WHITE CLIFF MASSACRF

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1916, Page 4

WHITE CLIFF MASSACRF

THE WHITELEY MONUMEXT'. ■ TO-DAY'S OEREMONY: An event of considerable interest wtft take place at Pukearuhe to-day, namely the unveiling of « monument to the memory of the Rev. John Whiteley, on the spot where he was found, »hot by the Maoris, on February 13, 1809 A large party of visitors will go from New Plymouth, shortly after 11 o'clock, and Waitara and local residents are «rrang» ing to muster in force. Tea \\ill be pro* vided by them for the visitors, who should reach New Plymouth again by nightfall. An evening meeting will be held in the Pukearuhe schoolbouj*. and for this some of the visitors wll) ttny to assist. Commemorative addresses *\H be given at each function.

Owing to the fact that the person of John Whiteley was considered tapu by all classes of the 'Maoris from Wanganui to Auckland, the news of his massacre by northern natives created a profound sensation among the Taranalci tribes, and they mourned him as they would one of their own (writes ''Fifty-one" 1» the Hawera Star). The European population in the province did not exhibit more genuine grief than did their darkskinned neighbors; the lamentations of thewomen were typical of those tor *he passing of- a great chief. Some years ago the then Govcir.o/ ■. New Zealand opened a new Wesley. Church in New Plymouth, bearing tu name of the Whiteley Memorial Ctmrcc, and this secured the permanent perpetuation of John Whiteley'* name; thos there is the obelisk- in TV Henui cemetery, on which are inscribed the names of all those wiio were killed on that fateful 13th—John Whiteley, Lieutenant Gnscoyne, his wife and children, MUn» and Richards. Now, the spot where *Jif grand old missionary laid down hid *Ui-' forty-seven years ago is to hear .-irjiw* testimony to the esteem in which H« was held. I can still picture tbiM -*<-',■( old man as I saw him lying on Ilk W divested of his coat, just at the brow <>.« the Pukearuhe plateau. He was shot, if I recollect rightly, under the left eye and in the breast; his horse (a wellknown animal), minus saddle and bridle. .lay dead close by. However, the MabrU who committed his crime appeared to have had sufficient respect for M'. Whiteley not to resort to the tow«--hawk, as they did in the case o' JJV other victims.