DRAMATIC INCIDENT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 77, 13 March 1933, Page 5

DRAMATIC INCIDENT

e» ■ SACK OF KORORAREKA. BSTH ANNIVERSARY. The 88th anniversary of the sack of Kururureka, now Russell, by Maori rebels under Hon lieke and Kawiti, fell on Saturday. The incident wt;s One of the most dramatic in the early history of North Auckland, and created great alarm among,!he settlers. The North Auckland natives had been at variance with the Europeans for some time, and some warning of the coming trouble was given when Huke's men cut down the flagstaff on Maiki Hill. Kororareka. twice in 10 Gays in January. 1b45, and again later In the year. He was subsequently joined in rebellion by the influential Kawakawa chief, Kawiti. The flagstaff had been restored by the British by this time, and was set in concrete, with plates of iron casing it at the base. There was a blockhouse near by with a guard of soldiers. The natives, chiefly under Kawiti. attacked the I o in fmee un Marco

11, the flagstaff being hacked down by Heke for the fourth time. The garrison and the settlers, assisted by sailors from H.M.S. Hazard, under Captain Robertson, defended the town valiantly, but they were compelled to retreat to the ship. Kororareka was looted and burned by the Maoris, and three ships left for Auckland with the European refugees. Thanks to Heke’s intervention —the flagstaff was his objective —a portion of the town was saved. A campaign was pursued against the rebels, who scored a success at Ohaeawai. With the assistance of Governor Grey’s leadership, the Maoris were eventually routed at Kuapekapeka Pa on January 11, 1846.