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Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1418, 20 October 1923, Page 6

NOW PUBLISHED. THE OLD FRONTIER By JAMES COWAN, F.R.G.S., Author of " The New Zealand Wars " (published by the Minister for Internal Affairs) and other Standard Works of Early New Zealand. $ This sketch of the Waipa district has been written especially with a view to interesting the younger generation of colonists, and the now large population on both sides of the old Maori border, in the uncommonly dramatic story of the beautiful country in which their homes are set. The book is designed to convey accurate pictures of the pioneer life and the successive eras of the missionary and the soldier. For the story of missionary enterprise the writer ha;s drawn on a MS. journal written by the Rev. John Morgan, the first civiliser of the Waipa valley; for the military history use has been made of a MS. narrative left by the celebrated Major Von Tempsky, of the Forest Rangers. For the rest, it has been a peculiar pleasure to the writer, as one bred on the old Aukati border, to recall scenes in a phase of life which has passed away for ever. CHAPTER I.—TOPOGRAPHICAL, AND LEGENDARY. The beautiful Waipa country. The garden lands of Te Awamutu and Rangiaowhia. Hills of the Maori border. The cone of Kakepuku. Ancient fortresses. Maori tribes of the Waipa basin. CHAPTER lI.—THE MISSIONARY ERA. In cannibal days. Rev. B. Y. Ashwell the first missionary in Te Awamutu. A feast on human flesh in Otawhao pa. End of the inter-tribal wars. Rev. John Morgan comes to Te Awamutu. His useful mission work. How Mr Morgan sowed the good seed. CHAPTER lII.—PLOUGH AND FLOUR-MILL. Mr Morgan introduces English methods of agriculture. Maori tribes become industrious farmers. The coming of the wheat. Large cultivations at Te Awamutu. Rangiaowhia, Kihikihi, and Orakau. Grinding the wheat. The first flour-mills. Mr Morgan's narrative. Clatter of the water-mill in many Maori settlements. Exporting wheat and flour to Auckland. Rangiaowhia flour sent to England. Sir George Grey's practical sympathy with the Maori. CHAPTER IV.—THE GOLDEN AGE BEFORE THE WAR. Te Awamutu and Rangiaowhia in 1852. Mr Heywood Crispe's description. A land of corn-fields and fruitgroves. The peach-groves of Rangiaowhia. Visit to ■ the large Maori village. Old King Potatau. Hochstetter's view in 1859. CHAPTER V.—JOHN GORST AT TE AWAMUTU. Mr Gorst as Magistrate and Commissioner. The educational institution at Te Awamutu. A newspaper established. Rewi's raid on the " Pihoihoi Mokemoke." Mr Gorst leaves Waikato. Te Awamutu re-visited. The last canoe voyage. CHAPTER VI.—THE WAIKATO WAR, 1563-64. Fighting on the Waikato. British and Colonial troops invade the Waipa country. Paterangi and Waiari. The Forest Rangers. Von Tempsky's narrative of the war. Bishop Selwyn at the Front. CHAPTER VII.—THE CAPTURE OF RANGIAOWHIA. Von Tempsky's story. A summer morning invasion. Skirmishing through the village. Siege of a Maori whare. Colonel Nixon shot. Dramatic death of an old warrior. Heroic little garrison annihilated. CHAPTER VII.—THE ENGAGEMENT AT HAIRINI. Sharp action at Hairini Hill. Field Artillery shells the Maori lines. A great bayonet charge. Defeat of the Maoris. Work of the Forest Rangers. Looting Rangiaowhia village. Comedy at the Catholic Church. Von Tempsky and an Imperial Colonel. The return to Te Awamutu. A curious spectacle. " Those rascally Rangers have got all the loot!" CHAPTER IX.—THE INVASION OF KIHIKIHI. Rewi Maniapoto's headquarters. British force occupies Kihikihi village. Burning of the council house. Von Tempsky's night expedition. A fruitless march. Te Awamutu the army's headquarters. The first expedition to Orakau. CHAPTER X.—THE BATTLE OF ORAKAU. Most Memorable battle in New Zealand's history. Brig-adier-General Carey's expedition. Von Tempsky's narrative. Animated description of the siege. Work of the Forest Rangers. Heroism of the Maori garrison. The last day. A break for freedom. Tthe soldiers in pursuit. Maori narratives. The reply to General Cameron's message. Incidents of the''siege. CHAPTER XL—CAMP LIFE AT TE AWAMUTU. The troops in winter quarters. Description of camp life. The soldiers' whares. The house-opening dance. Sawyers near Rangiaowhia. The 65th, a model regiment. Soldiers become capitalists. Looting the Maori horses. The romance of Ariana. The hunchback and his flute. A militiaman's heart and ,'hand, and Ariana's scorn. CHAPTER XII.—PIONEER LIFE ON THE FRONTIER. Perils of the King Country border. An unknown, sullen land. Picture from the north side of the Puniu. The pioneer settlers' life in the Seventies. The peachgroves of Orakau. A chain of blockhouses and redoubts. The murder of Timothy Sullivan. Grave clanger of another war. Te Awamutu Cavalry Volunteers. Patrolling the out-settlements. The return of peace. When Tawhiao came out. " The King of the Cannibal Islands." The peace-making dance at Kihikihi. The capture of Winiata. Mahuki's raid on Alexandra. Peaceful pakeha conquest of the King Country. CHAPTER XIII.—KIHAROA THE GIANT. A folk-tale of the Maori border. The " Giant's Grave " at Tokanui. Fortified hills .of " The Three Sisters." The story of an invasion. An army in ambush. The battle of Whenua'hou. The death of Kiharoa. Matau, the Giant of the Wairaka. APPENDICES. Maori place names. The capture of Winiata. Mr Hursthouse's adventure in the King Country. Mahuki's raid on Alexandra, and his capture. The King Country railway. PRICE 7/0. Post Free. \M Pages and U Pages of Illustrations. Cloth Binding. PRICE 7/6. Poet Free. OLD FRONTIER PUBLISHED BY THE WAIPA POST PRINTING AIM) PUBLISHING COMPANY, LIMITED, TE AWAMUTU.