head-a great black and swinging with every moremlat wore a small atrip of blue een» sku the loins-nothing else. HislSfi their whites, and his ivory teekiS ' as his drawn lips grinned fa sa«S • hate. None of the whites mrß dark figure ; nearer and nearer ffi bounding as though worked £3 [ springs. Three taping boandela&S ! the third brought him to the ilsS : back. Just as he turned to see wtom! coming the short tomahawk, wto S whalebone handle all ornamenMßirt sealing-wax, fell upon the old m&a'iM t* and poor old Mick ceused to foM f was one of the twelve, the most&Ha i and active of them all. Hβ etcosl tore the watch out of his mm " Socket, raised his hand to his moaikiiß, ■ ig, "E'ahl hul" turned and iSm ' back with antelope-like activity. Iktek I a long, bright, single-barreledgaaisdi I dirty shirt from where he' hadWl te I' beside the tree, ran into the valley <j!& I " stream where Tom had caught oh m I ? fish, and disappeared. i^ This was the way Hikoraks, tSesiw& I f « worked on the warpath. g * Captain Leighton heard the jell, 3$ jumped upon a etunap, saw ib« Etlh M dark form, and rushed back hand; he came too late, Mick.nw« tftoW again; and so ended the poor old mtii * bright dreaniß of the happy comlagyta, p

My story draws to a close. The tat p was not held, as intended; events tw «• |* citements were occurring too rapidly, Tfc» r bodies of the murdered settlers wereUia \ to the settlement, under & cavalry m& ! At the Inquest held there it w&e ilxtwA |. that the first victim, the f* war, was a stranger, irho, having tote- I taken to split shingles for & settler j was building a store at Ivanhoe, was to \ ing about for a suitable kalkatea for h purpose. , ■": On New Year's night the priest, or d«4 > Torea, destroyed the tapu oo Msjs .' Stewart's house Iα much the same w»y « . weeawhitn destroy H on "the twem, The house and all out buildings were m : burnt; nothing was removed or takes bf the Maoris. Other fires followed is , quick succession. By eight and to dtt ~ lurid lights and clouds of smoke, suddfltf rising, told the anxious, watching B«tirci ■ of the destruction of their homes. Tl|j never built the proposed block bow-i . they never hafl the chance, not atkava , f that time. On the 2nd of January $• • armed Maoris assembled oa the flat aW» | the pah, and danced the war dance. OTJ ■ were within sight, but oat of rifie-w* of the redoubt. That day a ehepa* .. mieh occurred between a small psnj , under Captain Lees, and a larger ptttye . the natives. Captain Lees waa shol 4£ !at the first volley, fired by the «*£ . enemy from behind a great fellw \)f tree. Two more men were wounded, w* whites instantly charged, and droWOT their foes at the point of the tog Then, as the Maoris fled to the "MM bus&, they fired the volley theuj i. reserved, killing three, and *#*g| ; four others who were takea m ««»f=Four were killed in the charge a* . leapt, like wild cats, ampnpt w**-?! | was a sharp, gallant ltttb •£*.£{ ; occupying a few minutes. !&«* *®» , the f&t slots fired, and war wM««g ... formally declared. How ttat *» g \ prosecuted may be react in hbtoffi » ; the pah by the river was rushedri6 eg and found empty, the natlvwtoTtagf* ; back to a stronghold they bad IwbW| secretly preparing up **■*"s%s& on the left side, or, proper,.right,wa» t the left hand branch of the % & toils and loss of life our b«»*fg} soldiers incurred before at .legjLAj discovered and reached this s»OgM and how when reached they . Sshedlt, may.lsay.be fcundiaigg . Myetory Iβ intended to «tw ttjj* into the smaller matters whtoWgg the war, an idea of the .eoante it was fought, and the P»jp»e JfJ&'SU i it out. The natives to the> watbJ . Waharoa'a tribe, and tor mowi , side had enough to do to 5 j | dear to them the immedfftte, tJJjM the settlement. As things &!s%<s { the people organised ftl f took the attackers' part and cs \ their work" with a andiPfeyi;' whichallknow. Tom Joined tite •f^ c n Cavairy.but soon he obtaiaed • F 4 1 honourln.theMllitia. Hetoj^J did. Hβ was popular with hto £»» |^ 8 ) favourite with hi* brother ojcg y% . the conclusion of she war fee , land next to Captain WfiJShSrfl: entered in acme kind of P«*»gS v W ! him in stock. He never $■& , Major and his wife lived r^ ; peacefully, respected by # | them. Captain and "'■JS'W'' present circumstances ana &?**. & f ness have been mentioned - flret' part of this story. ( her boy Tim, and lived They do so still, In fact, *fj£*sl&' ' contented. When blewed pe«J»«J e y ing nature was once rao re burnt village of Ivanhoe W& • its site was slißhtly changed, gy placed apon the banks of UM Wfa&A , Brook I have more than «>« With change of position came name. The settlers •eejn«»r remembrance of past orS^^i% avoided the reader may n° w "r vain on the map for lvaahoe.