EUROPEAN AND MAORI.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 20 December 1924, Page 13

EUROPEAN AND MAORI.

INCIDENTS IN 1886. MODERATION PREVAILS. Exciting and interesting days in the history of South Taranaki are’ recalled by the report quoted below of the trouble with the Maoris in 1886, when it was expected that, under Titokowaru, they would endeavour to -resume land near Manaia claimed by them. The occurrence—it , developed into somewhat of a melee and threatened to become a riot —took place on the late Mr Andrew Hastie’s farm, and much credit is due to the police and the leading .-.settlers, whose counsels of prudence aid forbearance prevailed. The report is specially interesting because of the number of names so well known to residents of South Taranaki. Miss Hastie, on whose father’s land the disturbance took place, told us that her father had taken a consignment of bullocks to Sydney, and when he landed at the wharf there he heard the newsboys in the streets shouting: “War on Hastie’s farm! Maoris ploughing up land!” The news had been cabled across to Sydney. One can imagine the anxiety and concern of Mr Hastie until he learned the whole story.

The Hawera Star of July 19, 1886, gives details as appended of the incident : . MAORI DIFFICULTY. News was received in Hawera on Sunday morning that the Maoris were likely to enter land near Manaia. Three constables under Sergeant Anderson went out to the Plains. Your reporter, living near the place, proceeded there. The constables werit to Mr T. Baylv, but after being there a- few minutes they noticed that the natives were collecting at Has.tie’s gate, about two miles from Manaia. The police at once .rode up, and young Hastie gave them the key. At this time, about 10 o’clock, two of the Maoris had already asked Hastie, junr., a young man about 21 years, for the key of the gate. He refused, and several natives got over the gate into the paddock. THE FIRST BRUSH.

The police opened the gate with the object of turning out the intruders. They anticipated no resistance. But on taking hold of Rangiaeta, the native who took the lead at Lysaght’s lately, the other Maoris, who were collecting is considerable numbers, flocked round -the constables and closed the gate, in spite of a smart attempt by the police to get through. Here the natives resisted and obstructed the police, and after some rough tussling the prisoners were torn from the hands of the police, .Constable Mclvor getting a nasty squeeze in the gate. The white men who were present, some half-dozen in all, assisted the police, but as the numbers of the Maoris increased,, they saw that resistance was useless, and allowed the gate to he forced open, warning the Maoris that the intruders; or at least the leaders, would be arrestedi Resistance then ceased, except that an attempt was made to prevent one Maori from breaking ground with a spade. However, in five minutes there were half a dozen natives with'spades and shovels at work. About this time —say half-past ten—there were no horsemen in the paddock, which is alongside the Main South road. A mounted .native now forced his way in, in spite of another sharp tussle. -..Two hundred Maoris or more were now on the ground, and they could he seen approaching from all directions with carts laden with potatoes, food, and timber of all kinds. A number of Maori women and children began to enter the grounds, and drays also were allowed through the gate. About 11 o’clock

TITOKOWARU COMES. Titokowaru then came on. By this time there were a number of' tents erected, and, on the site where the digging first began, a large whare had been marked off, the ground pared and levelled, and the fern tree slabs of the wall of a house—measuring, perhaps, 20 by 40 feet—were already standing. Poles and timber were driven in, and when obstruction was offered. at the gate the poles, supplejacks, etc., were handed over the gate. By 11 o’clock there were believed to be fully 500 natives from all parts of the coast present—some from Wanganui, Hawera, Waitotara, Otakeho, Parihaka and elsewhere. Many were recognised as natives, who had formerly been in'gaol. Ngahina,' Titokowaru, and other local chiefs came somewhat late. The native Rangiaeta, who' was the leading man at Mokoia at the entry on Lysaght’s land, seemed up till 11 o’clock to be the chief man, and presided at the gate. There was no serious rioting after the commencement, and by halfpast 11 o’clock the Maori women were preparing food for a meal, and the Maoris’ working bullocks, hacks, drav horses, buggies and drays were scattered all over the 10-acre paddock. By this hour the Maoris ceased to stream in. and the Europeans present began to talk of impounding the horses and cattle, or having a try to arrest the ringleaders and turn others off. By a careful count now made there were fully 150 horses belonging to the Maoris on the ground ; as probably there were at least three times as many natives in on foot, in drays, or in buggies, the estimate of 500 above given is probably well within the mark. By a quarter to I‘2 the frame of the whare was nearly up, only the roof being unfinished. About this time the Maoris were told by one of the settlers that, the horses would !>e impounded if they were left in the paddock, and some of them removed "their animals. As the number of white men increased there was more talk of forcing the natives off. The more cool-headed among the white people, however, pointed out that if any kind of rough-and-tumble took place and the Maoris became excited, wtih their tools, spades, axes, cited, with their tools, 'spades, axes, ward resistance. There were now 18' tents on the ground, and the women and children carried in firewood on their backs, lit fires, and set to work cooking the dinner. Many of the Maoris appeared friendly, 'and shook hands with the white men whom they knew.

