REMINISCENCES OF THE WAR.

NZ Truth, Issue 57, 21 July 1906, Page 7

REMINISCENCES OF THE WAR.

<By C.W.) '

The chief of a tribe, whose territory lay around Otahu and the upper part of the Patea River, was considered loyal to the white man before the war broke out, for

He w<as one of the native assessors, an honorary appointment, which entitled him to a salary of £200 a year; but was simply a bribe to induce him to remain friendly to the pakeha. When,, however, Titi Kawaru's hordes came triumphantly sweeping down the coast carrying all before them, the chief probably felt like the Margrave of Brandenburg when Tilly's armies were approaching his dominions from the south and Gustay Adolph with his Swedes from the north, undecided which side to join. Unwilling to see his villages and plantations destroyed by the HrU Haus, he ftnally threw m his lot with them; It was known that he had about 120 warriors m his tribe, and to capture them was the object of another j expedition. Our company mustered about 110 Btrong, and we were accompanied by a Maori contingent of about 200 men. Travelling along a track, which we had followed previously when making a night march, we reached Otahu about midday, where we halted for dinner. * * * " While lounging among the high fern we heard loud talking and hallooing m different directions around us, indicating that the very men we wanted had come down the river to hunt for pigs, and we had now an opportunity to hunt themColonel Lyon, who was m commund, sent out half a dozen small parties to reconnoitre, staying with the main body to await results. Accompanied by two others, one of whom was a Maori officer, judging by his silver lace, we crept through the fern towards a spot where loud talking was going on. Arriving at an opening, we saw three Maoris busily engaged disarojboweling some pigs, and talking boisterously. We could have shot them all from whence we were, but the Maori officer motioned us to keep quiet, and leaving his rifle and stripping off his garments, ho stepped boldly into the open and approached his countrymen. The latter never noticed him, and continued talking until he was close to them. Then suddenly drawing his revolver he shot one and then another, but the third ran escaped the bullets that were whistling after him. * • * The report of firearms warned the others of the proximity of danger, for they decamped and no more were discovered. In the afternoon we continued our march up the river until we reached the first of their villages, but nothing living could be found, and we camped for the ni/giit. Having sufficient rations, the rebels had doubtless retired to distant fastnesses, where it would have been useless to follow, and hence we returned to Patea next day.- On the way back we noticed that ! the bodies of the two dead Maoris had already been devoured by pigs, the heads and a few bones alone remaining. This expedition was described Hii an Auckland paper, called the "Herald," I think, m about these terms *. — "Colonel Lyon started with the force under his command and found the enemy posted m a- strong position. A short, but sharp, and decisive, engagement ensued, m which the rebels left two o:f their dead on the field. No casualties on our side, etc." So much for the reliability 'of newspaper reports. *.• * ' Shortly after our return to P«tea Colonel Lyon was ordered to Wellington, and QaPtain Goring, assisted by Lieutenunt Foster, took charge of the forces. It would have' been difficult to select two officers less fitted for the positions entrusted to them, a^d never was any force, supposed to be under military rule, m a less satisfactory condition. Political intlutnce was rampant, and all powerful m the Armed Constabulary, aod responsible for many a valuable life. Any. force whoso leaders are appointed not by merit, but by outside influence, cannot be efficient, for the result of a campaign depends more upon the calibre of the officers than of the men. The most reliable officers were those who had joined from the Imperial forces, where they held the rank of sergeant-major; but, unfortunately, there were only a few, while some of the more deserving were for years waiting for promotion m vain. On one occasion a young fellow was sent to us holding the paltry rank of corporal. He had no idea of soldiering, never handled a rifle, and yet there ho was with two wretched stripes on his arm, conferred on him through the influence of some relative m Wellington. Under Colonel Lyon there was a certaiu amount of discipline,, though justice was frequently absent, and unless these two go. hand, m kand as on© directing agency, ,

