Major Ropata Wahawaha, M.L.C., died 1899.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 220, 23 September 1901, Page 1

Major Ropata Wahawaha, M.L.C., died 1899.

(Continued.)

At the second attack on Ngatapa, on Jan. 4, 1869, Major Itopata stood up from the line of European trenches, fully exposed to a heavy lire, and there, revolver in hand, stood a prominent figure, aloue directing the movements of the storming party.

. During Ropata’s campaign in the Urewera Country, in 1870, the Urewcra chiefs ordered the Government force, which had arrived at Maunga-pohatu from Poverty Bay, to return the way they came, saying that they would not allow “ hooted feet to pass through their country," Popata’s reply was characteristic and forcible: 11 1 never return by the same track with a war-party, as I consume all the food on the way, and to return means starvation. I depend upon supplies iu front. If you with your bare feet get in the way of mine with hoots I shall trample

on you.” Thereupon he resumed his march, and fought Iris way through to Waiinano, on the Bay of Plenty side, Itopata commanding the rear-guard, which was the most harassed, and Colonel Porter (then Captain) the advance-guard. Soon after this, the force attacked and took a pa at the junction of the Waioeka and Waipuna Rivers, inland from Opotiki. The attacking party had to advance up the river-bed under tiro. Some of the men hanging back, llopata, although himself fully exposed, rushed from one to the other prodding them forward with his tokotoko (walking-staff). Once under cover of the banks, a heavy fire was opened on the pa from both flanks; liopata ordered the charge, and the pa was Such incidents as theso showed the natural fearlessness of llopata, and served to explain tho implicit confidence which in course of much campaigning his men reposed in him. Itopata’s column was the last to remain in the field against To Kooti. After tho final campaign in tho Urewera Country, his force embarked at NVhakatane on the Government Steamer “Luna” (Captain Fairchild), and was landed on November 22, 1871, at tho Major’s then pa at tho northern head of Open Bay, East Cape. When tho last canoe with liopata left the steamer’s side, a salute was fired ns a farewell by the order of Captain Fairchild,

In tho after years of peace, Major llopata was decorated with the New Zealand Cross, and was tho recipient of a Highland claymore from her Majesty the

Queen. lie was also a member of tbe Legislative Council of tho colony, and was highly respected by Europeans and venerated by bis own people. At the time of his death he was over eighty years of age.

lIENABE POTAE,

The East Coast ohief Henare Potao was a distinguished member of the famous fighting tribe Ngatiporou ; his immediate hapus or sub-tribes were Te Aowera and the Whanau-a-ltua. Ho was the nephew of the warriorchief Tama-i-Whakanehua-i-te-Bangi, who signed the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, on behalf on the East Coast people, and who was the father of Mrs Porter, wife of Lieut.Colonel Porter (the comrade-in-arms of the late Major llopata Wabawaha), who left for South Africa in command of the Seventh New Zealand Contingent. Henare Potae first came into prominence in 18(55, when lie and Bopata made a determined stand against the Hauh.au rebellion, and he look part with the loyal section of the Ngatiporou people in a number of fights. The loyal chiefs and their men were supplied with arms and ammunition by the Government, and they pursued the Hauliau fanatics through the Eastj Cape district, and round about the back of Hicks’ Bay and the Wa’apu district, near the East Cape. Just about this time a large number of Coast Hauhaus had fortified themselves in a strong pa called Pultepapa, back of Tokomaru Bay. Bopata and Henare and their 200 men advanced on Pukepapa, and after a short fight captured the rebel stronghold, in which were between 400 and 500 Hauhaus. Amongst the prisoners were some, of r.opata's own men, of the sub-tribe Te" Aowera; these men he shot for disobeying him by joining the Hauhaus. After this Bopata and Henare had a sharp engagement with a force of Hauhaus between Tolago Bay and Anaura. Both forces extended in skirmishing along the parallel ridges, between which was an impassable swamp. Bopata and Henare outflanked the enemy, and defeated them after a smart fight, in which many hand-to-hand encounters took place. The Hauhaus retreated to Tautauhopo pa, which was invested by Bopata and Henare and taken. Most of the rebels surrendered and swore allegiance to the Queen, thanks to the bravo actions of the two chiefs and their followers. Later on, in IS6S-71, when the Government forces were actively pursuing Te Kooti, Henare Potae was one of the loyal chiefs who actively supported the mana of the Queen, and sent men to join Bopata in chasing the rebel leader.