VISIT TO TUAMARINA

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 3366, 23 February 1898, Page 1 (Supplement)

VISIT TO TUAMARINA

THE STORY OP THE WAIRAU MASSACRE. [With Intkoduction by C. Janion.] ■ Being an old resident in New Zealand, and for seven years of the earlier period (1864 to 1871) in the city of Nelson, I had long desired to see Massacre Hill, the place where some twenty to thirty of the first settlers of Nelson wore, either killed or massacred in the year 1843 by the chiefs Rauparaha and Bangihaeata, or by natives acting under their instructions. The event is known as the " Wairau Massacre," as it took place in the valley of the Wairau, through which a large river of that name flows, and which, with its numerous tributaries, eventually reaches the South Pacific Ocean at Cloudy Bay. Also, I desired to see an' old friend, Mr Eiohard Matthews, whom I knew in Nelson, but had not seen for over thirty years, and who, in the year 1800, had settled down and was farming in or near Spring Creek, which is in the vicinity of Massacre Hill, perhaps three to four miles distant. So I wrote to friend Matthews Celling him of my intention to visit Massacre Hill, and that I would pro* bably call and see him on my way to Blenheim.

Accordingly 1 left Wellington last Christmas Eve in the Union Company’s s.s. Haupiri (formerly Richmond), and arrived at Ficton at 11.30 p.m. Notwithstanding the lateness of tho hour, two coaches were in readiness near tho wharf to proceed, in the darkness of the night, through to Blenheim, and in ono of those I was fortunate enough to secure a seat. Mr C. H. Mills, was also a passenger by boat and coach ; he was still suffering from a severe attack of influenza. It will be remembered that in November last between twenty and thirty members of both Houses of Parliament, with their wives and friends, bad a trip to the Sounds, and Ficton and Blenheim, They proceeded by special train to Blenheim, and on tho way a stoppage was made at Tnamarina, and they visited the monument on Massacre Hill, and, tho Press Association informed us, "Mr Mills, who organised the trip, gave a short speech explanatory of tho massacre,- which was listened to with much interest.” There is an hotel at Tuamarina, 12 miles by tho road (eleven by railway) from Picton j it is kept by a nophew of Mr Henry Redwood, of racing-stud fame. It was half-past ono o’clock whoa wo reached this quiet place, and, after: knocking-np the host, or rather hostess (for tho lady of the house came to our relief), several of the passengers were able to get refreshments, and I was glad to find I could procure a bed, which 1 did.

_ After a eound and very comfortable night’s rest, I arose about 7 a.m,, to find that beautiful weather prevailed. Whilst I was in the act of dressing, there <iaa a knock at my bedroom door, and, on opening it, who should present himself but my friend Matthews. He could not have known before he left home of the coaches going through the previous night, and why ho oamo to drive from his home to Tuamatina fully two hours before the first train would ordinarily be due there, he could not satisfactorily explain, and it was only through conversation with the landlord that ho learned that a stranger had pat up there for tho night. But, evidently, he Was as anxious to know me as I was to see him again. “ Well, make haste and come down!" said Mr Matthews, in a tone which indicated at once the heartiest of friendship.

Now, amongst several interesting documents which I took with me was a copy of the Nelson Examiner of January 6, 1844, with which was issued a well-and-closely* printed 12-page Supplement, dated December 23, 1843, containing “ a fall, correct and authenticated .account of the late massacre at tho Wairau, and of the proceedings of the Government, the settlers and tho natives, previously or subsequently thereto," drawn up for the information of the English public, and probably mort especially for the directors and shareholders of tho New Zealand Company, under whose auspices the settlement at Nelson was founded, and In whose interest the chief persons and sufferers in the terrible tragedy were acting. Immediately after the title , appears a Well-executed coloured lithographic “ Plan of the Scene of Conflict at tho Wairau.” ’ I have had this paper in my possession for at least 32 ydars—ever since, in fact, 1 was overseer ■of the Examiner, and Mr Matthews 4 brother-in-law (the late Mr Alfred Hibble) was reporter for tho same. So t handed the paper to ray friend to peruse whilst I partook of a hoarty breakfast. Massacre Hill is not more than a hundred yards froth the Tuamarina Hotel, across tho Pioton and Blenheim railway line, to the north. My friend escorted me Up the hill. I found that tho names of all the persons killed .or massacred were inscribed on the monument, whicb, a substantial structure in itself, is surrounded by an iron railing, and all in excellent preservation. The names of tho persons who fell, killed or massacred, numbering 22, accorded exactly' with those given in the Examiner. The hill has since been appropriately set apart and consecrated as a burial-ground, and is called the Tuamarina Cemetery, and friend Matthews happens to be a trustee of the same. Prom bis long, residence in the neighbourhood and intimacy with the Maoris, my friend was able to point out to me, from near the monument, the relative positions of natives and Europeans daring the terrible affray. Booking southward from Massacre Hillj tho Wairau Valley, east and west, presented a magnificent spectacle. Watered by tjie broad river Wairau and its many tributaries, the grasses everywhere looked splendid { beautiful homesteads, protected on two or three sides by well-grown poplars, in full loaf, dotted the entire valley, whilst extensive acreages of wheat} oats hud barley were waving to the gentle breeze and warm aim, fast ripening unto the harvest. And I have since road, with pleasure, that in several oases the yield has been phenomenal. Now, I have thought that some account of the proceedings of tho New Zealand Company, the surveyors, and of tho massacre of Europeans, as given in the Nelson Examiner already referred to, would bo acceptable to many of your readers who may not have had the opportunity of learning the particulars, seeing that nearly two generations have passed away; whilst it may refresh the memory of those who may know of. but be only partially acquainted with, the facts.

