THE WAIRAU MASSACRE.

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 183, 4 August 1920, Page 6

THE WAIRAU MASSACRE.

INTERESTING' REMINISCENCES

The personal experience of the late Mr Knowles in respect to the effect on Wellington of the Wairau Massacre was an interesting note in a paper read before the Early Settlers and Historical Association at Wellington by Mr W. A. Edwards, the historical secretary. It was as follows:—

"I was lying in bed on Sunday morning, June 18th, 1843, Avhen I was attracted by the sound of a bugle call. On going out I learnt that the Government brig had run across from Cloudy Bay and reported that on the previous day there Jiad been a collision between a party of special constables and others headed by Captain Wakefield and Mr Thompson, P.M. of Nelson, and some Maoris, at the Wairau. Captain Richards had come over to consult the Magistrates and obtain instructions. The settlers were invited to

meet opposite Barrett's Hotel at 9 or 10 o'clock. I was there, and

after speechifying the young men were asked to to go over to Cloudy Bay with certain Magistrates and act as circumstances dictated. I was then clerk in the office of Colonel Wakefield, and was instructed to see that a supply of arms and ammunition was placed en board, together with provisions for a few days. This H did not take long, and by mid-day the Victoria was ready to sail with ?bout 70 young men, the local Magistrates, Colonel Wakefield, Mr H. St. Hill, Dt Evans, and others. As the vessel was going out the wind came suddenly up from the south, and we had to anchor off Somes Island. Oh

the third day tho gale had blown itself out, and as it was thought by « the Magistrates to be then too late to make an armed demonstration, they decided that the Victoria should return to Wellington and land the volunteers, many of whom were suffering from sear-sickness. The wind changing the next day, the Magistrates sailed for Cloudy Bay, which was reached the same evening. Further reference to the incident cannot be made here. I can only mention in reference to the arms issued that long afterwards I loaned the rifle given me to drill with to a Native to shoot pigeons with. He told me he attempted to fire fifteen times, and on the sixteenth attempt succeeded. Comment is needless. They were flintlocks. Had our volunteers made an attack on the Maoris with them, it might have been the worse for us."