SIXTY YEARS AGO

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 8 January 1927, Page 6

SIXTY YEARS AGO

TE NGUTTJ-O-TE-MANTJ TRAGIC HISTORY RECALLED. I Stirring incidents relating to the history of the Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu domain and the scenes enacted during the ti acr\(* ©pisode which resulted m the deatn of Major von Tempsky and many of Ini followers were recounted in a brief, but interesting, address delivered at the domain on Friday by the 1 • • * Fletcher, of Normanby, to a gatheun of approximately 120 ooy scouts, 1 had marched to the scene from their jamboree encampment on the Normanby Road A fluent speaker and possessed of an intimate knowledge of Ins subiect Mr Fletcher held the rapt attention’ of the boys as he detailed tbe happenings of .sixty years ago, when, m marked contrast with the present- panorama of prosperous homesteads, the enviriofis of the park and surrounding country over a wide expanse was densely covered with trackless, virgin fores which .presented almost superhuman difficulties to the Government forces then engaged in the Maori war. The speaker was formally introduced to the hoy scouts by Commissionei Major F W. Saudford, under whose command they .had marched to the ning r6mia , r k s< Mr. Fletcher explained that his information had been largely gleaned through reading the accounts written by Thomas Bracken. Kimbell Bent. Major Thos. }\ . Gudgeon 0„1 G. Hamilton (“Maori’ ) Browne, and' the latest and best included m James Cowan’s history of the New Zealand Wars. Referring to the work ol “Maori” Browne, he explained that, while it would appear the author had actually taken part in the engagement, it was generally understood that the writer’s knowledge was secondhand Mr. Fletcher was pleased to learn’, in answer* to inquiries, that some of the boys had read the works referred to. 'j TTOKOWARU ’ S HEIADQ U ARIERfe. “One of the central figures m tinhistory of Te Ngutu, said Mr. Fletcher, “was the Maori chief, Titokowaru, the leader of the Hail Hans, as the re net natives were called. In August, 1868, hi.s headquarters were temporarily located at Te Ngutu-o-te-Mauu, an attack on which was planned to be made by the Government forces under Lieuten ant-Cblonel McDonnell. On the morning of August 21, a double column under his command totalling some 350 all ranks, set out for Te Ngutu from the district headquarters at the Wailn redoubt, some seven miles to the saute of Te Ngutu and adjacent to the present town of Normanby. One column was led by Major von Tempsky and the rtherby Major Hunter. Te Ngutu p was not strongly fortified after t . usual manner of the native strong holds, and on this occasion was success-,-ully 'stormed in daylight with comparatively light casualties to the attackers, the losses comprising only four men killed and eight wounded. “On the assault of the Government troops, the defenders tied. Some u. the huts were fired, but the attache.subsequently withdrew and by the even ing of the same day were back at Waihi.

“The second engagement which took place on September 7 —approximately two weeks later —was, however, not -so successful. The objective was a pa called Ruaruru, supposed to be in the rear of Te Ngutu, though the exact location of the former was not known. “Late in the evening of September 6 two hundred European troops, comprising representatives of the armed constabulary, forest rangers and British Army services, and 70 friendly Maoris from the Wanganui district, left Waihi. Only 'a small proportion of the whites, however, were veterans in hushcraft. The night was wet and bitterly cold and proved particularly unpleasant for the Maoris of the contingent, who, according to native fashion, travelled barefoot and wore very little clothing. “Two miles had been covered when they came to the flooded waters of the Waingongoro river, whose icy waters '•ose breast high as the men forded it, linked arm in arm to prevent their being swept away. SEARCH FOR HAL HAL S.

“At dawn on idle seventh the Gov eminent forces were deep into the uusn. i lie y were not ueimite at; to the where - abouts oi the iiau Haus, though i. nad been reported tliat Titokowaru haa laden back oil the inland pa or Kuaruru. Proceeding through the bu-.. iii a .straight line tlie advance party lightly blazed a track and shortly after midday a lengthy line running practically north and south ~ been cut.