THE WAIRAU MASSACRE. FBOCBEOINUS BEtWEBN THE NATIVES AND THE SUUVETOt;*!. The Wairau Valley comprises an extent of about 100,000 acres of level land, 500 or 000 of 'Which were in 1843 covered with wood, and the remainder with fern, grass, or bulrushes. There wore no traces then of cultivation in any part of the valley or plains. Tto original inhabitants and possessors wore the Rhangataui, who were nearly extirpated about 1832 by the notorious chief Rnnparaha. The few who ©scaped him took refuge in the bush. Those lands were acquired by purchase by the New Zealand Company from the Maori chiefs, the reputed owners. Some chiefs objected to the Bale, Warepori (by name Puakawa) being the leader of the opposition. But Matangi, ‘ the oldest and formerly, the most influential of these tribes, favoured the sale. But eventually the other interested chiefs acquiesced, and the purchase vu supposed to have been effected.

These lauds were advertised for survey by contract, by Captain Wakefield, the New Zealand Company’s agent at Nelson, in March, 1843. The contractingsut veyors, Messrs Barnicoat (one of our present Legislative Councillors), Parkinson and Cotterell, with their men, forming in all a party of about forty, started by sea from Nelson on the 15th April, and landed on tho Wairau beach on Tuesday, the 25th. There they found a chief called Epuka, with two or three of his followers, who expressed no dissatisfaction at their arrival. There were till then no other natives in the valley,; but in the course of two or three days a considerable number arrived from different parts of the Btrait, who manifested their intention of opposing the survey in various ways. They pulled up tho surveyors’ ranging-rods, destroyed a saw-pit, and on one occasion seven of them, armed with muskets, passed through the station, and “ talked threateningly ” to the man left in charge. But they abstained from personal violence, and towards the white men themselves appeared to entertain no unfriendly feelings. They had all along talked of Bauparaha’s approaching visit, who, they said, would send the white men away. Their interruptions to tho survey were complained of to Captain Wakefield.

Meanwhile, Eauparaha and Eangihaeata, being at Porirua, in attendance on the Conct of Land Claims, made known their determination to prevent the survey from proceeding ; and Mr Joseph Toms (known as “ Geordie Bolts ”) repeatedly stated he understood from them that they would make a stand at Wairau, and lose their lives rather than allow the white men to take possession of that place. Mr Spain (Land Commissioner) used his influence to pacify them 5 agreed to meet them at Port Underwood to investigate the land claims, as soon as possible after the adjournment of his Court at the end of June; and obtained from them a promise not to enter the Wairau within the time appointed, nor do anything before his arrival. Mr Toms offered to take Eauparaha and Eangihaeata in his schooner to his own place in Cloudy Bay, and keep them there until he received a communication from Mr Spain. On the 28th May Mr Toms received Eauparaha and his party on board the schooner Three Brothers, of which he was captain and owner, at Porirua; and, having crossed to Jlaaa Island, where he topic in

Bangihaeata and about ten more natives, making about twenty-five in all, proceeded to Cloudy Bay. It was generally understood on board that the natives wero going to fight for their land at Wairau. They wore armed with muskets and tomahawks. Toms himself gave, them two muskets in exchange for a slave. ’X’hey were landed at Port Underwood in Cloudy Bay on the Ist of June. They then started with other natives in eight canoes and a whaleboat for the Wairau, where they arrived on tho same day. They appear to have been about a hundred in number. The first visit they paid was to a Mr Cave, at Port Underwood, The following account of j their behaviour was taken from Mr Cave I and communicated to tho editor of the New Zealand (Wellington) Oatette by John Dorset, Esq., M.D., who accompanied tho magistrates after the massacre i—“ From tho information I gathered from the whalers and the depositions taken at Cloudy Bay, it appeared to mo that the natives came fully prepared for mischief. Tho person on whoso testimony I placed most reliance was a Mr CaVo, who had been resident there for the last seven or eight years, and who had been always up to that time on the, most friendly terms with the chiefs Rauparaha and Bangihaeata, a knife and fork being always placed on his table for them on thoir visits to Cloudy Bay. But this time he noticed a peculiar ferocity about their bearing. They asked for things in a way that brooked no denial; and, seeing Mr Cave sharpening an axo, Rangihaeata forcibly took it from him and struck him. Mr Cave tried to find out what they wero after, but could not succeed, and his im* presaion was they wero bound over to secrecy on tho evening before they landed; ! on which occasion they had a feast on board Mr Toms’ vessel, whoro they all ' got drunk, Mr Toms being tho only European present so far as I could learn.” '

On the same evening the natives wont up tho liver to Mr OoUereH’s station, in number amounting to " upwards of a hundred." Next morning Rauparaha and Rangihacata, with about thirty followers, after ordering Mr Cotterell and his man to leave tho place, stripped and burned his httt and that of his men; together with the timber Intended for survey states. They then assisted the white men to Barry th'6 contents of their huts to their and despatched them to Ocean Bay. Next day Mr Tuckett, tho Company's chief surveyor, arrived; met Mr Cotterell at tho mouth of the Wairau, and Sent him to Nelson with a note to Captain Wakefield. Mr Cotterell laid an information before the Police Magistrate, Mr Thompson, on tho 12th June. Throe other Justices of the Peace were on the Bench— Captain Wakefield, Captain England, and Alexander McDonald, Esq. After much deliberation, a warrant was granted against Rauparaha and Bangihaeata on a Charge of arson.

