THE MAORI WARS.

NZ Truth, Issue 68, 6 October 1906, Page 7

THE MAORI WARS.

THE MURDER" OF*SURVEYOR TODD. ■■ — ■■ —«~ '■■'' '-f^TE KOOTI'S^ CHARMED LIFE." . +J~m _ No. XXVII,

The great Maori meeting at Pariaka ("Truth," 17-9-06) m the Taranaki district terminated without producing any apparent result— at any rate, without occasioning any of the disturbances that were anticipated from it. The news circulated prior to the assembling of the natives was that Tito-

: m-^~. (ByJ.M.F.)

kowaru was going to the meeting armed, and the supposition then was that Titokowaru would commit some murder or other outrage m order to ascertain if the Government had tired of fighting. At all" times •the belligerent natives looked upon a murder or two as a legitimate DECLARATION OF WAR, and a natural method of obtaining from the Government ah expression" or a declaration oif their policy.on "any particular question. The whole of the proceedings at the meeting were allegorical. Sticks representing the .Queen of England and the Maori King were alternately stuck m the ground by one party, to be taken out by the other and thrown away. The true meaning of the meeting had reference to ; the ' confiscated lands, "Te Whiti's argument being to the effect that "everything Should be as before." A good deal of restlessness was being exhibited among the natives. Te Kooti, after a long absence somewhere m hiding, had turned up, and was again with the King at .Tongamata. THE FIRE-EATING ROPATA, who was thought to be on Te Kooti's trail, was nowhere m evidence, and inquiries were being made as to his whereabouts. Ropaia, when last he disappeared m the bush, said that he was going to capture Te Kooti and bring him back a prisoner, or not return at all. The Uriweras, who had Surrendered at the time of the big meeting, .numbered about 100. Te Kooti at this time was said to be busy planting. Whether as a means of rejoicing at the prospect of a permanent peace or by way of amusement, I know not, but the Hau Haus at Te Kuiti bad taken to theatricals. They had taken a very large i whare, which they had named THE THEATRE OF THE KING'S SON. The performances were given twice a week to large audiences, the admission being free. The acting was said to be first-rate. ' "'"' *'"•'* ''"#■■ That Te Kooti had "shot his bolt" was evidenced by; the fact that his followers Were leaving him, and straggling away m the direction of the coast to escape observation. Four of the ex-Chatham Island prisoners, Rewi, his" wife, a young lad, and Kriare, who was formerly transhipped for Belling gunpowder to the Hau Haus, had come into Wairoa. Rewi stated" that Te Kooti's followers numbered 300, • while Knare set down the'number as 40 '(the 40 thieves!). With the exception that a ruxrior was m circulation tnat TE KOOTI HAD BECOME INSANE, and that m his insanity he had threatened another "raid, the year 1870 closed without excitement. , '-.'•■».* * •But some excitement - was occasioned m the first days of the hew year, when it became known that Mr. Todd, a surveyor, had been murdered by Maoris, and fears were entertained that Te Kooti was again upon the waTpath. A "domestic" incident, however, caused some surprise. Major Topia, who wafc m receipt of £200 a year as Government- Agent up-the -.Wanganui River, was requested by the Government to proceed to Waikato and use'his influence with the Waikato party and the king, to induce the latter to "GRACE WITH Hlfc PRESENCE" a large meeting got up jn the hope that he would attend, The gathering was to be held at Aomarama, 90 miles up the Wanganui River. Great promises were hold out. Topia was accompanied by another chief, Tomas. On arriving at the king's headquarters, Te Kiuti, it was found that one of the principal chiefs, Manuhiri, was absent, with 150 men. After much speechifying, the king decided that he would not go to the meeting; he did not wish to see the Government; never had any desire to see them, and never expressed a wish to Bee them. He wiiuld not be coaxed into going. Rewi,'who was present, told Topia that he would, attend with 300 men. This ended the palaver for a time, but before Topia left on his return journey, the absent chief, Manuhiri, hearing what had been Topia's mission, said the king should not attend, but that he and Rewi would. Topia returned and informed the Government of the success, partially, of his mission. The rejoicings accordingly Were exultant, and great preparations were made. Rolls pf carpeting, druggets, etc., were sent by the Government, and conveyed by Topia up the river, to cover, as he said, the rudo floor of the House of Assembly at the Aomarama, 90ft by 30ft. All was apparently going well until the DEMON OF JEALOUSY put a finger m the pie. During Topia's absence his Comrade-in-Arms, Major Keepa, (Kemp) had an intrigue with one of hjs brother major's concubines. Topia thought this too bad, but eventually decided that the amorous major should not be invited to the gathering, and if he persisted m attending he should not be karangaed—welcomed with the usual formalities—the omission of which was considered one of the greatest insults that could be offered. Kemp was furious at this resolve, and declared that he would go when the time came, and take all the lower Wanganui natives with him. ■.*• ' * . * Concerning the murder of the surveyor Todd. There was no doubt that it was intended as a DECLARATION OF WAR. Shortly after tho murder, Rewi arrived at Aomarama with eight or nine .men. On being, questioned by some Europeans and natives about the murder, Rewi is. said to have replied} "It would be good to have the men who killed Todd tried by our laws when they were caught, and they could be tried at Te Kuiti before, and m the presence of, twice 500 men. To an old -Wanganui chief, Rewi said: "If your Government, .Wanganuis," order you to