discontent will naturally arise and confidence depart. When tho fighting was over and numbers were no longer needed, men were occasionally dismissed from the service on some trumpory charge, an'S all pay forfeited, simply because officers wished to get rid o! them. On ono occasion I was m charge of the guard when a prisoner was brought to me to" tako charge of. He was quite sober, but showed the effects of drink. Next morning, when I paraded him and others before the military tribunal, I gave my testimony by merely stating that the man appeared to have been drinking; jr Was he drunk, or was he sober 1" bellowed old Wingy at me. "He was sober,"' I replied, firmly. "You can' go ; you can go !" roared the old fellow, 'and from that moment I lost his favor. The man's sentence was that he be dismissed, all pay due to be forfeited, which m this case amounted to nearly £20. *. • • But if 'discipline was somewhat mixed under Colonel Lyon's regime, it became simply outrageous when Captain Goring took charge. Goring was ai sickly little man, and possibly well fitted to preside over a young ladies' seminary, but by nature and inclination quite out of place I aa the responsible leader of men. His j father held a good appointment m the Maoriland Parliament, which doubtless accounted for the son being a full-fledged captain. His assistant, Lieutenant Poster, was an English dude, who, like our own George Reid, wore an eye-glass, was always grinning, and had as many brains as the dude fraternity can usually boast '<Jf. It -was said that he once held a commission m the British Army, and j if that was true, God help an army with such feeblo officers. *•. ' « . I' held at this time the *rank' 61 firstclass sergeant, while a certain: sergeant Boylan was my senior, and I had to. obey his orders. Boylan was a big, powerful man, had served m the Imperial Army, and was a. terrible bully to the men, whom he occasionally cuffed and abused as his humor directed. But he was as brave as a lion, knew not what fear was, and during the "war he and I were always on the best of terms.- He was, however, a slave to drink, wihich became too apparent when we went into barracks at Patea, where rum and whisky could be had "ad libitum.'-' About a mile from the long iron building which formed the barracks, and within earshot of the officers' quarters, an enterprising individual had established a grog-shop, which soon became a scene of daily orgies and an unmitigated nuisance. One day, juat as the men were at dinner, Lieuten- j ant Foster entered the barracks and wanted to know why I didn't keep; better order m camp. I replied frankly that it was impossible for me or anyone else to

keep order while the officers allowed a man to sell rum openly close to their own quarters. He >l gave his usual grin and departed.; • • » At the time I was not aware that Sergeane Boylan -was a constant visitor at the shanty and m the habit of levying blackmail 'upon its keeper. He was away when the officer called, but after his return, having heard what happened, he never spoke to me, but scowled ominously,, which forboded trouble. Next morning, when it was raining cats and dogs, and bitterly cold, he came to me with instructions to get two drays, take half a dozen men, and go for two loads of firewoods The nearest forest was three miles away r and the wood was not urgently needed, but I had to go. On our return, when within a mile of the camp, I told the men to run and get to barracks as soon as possible, everyone being thoroughly wet, while I escorted the carts alone. As we approached camp, I noticed Bbylan standing m the door watching, and as I came up he intimated that he would have to report me to the commanding ; officer for bringing my men to Darrac k a m jan unsoldierly manner. Goring heard the j charge, but when I explained the circumi stances, he dismissed it, stating that I had done perfectly right., During the following days similar disgraceful duties were piled upon me, and several times my old friend Boylan hailed me before the officer, but always without result. Some of the men warned me that my' persecutor had openly stated that he would make life too hot for me to endure and drive me out of the force, Which made me more stubborn than ever. * * • A small, room had been partitioned off oa ° ne end. of the barracks for Boylan, another sergeant and myself. In this room one day I w as playing a game of drafts, when Boylan entered, blind drunk, made an offensive remark and struck me lightly with the back of his hand. I nad been waiting for it, an d a t once reported him to Captain Goring, for being drunk and striking me. He was placed under tial. But the arrest was a very hollow affair. Instead of being strictly confined to barracks, Bo y l an went mi n and out, passing the officers' quarters, - an d was constantly drunk. All round our, room hung loaded carbines and revolvers, though, for my o w n safety, I had removed the caps from Boylan's revolver. Weeks' went by and no court-martial was held owing to the absence o f the necessary numter of officers, and finally he w a s released from arrest, such as it was, and reinstated m his duties. The very next day he brought me before' Captain Goring on some trumped-up charge, which could not te sustained, and Goring advised him to desist Jrom these persecutions. I, however, inquired if the charge that was pending against Boylan had been finally dealt with, and when he stated that it was settled, I told him that m that case I would appeal to his superior officer, and, if n e e d be, bring the matter before the Minister of Defence. "Of course," said Goring, "you can' do - that, but you have to do so through me." I wrote my appeal at once, handed it m, and within an hour Boylan was again placed under arrest • but this time for drunkenness, &nd at the instance of Captain Goring. This arrest was like the former, quite ineffective. Boylan acted without restraint, was never sober, and usually returned to barracks about midnight. All the men knew that a crisis was inevitable, and that two lives stood m the balance, but the officers were oblivious. In our room, my bed stood opposite a window, while Boylan's bed was next to mine, at right angles. I never undressed until he had turned m, but lay with a revolver m my hand, ready to defend myself, and pretending to bo asleep when he retired. ♦ ' * • One night he returned, drunk as usual, stooped closely over me—his foul breath making me nearly sick. It was bright moonlight, and I could sco his movements clearly. Crossing to his owni bed, he reached for his revolver, but returned it. Then he took down his carbine, and I prepared for a spring as he turned the muzzle towards me ; but he changed his mind, turned it to his own breast, and fired. All suspense was over, and I con^ fess that I was never more relieved than at this final settlement of a disagreement m which I considered myself an in-: D.ocent though stubborn actor. The camp was instantly awake j X lit a ca.ndie M

