THE MAORI REPLY AT PRATT ATT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15566, 25 March 1914, Page 11

THE MAORI REPLY AT PRATT ATT.

Sir, —With reference to the opinions and arguments on the above subject, which have appeared in your columns, I think the account given by the late Major Wilson, of Cambridge, should have some weight. In a series of six articles, -which he wrote on "The Old New Zealand Maori," in the year 1888, and which appeared in the Waikato Times of that year, he devotes a considerable space (a whole article) to the subject of " war.." He has, however, to go over so much ground that one could not expect him to dwell much on any one action. Indeed, he sums up all the engagements with the British soldiers in one short paragraph, but this is mainly devoted to praise of Rewi and his famous reply. I quote below all he says re engagements with the soldiers. " The determined manner in which the Maori fought the British regiments and men-o'-wars-men fully attests their bravery, j In confirmation of this, they themselves point to Ohaewai, to Ranguriri," to Puketakauere, to Pukehinau, or the Gate' Pa, and to Orakau, where the redoubtable Rewi, with a handful of men and some women, surrounded by some 2000 British' soldSors, refused' to surrender, although immediate death confronted them. Who has not heard of Jtewi's famous answer when summoned to surrender, " Kawhawhai tonu ake, ake, ake" (I shall fight on for ever and ever)." Wm. N. deL. Willis, Archdeacon. Cambridge, March 22, 1914.