The natives, meanwhile, from Mr Cottorell’fl proceeded to Mr Baraicoat’s, and carried him with his men and goods to an Uninhabited pah at the moillh of the Wairaii, bftilt by Eallparaha as a sort of stronghold many years before, when he depopulated the country. Another party, armed with axes and muskets, went to Mr Parkinson’s station, while a third sot out in searth of Mr Tuckett, who was absent it another part Of the SurVoy, 'I hoy compelled both those gentlemen to come to the pah. Bangihaeata, in the conference with Mr Tuckett, told him '• if ho was so fond of the ground, ho would kill him and bury him there." A few instances of theft occurred during these proceedings, but no personal injury was actually inflicted on anyone.

Having now collected all the white men together, they sent them off by their own boats, with the exception of Mr Barnicoat and OUo man, whom Rauparaha allowed to remain.in charge of some provisions they had not rodra for. The whole body 'of natives then ascended the river in their canoes. In nnmbor at this time they amounted to 98. Subsequent arrivals swelled this number to 123, of whom aboiit 40 were women and cbildrdrt. Tilx Pigilt and massacre at the WAIRAU. The Police Magistrate at Nelson having issued his warrant, and being informed of the numbers of tho natives, and of their being armed, resolved to attend the execution of the warrant himself, accompanied

by an armed force. He expressed his opinion that such a demonstration would prevent bloodshed, and impress upon the natives a sanfio of the authority of the law. It is csrtain that actual resistance was not anticipated, and that the moral effect of thp presehbe of the force was wholly felled on. , 1 he men chosen were of the labouring class, and intended as a reinforcement to those employed in surveying. Many of them had never handled, a firelock in their lives. . The Government brig Vras then in Nelson harbour, and, at the request of MrThompson, Captain Richards consented to carry the party to Wairau. It thou consisted of the following persons ; Henry Augustus Thompson, Esq, Judge of the County Court and Police Magistrate ; Captain Arthur Wakefield,' K.N., New Zealand Company’s agent for the Nelson Settlement, and Captain Richard England, both Justices of the Peace; George Ryoroft Richardson, Esq., Crown Prosecutor for Nelson; Mr James Howard, a warrant officer in the navy and the New Zealand Company’s storekeeper ; Mr Cotteroll, surveyor ; four constables, and twelve special constables. John Brooks went as interpreter, having often been similarly employed. The brig sailed on Tuesday, June 13th. In the gulf, the saihe day, she met the company’s boat pn her return from the Wairau, with Ur Tackett, Mr Patchett (a merchant and land agent), and Mr Bellaiis, surveyor. These gentlemen, at the request of Captain Wakefield, joined his party with the boat’s crew. On the evening of Thursday, June 15th, and the following morning, tho party landed at Wairau, where Mr Barniuoat and his men joined them. Muskets, and a cartouch box' of ball-cartridges with each, were served out to tho men, and cutlasses to as many as ohoso to avail themselves of them. On Friday afternoon they ascended the right bank of the river about five miles. On the way they met Puaha. Ho was accompanied by a small party of natives. They had been engaged in clearing land, but had been stopped, they said, by Rauparaha, who had gone higher up the river. They appeared alarmed at tho sight of the armed force ; but their fears were allayed by Mr Thompson’s Puaha that the object of bis journey had no reference to him or his party, but that he had a, warrant against Rauparaha and Rangibaeata on a charge of arson. Mr Thompson also explained to him that no force would be used towards tbem; but they would be required to go with him on board the brig, where the case would be investigated by himself and the other Magistrates. Puaha replied that those chiefs would not but believe that ho came to make war upon them; but agreed to carry them a message to the above effect. He then went off in his whaleboat. Higher up another party of natives was met with, and a similar explanation given. It beiug now too late to proceed, the magistrates and their followers then encamped for the night at a pine-wood called Tua Mautiue, and set a watch. Their movements, it appears, had been all along watched and reported by scouts; and Mr Cave informed Dr Dorset that “ one of the spies they left behind at the pah went up with and among the English party, counted every man, and, a short time before the fight, crossed over the brook to his own party, gave tho required information, and joined in the fight one of tho foremost.” On the morning of Saturday, June 17, two boats having been brought up, the Europeans embarked in them and ascended the river a few miles further. They now amounted to 49, 33 of whom were armed with muskets; One or two carried fowlingpieces. Mr Howard had a cutlass. The remainder were apparently unarmed, but in general were furnished with pocket pistols. When mustered, before setting out. Captain Wakefield having called “ Order! ” said to them, “ Men! whatever you do, do not fire unless you get orders!”—“a caution," says Mr Barniooat, “ which was several times repeated to them in the course of the journey." Having ascended the river about four miles, the party perceived some smoke issuing from a wood, and soon heard the voices of the natives, that of Kangihaeata being plainly distinguishable. Oiiadvancing, they found them posted in the wood, which is about 50 acres in exteut, on the right bank of a deop unfordable rivulet called Tnamarina, which flows into the

