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New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19947, 16 May 1928, Page 8

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HOSTILE MAORI FORCE. CANOES AT MECHANICS' BAY. AVOIDANCE OF BLOODSHED. INCIDENT OF EARLY " FIFTIES.'*

From a file of The Illustrated London News of 1851 has been disinterred a page of Auckland's early history. The episode was an armed gathering of Maoris at Mechanics* Bay in April of that year, and it was first described by the correspondent of the Times.

" During the last week," he writes on [April 20, " what might be termed an emeute of the Maoris has occurred here which has startled this town, tranquil and reposing during the last five years, from the state of repose to which her inhabitants have latterly been accustomed." It is related that on the night of April 14 a native of the Ngatipoa tribe stole a Bhirt from a shop and as he was being taken into custody by native police, his tribe rushed the police and in the struggle, in which Europeans engaged on behalf of the police, " a great chief, rendered sacred for the time by the tapu," was knocked down by a baton. He was hurried to the lock-up and afterwards liberated. Instantly numbers of his people took to their canoes and left the town to arouse the tribes. Two days passed quietly and the thief, "Ngawki," was sentenced by Mr. Becham, the resident magistrate, to three months' imprisonment.

War Dance on Beach. At dawn next day " crowds of native canoes" began to pour into Mechanics Bay iind before noon a large body of men, completely armed and well furnished with ammunition had assembled. They danced their war dance on the beach* and W6re evidently bent upon some resolute purpose, whatever that might be." Fortunately for Auckland, continues the writer, His Excellency Sir George Grey had returned a few days before from the southern settlements and his measures to meet the emergency were taken with the promptitude, energy and decision which might be expected from his character. Orders were issued to the 58th Regiment, the artillery, the sappers and miners, the pensioner force, and to Captain Oliver, of His Majesty's ship Fly, to hold themselves in readiness for immediate action. Ordered to Depart. About noon Sir George Grey, attended by Lieutenant-Colonel Wynyard, Lieuten-ant-Colonel Bolton, R.E., and the principal military and civil officers of the Government, proceeded to Mechanics Bay, where His Excellency, summoning the tribes, demanded of them the reason of their unlawful assembling under arms. They replied that their quarrel wa<? not with the Europeans, that they had no wish to molest them, but that a native policeroan had grossly insulted a native chief, and that the offender must be delivered to his particular tribe, to be dealt with according to the laws of his nation. To this demand, of course, only one reply could be made by His Excellency. He premptorily commanded them to launch their canoes and leave the bay within two hours; at the expiration of which time, if any remained, the artillery and the guns of the Fly should open fire upon them without, further delay. The Crisis Passes. The Maoris well knew the inutility of resistance, proceeds the correspondent. The decorated war canoes were dragged down the long, level beach (for it was low water) and long before the allotted two hours had expired the last lingering foot among the savages had left the sands within Mechanics' Bay. Next day, however, a force of 100 men threatened to unite with the former insurgents and enter the town. They were prudently anticipated at every point of attack. Strong military bands patrolled the town. The Onehunga division of the pensioners, with Major Kenny at their head, were marched into Auckland and encamped there; while the Howick, Panmure and Otahuhu divisions remained under arms at their respective stations. Hostilities were avoided. For some days the Maoris remained in some force at Rocky Bay, but finally dispersed quietly. Accompanying the article are two sketches by Mr. 0. W. Brierly, one depicting a warrior chief and the carved stern post of a canoe and the other showing Auckland from the harbour, with H.M.S. Fly in the foreground.