Passing Maori Memories

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7192, 26 June 1933, Page 6

Passing Maori Memories

No. 146.

PONONGA WAHINE PAKEHA. [Recorded by “ J.H.S.” for tlio Times. ] Tho capture of Mr 3 John Gard, wife of Captain Gard of the Harriet, wreeked near Cape Egmont on April 29, 1834, is probably the only instance in which a white woman and her two children re mained prisoners with the Maoris for several months. The absence of newspapers or other means of record has led to many conflicting reports. The only indignity inflicted upon them was to strip them naked; but as her captors wero also innocent of robes, their action must not be misinterpreted. The Maori women, observing her distress, though they did not quite understand it, handed her a flax kaitaka (mat), and fed the three captives on roast potatoes. Her luisband and his men were also prisoners some 25 miles up the coast; but they were released on promise of a barrel of gunpowder as ransom. They crossed and recrossed Cook Strait in a leaky boat, and eventually reached Wellington in the desperate search for help. After five months of negotiations with the local representatives of the British Government, Gard in despair reached Sydney. H.M'.S. Alligator with a detachment of tho 10th. regiment, Captain Gard, an interpreter, and tho promised barrel of gunpowder arrived on the scene. After much misunderstanding due to the imperfect knowledge of the language on both sides, a bombardment, and more killings, Mrs Gard robed in a much-prized and handsome Maori mat, with one child wero handed over in exchange for the barrel of powder, with which to shoot more pakeha invaders. Iu the eventual rescue of the other child, in which big gun and rifle Are played a more heroic part than with the kidnappers of the Lindbergh baby, many more Maori and pakeha soldiers lost their lives.