THE POKAIKAI COMMISSION.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3352, 14 April 1868, Page 4

THE POKAIKAI COMMISSION.

A pew days ago we gave an abstract of the first part of the evidence taken before the Commission to inquire into the conduct of Lieut. -Colonel McDonnell in the attack on Pokaikai. We now give an eitraot of the evidence that has been taken : —

Tuesday, March 24. Samuel Austin, sworn (examined by Lieut. - Colonel McDonnell) : I held the rank of Quarter-master-sergeant in the Native Contingent on the West Coast. I understand the Maori language sufficiently to know what is said by the natives. I cannot speak the language so well as I could wish, but I oan understand what the men of the Native Contingent said, and I can make myself understood by them in reply. 1 know a woman named Mohi, wife to Arapata. Have known her for the last 18 or 19 years ; she is usually called Mohirangai. By Mr. Cracroft Wilson : Arapata was a private in the Native Contingent. By Colonel McDonnell : 1 remember Mohi leafing Manawapou, where we were then encamped. She was sent by Colonel McDonnell with some letters to Pokaikai. On her return she was greatly excited. I believe she came into the camp on the same night that she left. I did not see her until the following day, when she came into my tent in a very excited state, and said that the natives of Pokaikai had threatened to Btrip her naked, and send her back to Manawapou ; however, on the interference of some of her relatives, they let her go that time, but warned her nob to return or they would do so ; and said if her husband went they would tomahawk him, or any others of the Native Contingent who went there. I was not present at the attack on Pokaikai. I was unwell at the time, and was allowed to remain in camp. When the natives returned from the action of Pokaikai they brought some prisoners, but I did not see any loob or plunder brought in. The prisoners had some blankets and other traps, but I did not consider them loot. The prisoners, who consisted of women and children, olaimed the blankets and other things, and they were returned to them. There were two tents full of the prisoners. I got an order from you to draw rations for them, and they (both women and children) received rations of bread and groceries, the same as the men of the Native Contingent. By Colonel McDonnell : You have stated that the woman Mohi took letters from me to Pokaikai : are you sure that some of those letters were not sent by Aperaniko ? Answer : Ido not know whom the letters were written by. I know that several natives were writing letters on that day, as Aperaniko, Pawau, and others came to my tent and got writing materials from me, saying that they wanted to write, as Mohi was going to Pokaikai. I know a man named Gray Spencer, who served with the Native Contingent. He held the position, I considered, of a. Volunteer private in the corps. He called himsfelf an officer, and used to say he had been a major in theE.[. Co.'s service, that Colonel Haultain had appointed him to the Contingent with the same rank that he had held in the Indian army. Mr. Craoroft Wilson intimated that, as the Commissioners were informed that Mohi and her husband Arapata were up at Taupo, and the movements of natives being very uncertain, their evidence was not now available ; they proposed adjourning until a few days before the sitting of Parliament. The Court would then return to Whanganui, and Mohi'a and Arapata's depositions would be taken if they were forthcoming. Colonel McDonnell might then lay before the Court any statement he had to make. Those two witnesses having been examined, the Court did not purpose to take any further evidence on the part of the Gvernment, or in reference to any statements made in the Parliament House. If Colonel McDonnell could suggest any other course, the Commissioners would be glad to hear him. It was very important that the evidence of Mohi should be taken to corroborate Austin's statement. The delay was mosb vexatious and annoying, especially to Col. McDonnell, but it #a3 no fault of the Commissioners that it had occurred. Colonel McDonnell said he would be very glad to have had the affair settled out of hand, but he could suggest no other course than that proposed by the Commissioners.