Wairau on its left bank, and is at this place about 30 feet wide. They were squatting in groups in front of the dense wood, on about a quarter of an acre of cleared ground, with their canoes drawn up on the bank of the stream. The white men halted on the left bank, with a hill behind them covered with fern and manuka, and sloping upwards with several brows or tdtraoes. All bearing arms were now bidden not to cross the stream, or oven show themselves until ordered. All accounts agree in estimating the number of ths natives at about 120 or 125, including women and children. The men I I amounted to SO or 90, about half of whom I were armed with muskets, the rest with native weapons. At the request of the Magistrates a canoe was placed across the stream to serve as a bridge, by a native named Piccawarro (" Big Fellow ”); and Mr Thompson, Captain Wakefield, Messrs Tuokett, Cotterell, and Patchott, Brooks (the interpreter), and Mating (the chief constable) crossed over. The Police Magistrate then called on Rauparaha and Rangihaeata. The former alone Came forward, and Mr Thompson told him that he was the Queen’s representative, that he had warrants against him and Eangihaeata for the destruction of the property of Mr Cotterell, and that he must go on board tho brig, with such of his followers as he chose, where the matter should be investigated. RaUparaha said that Mr Spain would enquire into and Settle the business in a little while. Mr Thompson explained that Mr Spain’s business lay in deciding as to land-claims; that this was a question of destruction of property, and had nothing to do with tho ownership of the Wairau. Rauparaha requested to have tho matter decided on the spot, and professed his readiness to make the compensation to Mr Cotterell required by the Magistrates, provided their decision pleased him-.- Mr Thompson replied that tho case must bo heard on board tho Government brig, whither RaupShiha must accompany him, On Kauparaha’s reiterated refusal to comply with this pro ■ posal, put in direct terms to him, Mr Thompson declared He would compel him. Rauparaha Said he did not want to fight, but that if the white people fought he would light too. Mr Thompson, pointing to the armed men, threatened that he (Rauparaha) and his party should bo fired upon. Sixteen natives immediately sprang to their feet and presented flrd-arms; Eangihaeata fiow came forward, and vehemently defied the magistrates and their power, exclaiming that they, “did not go to England to interfere with the white people, and demanding why the latter came there to interfere with them ? ” The conversation now became very rapid and violent; and Pviaha, who by frequently attempting to intercede seenls only to have rendered matters worse, stopped forward with his Bible in his hand, and prayed that there might be no strife. At last Mr Thompson called out—“ Captain England ! toi; the then advance I ” Tho conference With the chiefs lasted about twenty minutes or half an hour. Great trouble was taken to explain to them the non-connection of these proceedings with the land claims; and every assurance ivas given tlioih of a fair hearing of what they might have to say in their defence. It was, besides, abundantly explained that they were not now to be taken to punishment, biit to trial; that Mr Gott’drell had complained against them, afid that the complaint uiust be examined into. Mr Thompson addressed them through the interpreter. Brooks; and a native of the Bay of Islands was present who explained to them every word thet ivai sftiai

In the meantime, tho men left on the other side of the stream had bpen divided into two bodies, consisting of i 6 and 17 respectively j one under the command of Captain England, the other under that of Mr Howard. When the dispute was at the highest. Captain Wakefield, perceiving the danger of being fyom the men should a Collision arise, proceeded to the creek with the intention of bringing them over in a canoe, which, with the con-’ sent of the natives, was laid across it. Mr Thompson, it seems, just then called to Mr Howard for his men, with some allusion to the number of the natives. “I don’t caro if there are five thousand of them,” was that gallant fellow’s reply, as

he led his party to the stream. In the canoe they met Captain Wakefield, whom the rest of the gentlemen were apparently following. “Keep your eyes on them, my men! they have their guns pointed at iia!” said Captain Wakefield to the advancing men. At this moment (observing some movement among the natives towards Mr Thompson or the gentlemen), he exclaimed in a loud voice, with great energy, “Men, forward ! Englishmen, forward !” and a shot was fired, according to the explicit and consistent evidence of Joseph Morgan, by one of tho natives, which laid his comrade 'J yrroll dead at his feet. These two men, with Northam (also killed at almost tho same time and spot), were in advance of their patty afad oh thb opposite bank of tho stream when this occurred. It was then, apparently, that Mr Thompson gave orders to fire, if any weie given at all. Before ho could be obeyed, however, the natives had fired a volley, which was instantly returned. The gentlemen were crossing while this went on ; Captain England, the last of them, wading through the water, into which he had fallen, holding on by the side of the canoe. Those of Mr Howard’s party who had reached the other bank returned at the same time. The firing was kept up briskly ou both sides for a fow minutes; but in this skir-i mishing the natives had greatly tho advantage, the bushes on their side being much closer and affording far better concealment. This, and their previous confusion from meeting in the canoe, may account for the greater loss of iifo among the Englishmen. Immediately after crossing, Mr Patohott received a shot in his left side. He leapt up, then fell, mortally worindod. on the spot where he had been standing. Mr Richardson came to his assistance, and bent over him to receive his last commands. He said; “I am mortally wounded; you can do me no good. Make your escape ! ” Northam and Smith fell at this time near

the same place. Captain Wakefield, observing his men already retreating, "as well, probably, as the disadvantage at which they were fighting, their enemies being almost invisible ■ and themselves exposed, ordered them to retire to form on the hill. At this moment, “ it is ascertained that the natives were on the point of' taking to flight, when Eauparaha, seeing the retreat—for, there is no doubt that they retreated immediately—excited his men, who, raising a war cry, darted across the stream in pursuit of the Europeans.” These latter retreated, without order, in the direction of the hill, Mr Thompson, Captain Wakefield, Captain England and Mr Howard urging them "For God’s sake, keep together!” blit in vain. On the first brow, the most strenuous efforts were made by these gentlemen to induce the men to stand and form. Mr Howard called to them to fix their bayonets and come to the charge. They, however, kept retreating up the hill, firing as they went. Captain Wakefield, therefore, in order to prevent a further sacrifice of life, ordered the firingifeo cease, and Captain England and Mr Howard advanced towards the natives with a white handkerchief, in token of peace. Those in advance of the retreating party, however, still kept up a running fire as they pushed up the hill, which was returned by the natives on the whole party indiscriminately. Mr Thompson was seen about this time by Mr Tuckett, who escaped, stamping on the ground and clutching his hair, as he exclaimed, “ Oh, men! men !” in bitter regret and disgust at their conduct. “ Here,” says Mr Barniooat, “ when wo wore assembled on the hill, like so many targets that the natives were shooting at, Mr Cotwrell stood out from the rest, and said (it was supposed in allneion to his principles as a Friend), ‘ I have nothing to do with business of this kind. If there are any of my men here, they had better follow me.’ Captain Wakefield then turned round, and in the most earnest manner addressed him, ‘ For God’s sake, Mr Cottorell, don’t attempt to run away, you are sure to be shot if you do !*” The retreating party and the . natives continuing to fire. Captain Wakefield and the gentlsroen about him were compelled to proceed further up the hill, in order, if possible,' to put an end to the conflict. Mr Cottorell, after accoirpauying them a short distance, sat down, intending to deliver himself up. "This is poor work, Dick!” said'ho to one of the men passing him,. As the natives

