THE FRONTIER DAYS

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4818, 2 August 1939, Page 2

THE FRONTIER DAYS

AFTER THE WAIKATO WAR. EARLY SETTLER'S ADVENTURES. MEMORIES OF KING TAWHIAO. Stirring days in the Waikato frontier town, Alexandra, now Pirongia, in the years following the Waikato War were recalled by Mr. George Miles, of Hamilton, who, with Mrs. Miles, celebrated his diamond wedding on Saturday. Speaking to a Waikato Times reporter, Mr. Miles had many interesting tales to relate. He remembered vividly the surrender of the Maori King, Tawhiao, to Major Mair at Alexandra in 1881 and also

held recollections of seeing the notorious rebel, Te Kooti, after his murderous adventure in the Poverty Bay. Winiata, who was responsible for a murder after which he escaped to the King Country was also a familiar figure to Mr. Miles. The visit of Sir George Grey to the Waikato when he was Governor of New Zealand was another important event which Mr. Miles was able to recall. Mr. Miles came to the Waikato in 1878. He worked as a blacksmith in various parts of the district and in 1881 started a business of his own at Alexandra. The sparks of the Waikato War were still glowing on the Wai-kato-King Country frontier, the Maori King and his followers having fled to the highlands in the south after their defeat at the battle of Orakau.

Visit of Tawhaio

"I was living at Alexandra when Tawhiao and 600 followers marched in from the King Country and laid down their arms before Major Mair as a mark of lasting friendship," said Mr. Miles. "Until that time the KinsCountry was forbidden territory and nobody was allowed to cross the bridge which separated it from the border towns of the Waikato.

"Another familiar figure at Alexandra about that time was Te Kooti," Mr. Miles continued. "He was engaged in a tour of the country after receiving a pardon from the Government following his murderous escapades in the Poverty Bay district."

One of Mr. Miles' most vivid memories was connected with the visit of Sir George Grey to Alexandra. The

Governor and his party were taken up the Waipa River to Kopua, above Alexandra, in three gigantic war canoes each manned by between 60 and 70 paddlers.

"With three other lads I rode up one bank of the river close to where the reception was to be accorded Sir George," said Mr. Miles. "About 2000 Maoris had assembled on the spot and they broke into a frantic war-dance, the last of its kind seen in these parts. It was a terrifying scene and we boys were rather sorry we had gone there."

Surveyor Murdered.

An interesting sequel to the murder in 1870 of a surveyor named Todd was recounted by Mr. Miles. A friend and he discovered on the slopes of

Pirongia Mountain a surveyor's chain and other material. That was in 1880. Later he made inquiries and found that Todd had been murdered in the vicinity of the discovery by a Maori named Jikiahu and it was almost certain that the instruments had belonged to him.

Winiata, who, after murdering a man named Packer by whom he was employed, escaped to he King Country, was a familiar figure to Mr. Miles. A reward was offered for the capture of Winiata, and a big half-caste Maori, Bob Barlow, accompanied by a white man named Paddy Connell, arranged a visit to Winiata in his King Country refuge on the pretence of buying pigs. By that trick they were able to capture the outlaw.

"Barlow was afterwards mysteri ously shot in the yard of the Royal

Exchange Hotel at Alexandra. I heard the shot from were I was living close by." said Mr. Miles. "They took the victim, who was wounded, away where he could be protected." The Te Mahuke Scare. How the Maori warrior Te Mahuke rode into Alexandra and threatened the residents with death was another episode of the early days well remembered by Mr. Miles. Te Mahuke had captured a Government surveyor named Hursthouse and another man called Nesham and tied them to a tree. Both managed to free themselves and reach the township. Later Te Mahuke arrived at Alexandra with 40 followers from the King Country. Hursthouse was there with the police and he strode up to Te Mahuke, pulled him off his horse and performed a war dance on his body. The police arrested Te Mahuke and sent him to Auckland.

The sailing vessel, Hydaspes, brought Mr. Miles to New Zealand. He arrived at Auckland in 1874. It was intended that he should leave London by the Cospatrick, but he missed the boat and heard later, that it had been burned at sea, all but three on board losing their lives.