MEMORABLE SIEGE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2113, 2 April 1914, Page 6

MEMORABLE SIEGE

ORAKAU 1864;

CELEBRATION OF THE JUBILEE.

THOUSANDS PRESENT. (By Tclesraph.-rrcsa Association.) Hamilton, April 1. : Fifty years ago to-day a fiirrco fight, was proceeding at Orakau, ,, some 'S miles from Hamilton, where the do-, feiico put up by lliq Maoris'was offiial to anything in the history of the world. To perpetuate tho momory of the heroes of tho light, the Government erected, a monument on tho aito of tlifi pa, and this was unveiled ycstorday by tho Minister of Defenco (tho Hon. J. Allen) in thb'presonco of several thousand Jiuroneaiis and iNatives, General Godley and Staff, tho Hon. 'W. 11. Homes, the Hon. Br.' I'oniare, Bishop Avcnll, hvo members of Parliament, and two members of the Upper House. A large number of veterans from all parts <M tho Dominion, under Coloiiol Morreiv, were also present. Tho speeches dealt chiefly with tho. bravery of the Nativedefenders and tho gallantry of tile British troops who set such a noble csamplo to the present and future generations.

A toucliing and pleasing feature was when Hari \Vahanui, on behalf of tlio Native race, presented the J/lou, James Allen, for tho Government, with a sword, some old ■ muzzle-loaders, and si tattered standard bearing tlio title of tho Taranaki military settlers—No. 6 Company, Clifton Institute—which was Seized during the fight.' Those, he said, were returned as a token forever cementing the bonds or' peace between tho two races. ~ . —^

The Maori Thermopylae, The' Battle of Orakau, fought on ■ March 31 and April I ,, and 'I, 864. is said to bear the samo relation to the Maori race as did the classic Thennspy* lao to tho ancient Greeks, a.ud' tho of modern history contain nothing maro heroic or worthier of remcinhramce. Tho battle saw the the war in tho Waikato. ■ The Natives—surprised, completely surrounded by 1600 troops armed with the latest wea.ptffts, and outnumbered by six tb sessed only obsolete fowling and iliirf pieces, wcro inadequately supplied with ammunition, had to load their guws with peach stones, plugs, of stood and broken iron pots, were without watefj and had only raw potatoes to assiiage their hunger, yet they kept at bay six times their number for two nigli-te and three days, inflicting heavy loss on the British forces^

That Historic, Answer. When General.Cameron arrived on the afternoon of the third diy lie Was. so .impressed with tho heroic defence that lie immediately instructed Major. Mail' to get into communication with, tho garrison, and, if .possible, induce them to surrender, and so save the, lives of many bravo men. Major Mair et-ood up at tho head of the sap, and called out: "The General, is filled with admiration at ■your.bravery, but you are surrounded andcannot escape. "■ Therefore h.o tirges you to surrender that' your lives ufa-y be spared." All was quiet for a few minutes while the matter was discussed ancl then oiie of the - Natives-rose out of the trenches, and hurled back tho temeus- reply :■-- "Ehoa, ko te tikanga ten&i kit, wlsavvhui tonu ki akoe! Akot Ake! Abe 1 . ("Friend, the understanding is that we will fight you for ever, atiol ever aad over.") Major Mair then sail: '''That is well 1 for the men, but let the woroen and children como out. Why should they die too?" Some ono asked: "How di you ktiaw that there aro women and children? , " Major Mair replied: "Last night I heard them crying over the deftd." j Then a very tall womaji stood up on tho edge of the ditch, and ajftssyered: "If the men are to die, tho Wonleti and children will die with the men,"

Tho Maoris Burst Out." Tlio troops cheered wlien the decision I was known, and the fight became fiercer I than ever. Late in the a.fternotsn of] the third day the remaining Maori gar- ■ rison formed _ up, and placing their women and children in. the centre, b.foko out, cut their way through the cordon of the 40th Regiment, and entered » huge swamp where they Were quickly decimated _by a tremendous eross ftro from all sides, while Iho ITorert Bangers and mounted meri .endeavoured fe cut off their retreat. Even then tftoy turned upon their pursUerSj and not till nearly 200 had fallen,, did tho remain* der make their -escape, across-the Puniu River into the King Countjy. General Cameron, in his dSspatch after tho battlo, wrote: "It is impeSsfblo iwjb to admire the heroic etnttima and devotion of tho Natives in defending themselves so long against overishelniMig numbers. '■ Surrounded on all eut off from their supply of water, anil deprived of all hope of succour they resolutely held their ground for nearly three days, and did not abandon the position until .the sap iiad reached tl» ditch of the last entrenchment. They probably had not less than 150 killed out of a garrison not exceeding 800." ■