STORMING OF PA

Taranaki Daily News, 14 January 1935, Page 7

STORMING OF PA

MEMORY OF THE MAORI WAR. FALL OF HAU HAU STRONGHOLD. Maori and pakeha live'together in this 20th century without undue friction, but yesterday recalled a time when such was not the case; for it was the 73rd anniversary of the storming and capture of the Otapawa pa, one of the most important engagements in the history of early Taranaki. General Chute, on taking command of the New Zealand torces, had determined to crush rebellion and avenge various pakeha murders on the West Coast. He decided to attack the stronghold at Otapawa, which was considered an almost impregnable fortification. It had won a high reputation in the Maori War, for it had not once been captured, but General Chute was undaunted. With 380 British troops of the 57th and 14th regiments, a Maori contingent, and three Armstrong field guns in support he advanced towards the pa, where 300 rebels were garrisoned. At daylight on January 13, 1866, the seige began. Fire "was opened on the pa and the force moved out. The defenders, mostly concealed in rifle pits, waited until the regiments advanced, when they were met by a withering fire. But the Diehards, as the 57th regiment was called, came on with fixed bayonets. In 20 minutes they and their supporters had slashed down the fastenings of the. palisade, and were in the pa, where they killed 50 of the enemy. Their own losses were nine dead and 14 wounded. Thus fell by a couragebus frontal attack the principal sittonghold of the Hau Haus in Taranaki.