NEW ZEALAND HISTORY

Evening Star, Issue 19638, 18 August 1927, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND HISTORY

EARLY DAYS IN THE COLONY. Bid ores dealing with the early history of New Zciand arc extremely rare, though there is no reason why they should he. Though the dominion is a comparatively young colony, it lias (pntc as many thrilling and uis tor in incidents in its career as many ot the larger and older countries. To-morrow the initial screening of 1 Rcwi’a Last, Stand,’ a, New Zealand-produced picture of (la; days of the Waikato wars, will be given at (ho Octagon Theatre. Written and produced by Maori Mar Films, Ltd., by Budnll Hayward (the liis'oncal correctness being attended to by Mr James Cowan), the picture deals with the period of the Waikato War, and especially with the historical defence of Onikuii, the most dramatic and picturesque incident in the history of the dominion. Moth all tho races with which British arms have come in conllicl, none were liner lighters than tho Maoris; and of all the battles between Maori and pakelia, none showed to better advantage the warlike qualities ot the former than the battle ol Orakan. Shut up in a hastily-con-structed pa, a foicc ol .30(1 poorlyequipped Maori men, women, and children. with little food and no water, endured continuous riilc tiro for three days, an id kept at hay a British force of 1,800 men. History scarce affords a parallel to the dauntless reply of the natives, when, after three days they wore ottered their freedom if they would surrender. “Wo will light on. for ever and ever! ” they declared, and when tho oiler . was made to let the women go free answer came in tllG same spirit: ‘‘The women will light as well as tho men!” It was impossible for tho (Maoris to hold out long under such conditions, however, and seizing a favorable opportunity they slipped out of the pa and made a dasli for the bush. But for the fact that a troop of cavalry was handy at the time they would have escaped practically scot free. But tho horsemen rode down the fugitives, and many of them fell before they could reach safety. 'Woven into tho historical episodes of the war is the story of a young Englishman who is captured by tho Maoris prior to the battle of Orakan, and falls in love with the daughter ol one of the aiativo chiefs. In addition In the picture programme, Art Kamo, heralded as tho “ Wizard Bniijo-mandoliiiist.” will giro a turn. The remarkable skill and dexterity with which this performer handles his instrument is said to to amazing. In addition to laz’ and classical airs, he imitates bagpipe selections and a carillon of bells in n masterful manner.