"By this time the strain of the arduous passage through the bush was being felt by the less hardy members of the expedition. Hunger added to die general discomfort, as most of the rations were sodden with river antt rain water, and no fires could he lit owing to the danger of the presence oi the force being betrayed to the enemy. After a conference of leaders it was decided to strike back in a southerly direction, as it appeared the maieh had been continued beyond Te Ngutu ana Uuururu. At about two o’clock another halt was called, and Te Kepa, the chief of the Wanganui Maoris, ordered one of his men to climb a gigantic rata to obtain an outlook. Tut* observer reported that he could sec smoke about half a mile to the south, and could hear sounds of a hakn. This indicated that the Tlau Haus could not he aware of the proximity oi the Government forces, and it was thought a surprise might be ejected by tne attackers.

“Colonel McDonnell accordingly ordeied an immediate advance. Te Kepa with his 70 men took the van, followed by Major Von Tempsky with 100 whites, while the colonel and Major Hunter brought up the rear with the other hundred. Less, than hali-a-mile imd been covered when Te Kepa’s men came to a tent, outside which was standing a wahine, whose screams, as she ran to give the alarm, dispelled all hopes of effecting a surprise assault. Extreme caution was necesitatcd and was employed in the advance. The dense bush effectively concealed the settlement, and, while the leaders deemed it was Te Ngutu, and was probably the lurking place of Titokowaru, they were traversing strange ground, as the attack was being made from the north and not the south as previously FATEFUL INDECISION. “The colonel’s orders were that Te Kepa was to deploy his men in extended order to the left, so as to surlouiul the pa on that side, and Von Tempsky was to execute a similar movement to the right, while the remainder were to advance in extended order to the front. It was difficult to keep this formation in the busli, and when the Mangotahi creek—then of larger dimensions than the present narrow channel running through the domain—was encountered by the colonel’s column, a big number, closely bunched together, were fired upon by the defenders of the pa, who inflicted

many casualties. An attempted rush pro cod i msuccess! n! ■ ''Snipers posted in Lite lofty rata frees li:od wit h deadly efleet into the ranks ot' the attackers, and the creek bed was enfiladed from a low, wellhushed hill which the Hnu Hans were manning in force. VON TKMPSKY’S END. ‘‘Major Von xempsky asked permission to make a farther attempt to starm the place, in this he was supported by Major Hunter, but the colonel, being unaware of the number of the defenders, was temporarily undecided as to the best course to pursue. To that indecision the failure of the expedition has been ascribed, it being subsequently shown that the defenders were 'greatly outnumbered, and it being considered that they must have capitulated had the assault been pressed. 'The colonel, however, considered it his duty to extricate his forces with as little loss as possible, ai*d gave the order to retire.

"The accounts of Major \mi I ellipse's death indicate that. while a Availing the order to advance, lie attempted to reconnoitre the position in his vicinity, and was shot at close range by a defender, whose name lias been given by Cowan as Rangihinakau, Plucky endeavours to assist the intrepid major At'ere made by ttvo of his oificers, Captains Buck and Palmer, but they also were fatally shot. Though rumours of cannibalism were for a time connected with the disposal ol : Major Von Tempsky’s body, they were found to be groundless, and it was shown that it was burnt by the natives, who recognised the valour of n worthy foe. “As the Government forces withdrew they carried as many as possible of those AvhO were wounded. Much difficulty was experienced with the stretcher-bearing work through the bush, and four men were detailed to each stretcher. In this duty Te Kepn’s valiant warriors played a notable part. Most of the detach-

ments spent the night- in the bush, one of the last to arrive at Wailii in the early hours of September S being tmu under Inspector J. M. Roberts, now Colonel Roberts, N.Z.C., residing at Rotorua. The casualties sustained by the Government forces in this attack numbered 24 killed and 26 wounded. So ended the unfortunate expedition against Tikokowaru in his headquarters at Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu.” In conclusion the Rev, Fletcher urged his hearers to take every opportunity of gleaning knowledge'of their own country, and to endeavour, as far as possible, to appreciate the lessons afforded in its history. He stressed further the value of self-reliance, together with the ability to think and act rightly anti quickly, and he appealed to the boys to cultivate the application of the precept given in the scout motto, “Be Prepared.” Suitable appreciation of the address given was expressed on behalf by the gathering by the camp governor, Commissioner F. W. Horner.