Wednesday, March 25. The Court sat in the Rutland Hotel, at 2 p.m. Aperaniko Rangihikitia, sworn : I reside at Karatea, on the Whanganui river. I belong to the Nga Potama, hapu of the Ngatihau or Whanganui tribe. I was captain in the Native Contingent. A long time ago, Ido not know the date, I went up the country with the Native Contingent. Captain McDonnell was in command. We camped the first night at Waitotara, the second at Patea, and the third at Manawapou. After being at Manawapou three nights, a letter came from Te Ua, who was then at the Kauae. The letter was for LieutenantColonel McDonnell. I did not see the letter. It was seat on to the Colonel, who was at Whanganui. I believe it was to inform Lieutenant-Colonel McDonnell that Te U* was at the Kauae, and contained an invitation to meet him at that place. Lieutenant-Colonel McDonnell soon after came to Manawapou, and told us the contents of the letter, which were as I have stated. By the Colonel's order thirty of the Native Contingent and twenty bushrangers went with him to the Kauae as an escort. By Mr. Oracrof t Wilson : Kauae is to the north of Manawapou, and about as far away as Whanganui is from Wailotara, or about twenty miles. Witness continued : We arrived at Waingongora in the afternoon, and there the force halted. Two officers from that post also joined us there. Colonel McDonnell, myself, and about ten troopers went on, and arrived at Kauae the same evening. The village was full of the Hauhaus from the surrounding districts, although we did not see them when we first arrived. After being in the village some little time, Te Ua got up and spoke to the Ngatiruanui. His words were, " Listen you the people of the Ngatiruanui, this is McDonnell ; this is the man who has put men out of sight and restored men to life (meaning, this is the man who has the power of bringing war or peace into the district). I have nothing to say to you with authority in the matter. If you wish to make peace, and like McDonnells words, go to him." After this, Reihana and nine or ten other Hauhaus came over and shook hands with McDonnell and myself. Before Reihana shook bands with Colonel McDonnell, he said to him, " You are a bad man ; you are he who destroys men." When Reihana had sat down, McDonnell stood up and said to him, " Make known to me the evil I have done you ; I have done no murder, or any wrong to you ; you are the murderers. You are they who have done wrong. What murder have I committed against you?", All remained silent and none made answer. Colonel McDonnell then said, "The days of evil are now passed. I invite you all to come and make peace." Ihakara replied, "It is not good for so few of us to come in ; let us wait, and let the whole tribe come in at one time." I then said, "There is no good day beyond this ; if you do not come now it will be too late." This I said because I heard Ihakara saying the peace-making was to bejleft with Mr. Parris ; therefore I said, " There is no good day beyond this." I said, "Never mind Parris, here is McDonnell ; do all you come in to-morrow and see him— don't let one stay behind — and make peace with him." Natanahira said, " Wait till we've been to Parris." Te Ua and myielf replied, " Leave Parris out of the question ; this is McDonnell ; he is on the spot ; treat with him at once." Natanabira still persisted. Then McDonnell, Te Ua, and I stood up to oppose his going to Parris. After the meeting, McDonnell spoke to Natanahira to induce him to go to Wellington and see the Governor, and promised to send either his brother (Captain McDonnell) or myself with him. After a long talk, which lasted till ten o'clock at night, he agreed to go to Wellington. We were to go back to Waingongora and he was to join us there. The next day Wi Hukanui came to us at Waingongora, and reported that Natanahira had gone to New Plymouth to Mr. Parris. I said, " Listen, Wi Hukanui, this is wrong of Natanahira, for this reason, that he has put Parris above McDonnell." The Colonel was angry, and so was I. Wi Hukanui was anxious— at least on the previous night— that peace should be made through Colonel McDonnell and not through Mr. Parris. I do not recollect his saying anything about it at this time, or about his being hurt at the breach of faith on the part of Natanahira. We then returned to Manawapoa with dark (depressed) hearts at the bad result. The next morning Rangia Mohi, wife of Arapata, of the N.C., went of her own accord to visit the Hauhaus at Pokaikai. She returned the same day, and complained that, had it not been that a great many of the Pokaikai villagers were related to her, she would have had her clothes stripped off her, been beaten, and perhaps killed. As it was, nothing was done to her. We, the men of the Native Contingent, were angry for two reasons: first, that Natanahira had deceived us ; and secondly, that had not Rangia Mohi had relatives atf Pokaikai, the Hauhaus would have killed her — at least that is according to her account. On the evening following this day, we went to Pokaikai, where we arrived about midnight; the natives were still awake. After waiting some time, the Europeans became impatient, and it was proposed

