PAGES FROM THE PAST.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1922, Page 9

PAGES FROM THE PAST.

RENEWAL OF HOSTILITIES. ■ ■! ■■ MASSACRE OF MILITARY PARTY.

(By “Juvenis. ,, j On Monday, May the 4th, 1863, a party, consisting of seven armed men of. the 57th Regiment, in charge of a prisoner, left the Tataraimaka Camp for town. Knowing nothing of the warnings which had been given to the Government, they marched on regardless of danger. They hao not .proceeded far on their way when Dr. Hope and Lieutenant Tiagctt of the same regiment overtook them on horseback, both being unarmed. The officers passed the party and proceeded onward at a walking pace, about. 200 yards in advance, until nearing the Wairau stream, when they came to a sudden halt, and awaited until the party on foot came up to within five yards of them, when a shot was fired from the bush which at that spot slopes downward to the river, and rune parallel to the beach. So sudden and unexpected was the report, that the man Kelly, who alone escaped to tell the tale, turned round and enquired of Sergeant Ellers, who was immediately in front of him, if his piece had gone off by accident. The question was scarcely answered in the negative when another shot brought poor Ellens to the ground, and another Color - 'Sergeant Hill. In front “Dr. Hope was lying in the stream, having fallen wounded from his horse. Private Flynn, on being requested to aid in the defence, stated his inability to do so from a wound which he had received in his arm. Private Banks, the prisoner, was also 1 prostrate on the ground.

While matters were in this state. Lieutenant Tragett, fcistead of riding off and saving his life, dismounted from his horse and joined the three survivors, rem F-king, as if speaking to himself, “What is to be done?” Florence Kelly replied, “We had better retire firing.” The noble officer replied, “We cannot leave our dead and wounded,” so he took a rifle and accoutrements to aid in the defence. After continuing the fire for some time and receiving a wound, he gave his white pocket handkerchief to Kelly with directions to place it on his baronet, and use it as a flag of truee. Kelly obeyed this order, but. the call for mercy was unheeded. The little party again opened fire, which was answered with telling effect by the ambuscade, Kelly alone being left alive. A Maori now, in attempting to take Sergeant Hill’s firelock, was shot dead by the survivor. Kelly then retreated towards Tataraimaka, but a Maori trying to outflank him, and the strings of his shoes which were of flax breaking, he kicked off his shoes, threw away his rifle and belte, ran for his life, and escaped. The names of the victims of this massacre were: ff- A ssistant-•Sur-geon William Astle Hope, M.D., Lieutenant Thomas Heathcote Tragett, 57th Regiment; Color- Sergeant Samuel Ellers; Sergeant Samuel Hill; Private Edward Kelly; Private John Flynn; Private Bartholomew McCarthy, and Patrick Egan. That night the Militia and Volunteers again mounted picket, and occupied their old posts around the town. What were the feelings of Governor Grey when the real object of the Maoris, whom he supposed to have crept through the bush with “the most laudable intentions,” was thus vividly brought before him we cannot sav. but General Cameron was heard to say to him that he would not have his men cut to pieces in that fashion with impunity.

THE ABANDONMENT OF THE WAITARA PURCHASE. On the nth, the following extraordinary proclamation was issued by the Governor: — “Proclamation. “By His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.8., etc.. “Whereas an engagement for the purchase of a certain tract of lanfi at the Waitara, commonly known as Teira’s block, was entered' into by the Government of New Zealand in 1859, but the said purchase has never been completed. “And whereas circumstances- connected with the said purhase unknown to the Government at the time of the sale of the said land, have lately transpired, which make is advisable that the said purchase should not be further proceeded with. . “Now, therefore, the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Executive Council, doth hereby declare that tile purchase of the said block of land is abandoned, and all claim to the same on the part of the Government is henceforth renounced. , i ‘Given under my hand at New Plymouth, and issued under the Seal of the Colony of New Zealand, this 11th day of May, 18G3. . “G. Grey. “By His Excellency’s Command, “Alfred Domett, God Save the Queen.” On the night of the 24th, two militiamen, Ward and Wolfe, were posted together on the edge of the gully near to the Carrington Road Blockhouse, when by a mistake Ward fired at Wolfe and wounded him in the wrist. On the 29th, as Lieutenant Waller, 57th Regiment, was riding from St. Andrew’s Redoubt to Pontoko, he received a volley from a party of natives in ambush, which killed his horse. While disengaging himself from the fallen beast a native leaped out with a tomahawk to despatch him, when Lieutenant Waller shot him with his revolver, and succeeded in escaping to the redoubt.