dra stated that Tawhiao had been dethroned and his son made king. Ilewi had gone to Taupo with 150 men to stbp the telegrams and the roads. Letters from Waikato, received at Auckland, st^teji that rumors were prevalent that the Kipgites intended )6 try the murderers of Mr. Todd, and bo hang, them if found guilty. . During the months of Maroh and April the Native Minister had been visiting 1 the Waikato and interviewing "the natives, • who had expressed great 'friendliness. There he met Rewi and other chiefs, but did not make public the result of his two hours' interview. A meeting with Titokowaru had been arranged for, and at which some fe-

Waikato to fight, obey your masters; you are welcome to come.'" : - . - •'. - .-* ■■■'.* * . • . Mr. Fox and Mr. McLean were m Wanganui just before and after ReWi r arrived up the river; Mr. Fox was to have gone and met Rewi and his 300 followers, and Mr. McLean took Major Kemp on some pretence to Wellington to procure a- meetfng between him and Topia, and avoid a rupture at Aomarama. But Mr. Fox did riot go Up the river— a wise precaution— after Rewi's declaration. The" natives were forbidden by Government to go up and see Rewi, and were told that they ough? to capture Rewi and make a prisoner of him. Rewi took the carpeting and had it cut into nice lengtcs, and took it ' to the king's place. The" e_xpeditiort which Muhuhiri was upon wh'eniTopia made his visit to Te Kuiti was ' to reconnoitre the town of Alexandra, on-the-Waipa River, and close under the Pirongia Ranges, WHERE TODD WAS SHOT,' '' ' with the intention oif attacking it. But wishing the first blow to be a 1 successful one, and not feeling certain of a complete massacre without loss to themselves, -he altered his plans, and after Topia returned killing of Todd was decided upon, and he was shot. Mr. Todd was employed Ut the time of 'his death m surveying^confis^ate'd lands, a portion of which was to, .ifjaye; been given away to some ' friendly '■'natj^pii m return for losses sustained by them- during the war, or for lands belonging 'to theni which had been taken by mistake. ' " v - ■* ■•'*'• •'••■■'»•■ Writers of the time said that the MASSACRE RE^bLVED UPON m the 'first instance had been determined upon after the murder' of Mr. Todd. '" The

