PATER'S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2804, 11 December 1907, Page 85

PATER'S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

THE POVERTY. BAY MASSACRE,

(Continued.)

Last week T took the narrative down to the time Te Kooti was to make his escape. "On the 3rd of July, 1868," says Gudgeon in his "Reminiscences of the War in New Zealand," "the schooner Rifleman was seen approaching the Chatham Islands, laden with Government stores for the use of 200 Maori prisoners, who, under the supervision of Captain Thomas, R.M., and 15 men, were then in durance vile on the island. A boat manned by come of these same prisoners came off and assisted to bring the vessel to her anchorage ; they behaved in a manner calculated to impress anyone in their favour, offering to assist " in discharging cargo, etc." As I said last week, warnings were given that escape ■was contemplated, but they were disbelieved or passed over because of the assumed impracticability of means to effect their purpose. Rusden, in his history, gives the number, not as 200 men, but as 163 men, 64 >wom«n, and 71 children; and "A Poverty Bay Survivor," in his pamphlet, "A Dark Chapter from New Zealand History," gives the number of men as .187. On_ the following day, the 4th, th© captain went ashore, and in a short time the men on the- vessel heard firing on the shore and saw men running wildly about. In a few minutes, says Gudgeon, " a boat-load of the prisoners, I well armed, boarded the schooner, sent ! the crew below decks, placed guards over them, threatening instant death to anyone who might resist. By this time Te Kooti had possession of the whole island, and the rifles and ammunition of the gquartd t with the fowling-pieces of the settlers, were in the hands of men who knew how to use them. The plot 60 long conceived had I been ably earned out ; everything had j 1 been done in a masterly manner, and the mutineers deserve some credit for their moderation. The women and children , were treated most kindly ; only one man 1 was killed, and that only because he had resisted. Even for this Te Kooti was not responsible, ac he had given orders that there should be no killing; but he had sown the storm, and was about to reap the whiilwind. It may be doubted whether Europeans would have behaved with greater moderation if placed in similar circumstances." A gentleman sent afterwards to the island to make inquiries — Mr G. S. Cooper — reported in these words : — "Upon looking back on this extraordinary episode in the history of New Zealand, it ifl difficult to say whether one's wonder is excited more by the preI cieion, rapidity and completeness with ! which the enterprise was planned and j executed, er by the moderation shown in the hour of victory by a gang of barbarous fanatics, who in a moment found their , former masters bound at thtir feet, and their lives entirely at their mercy." Having succeeded so well so far, all precautions were taken, to ensure success. Everything portable and worth taking on the island was put on the ship, Te Kooti superintending operations and being almost the last man to go on board. Immediately he ordered the crew on deck, and gave them their ohoice : working the ship to Poverty Bay or instant death, i They chose, tjie fortner! "An armed guard paced tho deck day and night. A IVlaori with carbine and swoid stood by the helm to watch the steersman's course. The crew were nob alltrved to cook, a , hall caete, Baker, doing ti is work. it

must be remembered that Maoris had a fair knowledge of navigation. *or they had sailed in whalers. Next day, the sth. the Rifleman sailed.. A head wind was oncountered during the run »cioss, so Te Kooti ordered all the greenstone ornaments on board to be collected aM thrown overboard as a propitiatory ooe»ing to Tangaroa (Neptune) [Another »«fiiority says to Atua, the god of winds. —^ater], Thisi sacriloe was not deemea Mlficient, for the wind continued in the tame quarter, so Te Kooti ordered his mcii to throw overboard an old man, a relation of his own. The poor old fellow %•« immediately