THE ATTACK ON THE ENEMY’S POSITION AT KATIKARA. On the 3rd of June, a force under the command of General Cameron marched from New Plymouth by the Great, South Road, and received reinforceents at Poutoko and Oakura. and continued itsmarch in silence to Tataraimaka, where it was again reinforced. At about 05 on the following morning the force advanced to the attack, the course taken being to the left of the redoubt over Bayly’s farm. After marching about 400 yards the Armstrong batterv halted, and w«e posted on the edge of the ridge overhanging the Katina, river. Fire was immediately opened upon th-e native redoubt, about 800 yards distant, and directly inland, the *s7th at the same time doubling down the vallev in single file to attack the rifle pita* to the right of the enemy’s position. After dashing across the stream and ascending the opposite height, the advance under Lieutenants Waller and Brutton, with their Colonel command, immediately charged vhe

rifle pits to the right, and drove the rebels from their position above the mouth of the river, thereby opening up the road to the reserves which came rapidly up. Meanwhile the supporting party, under Lieutenant-Colonel Logan, having been fired upon from the redoubt, turned to the left, and running over an open space of 300 yards with fixed bayonets stormed the place, killing every native within it. Captains Shortt and Russell, with their parties, charged the redoubt almost simultaneously, while Ensign Duncan was coming over at Another part. The men behaved well and charged impetuously. The natives were at once driven to their 1 holes, and the bayonet then did its ! work. On the right Colonel Warre’s party cleared the rifle pits, and pursued the flying enemy southwards and inland. The Genera] was highly pleased at the gallant, manner in which the enemy’s works were carried, Twenty-four bodies of natives were taken in carts to the Tataraimaka Camp and buried. Several guns and a fine taiaha were taken. H.M.S. Eclipse was anchored off the mouth of the valley, and threw some shells while the troops- were advancing to the attack. The ship lay about a mile from the rebel redoubt, and threw a shell into the middle of the works which killed at least one Maori, for a piece of the fuse was found in one of the bodies. The loss on the side of the British was 1 private killed and 2 mortally and 2 severely wounded of the 57th Regiment, and 1 private severely wounded of the 70th Regiment. MAORI TOLL-GATE. The most interesting of the spoils taken by the troops on this occasion was the Ifet of tolls which was set up by the rebels near to Te Ika roa a Maui, the great assembly house at Kapoaiaia, near Warea, but which was afterwards brought up to Puketehe, just beyond Tataraimaka. The following is a translation of this singular notice: — “Taranaki. Te Ika a Maui. The house where lie the laws which are in force here of King Matutaera, Potatau, near the gate for payment of offences which stands here. £ s. d. 1. Minister of the Gospel 50 0 0 2. Newspaper Mail .. .. 300 0 0 3. Maori Disciple of the Governor .. .. .. 200 0 0 4. Wealthy Pakeha—don’t let them go through the gate, if they do .. 5 0 0 5. Pakeha Policeman ... 500 O 0 0. Maori Policeman .. .. 5 0 0 7. Maori Assessor .. .. 5 0 0 8. If he comes as a Kingite 0 .15 0 9. A king’s Letter in the Mail 0 5 0 10. A Letter against the Authority of the King .. 10 0 11. Letters from Kinsmen Outside .. .. 0 5 0 12. Letters Tempting the Tribe .. .. 0 15 0 13. Letters not sent by the Mail 10 0 14. A Neutral coming as a Pakeha .. .. 0 5 0 15. A Preaching Maori Minister 55 0 0 16. Letter badly Tempting the Tribe, seize it and make the bearer pay .. 0 5 0 17. The above is the Laws for the Pakeha Tolls of the Maori. 1. A Cart of Wheat or other things- .. .. -. 0 10 2. Things carried on a man’s back .. .. .. 0 0 1 3. A Pig carried in a cart 0 0 6 4. A Pig driven .. .. 0 0 6 5. A Cow or c Horse each 0 0 6 6. There are no rules referring to neutrals outside but a load carried from inside the gate .. .. 0 0 1 7. Money of the tribe for purchasing, free 8. The Law of the Maoris inside and outside of the gate 9. Do not Steal, O man (or evade the tolls) if you do you will pay .. 5 0 0 By authority of the keepers of the gate of Matutaera, Kere, Policeman, Rojfomo, Policeman. Bth July, 1862.