males attended, and we read that "some Europeans, including women,- shook hands with the man who, two - years ago, was ravaging the country, killing and cooking their friends and acquaintances, arid-- Who at the moment had £1000 on his head." Meanwhile Ropata Was "hunting up Te' Kooti. Upon the return of his expedition from the Bay of Plenty to Manga- : powhatu, they came across and captured three men whose tracks- had =_een followed during the first 'march from- Poverty : Bay to the 'Bay; of Plenty. The expedition could obtain no- reliable information . from the Uriwera with regard to Te Kooti, except that he was" at, ot near, Pa Piini. They accordingly made their way there, the march of six days, being through dense bush", and over "endless" ranges. The march entailed much suffering arid priva- . tion, as, for several days, the men existed upon wild cabbage and thistles. Being weak from want of food, arid finding no cultivations, the expedition pushed on for the nearest point of supplies, and came out ,at< ■>.-■•.' '•'■■ .'•-•■ ':■■■■< ' -■■■• •' -, THE REINGA, ON THE WAIROA RIVER. During the- hmrch^eveh- people' were taken, refugees of the Uriwera tribe, living m ones and twos. * * * Peace seemed to have reigned until the month of August, though the pursuit of Te Kooti had not slackened. The Maori King requested the Government to give him a piece of- land at Mahgere, near Auckland, where he could live and die m peace. Captain Preece had discovered tracks of Te' Kooti on August 18 at' the Waipawa River, a brarich of.the Ruaketuri. A" woman who was taken prisoner stated that Te Kooti. was camped close by. Te Kooti's camp was surprised., and four Hau Haus were killed. Five women, 18 stand^of arms, a quantity of clothing, and aihmunitioh, including 1000 , caps, were captured. 'Te Kooti was recognised, and fired at twice. : 'He escaped by swimming the riverjv leaving his clothes, and it was '-found that there was a bullet ■hole m his -blanket..- The force under Major Mair was o"bliged to - return for provisions, but when news was last received, it was about to start- again. It was expected that now 'Ropata' would encounter Te' Kooti. yain' hope! ' ' .. .; .. *_ y -..* * "Te Kooti once again!" made another big headline. "A telegram just received from Wellington states':', that Mr. Mackav. has telegraphed from Auckland to the Superintendent, stating ,that Captain Preece, who

time was to have been during Christmas week, as from the habit of observation natives' have m a large degree, they noticed that the Pakehas during this particular" time and season gave way ftiore than usual to drinking and enjoying themselves, and many would, no doubt, sleep more' soundly after their glasses of grog. All this and more the Maoris noticed. They were better acquainted with the Pakeh'a's ways than the Pakeha was with the ways of the Maori. A runior of this massacre had reached New Plymouth. The "intelligent" Maoris who had brought the. news from Mokau knew, as they fancied, that it was going to take place. They made certain that it had taken place, and reported it accordingly as having occurred; » * * A meeting of natives was reported as having been held, at which Te Kooti attended, at Ohirieroa, when it Was proposed to revive old Maori customs and ■ FORBID EUROPEAN INTERCOURSE. A meeting, called by Mere Kuru, was also held at Awiti. In fact, meetings were held all round, and much commotion was apparent. Alarming telegrams we're received; indeed, the cable-crammer appears to have been Very active. A telegram from Alexan-

had been m pursuit of Te Kooti— who is always about tb be captured, '"' but somehow never is— had had an encounter With- 'the rebels, . and that Pf eebe had been killed along with five of his men, Te Kooti once more escaping witi* the loss' of one man killed. ' That is one side of t]he story, and the telegram adds that Government telegrams state "that; 'according to' a Hau Hau. report, Te Kooti was ih Another place/ distant from that where the 'alleged engagement was said to have occurred/and m proof of this, that Mr. McLean, the Native Minister, had received telegrams from Captain' Preece from a place many miles from the; -scene of the alleged encounter. The telegram is wijdly ungrammatical, as telegrams will be, but that is the meaning which one accustomed to decipher occult arid" '■ ■ ■'■ -" ' "■. - --y •-, -.-* ■■ -■- ■:- SEEMINGLY DELPHIC MESSAGES has, he thinks, been happily able to evolve from -his experie^^ Arid so goes ori the story of ramo/ /this wretch. Surely £1000 for his- he... should bring that 'dome' of savage thousElf m a flax mat to' the feet of the Native Minister." r Another despatch said that Te Kooti had sent messages to the Maori' King,' craving his assistance, -tating that he was hardpressed by the whites, had few followers

and was m want of food. It was not considered probable that the Maori King would assist him beyond what was'reported, namely, that Rewi, the principal chief of the Ngatimaniapoto tribe, ppce' the; most' turbulent and truculent of the race,; had spnf. letters to the Government praying-, tliem tp ceage pursuing Te Kooti. Perhaps ■it would have been cheaper to havVdone so but it was thought impossible to condone THE SAVAGE CRUELTIES of Which the villain was guilty at Poverty Bay; The' mere fact of appealing for assistance showed that Te Kooti's course was nearly run. „: • ■_' • •*.:' (To b e Concluded Next Weefe.) '