SUBMISSION OF THE HAUHAUS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10752, 13 May 1898, Page 3 (Supplement)

SUBMISSION OF THE HAUHAUS.

THEY GIVE UP THEIR ARMS. , : ARREST OP THE RINGLEADERS.' [by TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPOSDKXT.] ; Bawsxb, May. ;''-, ' Mr. HonoHeke arrived shortly afterlight ■''"'.'; o'clock in the evening, and, -though'■■;!■ fatigued with the fasbride from Kawakaira, .'■ along the road from which place relays : horses had been placed ;by arrangement, left immediately for Hone Toia'a -campy'-... where he consulted with the•• disaffected ; natives. He strongly advised them to-cease . v j from further wrongdoing, and especially from- /: carrying out their threats against the armed ;. forces in their midst. 1 Ho reasoned, re-* ••• buked, and pleaded in turn with thenatives,! and received a patient hearing, every Maori . . present listening intently to his words, which' were spoken with considerable feeling. It ' was eventually arranged that Mr. Hone Heko would hold another korero with'the : natives this morning, and he returned Ho ' Waima showing evident sigus of having been much affected by his meeting with the > natives. Colonel Newell intimated that lie, intended adhering to his promise to keep the troops encamped at the schoolhouse until midday, and that after that hour he would march towards the place where the Maoris were encamped. •

This morning at nine o'clock, Mr. Hone Hcke, accompanied by chiefs Hapakuku, Noetara, Retctai, Penetaui, and Hereni Te Waki, and the Herald special reporter, left Waima for the Maori meeting place, where all the men and women had congregated, Hone Toia, Romana, and Hone Mete taking up prominent positions. There must have "been about 250 men, women, and children present. The visitors, who were received with quiet dignity, and no little curiosity by all except the leaders, seated themselves on mats immediately opposite the large meeting house. The Maoris had discarded their fighting clothes, and Romana, instead of being clothed in his usual fantastic garb of scarlet, was quietly dressed. Hone Toia was well dressed in European clothes, aibrown suit and hat, and tan boots, while Hone Mete was also well dressed in a dark serge suit, white shirt, black straw hat, and waterproof cape. Mr. Hone Hcke shortly; explained his mission, and expressed his regret that the Maoris had taken up a d<y dent position, and offended against the laws of tho country. He asked them to consider carefully what the result of their.'conduct would be. He was much affected while speaking, and his delivery was impressive. Somewhat to the surprise of all, Hone Toia, who is about sft Bin high, and a wellbuilt and vigorous man of about 40 years of age, rose and said thai ho and his followers had decided not to defy the law. They would submit and be peaceful, and were willing to give up their arms. Hone Mete followed, and said he agreed with what his leader had said. They would not shed' . blood, but would submit to the law. _ "You> may take my body," he exclaimed, in co.i-; elusion, " but my spirit is there I" pointing to the overhanging branches of an adjoining tree. Mr. Hone Heke expressed his satisfaction at the decision, and thought the , Maoris were to be complimented upon their wisdom. Hone Toia said he would give up his arms, but would not take them to the! pakeha soldiers. Would the friendly chiefs! do that? The latter laughed and shook their' heads, when Mr. Hone Heke interposed and said that would not do. Hone Toia and his followers would have to convey their arms to Colonel Newell themselves. After, consultation with his followers, Hone Toia rose and said he would agree to that, and the men and women, with all the arms in the camp, would journey, to Upper Waima, where the soldiers were. This decision was conveyed to Colonel Newell, who replied 'that he had not been sent to shed blood, but he had said that after midday had passed he would order his men to march to the Maori settlement, and this decision had been conveyed both to Mr.Hone Heke and Hone Toia. The colonel,;'' however, must have reconsidered his decision, for the troops, though mustered and the Maxim guns manned, were not ordered'to march, but were drawn up in front of where tho Maoris were to come. About half-past twelve 100 warriors and women marched up, with Hone Toia in the lead, Hone Mete carrying a spear with a, white flag of trace. Some of the men car-' ried rifles. They approached to where Colonel Newell, Inspector Hickson, and Mr. ■Clendon stood, and at Mr. Hone Hoke's order placed rifles, to the number of 15, on the ground, together with cartridges, shot, and powder caps. Mr. Hone Heke then said-the men had submitted and gave themselves up,, 'hut he asked that the troops would remain until Monday. He would pledge his word j of honour that the men would bo peaceful,that they would remain until the warrants had been served on the principal offenders,: and that they would not disturb the peace again. Colonel Newell said he could not make such a promise, but would communi- , cate with the Government. Subsequently the leaders were picked out from the ranks of the men, and five, viz., Hone Toia, Romana, Makara, Rakene Eahi,' and Hono Mete, were placed under .arrest,! • the charge against them being that tbeydfd take up arms against the Queen, and hold unlawful assemblies. May 4. Though 15 guns were yesterday delivercd-np by Hone Toia and Ms followers, Colonel Newell said he was determined to make the Maoris adhere strictly to their promise to. deliver up all, and not only part, of the/arnw in their possession. Unless this were dona he would send his men to the native settlement with ordersto bring back all arms and ammunition they found there. Hone Toia said there was no necessity for this, as i his men would return to camp and bring back the remainder of the arms and tho ammunition. Colonel Newell said guns, etc., would . -have to bo delivered to him before eleven-this .morning, and .the natives, after consulting with Hone Toia, returned to camp. MORE GUNS GIVEN. UP. Shortly after eleven this morning 'the ■ natives returned. Eight young men, headed by Ngakuru, who is said to have taken a prominent part in the disturbance, appreached Colonel Newell and Inspector Hick-* son and laid the guns at their feet. Two rifles were included in the lot handed- in. There was also a good supply of ammunition, a large proportion being ball cartridges. Colonel Newell expressed his dissatisfaction. at the action of the natives in again faiDng 1 to bring all their arms as promised, and said he would not leave until the Maoris were disarmed. If the latter declined to bring • all their guns he would send his men out,, and would not ask the Maoris to interfere in the matter at all. There must be no mis- 1. understanding of the position. The Maoris had agreed to unconditional surrender, to. . gether with the delivery up to the Government's representatives of all their arms r and ,- they would be made to adhere strictly to their word. '.. Ngakuru then spoke, Mr. Hone Heke'act-- -.. i ing as interpreter. He said the Maoris had expressed the intention of, submitting and . giving up all the arms-they had, and they would do so, but many of the arms had'been taken away to various places by Maoris who j I sympathised with Hone Toia and his followers, and these settlements would have- to be visited before the guns and rifles- couH'fte obtained. He would proceed to the settle- . ment of Hauturu (which is about li miles distant) and would collect the guns had there. Colonel Newell said hewasraiisficd, and the natives left •this afternoon for Hauturu. ' .-,.'' '•-..-'< -■'-;-"■

