AN OLD STORY RE-TOLD

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6003, 12 February 1881, Page 6

AN OLD STORY RE-TOLD

THE DEFEAT OF THE HAUHAUS AT

HAWKE'S BAY. Here is an old story re-told, namely, the defeat of the Hauhaus in Hawke's Bay on October 13, IS6G. As at the present time the colony is pestered witli a similar band of fanatics as disturbed the peace of Napier in ISG6, and as the means then adopted for their destruction were successful, as pi oved by the fact that there has been no further attacks in the province of Hawke's Bay, the means then adopted will, I believe, yet have to be repeated at Parihaka, for assuredly there will be no permanent peace until they of Taranaki arc thoroughly subdued and conquered. As an eye witness, and one who took part in the affair, I will, as far as memory and a few notes assist, give an account of it.

In the latter part of September, ISG6, a body of Hauhaus came down from the bush of Titiokura and Tarawera, about ninety in number, and camped at Petane, about twelve miles north of Napier. After living there a short time, and maturing their plans, they moved to a native settlement on the banks of the Tutaliikuri, called Omaranui, the site since of the notorious litigation between tlie natives and Jlr. Sutton, M.H.R. The chief of Omarauui, Paora Kaiwhatu, left the settlement, and went to live at Tarehas pa, four I miles nearer Napier. The then Superintend- ! ent of Hawke's Bay, Mr. Donald McLean, ( had frequent communications with them as to their object, but elicited no satisfactory reply. On the Ist or '2nd of October, the : body of Hauhaus was further increased by the" arrival of between 40 and 50 mora Hauhaus under two scoundrels named Panapa and Paori Toki. Another body, upwards of 100 strong, "was known to be on their way from the bush to Petane, all of them were well armed with doubleguns. The inhabitants of Napier were beginning to be alarmed as the country settlers were coming into the town for safety. On the Tuesday before the Friday of the attack, Mr. Hamlin went to their camp with a notice from Mr. McLean ordering them to leave the district. They replied they would not go, for they were prepared either for peace or war, and would be guided by their Prophet-leader, Panapa. Here was a state of affairs similar to that now existing at Parihaka. All trade was at a stand in Napier, and the feeling was one of anything but confidence in the local natives. It was known that To Hapuku was a Hauhaii, and had n Hanhau pole erected at his pa at Poukawa. Karaitiana was kuown to be an adherent of the King, and as for Tareha, who had visions of the Angel Gabriel, he was waiting to go iu on the winning side. The steamer Star of the ; South was chartered to bring from. To Wairoa Major Eraser and his body of military settlers, with the two friendly chiefs, Ihaka and Kopu, and as many of their men as would come. They arrived in Napier on the afternoon of Thursday. The militia and volunteers were called out both in town and country. It was still hoped, as is hoped now, that the natives would see the folly of their actions, but this was not to be. A Gazette was issued, and men called out for active service. Ammunition was served out to the men, who were to close with the disturbers of the district. At 11 o clock on Thursday night Captain Buchanan, with about fifty volunteers, marched from the town at midnijht. Companies Nos. 1 and 2 Militia followed jeightysix iu number), under Captain Kennedy (brother of Captain Kennedy, of the Hawea). The Country Companies Nos. Z and 4 were on the move also for their respective destinations. Major Eraser and his company of military settlers crossed the ferry and marched to Petane. It,now became known that Tareha had twelve or fifteen large canoes hidden in the swamps about the

Tutahikuri. A part} 7 was told off to seize them, under Captains Gordon and Cellem. 'The canoes were large tiwais, and would hold from twenty to sixty each. An attempt was made to briiu them to Napier, but failed, and they were cast adrift. Some went over the bar to sea; the rest were stranded on the inud flats.