came up he recognised among them one to whom he had frequently • shown acts of kindness j to him he advanced with open arms. The native thereupon discharged his musket in the air; but two others immediately seized him and dragged him by the hair into a manuka bush. There, a? was afterwards found, they despatched him with their tomahawks. On the second brow of the hill Captain Wakefield said, “ Tour only chance of life is to throw away your arms and lie down." He and Mr Thompson and Brooks again shouted “Kati!” (“Peace!”) and waved a white handkerchief. Besides the lastmentioned psrsous, there were present Captain England, Mr Eichardson, Mr Howard, some of the constables, and a few others. Messrs Tuckett, Barnicoat and others went off a little before. 'The rest fled up the hill in different directions, and were pursued a little way by some of the natives, who “ had with them a dog, which they shouted to and encouraged in the same manner as when they hunt pigs." The natives now ceased firing, and as they came up the white men delivered up their

arms at Captain Wakefield’s order. He himself gave up a pistol to one of them. The whole party seem to have gone a little further down the hill, where most of the natives, with Kaitparaha and Bangihaeata, immediately joined them. The natives having shaken hands with the prisoners, who were standing in a group, loaded their guns and seated themselves in a half-circle before them, the two chiefs occupying the extremities. Mr Eichardson, who had received a shot in the hip, from which the blood flowed freely, requested Mr Thompson to examine it, which he did. The natives brandished their tomahawks over the heads of some of the defenceless men. Mr Thompson observing this, said to Eauparaha, “Katil’ 1 which he repeated, and the others then desisted. Bangihaeata had wounded Ids foot by treading on a sharppointed stump • and Captain England, seeing the nature of the wound, took a penknife from his pockot, which Bampton had handed to him to cut out the splinter with. Having succeeded in doing co, he offered to return the knife) but Captain England signified that ho would make Kim a present of it. Gold was offered as a ransom, but ineffectually. Two natives then approached Captain Wakefield, and. seizing him, attempted to strip off his coat. Colouring highly, it rseems he attempted to draw another pistol, as Mr Howard was heard to say " Por Cod’s sake, sir, do nothing rash !” or words to that effect. dthef natives laid hold of Mr Thompson; and were taking His coat and watch;

