MAORI MEMORIES

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1935, Page 13 (Supplement)

MAORI MEMORIES

WAR IN THE NORTH ENDED

(By Copyright). For graphic recital and the matter selected, the excellent work of Reginald Horsley conveys a, more correct estimate of the original Maori than any book I know. Those who have read him remember, and that is a test of a great book. “Luck,” said one, “Foresight,” said another, “Captain George Grey all over,” chuckled those who knew. In two months His Excellency had really accomplished more than all others to unravel the tangled skein and to reach the heart of the Maori by confiding in him. When Captain Grey unconditionally accepted the submission of, and gave pardon to Heke and Kawhiti, leaving only a small force in the Bay of Islands, there were some who predicted disaster. Sir George’s instinct, in the eyes of those who knew him, was an outstanding quality, and the Maoris were the first to recognise in him that insight which is a distinguishing feature of their own race. His unspoken confidence in their inherent sense of honour was the very thing which appealed to them. More than that, they at once realised that no opinion, good or bad, could move him from a course once resolved upon. Kawhiti, aged 72, a week after the fall of Ruapekapeka, wrote to the Governor, “Let us have peace, you and I, for I am full of your taonga (property)”—he meant bullets. “Make peace, will you not? Yes.” Heke hesitated, for his word, once given, would never be broken. Waka Nene, our great ally, tried to persuade him; but he replied that as he had fought for land, honour, and liberty, he could only agree if the Governor made the first move. Heke, more than surprised when the Governor came to him and extended his hand in friendship, simulated indifference, but yielded gladly to the cordiality of the “supplicant” for peace.

Kawhiti came on board H.M.S. Diver, expressing regret for the trouble, and gratitude for the kindly consideration given by His Excellency. The Governor’s reception was so kind and considerate that the proud chief forgot his abasement, feeling only that he had found a loyal friend. Thus ended the war in the north after nearly two years of suffering, and what Was even more abasing, apprehension. Hori Kerei was the first white man to give and to gain the confidence of the Maori, and to realise that the only man they do not trust is the man they do not know. Boulcott’s Farm, and After.

Peace in the north brought no respite for Kawanr Kerei. His diplomacy was feared by the Maoris, io had been deprived of their birthright in lands, more than the soldiers who defended the fraudulent pakeha.

Rauparaha (the tree feller), Rangihaeata (daydawn), and their young lieutenant Mamaku (the tree fern) were plotting reprisals in the Hutt Valley. The two older men had ceased fighting, and were thus more effective as silent directors. Rangihaeata “The Wairau Tiger” declared falsely that Rauparaha had not paid him his share of the purchase money of Hutt Valley received from Governor Fitzroy. In watching the “Day -Dawn” and suspecting the “Tree Feller,” the real danger “Tree Fern” was lost sight of. After secret preparations Mamaku attacked the outpost at Boulcott’s Farm on May 16, 1846. This post consisted of a bullet proof barn, a cottage, and some raupo whares. It was Occupied by Lieutenan* Page and fifty men of he 58th.

In the stillness cf an autumn dawn, before the birds welcomed the sun, fifty Maoris crossed the Hutt river and crept through the underscrub within a few yards of the sentries. Young Allen, the boy bugler, was the first to suspect mischief. He sounded an alarm, and immediately his right l~r.d was struck by a tomahawk. With the left he grasped the falling bugle, and sounded it thrice before he was killed. The first shot killed the sentry, and Maoris rushed the huts, killing six and wounding four before the soldiers could reach them. The boy bugler lies somewhere in a forgotten grave, and only the Maoris seem to remember his heroi i.

Captain Grey was ’ ' to the Maoris as Te Ariki Tatau, the fighting chief who carried the spirit of peace into the councils of war. He recognised the certainty that Rauparaha’s brain guided Mamaku’s hand, and secured his arrest, but treated him as a prisoner of war. Rangihaeata meanwhile took to the fastnesses of Horokiwi (th~ greedy kiwi), between Pourirua (the grave of darkness) and Pahautunui (the great beard). Captain Grey advised new modes of attack by starvation. Having harrassed the enemy’s commissariat, they had no time to lay in stores and were soon starved out. That was the finale to the turbulent life of the Wairau Tiger, who was responsible for more of our trouble even than his father-in law Rauparaha. An Irish soldier told Captain Grey that “these two sitting hens hatched the rotten eggs for the soldiers to eat.”

Whanganui Tragedy. In 1847 the little town of Whanganui, hitherto known as Petre, was the scene of a great tragedy which originated in a boyish prank accentuated, however, by the then dormant bitterness of the disputes over land tenure. On April 18. a young middy of JU.M.S. Calliope was playing with a pistol, when quite by accident he shot a chief at Putiki in the face. An army surgeon attended the case, and the chief made light of the matter, but Maori agitators declared it to be kohuru (an act of murder) for which utu must be taken. The agitators were not related to the wounded man, and had no right to interfere, vet their revenge was a shocking atrocity. A well known settler at Mataraua, five 'miles from town, named Gilfillan. and his wife and eight children were attacked by six Maoris. They murdered Mrs. Gilfillan, two young lads, and a girl. The father and the eldest laughter were dangerously wounded. Mr. Gilfillan struggled to town with the ghastly story. Knowing that the murderers had no right of relationship to the wounded chief by which to exact utu. Hone Wiremu and six young Maori men followed upstream for fifty miles. As the pursuers’ canoe came Patapo, with his tomahawk between his teeth lumped into the midst of the escapees and upset their canoe. The ruffians were tied hand and foot, dumped into the canoe, and handed over to summary treatment at Whanganui, where martial law prevailed.

Fighting in the vicinity was serious for several months, until Colonel McCleverty lured the Maoris to a concerted attack by making a pretended retreat, then turned upon them with fixed bayonets and comnletelv routed them. The Governor blockaded the river, by which means the Maoris’ supplies were completely stopped, until they sued for peace. Captain Grey’s third year saw the beginning of a long peace for which bis influence was responsible.