VISITORS FROM WANGANUI RIVER.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12712, 26 January 1907, Page 10

VISITORS FROM WANGANUI RIVER.

History in New Zealand is -k> short that it can almost be a matter of

memory to one mind yet a great deal of the old-time doings are passing away into the land of the forgotten as the actors in those early days are called one by one to their rest. Especially is this the case with the Maori who does not commit his memories to paper, and whose descendants, born into a different time, let slip tho old tales toki in the wbares when the grey-beards sit on the mats and live the part again. The Maori of high caste is a naturally reserved person, and, an the inquisitive Pakeha asking about the olden days, generally parries with a query as to why he wants to know, and what is the end of the talk. In the pa at the Exhibition are two residents, whose life story is bound up with the early Avarlike days on the Wanganui river. Of the chiefs who can rightfully claim high birth and distinguished ancestry, there are few, if any, that stand higher than Mrs Davis, who came down in charge of the young girls from Wanganui. who are at present giving the poi dances in tho pa. Mrs Davis, whose full name is Wikitoria Taitoko te Rangihiwinui Keepa Davis, is hereditary chieftaiiress of the Wanganui tribe, in descent from her father" Major Kemp, who was the only native to lead English troops in battle in the Maori war, and who was presented with a goldhiltod sword ot" honour by tho late Queen Victoria for bravery. Mrs Davis has also the honour of being the god-d-atighter of the late Queen. She was educated at Wanganui till the age of fifteen, when she was sent to a private boarding school in Wellington, where she studied for tour years, when Sir George Grey made arrangements for her to go Home and continue her education in England. This was at tho time fighting was going on between the Maoris and the whites, and although her father consented, her grandfather, Hori Kingi refused on the ground that she was an only child, and ought not to leave the island. She wee present in person at ono of the fights up the Wanganui river, and saw the wounded and slain carried into the pa at Pipiriki, where the fallen lie* buried. She also saw the dead who came down the river taken out. and watched them being buried. This battle took place partly in canoes on tho river and partly on tho land. It was at Motoa, the second battle on the Wanganui, that the father of Hoani Mete Kingi, who is alfvo staving at the pa, led the fight. The rebel Hau Haus had sent down the river a challenge to the' Europeans, who were few in number, stating they were coming down to drive them into the sea. and the Maoris of Wanganui sent hack to say that the pakehas were few, and they were going to protect them, and it would only be over the dead bodies of their warriors that the pakehas would be touched. The two Maori war parties agreed to meet on the island of Motoa, an island in the river, and put tho quarrel to a test of arms. They met then, and rushed to battle, meeting in the middle of the island, where the fighting was furious and deadly. By the fury of their onslaught, the attacking party wero drivinfj the Wangantiis back on their canoes, which were already pushing off into the water, when one warrior turned back and literal'y hewed his way through the opposing hosts till his comrades took heart and returning drove the rebels before them. This man had his leg chopped off in tho savage melee, and went on crutches all the rest of his days, drawing a pension of 2s a day from the British Government to the day of his death. By hie bravery the nrsh of the attacking force was repelled, and the lives of the Europeans on tho Wanganui river saved. These oM brave tales of the fighting days ought not to be allowed to die out. for they are a mine of material ready to hand for the writers of tho future. The story of the Maori bravo who saw a wounded European lying within the fire sone pleading for water, and arose from the fighting ranks amidst a shower of bullets to carry water to his dying enemy desorvos to stand in history beside the deeds of that perfect hero of song and story, Sir Phillip Sydney, who've crying act has been tho admiration of the brave all down the year*.