MAORI VICTORY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 7 November 1924, Page 5

MAORI VICTORY

FIFTY-SIXTH ANNIVERSARY. VETERAN’S IMPRESSIONS. INCIDENT NEAR, WAVERLEY. To-day is the 56th anniversary of what in-Maori lore was a famous victory for the Natives near Waverley. It was in IBoS that* Major Hunter, with about 100 men under him, attacked the Motoroa. pa, ’which was stiougly defended by all the- warriors lioni the Waimate Plains down to Waitotara., ' Mr. W. Wallace, of Hawera, who was present when ■ the " attack was made, gave a Star reporter this morning a vivid narrative of the encounter. “The pa,” said Mr. Wallace, “was strongly defended, and Major Hunter decided, like all good commanders, to attack at the weakest point. He crept through the bush with liis men and came round to the end of the pallisading preparatory to making a rush on the Maoris. The troops were inside the defence, hut th.e Maoris, who were well ' armed with rifles and, doublebarreled guns, many of which 1 they had captured fiom troops killed at Te Ngutu two months previously; made matters very warm for Major Hunter and his men. As .soon as’the Maoris sighted Major Hunter they concentrated their fire on the leader, and he fell wounded. The Maoris, by the way, preferred the double-barrelled gun,” added Mr Wallace, “because, with Maori logic, it had/two shots instead of one.’’ No fewer than 33 men were killed, wounded or missing, and a. third of this number was left behind 'when the troops retreated. The Maoris made a )ig fire and roasted the bodies. Major Hunter, however, was rescued, hut died subsequently, as the result of the wounds he had received. The Maoris held a war dance to celebrate their victory, and left Motoroa on a. victorious march to Nukumaru, whore they met their Waterloo a few months later.