INSPECTOR PARDY WARNED. About 12.30 the police received news from Mr Dawson, the telegraphist at Manaia, that Inspector Pardy had received word of forcible resistance being offered to the police, he being then at Pungarehu. The message reached him by accident; the telegraphist there heard the message going to Mr Pardy, and took it off to him forthwith. About midday things were more quiet, many Europeans going away for dinner. The Justices on the ground at this time were Messrs Livingston, Yorko and Budge, and whenever any disturbance was threatened they counselled moderation. The natives altogether outnumbered the white men, and seemed likely to do so during the day. Inspector Pardy was expected to arrive during the afternoon, and might possibly bring Colonel Roberts with him. The Manaia telegraphist said that he could not communicate with Wellington until 5 o’clock, as all the offices ’were closed. About 1 o’clock a slight disturbance occurred at the gate. A number of Europeans were congregated there.

when a Maori dray with firewood came up to the gate. Messrs Hastie, junr., and J. D. Mitchell were on horseback in the gateway, which constituted the only fairway into the paddock, which is surrounded by a nigli boxthorn hedge. BLOWS EXCHANGED. A Maori who was then coming in with a bundle of tliatcn found a horseman in his way, and hit the horse on the hindquarters; Mr John Muir, with a shgth switch, hit the Maori; Mr J. D. Mitchell at once rode in and made a blow with liis riding whip at the Maori. There seemed every prospect of a row, but the Europeans were persuaded to draw back, and the drav entered without opposition. Many of the Maoris then sat down to dinner, leaving the roof of the new meeting house open, j They invited some of .the white men to dinner, and pressed Constable Franklin to join them* but he and most of the men declined. -At two o’clock they resumed work at the roof of the whare. By this time the whites from Hawera began to roll up in more force, and they seemed soon likely to be equal in number to the natives. Insjiector Hardy was to appear about 3 o’clock, and it was generally hoped that there would be no disturbance until he or Colonel Roberts came on to the scene. Those Maoris who were asked what they came for said that it was a dispute about land that brought them there. It was noted that many na-

tives who were never previously mixed iip in such matters were now among the most active—-Ngahina, Nga-tai, and other local friendly iietty chiefs, for instance. THE IMPOUNDING. . Between 2 and 3 o’clock plans began to be laid for clearing off the horses, and many of the settlers said that they would not wait for Mr Pardy much longer. Many of the mounted men armed themselves with waddies and whips, and at last, about 3 o’clock, a lot of young men, settlers, and settlers’ sons, of whom, perhaps J. D. Mitchell and R. O. Hendv were the most conspicuous, agreed ’ that they could no longer submit to the trespass being continued. They therefore arranged a party of some .20 white horsemen to drive the natives’ cattle and horses to the nearest pound. They proceeded to do this, somewhat against the wishes of the more cold-blooded among those present. The gate was taken off the hinges, and carried a short distance down the road; meantime the mounted men were collecting the horses and cattle, over 100 head altogether. So soon as their object was understood by the Maoris they left the whare and massed in a body at the gate, most of them having picked up long poles brought for thatching. A

number also ran out and seized the gate, which they dragged up to the gate way in spite of all efforts made bv a large body of whites. MAORIS ARMING. A most exciting scene was now enacted. The waddies were beino- used and a great tug-of-war for the gate was going on. The Maori women were yelling, a hundred head of cattle were crushing at the gate, disturbing* the mixed mob of men at the gate I noticed several of the old Maoris run to' the heaps of firewood, and arm themselves with axes, which thev poised ready for war to the knife; the cry of alarm raised by the women apparently excited them beyond measure. Mr Livingston and others succeeded in restraining John Roberts and one or two other “wacldy-men” from using their clubs too freely. At this time the Muons gained their point, the cattle being turned from the gate. But the

impounding army were not to be baulked, and forthwith drove the mob to the back gate. Only a few natives with poles followed them there, hut they used their poles frelv, and hit one or two of tlie white men, whether intentionally at .first or not no one can say. A FIGHT.

After a regular hot melee at the gate near Hastie’s nearly all the cattle and horses were seen to be galloping oft ‘down the lower paddocks, and several natives on foot, were being .chased by white men on horseback; Ml- bred Bayly put one native to flight t c ' e , xtei '°bs use of stockwhip; Mr . • Mitchell charged another, strikmg at him with a whin handle. Another native, seeing the fight, made a smart blow at Mr Mitchell with a pole and hit the latter a heavy blow on the he.ad making him fall off the saddle. Mr Hendy, who had been verv active, also received a severe blow. The latter was now- seen riding down a native v nose head was bleeding; and the other natives were beginning fo collect in an excited crowd round the whare.

