TARANAKI IN THE PAST.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8000, 19 October 1887, Page 3

TARANAKI IN THE PAST.

ONE OF OUR GALLANT COMMANDERS.

I met my old friend on the road the other day looking very weary. He said he was doing a bit of cnnvassinK, but was disgusted with the job. He believed in giving every rnnn a show, and, if treated fairly, he would promise his vote. Well, he did not receive more than a couple of square drinks out of the lot, so he came to the conclusion that they were a beggarly lot, and not fit to represent him in Parliament. He became talkative, nnd to while away the evening ha related to me the following yarn : — The night bofore the battle of Waireka, he said, a force of two or three hundred soldiers marched from Waitnra to New Plymouth to reinforce the garrison there. - Humours were flying about to the effect that tho enemy htid appeared in large force from the south, had murdered several settlers near Omata, had taken several others prisoners. Women and children were in their hands, and an advance was expected to be made on the town. It was after sundown when the troops auived opposite the Bell Block ( Stockade. The impression made on the imagination by the spectacle will not easily be effuced. Looking down from the Blockhouse the road wob crowded with dark weird figures, only distinguishable in the mass. A sound rose up resembling the noise of the distunt surf. When they moved on they gave us a cheer. I had heard anal read of the British cheer on many occasions. The reality far surpassed all that I before imagined. The rumours of murder, the uncertainty of the fate of the women and children in the hands of the ssvager, the dark mass moving with the solid, regular tread that none but well-drilled troopa can accomplish, making the earth vibrate. The hoaree roar called the British cheer sent a thrill to the heart that must be heard under such circumstances to be realised, and when once htard can never be forgotten. The object of the halt was to send np a man to the block house supposed to be an officer. He wore a sword and had an orderly, a strapping >oing soldier, who sir'd him, and appeared very deferential to bis every wish. He was introduced by one of the staff, who rode up to the block house, aa a xnun who could be thoroughly rblied on, of great experience in Maori warfare, and as the block house might be attacked at any, moment he would be of inestimable service.

After the departure of the btaff officer our protector sat down on one of the bunks and looked round in a helpless manner, as if he could not quite realise where he was. He was a tall man, with a very small head at the end of a very long neck, a clean shaved boyish face, and a pair ot lar^e fishy eyes. In a short time he rose to his feet, steadied himself against the post that supported the leof, and enquired for the officer in command. He was shown into the officers' quarters, nnd demanded an escort to patrol the country round the block house.

Volunteers were called for, and we started off. The hill side down to the road was pretty steep, and required some care in going down, especially in the dark. We went ofE at a good pace, but before we had accomplished half the distance, our protector had acquired such momentum that we all thought he was running a race. Each pace he took became ionger than the one before. The scabbard was swinging about in eccentric circles, when in an unlucky moment it became entangled with his long legs, and he finished the descent rolling over and over until brought to a stand still by the level ground. It took some time to find his cap and sword, and then we started again. r . We asked him in what direction we were to proceed. He waved hiß sword over his head, and said, in a mysterious dramatic style : "' Onward ! onward !" He wandered about the fields in an aimless manner, we following. After a time, we at last became impatient, and soon decided to do something in real earnest. Close by was a pah •occupied by natives whom we knew to be waiting an opportunity to declare themselves. They were generally with the enemy, but a number remained behind for what purpose we knew not. We had a firm conviction, however, that they were waiting for a good opportunity to murder a settler or two, and then join their hapu in the bush. One of our party had seen some of them that day near the pah, so we determined to trap them iv the whareo. We crawled into the pah, each man taking up a position at the door of a whare to prevent tho escape of the enemy. Finding the pah empty, we determined to return to the blockhouse.

On mustering our little force we found cur gallant protector missing. For a long time we searched in vain ; at last, about 100 yards awaj', we found him with his back against a fence, his sword stuck out in front, and an empty rum bottle in hie bund.

The fond illusion was dispelled, our gallant defender aud experienced warrior was only a favourite orderly-room clerk of the Colonel's suffering from a mild attack of D.T's ; and, as a consequence, not able to march into town with the force. ( For continuation of news see 4th page.,