A Survivor’s Tales

Hawera Star, Volume L, 10 April 1930, Page 20 (Supplement)

A Survivor’s Tales

Close-up Fighting Incidents

Vivid Memories of Maori War

i The following interesting historical sketch was supplied by “Veteran” to the “liawera Star” some years ago, but it will bear repetition here as a vivid reminder of the turbulent 1 early days passed through by the early settlers of this district.

I shall endeatour, ror the benefit of the rising generation especially, to place on record a few incidents that came under my own observation during the sixties, at a time when the Maoris entertained such a feeling of animosity against the pakeha that it was not safe* to go any distance from encampments alone or in small parties. -Before, however, dealing with local matters, I should like the youth of this district to realise, as I do, that there is hardly a yard of ground along the coast from Mokau to Patea that is not historical. Prior to the advent of the pakeha the Maoris themselves made terrible raids on each other, and as the coastline contained numerous habitations it is evident that there are innumerable spots where something important took place. The Waimate Plains is lull of history. Opunake, amongst other things, was the scene of a wreck (Lord Worsley) that was nearly attended by a tragic end. for it is just a miracle that the whole of those on hoard were not massacred

named Emmerson, whose condition was so bad that he could hardly walk. Haggerty and I were riding close together a short distance in front oi the cart, the other trooper being behind. The Maoris fired at close range and missed me by a hair’s breadth, a bullet striking the head of Haggerty's horse, which reared up and fell backwards dead. We could do nothing to save Haggerty, whom the Maoris tomahawked immediately the horse fell. However, the other trooper and myself managed to get Emmerson safely to Waihi. This took place in view of Waihi camp, and ,so hurried were the Maoris that they had not even time to rifle Haggerty’s, pockets, where they would have found £6 in notes. One house in the cart was killed, but the remaining horse was taken by the Maoris. The contents of the cart, however, were not touched. The escort on this occasion was ridiculously small, and the officer responsible for sending it received a sever,--

party of natives. Instead of running away, ire dropped wiiat potatoes he had and went towards the Maoris with extended hand. The chief (WlieroiQ said afterwards this act saved the man's life, for had he attempted to run it would have meant certain death. Hennessy was taken prisoner and held captive for fifteen months, when die escaped and got back to Manawapou. He was tried for desertion, but fortunately for him Wheroa came in and gave evidence that acquitted him. \\ heroa, who was a brother of Tutangi (one of Titokowaru’s chief lighting men), lost his life while crossing the Patea railway bridge some yeans jater, a train overtaking him. in 1866 the late Captain W. Newland, who was stationed at the Pound Bush (old liawera) swore in 80 Maoris ns friendlies, they having signified their willingness to light for Her Majesty Queen Victoria. Needless to say they tsoon forgot their pledge, for in 1867 the same natives ordered the surveyors off the Mokoia block, the late Mr. Percy Smith being in charge. A native with a half-cocked rifle ordered them to get out, and one of the survey party wanted to kill him. Mr. Smith, however, knew what the result of interfering with the native would be, and said quietly, “For God’s sake keep still, or we shall all be slaughtered.’’ It was afterwards ascertained that the half-cocked gun held by tilt?-. Maori originally belonged to a 40th man, and was' possibly taken during the fight at Puketakuere, Waitara, in June, 1.860, when the 40th Regiment ■ suffered severely. In 186/ a Maori caused some little excitement at tne MoKoia miouot oy naming oil witu two riaex. me got se. er<n cxiums away before tne men in amp realised what was n;qjpeiun a , when lie was iieaued on, orougux. oae.., ana tried lor stealing. His excuse was rather a novei one. lie said lie and liis wile lam liad a row tne m&nc uc.ore,ana lie wanted someone to shoot him. He thought stealing the guns would have tne desired euect. They let him off. , ‘ / it was at the Kakapirau stream, between \\ liaJcamara ana Meremere, that the last Maoris in the Taranaki war were killed. 'The Maoris were being followed from place to place by the Uoloniai forces, and several were shot at the spot named. Now for a tew lines on the ancient Maori, in conclusion. In the very, early days tlie \\ aikatos came down and besieged a pa at Tongalioe, on tlie Ohangai road, ror over twelve months they Kept up tlie siege, and eventually got all but one man. This emphasises the statement made at the commence- , uient of this story that the Maoris themselves created many historical spots. The Maoris had a flourmill between Tongalioe and Mokoia railway station. To show that there was no go-slow p-oliey umoiigst tlie Maoris away back it is worthy of mention that they carried flour on their backs from the millto Wanganui. Wheat was brought to tlie mili in the same manner.

