TE NGUTU.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 21 August 1924, Page 6

TE NGUTU.

FIRST ENGAGEMENT WITH THE MAORIS. (By “Fifty-one.”) On August 21, ISOS, the colonial iorces, under Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, attacked Te Ngutu-o-t-e-.Maiiu. the official despatch ol the commanding officer being to the effect that the Maoris ay e-re defeated. On that occasion four Europeans were killed and eight wounded. M.r \W Wallace, of Nolantown. was in that engagement; liketvise a. brother, Avho Avas one of those killed. The late Patrick Tally was also, present. This engagement must not be confused with that at Avhicli Yon Tempsky and many others met their fate,. the latter taking place the following month, on September 7. tt. is all very well to call it a victory on the part of the colonial troops, but had the same number of Maoris been present in August as September, a. disaster quite equal to the latter engagement would in all probability luiA'e had to be chronicled. As it was, owing to the sudden return of many Maoris, who had been absent from the na on cattlehunting expeditions, it took the troops all their time to get away. The Maoris followed them a considerable distance, and several of the casualties occurred during the retreat. The whole of the military arrangements were bad. and there was absolutely no organisation. The men for the most part AA'ere raw recruits, and the more seasoned had no option but to get away with t.he others. The late Captain W. Newland, Avho it must be admitted was one of the bravest men Avho served throughout the Maori Avars, gave it as his opinion before the attack that it was bound to end in disaster oAving to there being so many unseasoned men amongst them; but his advice was treated Avith contempt-. Men like Colonel Stapp, Major Atkinson, Captain Newland, and a feAV others I might mention (including some of the 57th. officers) would never have allowed themselves to be trapped as AA'ere the commanders at Te Ngutu on the 21st August and 7th September. IS6S: The burning oi a few Avhares was all the good that resulted from the first engagement. Avhich only tended to incite the Maoris to further acts of aggression. They had their revenge the following month. In talking OA r er the engagement- of the 21st with Mr Wallace, he Avas very emphatic about the haphazard manner in Avhich affairs Avere conducted, and expressed the opinion that the force was extremely fortunate l in getting away. “Had the Maoris been there in full numbers when avc arrived on the scene that day,” Mr allace asserts, “it is more than likely that we Avould ha\"e never succeeded in reaching the pa; and had Ave done so, it is almost certain that- the mamrity of us would have left our bones there.”