Up to this poirit we have the evidence of white men and eye-witnesses for all that we have stated. The duly nian that escaped of all who' surrendered thehiselrea to the datives, and from whose deposition we have gathered the incidents we have related as occurring after the surrender,, was George Bampton, who, at this moment’ observing the attention of the natives drawn off him, slipped into the bush on a natural protohoe, and succeeded in concealing himself. Wliilq lying there h(j heard some persons passing hear him, one of whom (he believes Hr Howard), said to the other. “ For God’s sake; if we are to die; let us die together! ” To whom this was said he ootild not toll, After having lain there ton minutes lil all, he heard about fire guns fired, and immediately after, a : heavy dull souud, as it appeared to him of a beating or chopping on the ground. Ho • hoard no cries or screams. Another of the party who escaped before the actual surrender, and lay hid at a greater distance, 1 hoard guns fired-at intervals of about five 1 minutes between each, and much shouting 1 and hallooing by the natives. And this is all we learn, of the fate f>f our unfortunate friends from any of their ow^party;,. According, to native accounts given to , those oh board the Government brig, on her second visit to the Wairau, or taken as evidence by the Wellington magistrates, after the surrender of the white men to the * natives Puaha again endeavoured to be- ’ como a peace-maker, and urged on his ’ countryjfidu that tlnoiigh blood had been ‘ shed. The number of..killed being nearly 3 equal on both sides, this was acceded to * by Rauparaba; and the two parties shook ( hands. Whilst standing, quietly in a ! group they were joined by, Rangihaeata, who, having . already killed the wounded ' on his way, detrlduded tlia .ljve« of. those | who had surrendered. 'Jo this Rauparaba ' r at first objected j but, on Eangihaeata’s calling on him " not ,to forgot , his 1 daughter ’’ (one of. H-angihaeata’s wives,; 1 who had been killed before by a Chance 1 shot), he offered no further opposition. . Standing in the.midst of the Maoris, the white men. were easily separated; and, , whilst in this defenceless situation, per- j haps without even a thought of treachery, Kangihaeata silently glided round, getting. : behind bach singly, dad With his : toma- j hawk brained them all in succession, in ! spite of the intercession of some of the. ] women, who cried to him to “ Save some .of the rangatiras (gentlemen) ! if only to j say they had saved some.” , A native who took part in the affray gave the following evidence before the . magia- 1 trates i— " The natives. pursued them to j another .rise of tho hill, and followed them j until they r caiij}lit them., KarigU|aeata killed them with a tomahawk. X saw him ,i do it.' I saw Kangihaeata kill Captain * Wakefield, Mr Thompson, and Mr Riohardson. I saw him kill John Brooks, near the bunch of trees up the hill. ' I.saw him kill 1 Mr Cottbrell.. 1 saw. Rangiliaeatil shariah’ 1 away Captain Wakefield’s watch, after lie 1 had knocked him .down; lie afterwards * offered it to the missionary natives, but they refused to take it, but said, ‘Let it 1 lie with the dead, and all that belongs to ! them.’ I beard that the slaves had stripped j off Captain Wakefield’s coat and waistcoat. They paid no attention to what the mis- ! aionaries said, but robbed the bodies in all 1 directions.” Messrs Tackett and Barniooat, and , a * man named Guy, who left, their, party I after the first ineffectual offer of Burrefidsr, 1 with seven other men whom tbsy dyer- ' took (one of whom was badly wounded); j reached the coast; arid with groat difficulty obtained a boat from a whaling station to ; put them dn board.the brig; ~. . . • f Two boats having been rieiit ashore to • pick up stragglers, none df . whoni nppeared, the brig shortly after dark dri tlid - same day sailed for Wellington, to obtain ] surgical assistance for the wounded, and - aid td rescue such as were believed to be ' jjrisohers. .. , 1 The brig reached- Wellington early the ‘ following morning; which-ndi Sunday. A public meeting was immediately called, and j 70 volunteers enrolled themselves to, proceed ' to Cloudy Bay. The brig set sail the same morning; but, it coming on to bldw a ’ violent gale from the south-east, she was f obliged to anchor for two days, when the ' mode of proceeding was altered, and a * deputation from the bench of magistrates, airiong whom were Colonel Wakefield, Mr ' Spain (the land commissioner), Mr McDonough (tho police magistrate), and * Dr Dorset, sailed for Cloudy Bay on J Wednesday. Tho weather prevented theiri entering the river before Saturday; and, i On arriving at tho fatal spot, they found < that Mr Ironside,'the Wesleyan missionary 1 stationed at Cloudy Bay, had preceded < them with two boats’ companies of whalers, ■ had discovered seventeen of the dead ' bodies, and, having no alternative,, had < already commenced their interment on the ] spot, according to the rites of the Church c of England. The bodies of Captain Wakefield, Mr . Thompson, Captain England, Mr Richard- i son, Mr Howard, Bumforth, Cropper, Gardiner and Coster wore found near the spot where the last of those who escaped left i them alive, lying within twenty yards of each other, in their clothes, as they fell. Captain Wakefield’s coat and waistcoat alone had been stripped off. Under his head, in savage derision, the murderers had placed a piece of bread, and a pistol across his throat. The skulls of all had been cleft with tomahawks, and generally disfigured with repeated blows, struck with such ferocity that every one must have been more than sufficient to have produced instantaneous death. No gunshot wounds were perceived in any of the bodies, which were not in' other respects mutilated. McGregor’s body lay a little to the right, lower down ; Pay’s about a hundred yards up the hill; and, near it, Brooks’s, dreadfully mangled ; Mr Cotterell’s in a manuka bush lower down, where he surrendered himself. All these wore placed side by side in one grave. Tyrrell’s and Northam’s were brought across the stream and laid with Smith’s in a second ; and Clanzey"s and Ratoliffe’s, found in the water, in a third, near the last. Mr Patchett’s was buried alone, where he fell. The body of Burton, found since, has been buried by Mr Ironside. Those of Malin, the chief constable, who was known to be severely wounded, and of Stokes, have never been found. It is most probable that they crept away into the bush, and there expired. As soon as the news reached Nelson, parsons were sent round by land with provisions, and orders to keep up large fires. Soma returned this way, having subsisted on wild turnips for several days. Others, who had remained hid in the fern or bush till after the departure of the natives, were, taken up by the brig on her return. The first resolve of the natives after this shocking massacre was to conceal themselves all night, and under its shadowboard the brig, kill everyone they found there, and then massacre the whole of the Europeans in the Straits. This sanguinary scheme was frustrated by the sailing of the brig for Wellington early in the evening. They are said afterwards to have been seized with great terror, and to have determined to retire np the Manawatu (in the North Island), to a fortified pah in the interior, there to await the vengeance of the white men, whom they fully expected would follow. They crossed the. Strait in their canoes and Hie New Zealand Company’s boat on Tuesday. LIST OK ALL THE WHITE MEN PRESENT AT THE AFFEAT. i Police Magistrate and Conrity Judge . Mr Thompson, massacred, i ‘ Magistrates'Captain : Wakefield and ; Captain England, massacred. ■

Principal Surveyor —Mr Tuckett, escaped.

Crown Prosecutor—Mr Eichardson, massacred.

Land Agent—Mr Patchett, killed. Company’s Storekeeper —Mr Howard, massaored.