j lie .rianiet j;eaaij lui vuei lunuiu: Nl*m’ llymoutli, was tlie scene or i tragedy as Tar oack as i<334, ivueu tin iiamet was wrecked aud tuose ot board taken prisoners, mciuunig tm captain's wife (Mrs. Guard; and clmu Several of the crew were killed . ant eaten, 1 am sorry to say. Nearer hoim we iiave le Ngutii and luruturu, these are incidents of modern times, but tlie Maoris themselves inemoraole spots all along toe coastline, and it is a pity tnat more is nui eiowii by New Zealanders or tne eun\ nsLory of tins country—some ol it 'luesoine, but taken altogether it lorinis an attractive study. w ith these few introductory renarks i shall now' deal with the little ometery near the mouth of the lngalapi, supplementing the story witn one ir two incidents that should interest lie reader. to tlie best or my recollection tlie re

i reprimand. Alter that escorts were much larger —-sometimes fifty. Years later, when all trouble between the races was over, some of the Maoris connected with the. ambush informed me how they planned to get the nve men, but two of us .being m front was the stumbling block, itventual.y they decided to lire a volley into riug-erty and myself hoping to get both of us, and then devote their at-, tent ion to the others. They were terribly’ disappointed to tliinit that they only got one. Another ambuscade was laid at the same place by the Maoris ’in 18-38, but on this occasion they got the surprise, for they only succeeded in killing a military horse, whereas several natives were known to have been shot. A CLOSE CALL. Whilst our yetting potatoes from a Maori -plantation near Vue present Manutahi railway station in lStid, one of the garrison from the Manawapou redoubt, named Hennessy, lormerly of the 57th Regiment, was surprised by a

try—four directly connected with the Maori war, and tour seamen. The latter were endeavouring to ertect a landing from a steamer m a small boat at the mouth of the Ingaiiapi, when tne boat was upset in tne surf, and ai. were drowned. i do not think any headstones were erected where these men were buried. George Phillpots was buried there, lie w<.s attached to the commissariat, ana two of his horses having strayed a way I ruin camp, lie went to look for them. The Maoris amtnvsliecl linn near uiicie tne Manutahi Hotel now stands, ami he was tomahawked 'This was in 1860. in March, 1836, three men- belonging to the Hand Transport Corps were . miming their way mini u amgoiigoi .< to Maimwnpou redoubt, when they were waylaid by a large party of Maoris, one named Smitn being shot; also two horses. The other two succeeded in reaching camp. The body or Smith was afterwards recovered and buried at ingaiiapi. I cannot sa.> whether there was a headstone. Patrick Dennis Spain was buried in 1866. He was accidenta.lv shot at Pokaikai by one of his companions during a raid on a Maori village, ispain was in the act of pulling a Maori out of a whare when his companion’s gun went oil and shot him dead. Spam was a Victorian, and came to New Zealand with the Melbourne military settlers. He was a great friend of the late Mr. tan Hughes. FATAL BRUSH WITH THE MAORIS Trooper Michael Haggerty had originally belonged to the 40th Regiment, ancl took his discharge before the draft left New Zealand He was shot sit Ketomnrae on September 83, 1806. I a as one of a party of five 011 the occasion—three troopers acting as sin escort to a cart driven by the hue George Tuiiin. In the cart, besides commisssirint stares, was a sick man,