A BtT OF OLD HISTORY.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13569, 2 November 1909, Page 7

A BtT OF OLD HISTORY.

(SPECIAL TO ''THE TRESS.") WELLINGTON, November 1. Te Rauparaha was captured in 1846 at- Plimmerton by a party of bluejackets and soldiers landed from H.M.S. Driver. The -warship passed Plimmerton during the afternoon, but returned under cover of the night. The Maoris were taken by surprise by the landing party, which numbered 200. Tho manner of tho capture Jiae been described by Lieutenant McKillop, who writes in his reminiscences:—""We pushed on to the hut which contained) the object of our search, whose quick ear had detected strange footeteps. Never having liked mc, he did not look at all easy on perceiving who tho intruder was, although his wife showed no alarm and received mc with the usual salutation. Upon my informing him that he was my prisoner, he immediately threw himself ibeing in a sitting posture) baok into the hut and cseizea , a tomahawk, with which ho made a blow at his wife's head, thinking she had betrayed him. I warded the blow with my pistol, and seized , him by the throat. ily four men immediately rushed in on him, secured him by his arms and legs, and started off as fast as his violent struggles would allow, which for a man of his ago (upwards of 70) were almost superhuman. Hβ roared most lustily 'Ngatitoa! Ngatitoa 1' (the name of his tribe), endeavouring to bring them to the rescue, and in a few seconds ovory man was on hie legs and came rushing over to Bee what was the matter with their chief. But the troops and the bluejackete coming up at the same time and surrounuing tho pa, (prevented any attempt at rescue, as he was already in tho boat. His last effort to free himself was fastening with his teeth on to my coxswain's shoulder, who bore this piece of cannibalism unflinchingly."