At daylight on Emkiy the whole of the forces were opposite the Hauhau encampment—the friendly natives on the hills, the militia and volunteers on the flats. A flag of truce was sent with a demand for an unconditional surrender. It was laughed at by the Hauhaus. Panapa was heard to call his people not to give in for his God had promised him the plunder of Napier. The Hauhaus were plainly seen dancing round their pole with sliQuts of pai morire. At half past seven, another and final flag of truce was sent for surrender. The answer of the natives was that they were quite ready for the fight, and only awaiting for the attack. At this time Companies 3 and 4 came on the ground. The order was given to cross the river and attack the Hauhaus. And here a fact showing the bad generalship or intense infatuation of the Hauhaus became prominent, for as the militia was crossing the river thigh deep and the water very cold, the current so strong that it was with difficulty the men could keep their

feet, the Hauhaus never fired a shot, when, had they done so they could have done much injury and thrown the advance in confusion for a time. Had they not been so infatuated, or had they attacked instead of waiting to be attacked, the mjlitia if not defeated would certainly have suffered heavy loss, and perhaps have had to retreat. As it was there were sonic white faces., but sfcill they crossed in the face of to them certain firing. They deserve credit certainly for the way they crossed and mounted the steep bank under the pa. No. 2 Company came under fire first. A man of No. 4 Company was shot dead, and one or two wounded. It was curious to sec the look of astonishment some of the men put on at the commencement of the tiring. One or two officers were seen to be taking particular good care of their bodies. One nearly cut his nose oif with his sword, another hid himself in a bed of thistles, and never showed out till all was over. The firing continued for nearly two hours. Colonel Whitmore was seen wherever there was danger. After receiving a tremendous fire for two hours' a Hauhau ran out with a white flag, and surrendered. At this time the Volunteers charged like mad. headed by an infuriated captain, but unfortunately for their glory they were too late, the militia having captured the pa. The dead and wounded were seen in all directions. Some women were -wounded, and one child shot in the arm. Panapa, the prophet, was shot dead. The prisoners were some 50 in number, while 30 or 40 escaped. The killed were between 25 and 30, the wounded about the same number. Among the prisoners was a paid Government assessor. Upon the European side we had one shot dead, one died of wounds, one friendly native lulled, one officer and eight men wounded, three or four friendly natives wounded. The natives collected the dead and some that, were not quite dead and bundled them into two holes they had dug. The Militia inarched back to town tired enough. Major Fraser met at Pctane on the same day a body of Hauhaus going to the assistance of their friends, and attacked and killed iwelve and wounded five, the remainder fled, one only of Eraser's men being wounded. After the affair the loyalty of the Hawke's Bay natives was tremendously exuberant, and they have given no cause for anxiety since. This is perhaps the proper way to settle all such questions, not by commis- ; sions, but by powder and ball. Subduing is I not sufficient, the Maoris must be conquered. I Nothing but fear will ever keep Tc Whiti ' and the crcw at Pariiiaka from running a j muck, for there is sufficient Malaj' blood I yet in them to delight in isolated murders, ! generally of women and children. The Maoris are all naturally murderously inclined. They inherit it from their ancestors, when a slight or insult of any kind could be only wiped out by blood. As for their socalled civilisation it docs not exist, nor ever did. They are getting cornered, they have left oir working their land, and are full of fancied or real injury. They cannot compete with Europeans nor equal them, and as for a mixture of the races, it is impossible. All missionary efforts after the immense sum of £000,000, drained principally from the poor of Great Britain, has been spent upon efforts to Christiauise them, have totally failed.

•.The "fever-destroying tree,"oreucalyptus family, have come prominently into notice within tlie past three or four years. We are gradually ascertaining the medicinal uses for which they seem to bo most suitable—bronchitis, nml in fact nearly all lung complaints would come within their scope. One of our Auckland chemists, Mr. Aickin, has made quite a hit with his preparations of the eucalyptus, combined with liypophosphites of lime and quinine for consumption. Indcod it would seem but reasonable that tills prepara tion would apply in such cases, as Dr. Churchill created a now idoa in the theory of chest diseases when he propounded phosphorus (as hypophosphltes) as a remedy. "Facts are things that winna ding," and the results havo so far been moat favourable.