MAORI HISTORY: TE PUOHO'S RAID

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22632, 25 July 1935, Page 12

MAORI HISTORY: TE PUOHO'S RAID

TO THE EDITOR Sib,—lt wants but a matter of a few months before' 100 years will have elapsed since one of the most outstanding events in the history of the Dominion took place at Tuturau, Southland, on the banks of the Mataura River. It is, undoubtedly, a far cry back to those glamourous days of the eighteenth century when the spirit of conquest and adventure moved some of the most famous mariners the Empire has produced to encircle the globe, probing its geographical secrets and, by their exploits, carving their names indelibly on the scroll of fame. A few have left a record of their visit in the nomenclature of the country, and in Maori tradition, which incidentally, is rich in accounts of deed equally as daring as those of the pakeha. The history of the Maori since his arrival in New Zealand was almost altogether a recital of deeds of a warlike nature, of battles won and lost, of military artifice and strategy, of assaults and ambuscades, of simple courage and deceitful treachery, of much heroism and a little cowardice, of sheer gallantry and strange fatalism, and a few acts of chivalrous generosity intermingled with practices of revolting savagery. These stories portray to us a little of what manner of man he was. The fertile district of Tuturau figures prominently in Maori tradition as the scene of the last attempt of the Nortti Island tribes to subdue those in the south. And it wants but a matter of 18 months before the centenary of this event falls due. For the student of Maori history the anniversary holds great significance —in fact, it is of Dominion-wide importance. Not only did it mark the cessation of intevisland tiibal strife, but it afforded a striking example of courage and enterprise, fortitude and perseverance in the face of almost insurmountable obstacles. It also marked the passins of the notorious raider chief, Pe Puoho, nephew of the renowned chieftain Te Rauparaha. Te Puoho. a turbulent and unsettled character, failing to live in harmony with members of his tribe,

conceived the astounding notion of making the overland excursion down through Weslland. across the Haast Pass, down Lake Wanaka and via Lake Wakatipu and the Mataura Valley to Tuturau. He was accompanied in his march by a fighting force of some 70 warriors, besides a few women, and his exploit stands out as being without parallel in Maori tradition, though the gloomy predictions of sceptical relatives were borne out when he and his men, gaunt with their pnva : tions, were caught napping by Topi Patuki and his Ruapukeans, whose sudden counter-attack resulted in the death of Te Puoho. Tuturau has gained historical significance by virtue of the facts mentioned. Realising that the centenary of the event is well worthy of more than a passing thought, residents of Mataura and Tuturau have selected a committee comprising many prominent citizens, whose object it will be to preserve the story of the fight, and probably establish a permanent reminder of an outstanding event in the annals of the Dominion. ' To this end it issues an appeal to descendants of Te Rauparaha, Te Puoho and his warriors, besides others interested, to communicate with the undersigned, forwarding such particulars of their association with the characters as may be handed down iu tradition, together with their names and addresses. — I am, etc., W. N. Dunnage, Secretary, Tuturau Maori CentenMataura. ary Committee.