OLD WAIKATO: A RETROSPECT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13193, 2 June 1906, Page 1 (Supplement)

OLD WAIKATO: A RETROSPECT.

11V V.'M. -JOHNS (I>;itf Jai-k.'o.r.s Forest liaiigeij.) Tiifjsi: v. li<> are conversant with Waikatu as it is to-day can form but a Taint conception of what it was just afier that fateful afternoon of April 2, 1864, when the Maoris made their last gallant charge through the lines of the 40th Regiment out of Orakati's shell-swept, trenches. and yielded up their beloved heritage to their pa eh a conquerors. Few indeed, even of those now accounted among Waikato's earliest settlers; recognise what indomitable pluck, determination. and perseverance these few military settlers were imbued wit hto whom was ! entrusted the wardenship of the territory conquered by Cameron's invading host. Few they were in number really, though nomin-. ally some thousands strong, for but a short j time had elapsed ere fully three-fcurths of J their number, unable to endure a state of tense watchfulness and suspense, and totally j unfit either by past training or inclination ! for the life of a country settler, soul their j land grant." for a trifling sum to adventur- j ous speculators, and departed for fresh J scenes and pastures new. leaving to the" slender remnant that, remained the task o: J guarding a. widely-extended frontier line, | close beyond which, in forest recess or rocky ; fastness', uovercd their late foes, sullen and menacing, momentarily threatening the weekly-defended settlement with extinction. ' Especially were the southern and western boundaries of the conquered territory liable to constant panic and alarm, owing to the presence in their near neighbourhood of strong bodies of Maoris, who had formed permanent camps within striking distance, necessitating the .frequent retirement of the military settlers from their outlying terms into the shelter of the entrenched camps, formed for protective purposes. This period, by far the most critical iii the early history of VVaikato, was brimful of incident, some of a serin-comic, others of a more tragic nature, and a. few arc well worth relating. For instance, at Kopua, some miles outside the iiontier post of Alexandra (now l'nongiitj thme resided a pakoha-M'-aori, whose wife, a cbieftainess of rank, conferred on her husband a certain degree of immunity from, attack or molestation by her countrymen.. Thai was when their temper was normal, and no exciting causes arose to arouse the savage in their breasts. But often a slumbering desire for vengeance on the intrusive pakeha was awakened, and 1 t then this gentleman, whose name was Turner, deeiiK.d if prudent to retire with his family into the friendly shelter of the Alexandra- camp, theie to remain till more pacilio counsels pi evaded among the M'aori leaders. Dm the many and capricious- changes of temper among the Maoris compelled him to shift so otten backward and forward in this manner that it. came to be regarded as oil reliable ir-ign— - joovgn-iscd barometric ! gauge of danger or the reverse—according as Turner was "in" or "out." If he was " in" all movements were circumspect and cautious, and few wont far from the shelter of the camp; if "out'' then men went abroad with impunity, and tilled their outlying farms with a fair degree of confidence; But grim tragedy was not entirely unknown. Tho murder of a surveyor not far from llie Alexandra camp, and the minder 1 a: another man at Kctoiaiigi, on the eastern frontier, taught the settlers that the desire m tor revenge was not'yet extinct among their, la to antagonists, and that redoubts afid _ blockhouses were- yet. necessary adjuncts' to the pluugn in the settlement of tlie country. Let- it be remembered that the perils md dangers they encountered, though mostly unseen and impalpable, were nolle the less tangible and real, and that these early pioneers cleared and fenced and ploughed their lau<!, and erected their modest dwellings. often with rille or revolver handy, I'a'jh in some isolated hollow or wild fern ridge, remote- itom succour or shelter were either needed, for the way to camp often lay long and rough, and roads or bridges - there were none; so it will be conceded :hat. they were not wanting in the, qualifies :>f courage, fortitude, and endurance, and alight well claim, to be ranked among the Umpire's bravest sons. Among their fast diminishing ranks arc comrades who scoured .lie wilds and gullies of Hutiua, l'aparata, ! kVairoa, and those overlooking the 'i names I , •••>'<utiry. in pursuit of a. savage and murder- | . mis loci; swimming swollen rivers and ! scaling precipitous and densely-wooded | ' •anges; often emerging a Tier ciays of hard j - scouting bruised, lacerated, ana breeding, J i villi clothing torn to shreds by t]ie Juti.-- j j acing " lawyers" and supplejacks through ! ( vhicii they had to to roe their way. Who j shall say that the memories of tnese-men I 4 hould not be held in everlasting and g'.v.te- j til remembrance? for surely the settlors of j ( o-day, secure in the possession of peace- j ul and prosperous homesteads, owe much ' 0 them. *■ The frequency of " panics" in Waikato in 1 he early days, involving the nightly reircment id settlers from their farms into ho camps, induced the writer to occupy an. dd Maori potato pit, or "rua," situated ! mid, and completely concealed, by dense 1 em, as his nightly resting-place. _ Here, J iter his day's work was over, armed wiili ! small arsenal of weapons, he used to re- 1 ire, and carefully readjusting any Disturbed 1 ern fronds lest prying eyes .should discover r lis whereabouts, he slept the sleep of the '' list. . JJy cutting a small nolo from liie " rua" 1 iito ail: adjacent clump of fern he secured a onvenient "backdoor'' in ease of surprise. v 'he arrangement- saved him many a weary ' ourney to camp alter a, hard day's work. I ){ course to have slept in a house or wliure 5 nder such circumstances would only have s sen to court disaster. . 11 Some droll incidents connected with these *' avs of early settlement arose through the J' ability of isolated settlers to lose count of ie days of the week. The writer on one occa- = 'on was visited by some j-pruecd-up neigh- ! ours as he was busily engaged in ploughing 0 burnt fern patch. Their smug appear* ncu led to inquiries, which elicited The '' tel. that ho was improving the Sabbath 1 it manner not contemplated by him. A 1 Lial-coloured comrade living near was also j"' reqiiviiUy the victim of mistakes of that _ cilure. .Jim" was prone to keep Halur- | ay as the proper day of rest, and being, s many of his colour arc, it bit of ii- fop, 1 - was ludicrous to observe him. in all the, v omp of Sunday warpaint keeping holy the atuidar. \ cry gradually a feeling of -I renter security grew up. New settlers, •any of whom had purchased land grants J•oiu those military settlers who had for- 1' iken their posts, encouraged by the fact 1 1 iaf the Maoris had made no serious at- V :mpt to it-occupy the conquered territory, ow came upon the scene and began vigorus operations in clearing, grassing, and Lherwise improving their farms, upon a rale which the limited capital and experiicc of the military settlors rendered in j; ieir case impracticable. This soon exert- , 1 a surprisingly beneficial and encouraging V leet upon the tone of feeling hitherto pre- ' i.lent, as well as upon the aspect and gene- '' 1 appearance of the country itself. Hither- si ► . tne outlook had In'en dark, dubious, and n ■certain. Now the continually increasing r< .nnber of settlers, and the increased con- g k'lice which added numbers inspires, had F ouderfuily i pro veil the prospects of the tl dure. Houses sprang up in every direc- v. on, and began to thickly dot the land- ir ape. Wide, waving fields of cloverits n ring green in happy contrast to the brown, il in ridgesgrew in wonderful luxuriance m l the virgin soil, and on this herds of fill- ir ning oxen contentedly browsed. .Roads st id bridges replaced "the winding Maori aeks and treacherous river fords, Pros- gi •rous townships arose, and quite obliterat- pi I the sites of tiie armed camps and re- a nibts, and everywhere the rising tide of ai ogress swept onward, overcoming ditlieul- lii i'S and sweeping away obstacles hitherto m lemed insurmountable* Soon the shriek !a locomotive, sure emblem of civilisation's j lo