BLOODSHED FEARED. i , Scant Anderson and others feared bloodshed, as there was every appearance of a row. Mrs Hasti© and ehil--1?? J ' , a T, several neighbours’ wives ran out ol Mr Hastie’s house in a state of gieat alarm, Mr Livingston and Sergeant Anderson promising to do what they could to prevent bloodshed. The Justices present again interposed, and pointed out that there were many defenceless women and children in the district whose homes might he fired, and families butchered for ‘Hitti ” ii the savage blood was once heated by actual Joys of lilo. The intervention «a.s successful, ami the natives ail sat dm\n then in a cluster at their whare. vi ( ’ 1 r llO 'V Proceeded very slowly. Mesaitj Livingston and Yorke examined the natives whose heads were bleeding, and came to the conclusion that their skulls were none the worse for the cracks; in fact, it seemed as if the Hounded on both sides were pretty equal in numbers. One of Ti toko war u’s natives named Iki then made a speech m which he appeared to treat the affair as a joke, Mr J. Muir having explained to them that their h ors es would only be impounded. The purpart of. speech was not translated, as there was no competent interpreter on the ground, but after the speech no more active measures were taken by the Maoris. At 3 o’clock some 20 cattle and horses to the number of 65 were driven past the ground to the pound under a strong guard of white horsemen, some few of the horses escaping and travelling past Hawera. At about half-past three it was clear that the able-bodied Europeans on the ground greatly outnumbered the natives, and it was determined to sweat in 20 or 30 special constables, who should go in and arrest those who in the morning had taken the most aetii e part in the affair, volunteers were called for, and the names 1 of flie '■olu.ntcer constables, so far as we could learn them, were—Messrs. D. Hiipltes, T. Cox, Ai fred Reed, Patterson, Goad Briggs, Walter Young, John Roberts, F. McGovern. Knox, Fred Bayly Deacon, Boyle, R. O. Hendy, Cl. and J<\ rf ovii ci', J oh n son, Du non n, Sutherland. R. Campbell, and one o t - two others. THE ARRESTS. Tinder the leadership of tlifi sergeant and Mr. Jas. Livingston., of Waipepa, and three constables, these men, who formed a fine lot of powerful athletes, marched in a compact body up to where some 200 of the natives wore sitting or standing round the whare. All the constables had been ordered to Rare clubs behind, and they went straight for the natives pointed out by the police. The Maoris at once rose to

their feet, and, though your reporter was at first in the front rank of the horsemen who backed up the foot people, and was aferwards on foot among them, it is impossible to say exactly what took place. The mixed crowd of white and brown men surged to and fro. I saw Mr. McGovern and Mr. fired Bayly evidently enjoying the fight, and one or two remarkably straight-from-the-shoulder blows were given. The crowd surged from right to left, the whites increasing every minute. Mr. Livingston and others had hard work to prevent those outside the crush from using their clubs in aid of their friends, and the excitement was intense. Suddenly, three or lour special constables and a policeman emerged from the ruck with one prisoner, struggling hard. A minute or two later, another native was forced out, one white man singing out, ‘‘don’t choke the beggar!” There had been a- little rough work, and Sergt. Anderand others had as much as they could do to steady the more excitable specials, now under police control. One of them remarked —“He was warn now and was willing to' go and take the lot.” As each ‘Maori who was wanted was dragged out, the i-ino- 0 f white horsemen opened to let him°md his guard through, immediately closing the ranks after they had passed In ten minutes all the Maoris who had taken an active part during the morning were in durance vile, their names bmng—Titokowaru, Ngahina, Kuku. Iti-Lti, Ake Ake, Rangihaeta. Kotakahu. teeigt Anderson having called witnesses to make sure they were the light men, told his • specials he wanted no more; As the wmte men’s spirits rose, so the dejection of the Maoris increased. The gateway had been blocked, by white men, and none'were allowed to get over the fence. Sergeant Anderson then went round, with Mr. Muir as interpreter and Messrs. A. Budge and York* as justices, and told the natives that if they would pack up their traps and co home peaceably no more arrests would be made. This, the women were already doing. Meanwhile a buggy had been got for Titokowaru, who was too weak to walk, and .the other native® 1 were marched off to Manaia under strong escort. A NEW TROUBLE.

