THE MAORI WAR.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 3114, 7 September 1908, Page 5

THE MAORI WAR.

RELIC OF A MEMORABLE ENGAGEMENT. To-day is the anniversary of the battle of To Ngutu o te Manu, which was fought about eight miles from the Taranaki coast, and contiguous to the present town of Manaia. In this fight, which took place on September 7th, 1808, the gallant Major Von Tempsky, Captains Buck and Palmer, Lieutenants Hastings arid H unter lost their lives by an ambuscade. In this connection we have been shown by Mr Joseph Jessop, of Pahiatua, a chip of rata, to which tree nineteen men had been tied up and burned to death by the Maori rebels. There were chambers in the rata from which the rebels fired on and killed -Major von Tempsky and his officers. The piece of rata mentioned has a burnt appearance on one side. Mr Jessop was at that time a member of the troop formed at Tutaenui (Marton), and known as the Victoria Cavalry Troop, being the first cavalry corps formed in the Rangitikei district. He received a clay bullet wound in the thigh during the engagement. The Minister for Defence proceeded on Saturday to Manaia, where an anniversary service of the fight at Nga-tu-o-te-Manu and fall of Alajor von Tempsky was held yesterday. The service was organised by the Rev. Air Klingender, chaplain to the Alounted Regiment, and among those present were representatives of the various volunteer corps and survivors ot the engagement.