Surveyors —Mr Cotteroll, massacred ; Mr Barnicoat and Mr Ballairs, escaped. Passenger of Brig—Mr Ferguson, escaped. Interpreter—John Brook=, massacred. Chief Constable —Malin, died of wounds, body not found. Constables—Capper, wounded, lost the use of hia hand; Coster and William Gardiner, killed or massacred. Special Constables—Edward Stokes, died of wounds i James McGregor and Thomas Tyrrell, killed ; Eichard Burnet, wounded; John Gay, William Maunsell, Eichard Warner and John Noden, escaped; John Bumforth, lost an arm ; Eli Cropper, Wm. Northern, Henry Bumforth and Isaac Smith, killed or massacred. Boatmen—Thomas Pay, killed or massacred; Samuel Goddard, Abraham Vollard, John Kidson, George Bampton and William Burt, escaped. Men engaged on the surveys—H. Eichardson, Thomas Hannam, W. Chamberlain, James Grant, Eichard Peanter, Wm. Morrison, Joseph Morgan, John Miller and Henry Wray, escaped; Eobert Crawford and John Smith, wounded ; Wm. Clanzey, John Burlon and Thomas Eatoliffe, killed or massacred. THE ALLEGED PURCHASE OP THE LANDS. Colonel Wakefield purchased from a lady representing herself to bo the widow of Captain Blonkinsopp some deeds professing to be the original conveyances of the plains of Wairau by Eauparaha, Eangihaeata and others to that gentleman, in consideration of a ship-gun. News had been heard of tho arrival of a ship-load of cattle in Cloudy Bay, with tho agent of a Sydney firm, who claimed tho Wairau Plains near that place. They had written to Colonel Wakefield, informing him that they held the original of tho deed by which Eauparaha, Eangihaeata and other chiefs had made that district over to Cajjtain Blenkinsopp many years , before. So that it appeared that the deed sold to Colonel Wakefield at Hokiang'a, by ; his widow, was possibly only a copy. Tho agent, Mr Wilton, had, however, been prerented from driving his cattle on to the plains by our old friends the Cloudy Bay j natives; who denied tho sale altogether; and the cattle were running by sufferance ■ on tho Hills close to. Port Underwood. i The natives’ version of the affair was as follows;—“That they had never sold the lands• it is their own land; and that they, when they saw the flags and marks Greeted; supposed that their land was taken front them; that they therefore pulled them down, in order that tho Europeans might understand thefeby they had not sold their lands, or promised to do so. In their esti? mation it was presumption on the part of the surveyors to erect houses, to out lines on lands that did not belong to them, and they considered they had a perfect right to do as, they pleased with what was growing or standing on their bwri lands. Tho surveyors would not listen to their remonstrances, and therefore they burnt the hut. They had no intention to fight, nor bad they a thought that way ; it was the ,?ight .of the gtins, the firing of the Europeans, and the falling of their friends that roused them,' and fliey jifili everybody to witness that it was the Europeans who commenced, by killing three natives. So they returned the fire and the struggle began.”

NOTES AND COMMENTS. 1. liave beau favoured a fmV days ago wiih-tho following iritoiWlng fiiSfabranda fro'm j. W. Barnicoat; 815q.,.M.L'.C,,‘B l sq.,.M.L'.C,,‘ one of the few survivors now living,;— , ~ “ The narrative of tho Wa’rau rilassaote you refer to' (from the Nelson Examiner) was probably drawn up by Mr Domett, who took a groat deal of trouble over it. I always regarded it as one-sided and injudicial.—iriSniflg too- m,uch to tho pakoha aide of the Question. As to the ‘ riestlon of ~ right and wrong,' aggression or provocation/ which you ask my opinion abqiit, I may say that in ray opinion each parity to the. question—tho natives on The one side; arid trio New Zealand Company on the rithbriright conscientiously The Wairau land —a very indefinite term—was, we were led to believe, sold bynatives,pr. Bomoof them, toaMrßlenkinsoppforapiece of artillery—an iron seven-pounder, it is Said j and Mr Blenkinaopp’s widow, by-and-bye, transferred ridr right, for a .sum of .money, to Colonel Wakefield, as represent tative of the New Zealand Company. I have no personal knowledge of the correctness df the statement j but this, or sometiling very like it, Is generally believed to riri the fotindation eff, tjho -right pft oUr side to the kind in question. What Janet VWtf thus transferred, and bow far the supposed sellers of the land represented the, tribe To whom it belonged,’is all doubtful. Ownership of land with the natives was all tribal, and no individual among them had the power of parting with tho freehold. In this case the native owners of tho. Wairau. land never, 1 Understand, gave ujj, rior intended id gits Vp; pqs* 'session of it. The Rev Samuel Ironside)