May 9. "< The troops marched from tiriamorrw ing, arriving at Raweno at four o'clock in the afternoon. They brought 16 prisoners, and 26 •■ Sniders, Winchesters, and • them. To-morrow the Maoris will be charged with taking up arms against the Queen, and holding unlawful assemblies. Those who held up the mail carrier are-to-be charged with assault. The ,troops, on their arrival with the prisoners, were loudly cheered. A large number of ITgapuM and Rarawa chiefs have assembled at Waima with the object of strengthening the hands of Mr. Hone Heke, and giving a pledge' '«£ using their best endeavours to prevent any further • trouble .'■ amongst ; tho disaffected Maoris, 3 The Tutanekai ' is expected tonight. The bar is very rough, bat if 'die. crosses in time, the troops with tie prisoners should leave to-morrow, as ( but i little evidence will be heard before the Court tee.-- . In addition to, the five prisoners .arrested at the outset, 11 others have been placed in custody.. .; Among ■thesa :; iß: t aß : ,ola^feoni : ; l : S } •:.■'■"■ '. '--'.-li: . ■■.■;/■ '.•:■'■'''' ■ '■■'■■:>■■ ■-.'■■ ■'•'■■' •--. ■-^.■■■.!-i.-. : ' : -i-'<-:C-i ■ ■:■ :.l

Waerama, who is said to have taken a prominent part in working the Maoris up to a state of fanaticism. i - : May 10. _ It has now been ascertained that the Maoris had no less than four stockades erected on the sides of the load leading through the bush from Omanaia to where the first halt was made on the way to Waima. The stockades were capable of containing about 15 men, and were constructed of trunks and branches of trees felled for the occasion. Had a halt not been made at Omanaia, and had the troops marched on, the message from Hone Toia to those in ambush would not have arrived in time, and it is more than probable that a number of soldiers would have been killed. The Maoris were apparently well organised and had been practising at targets for some time, and were considered very fair shots. Before leaving Waima with the prisoners, Colonel Newell addressed the natives. He stated that he had not brought the soldiers to Hokianga merely for the purpose of killing Maoris, but only to preserve order, and was glad that the barrels of the rifles of the soldiers and the Maoris were clean, and that DO blood had been spilt.