that we should commence the attack. The Contingent were in the rear, and so I cannot tell who fired the first shot, bat it was generally supposed that the action was commenced by the people in the village. 1 WheD we, the N.C., got into the pa, the natives had deserted it. 1 saw the body of Aperahama, the chief of the Ngatiruanui, who had been shot dead, also the bodies of his wife and another native. I saw Captain McDonnell there. He was standing at the door of a whare to prevent some European! going in, as there were women inside. Colonel McDonnell was outside. He was calling to us (the Native Contingent). The Colonel and 1 went to Martha's house. She said to him she wanted him to go with her to find her children. She also showed him her ear, which was bleeding, and complained that a pakeha had forcibly pulled a shark's tooth out of her ear. The man was found, and placed under arrest. We returned to camp that night, bearing one dead man — Spain. We had about ten prisoners — women and' children. There were no children killed or wounded. One woman received a bayonet wound, as in the fightingi they took her for a man, but when her sex was discovered her life was spared. Aperahama was buried at Pokaikai. By C&lonel McDonnell ; Do you know whether Hori Kingi or Captain Kemp were annoyed at the Native Contingent accompanying me to Patea ? Yes ; both Hori Kingi and Kemp attempted to keep back the Contingent, and prevent them going to Patea. Colonel McDonnell : When we were at Manawapou did you not tell me that Hori Kingi and Kemp had ,told you to impede my movements as much as possible, but that you would not do so, but, on the contrary, would render me every assistance 1 Yes ; they told me to impede you in every way, and I told them I was determined to act in an opposite manner. Kemp and Hori Kingi wanted to get the 'Governor's own authority before the Native Contingent left Whanganui to go to Patea, but I resolved to obey the orders of the Lieut. -Colonel, who was in command, and to assist him as much as possible. Colonel McDonnell : Did you not warn me not to sleep at the Kauae on the night in question, saying, "I will not let you sleep here, as I do not trust the fair speech of those Hauhaus 1 ' ? I said, * ' Let us go back to Waingongora to, sleep." I did not intend it as a warning. The village wan full of Hauhaus at the time I said so. Colonel McDonnell : That same night did not Wi Hukanui show to the natives that I did not send the bottle of rum with the cartridge and cap to the natives of Kauae ? I don't know anything about a bottle of rum. Have heard one was sent to the people of Kauae, but don't know by whom. Colonel McDonnell : Did not Wi Hukanui, when he came to Waingongoro to tell us of Matanahira's treachery, ask us to allow a lad, son to Honi Pibama, to return with us along the road as far as the crossroad to Otapawa? Yes ; the lad had come with Wi Hukanui from Kauae, and he came from Waingongoro with the detachment right on to Manawapou. He did not turn off at the cross road to Otapawa. Ido not know the reason why he did not do so. Colonel McDonnell : Did the Imperial troops fur- " nish convoys for stores, &c, both before and after the attack on Pokaikai, and did the local forces assist in the escort duty ? Yes ; the Imperial troops went on escort duty, as also did the local forces and Native Contingent, but not in company with the Imperial troops. Had Ngatanahira kept his promise, and followed the' advice of the Lieutenant-Colonel' and yourself, would the attack on Pokaikai have been made? No ; there would have been no attack in that case. Mr. George Graham : Were the contents of your letter to Mete Kingi true or false ? (The letter, dated 6th August, 1866, was here read by the interpreter, Mr. Booth, to the witness.) I wrote that letter myself. The only error in it is about the bottle of spirits. Perhaps I have given different versions of the same story, but the letter is correct. The Court then adjourned until a few days before theiassembling of Parliament, as announced by Mr. Commissioner C. Wilson on the previous day.