the Wesleyan missionary residing at t Cloudy Bay,-near the Wairau, cautioned cl me before going to the Wairau that the I] natives there admitted no claim on the 1; part of.the patella to.afly portion of it, and % assured mo from what he tpew of the g Maori feeling that any attempt to effect a rj survey would bo fruitless. This was no business of mine : I had agreed’ to survey it, and that agreement must be carried out. Thore are two ways of tolling the story, and it has been generally x toM, I think, in , a spirit Unfair to the natives. ’ “ Which among the escaped Europeans c are still living, I am in a state of ignorance 1 generally. Going through your list, I may c say that Mr Tuokett ~(who wrote a very £ trustworthy narrative of the in 1 Cbpneotioii with the massacre Ih Martin’s f ‘British Colonies’) died in England, id,any j years ago. , Mr Fergtlsqn was not a.Nelson i settler,. but, happening, .to pass tbrodgh g Nelson when .the Wairau eipedition was i starting, ho joined them Irohi curiosity. ] Mr Gapper died many years ago in tlie r neighbourhood. Of Gay, Mauusell aud , Noden, I have heard nothing for a long time. Bnmforth (who lost an arm in the fight) and Kidson, lived in Nelson till , lately. , I. believe that Warren, Goddard, Vollarci, Bamptbii ddd Btirt have, long left the wbrld; ■ Eibhdrdson returned to Ails- 1 tralia soon - after the fnaasaore. , Peanter £ was ah old soldibr, and danhot have siir- ‘ vivdd till now. Of Haimam, Chamberlain and Grant, X know nothing; although one making enquiries at Nelson might find that - all had not yet disappeared.” t My old friend Mr W. M. Stanton, who t for veiy many years was agent for the i Norwich Union Firo and Life Insurance £ Compaiiy, and had a good business in ( Nelson, wrote me recently : ( “ I regret that no copy of the Examiner j Supplement of the Wairau Massacre is now ] obtainable here; I felt much interest ill , this number, from, being intimately Con- j cernod in the subject-matter, for the evi- . denco of the survivors (the depositions) wore taken by myself, acting as magistrate’s j clerk. The Maori evidence was also inter- , proted (albeit indifferently) by me, as, the . only person available. Tile fatal warrant was also in my handwriting, although this 1 document uever returned from the terrible 1 scene. In the compilation [of the report in the Examiner ] I bad also some part: I wrote some, and assisted in others, of the i short biographical notices of the victims i of the massacre; " This recalls sad assooia- ■ tions: there are few of the refugees now living; -I can only think of two or three— Mr Barnicoat, Mr W. Singer and Mr Daniel Burn —all old men, of course, now.” Mr Barnicoat thus accounts for the absence of the name of Mr Burn from the list of those present at the affray:—“Mr D. Burn was, if I do not mistake, one of my survey men, who, along with my partner Mr Thompson, had returned to Nelson at the conclusion of the survey, and before the fight. I do not remember the name of Singer.” Mr Bellairs, another of the surveyors, was, 1 learn from Miss A. Bellairs, under date Parnell, Auckland, Feb. 2, 1898, “ retrenched from the Government service in Wellington, nearly five years ago, with a small compensation, after 32 years’ service; the fact of his having served twelve years of that time under Provincial Government having debarred him from a pension legally.” Ho is now living with bis daughter at Parnell. In July last a slight sketch of his early career in New Zealand was published in the New Zealand (Auckland) Herald, of the 3rd, 7th, and 10th issues. I have never seen any account of the actual number of natives killed at the affray, but I believe it is generally understood that there was an equal number of losses on both sides. The New Zealand Company’s charter was surrendered, and all its interest in the colony reverted to the Imperial Government in July, 1850. On the 23rd July, 1846, Rauparaha was taken prisoner by Governor Grey, who sent an armed party of about 150 men on shore at Porirua before daylight. Rauparaha and others were surprised in sleep, and seized without, it is said, sufficient pretext, and placed on board the man-of-war Calliope for twelve months. 'A very interesting account of the "Life, and Times of Te Rauparaha ” by Mr_W--'T. L. Travers, appeared in the “ Transactions of the New Zealand we. read that “ at about the time of the capture of Rauparaha, 200 men of the tribe of Ngatirankawa that" befriended Bangihaeata assembled at Otaki, and he (Bangihaeata) told them he wished to destroy Wellington and kill the Europeans as satisfaction for the captivity of Rauparaha. But the old chief told them they must put an end to this foolish desire, and not ■ Hearken to the tikanga of Rangihaeata; hut that they must live in peace, and cease ■ that had desire. They consented; and when Eanparahft was, next-year, l liberated, I ho urged* the Ngatirankawa, to: build; a large church in Hadfield " Town," Otaki, as

ho had a great desire to worship the great God. He was continually worshipping i- until he died at Otaki on the 27th November, 1849,” in the 81st year of his age. Eauparaha was buried in the Native ', Mission Cemetery on the 3rd December, at Otaki; but the Maoris • now resident _ in that town declare that the coffin containing his remains was subsequently removed to Kapiti Island. Kangihaeata, on hearing of the seizure of his chief, dashed to the neighbourhood to aid him, if possible ; but the northern chiefs refused to obey his call. They told him that to attempt to exterminate the Europeans was foolish. “ How could you | dry up the sea ? That is why we say. I Finish lighting with the Europeans.” 1 Kangihaeata lived to be 70 years of age. He died in November, 1850, and was buriod at Poroutawhao, near Foxton. I find I have omitted to finish the account of my excursion to Tuamarina. Friend Matthews drove me to his homestead at IVaiwakatara, Spring Greet. On the way we passed a memorial chapel, erected partly by the Wakefield family and partly by public subscription, in commemoration of the sad event. It stands on a part of Massacre Hill, and is now called the Old Sohoolhouse. I was most hospitably entertained by Mr and Mri Matthews and family. I was induced t< abandon my trip to Blenheim. On Sun day I was driven to Spring Creek Episcopal Church, which was handsomely dfi' corated for the festive season. But we first visited the Maori pah, which is pleasantly situated on the north bank of the Wairau river. The young natives were much interested in being shown the old Nelson Examiner, with the ground plan of Massacre Hill and the Tuamarina creek, fcc. Mr Matthews jocularly remarked to fid Senbcn, “You massacred my cousin !” ‘No! no!” replied Eauben, and, patting joth breasts with his hands, he exclaimed, ‘Mo suckling at the time. No massacre ! Fight.” The old chief Eoro was indisposed, and did not make his appearance. In Monday (Boxing Day) Messrs Matthews, lenior and junior, drove a party of us to Spring Creek township to see some races md other sports; but, owing to a shower of ain in the morning, which had wet the ong grass in the paddock where they ?cro to be hold, tho sports were postponed ill the following Saturday (New Year’s lay). I was, however, enabled to proceed y the excursion train returning from ilenheim to Pioton, and so voyaged to Wellington the same night by the s.s. iotpmahans.

Tile trip to Tuamarhia and back can be accomplished in 14 or 15 hours at any timo that there may be a steamer proceeding from Wellington to Pioton and back on the same day, aa trains on the PiotonBlenheim line usually riiti to shit the steamers at holiday times.