. advancing might, was heard in the distance. it approached nearer and nearer until, like a veritable lance of steel, it- pierced the whole length of the conquered territory that now lay a captive, secure in the grip of its conquerors. Meanwhile its former owners looked on, gazing in wonderment at a ! .formation taking place, exclaiming | taihoa,'-' and then as the full meaning of 1 these mighty changes dawned slowly upon - 1 them, they 110 longer threatened reprisals, 5 | but besought the pakeha leaders to " give > ! them back Waikato," request as vain to _ I crave us it would "nave been impossible to j have granted. i And now, what a change from these early ■ j days of danger and stress, of • 1 corny out- . j look and uncertain prospects! The wide ; j rolling fern ridges, the tea-tree covered Hats, and much of lie bulrush and toetoe covered swamps are now clothed witu green pastures, whereon sleek herds of milch cows ' and fattening oxen and sLeep prosper and - yield rich increase. The plough and the reaper, the drill and the turnip field, the i milkin.g-shcd anil the factory— what a flood- ! tide of prosperity and human happiness ; j these denote! And all that an old resident j of Waikato, who in the early days fought : | for its peace and well-being, who shared | hi all the trials and vicissitudes incidental I to early settlement, who for over 'iO years j tilled its fruitful soil, and enjoyed the benej fits 0; its; delightful and bracing climate—-all I that lie wishes old comrades and friends | and every resident of the Waikato to-day is • j that a lasting continuance of the blessings j of peace, prosperity, and happiness may be j theirs. Finally, if aught could add to" the 1 pleasure such a retrospect as this affords, i ;t is the knowledge that the Maoris, once our gallant and dauntless foes, arc now become our staunch and faithful friends, and with us loyal co-citizens of a- great and j mighty Empire.