HOW WELLINGTON WAS SAVED

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1746, 23 August 1905, Page 67

HOW WELLINGTON WAS SAVED

AN AUTHENTIC STORY., A month, or two ago* several interesting articles appeared in the “ Times ” regarding the events that transpired at Otaki when the Ngatitoa chiefs returned from the unfortunate collision with the arresting party at the Wairau in 1843. Mr H. S. Hadfield, of Otaihanga, a soi of the late Bishop Hadfield, has furnished to Mr W. Gray, Secretary of the Pbst Office, an account of these occurrences from his recollection of what he heard, at subsequent times from his parents and others concerned. By the courtesy of Mr Gray we are permitted to make use of this, and as it is of some historic value it is printed in SXt'BllSO Mr Hadfield writes After the Wairau massacre, Te Rauparaha, urged on by his nephew, Te Rangihaeata, wished to attack Wellington. My father talked to them, and tried to persuade them not to do anything so rash, and used every .means in his power to pacify them. “ It may be that while the excitement was at its height the church bell rang, and broke up the meeting for the time being. My father in these days held morning and evening service daily, the morning service being about 5 a.m. in summer and later in winter. The evening service was held just at dusk, so that it was earlier in winter than in summer. I never heard my father mention the incident, but no doubt an evening service would interrupt a meeting of that sort, which would have lasted all day. <( My father did stop the natives, and went on to Wellington to inform theauthorities of what was going on. As he returned he met the natives, who had been persuaded by Te Rangihaeata to move on Wellington. My father again stopped them. u Wiramu Kingi, who was afterwards

forced into the Waitara war, was ro» siding at Waikanae at the time, beinjj the chief of the Ngatiawa tribe. This man was a most loyal native, and tol<3 Te Rauparaha that if he tried to attack Wellington he must first walk over his back. After my father had stopped Te Rauparaiha’s party twice, they sent some men past Waikanae during the night to see if Wiremu Ivingi meant what lie said. In the morning it was seen by their footprints that a party had gone past, and Wiremu Kingi immediately sent off armed men to arrest them'. This was done, and the prisoners taken out in canoes and handed over to a man-of-war in the Straits. I do not know the year, hut it was immediately after the Wairau massacre. “ There was no quarrel between To Rauparaha and Te ' Rangihaeata, as they were’ both of one mind at that particular time, and would undoubtedly have sacked - Wellington but for my father and Wiremu Kingi.”