Now a new difficulty arose. The white men felt that they had the uppei hand; many of them resented the bold intrusion .of the 11a fives, and seemed determined to give them a. lesson. - Some proposed to destroy the tents and food, the buggies and traps; others to impound them; others to drive them ofi like cattle in a mob. The justices who had just told tlie Maoris that if .they went off home peaceably they would not be molested further, naturally endeavoured to have their words made good. And after a little altercation this spirit of moderation prevailed, Mr. John Hastie consenting to allow the things to be removed. Had he said he would let nothing go, I believe at that time the whites would have upheld his decision. The dejected Maoris then gathered their things together the women seeming to be particularly downcast. The men harnessed themselves in buggies and carts, and after some delav a lane was opened for them through the Europeans, and a regular Roman subjugation march ensued. A few horses had been left in the padclock. They had heavy loads assigned them, and were allowed to go free. There were many who objected to this being done; but as many of the wo men and children and aged natives would necessarily have been exposed in Sunday night, with little shelter food, or covering, when the heat of the moment ha s cooled off thev wP orobably not regret having been merciful. 1

So far as I can learn, not a single white man was hors de combat, dr comole.tely knocked out of time. Messrs. T. D. Mitchell and Hen fly were the only wounded I noticed, and they kept mg to the end

PLUCKY CONSTABLES. High praise is due to the special con. stables for their plucky behaviour and lor the self-control they showed under fcryjng circumstances. The mere. fact that none of the white men were seriously injured showed -that the Maoris were desirous not to shed blood. It was reported that Kereopa, a Waitotara native of bad repute, had made a vicious blow with a pole at one European. Had he struck the white man, he woulj certainly have done him serious, if not'fatal injury. The-police were not aware of this, so Kereopa got awav tlu s time. ' the high hand. /When talking the prisoners to Man-' ala > , Worgeant Anderson met Inspector I aruy, Constable Twomey, and a sergeant and nine men of the’reserve A.C. from Opunake. The prisoners will be sent on to Opunake to-night, and the sergeant will go. to Opunake this morning to prefer charges,. in the first instance of malicious iujuirv to propetlv against them. Mr. Pardy/proceeded to Oakura last night in view of anticipated ploughing there to-day, and would have to travel all night Mr. Ballance has instructed Mr. Partly to put down th<>s t native disturbances at all hazards, and Colonel .Roberts to give every assist aiice. After leaving the prisoners .r Maiiaia, the sergeant returned t<. Hustle s and found the natives bad all left the ground. Constables Tapp ai r ur C^VOr re t m-I \ed to their stations a -“- ;1 wor;i and Normauby last nb>hi And a party of A.C. were left in charge at Manaia last night.

. ri . A WORD OF PRAISE. r J lie police behaved realiv well throughout the day, and earned high praise of their coolness and plucky beSergeant Anderson is to be congratulated on the outcome of a dav which tried the tempers of both races, and in which, upon the whole, the peace was well preserved and the lav, earned into effect.

t A FITTING CONCLUSION. sooner were the Maoris cleared off the ground than a rush was made to the whare, which in ten minutes was levelled to the ground. The earls and waggons were also run out on to the road. All is quiet to-day (Monday). Ao Maoris have appeared on the scene. By Telegraph. WELLINGTON, July, 19. Tim news of yesterday's proceedings on the Plains has caused considerable excitement. Everyone I meet svrnpathises deeply with the settlers in the difficult position in which they are placed, J am urged on every hand to advise you to continue to urge and maintain the greatest care—advice easier given than acted upon, as all acknowledge. Everyone says settlers acted well yesterday, and hope they will continue so to act, throwing the "'hole responsibility of helping thefnree on the Government. This will help the Government, and at the same time prevent any question as to who is to blame should anything now unforeseen occur.

OPUNAKE, July. 19. The expected arrival of /inspector Partly yesterday, with news 'that the Maoris had entered upon Hastie’s land, at Manaia, caused quite a Mutter. Having obtained assistance of 10 Armed Constabulary from Colonel Roberts, the party started for Manaia m conveyances. Mr. Pardy returned

early this morning with six prisoners, who are now in the lock-up under guard-. The brake returned to Manaia- this morning to bring on the remaining three prisoners. " ' It is. rumoured that ploughing was to have been started by the Maoris at Oakura to-day, whither Inspector Partly proceeded, and here on Monday. The one policeman will require a good many pairs of hands and arms to carry out his extra duties. SPECIAL TO THE STAR. ... . MANAIA, Later. All quiet as yet here. The police had a. guard on the pound all night. m, e got . a sergeant and six A.O s . The pbliee expect the Maoris to come and try and release their horses. Sergeant Anderson is remaining, here. Six of the prisoners were sent to Opunake last night Titiokriwaru and two others are still here, and a trap is coming for them. There has been no move on the part of the Maoris ye t t