THE MAORI WARS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 55, Issue 3934, 2 August 1937, Page 4

THE MAORI WARS

VIVID RECOLLECTIONS. REMINISCENCES OF A CENTENARIAN. r M.r Enos Holloway, of Morrinsville, father of Mrs E. Clarke, of Te Awamutu, who celebrated his 100th birthday yesterday, has some interesting reminiscences to relate of the Maoii War. IN TARANAKI. Mr Holloway arrived in New Zealand in 1860, following the outbreak of hostilities between the Maoris and Europeans in Taranaki. He was actively engaged in the first battle at Puketekauri near Waitara. “Through misfortune and bad management we lost the battle,” said Mr Holloway. “We surrounded the pa and expecting the 65th Regiment to come up we lay under cover until early next morning when the reinforcements were due to arrive. They did not come. The excuse made was that they could not cross the river. The attack was launched, and the 40th left GO men out of 200 odd deal and wounded on the 'field. The only help forthcoming was 50 sailors from the ship Pelorous, which happened to be close by.” "in the same battle Mr Holloway was a fortunate survivor of a reconnoitering party of 17, who were ap proaching the pa, when they were met by a volley from in front. Rewi Maniapoto, the chief who issued the challenge tp the white forces at Orakau, had arrived with a war party of 400 men. Mr Holloway and two others escaped alive. AT ORAKAU. Upon the conclusion of the Taranaki affair, Mi- Holloway went to Onehunga, but news came through that there was a fresh outbreak in the Waikato and he came with his old regiment into this district. Here he was engaged with the party who erected the first telegraph wire from Auckland to Drury. He then joined the commissariat and went to Rangiriri, Ngaruawahia, Te Rore and i’e Awamutu. After the battle of Orakau he nwrried and settled down, later going to Cambridge, where he' was engaged in the bakery business and then to Te Awamutu, where he carried on the 'trade for six or seven years. He had been in the 40th Fo >t Regiment for over 11 years. In 1900 he went to Morrinsville. There he has lived ever since and in the same house.