sea? one man for the doctor, another for Captain Goring, and examined the wound, which gaped fearfully just above the region of ' the heart. Goring, who was chiefly to blame for the sad ending, cried like a child as he saw his favorite — drunken brute as he was — laid low. He was carried to the hospital, where ho died m a couple of days, never having uttered a wish to make friends with me. ♦*• / ; On all sides I w a s now congratulated on my escape from an awkward predicament, which was quite unexpected. Had I complained to the officers they wofuld probably have laughed at me and 'accused me of cowardice. The authoritiesEtried to hush the matter up, but some of our men sent full particulars to the Wa,nganui "Herald," which m those days 'was conducted by John Ballance — that great statesman' who m after years laid ,th© foundation to Maoriland's wonderful prosperity — and m his paper it mada most instructive and interesting readings It was the chief cause of St. John Branigan being appointed Commissioner of the Armed Constabulary with instructions to organise it on the model ot the Irish Constabulary. ■ ..*, •• . . • ■ . A few days after this incident Captain Goring was superseded by Major Noake, a' former Imperial officer, ' strict, but just, and well fitted for the important position. Shortly after his arrival he made another attempt to capture thjat rebellious chief and his warriors. Some 20 war canoes had been' procured, each capable of carrying 20 to 50 men, and m these we pulled up the' river, 1 dragging them over the numerous dangerqus rapids towards the head, where the tribe was reported to have settled down. The trip proved most enjoyable and successful.: We came upon them unexpectedly m the village, and, having hoisted el white flag, they surrendered without firing a sihot. Their arms proved a most unique <j6J-. lection. The majority had powder-pun and flint locks, dating from the time of Queen Elizabeth, while a few had no lock at all, and were fired from a touchhole, like those used by Pedro Cortes at his conquest of Mexico. One old musket had- a bore of 3sin., the report of which we had often heard, for *it sounded like a young' cannon. The muzzles of others were shaped ltk e the tail end of a big trumpet, but the workmanship m all cases was of the first order, the 'barrels appearing extremely trustworthy, and each piece was finished pff with that care to details too often absent m modern weapons. On our return the canoes were crowded, there being about 250 prisoners — men, w o men and children— the whole of whom we conveyed to Patea without mishap. This concluded the last serious war m Maoriland. Some months after I handed m my resignation, being' tired of the idle life m camp. Major Noake tried hard to induce me to stay, promising rapid promotion, but X insisted and: l«f t eal.4ieri»g. ; iVaJ* Jt