TE RAUPARAHA AT AKAROA

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1758, 15 November 1905, Page 66

TE RAUPARAHA AT AKAROA

. THE STORY OF HIS RAID. HISTORY AND THE NOVELIST. (To tb© EkHtor"~“N.Z. Mail”) Sir, —Permit me to say a few words in regard to an historical point raised in a review (published in the “N.Z. Mail/* of November Ist), concerning Mr Owen's new book called “Captain Sheen.” Your reviewer says:—“The notorious fighting chief, Te Rauparaha is one of the cnarac-' ters in the story, and his infamous descent on Akaroa, and treacherous capture of its chief is fully described. By the license of romance Rauparaha's capture of Tamaiharanui and his attack on the pa at Onawe axe blent into one episode. This is hardly fair to either, the memory of the great northern warrior or to the sufficiently execrated pakeha who aided him in the first-mentioned savagery. The pa was really taken, after a canoe expedition made for the purpose and its.in- ; habitants bad all the time during which the siege of Kaiapohia was going on to make ready for their defence. It fell in fair fight/ I am, of course, open to correction, but Ido not agree with this criticism. First, I do, not think it fair to apply to Te Rauparaha, ruthless and bloody as be was, such terms as infamous and treacherous. in regard to the capture, of Tamaiharauni at Akaroa. The latter chief, after having strangled his young daughter, was cruelly tortured by Te Rauparaha on the homeward voyage, but he himself was as bad or worse than his captor, who had, at all events, one redeeming virtue, that of dauntless courage. Tamaiharanui, though he-died stoically, and though by birth an “Upoko ariki,” one of the greatest of hereditary nobles, was (that , rare thing among Maoris), a coward, in addition to being cruel and capricious ; a man as much feared by friend as by foe. Ne had treacherously murdered a party of Te Rauparaha's men, among whom was one named Te Pehi — he is se called by Travers, Stack, and in the novel, but the Ngaitahu give his name as Te Puhi-rere. Rauparaha's stratagem to get possession of the Southern chief at Akaroa would be considered by the Maori as a fair deception in order to obtain revenge for murder done. The late Mr Travers, in his “Life and Times of Te Rauparaha,” Trans. N.Z. Inst., Vol. V., page 80, says, in regard to this question, that he was informed, by the son of Te Pehi himself that the course adopted by Te Rauparaha was strictly in accordance with . native etiquette in such matters, and that “indeed any other line of action wonld not properly have met the exigencies of the case.”

Be this as it may, there can be no confusion between this incident and . the fight long afterwards at Onawe. Nor does Mr Owen make the mistake; he follows the story as given both by John White and by Canon Stack. Owen writes, speaking of Akaroa: —“All who came on board were killed instantly. Then, leaving the brig, Te Rauparaha and the Ngatitoa made a raid upon the pa Takapuneke, when upwards of a hundred were bntchered. Apera Pukenui, Paurini, and other leading men among the Ngaitahu tribe were slain.” White (in his “Ancient History of the Maori,” Vol. 111., page 284) says: —“After the seizure of Tamaiharanui, the shore-canoes were encouraged to approach the vessel, but as soon as the occupants came on board, they were led to the hatchway, and thrown down the hold. Amongst those who were canght in this way were Apera Pukenui (great hill), the late chief of Port Levy, Paurini, and many others. . . On the second day after Tamaiharanui's capture, Te Rauparaha attacked Takapuneke very early in the morning. The place was unfortified, and undefended. About one hundred persons were killed, and fifty taken on board as prisoners.” There is a slight discrepancy here between the novel and the Maori acconnt, Mr Owen saying that Pukenui and Panrini were killed in the pa, and White that they were ensnared on board; but the main fact that the fight alluded to took place soon after Tamaiharanui was trapped is agreed to by both writers. Canon Stack, our leading authority on South Island history, says (“Kaiapohia,” page 43)“0n the dawn of the second day after Tamaiharanui's capture. Te Rauparaha attacked his pa at puneke: The place was unfortified and undefended, and after killing a hundred of the inhabitants, he carried the rest, numbering fifty, away with him as prisoners. The following day the brig sailed for Kapiti.” Travers says (“The Life and Times of Te Rauparaha,” Trans. N.Z. Inst., Vol. V., page 78), alluding to the taking of Tamaiharanui: —“Having bound the captured chief, they remained quietly till nightfall, and then , landing ’in the ship's boats, attacked the Ngaitahu in their pa, of whom they killed large numbers.” I think, sir,' that these authorities, agreeing well with Mr Owen, justify the opinion that in “Captain Sheen” a fair account was given, and that there was no reason to criticise him unfavourably by saying that he had confused the conflict at Akaroa with the fall of Onawe. As the first affair took place in 1830 that is, in days remembered by men still living, it would be a pity if false historical impressions should obtain credence. —I am, etc., 1 EDWARD TREGEAR. November 4th.