CHEERFUL “MAC”

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6887, 18 April 1929, Page 8

CHEERFUL “MAC”

Family Antecedents SENSATION OF 50 YEARS AGO The cheerful young radio operator of the Southern Cross, Mr. T. H. MeWilliam, whoso spirit of fortitude under diffiicultics is emphasised, in the accounts of the party’s adventures, has more than a passing interest for Auckland people. He is a nephew and fost-er-son of Mr. William Daldy McWilliam, who took charge of him in infancy, on the death of his own father, Mr. Charles McWilliam, and has many relatives still living in the Thames and Ohinemuri districts. This is not the first time that the McWilliain family has been concerned in matters that have keenly stirred public feeling. Fifty years ago, Mr. Daldy McWilliam himself was the central figure in a sensational matter that involved his being shot, occasioned the mustering of armed forces, and threatened to become an actual native difficulty. The incident occurred on August 29, 1879, at Rotokohu, between Paeroa and Tc Ahoha. soon after the opening of the Ohinemuri goldfields. Attack by Fifteen Maoris. Mr. McWilliam and a half-castc, Thomas Powdcrell, were out as chainmen with Messrs. D. H. Bayldon and J. Crump, surveyors, engaged upon the survey of a block of land which had just previously been purchased on behalf of the Government. While so occupied the party was fired upon by natives of the Ngatibako tribe. There were 15 Maoris in the attacking party, and Mr. McWilliam stated in his account of his experience that on coming within about 10yds. one of the number called out “pakeha, you must die,” and then fired at him from a double-barrelled gun. A bullet took off the ends of two of Mr. McWilliam’s fingers. As he turned to run away the assailant fired again. This time a bullet entered his hip and came out at the groin. Thereupon, Mr. McWilliam fell to the ground, face downward, and feigned death. The assailant then came up. cut off some of his hair with a knife, amt put it into his own mouth —an action that was supposed, according to Maori custom, to be indicative of revenge. Pursuit of Other Men. As the three other men of the survey party ran away, the natives fired a volley after them, but did no further harm. The natives followed in pursuit, leaving McWilliam for dead. After they had disappeared he crawled out of the bush, in great pain, and met some friends, with whose assistance ho was taken into Paeroa, and eventually to the Thames Hosiptal. There he remained under treatment for several weeks, eventually making a complete recovery. _ The news of the outrage made a colonial sensation, and caused an especial stir at Thames, then a strong centre of volunteering. The Thames Scottish Corps had a detachment resident at Paeroa. Major Murray, the officer commanding the district, at once instructed these men to plaeo themselves at the disposal of the police, at the same time telegraphing to the Government that he was prepared to send 200 men at once, and to raise 400 or 500, fully armed and equipped, within a few hours. Native. Minister’s Address. The Paeroa detachment turned' out,

at midnight of the day of outrage, and they, with the Armed Constabulary force and friendly natives, made several parades of demonstration in the next day or two. Captain Fraser, warden of the ’Hauraki goldfields at the time, advertised for 50 volunteers with two days’ rations to proceed to Rotokohu, but after conferring with Major Murray, decided to take no futrker action in tho matter until he received Government instructions. Two days after the outrage the Native Minister, the Hon. John Sheehan, met the natives of Komata at tho Paeroa nail, and addressed them in stern language a 3 indicative of his intentions toward the Ngatihakos, who had previously been obstructive to Government plans. He told them that ho intended to open up a road from Thames to Ohinemuri —a project until then obstructed by these same Komata Maoris and also to lay .the telegraph line, and that when ho had got these and the railway line, he Would be prepared to say that he had got satisfaction for the outrage. There were negotiations for many clays, but the Ngatihakos refused to surrender the two natives said to be most directly concerned in the shooting. Numcrbus korcros took place between the heads of tribes and the Government nativo agents, and Thames and Auckland remained in a simmer of excitement for two or throe weeks. Then the affair died down, the Government took its road, telegraph and railway routes, Daldy McWilliam’s hospital expenses were paid by the State, and nothing more was heard about the matter.