MILITARY BACKGROUND OF WANGANUI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 122, 29 May 1946, Page 3

MILITARY BACKGROUND OF WANGANUI

i ADDRESS TO ROTARY I MILITIA AND THEIR UPS AND \ DOWNS OF THOSE TIMES Events in Wanganui seventyeight years ago. during the campaign, against Titokowaru in the Patea district, was the subject of a talk to members of the Wanganui Rotary Club yesterday by Mr. C. L. Lovegrove, who is making a study of early military history of the city and this district. “On July 20, 1868, the militia was embodied by Royal Warrant ana three days later were called out for active service, the main purpose being to arm and equip the force, as there was no other military necessity at the time,” said Mr. Lovegrove. “August 4 was an exciting day in Wanganui, there being two detachments of volunteer militia, one from Nelson and the other from Wellington, in town wailing dispatch to Patea. Both got out of hand during their stay, and the Nelson company ended the evening of August 4 by a mutiny on a transport conveying them to Patea. and the ship had to return to Wanganui. DEFEAT OF COLONIAL FORCES “The strategic consequences of tlie defeat of the colonial forces at Ngutu-o-te-manu were soon to make themselves felt in town, tor on September 29 Titokowaru was reported south of the Patea River. His reported intentions were to base his women and children, then with his men march to Kai Iwi and occupy the place. The militia were then called out for the first emergency of the campaign. However, the prompt action of the loyal Maoris at Putiki, who offered every man they had, saved the situation. The Maoris were armed and went up to the Waitotara River, but the militia did not leave town, as they could only have been sent as far as Wereroa, the limits of the militia district.

“The native situation in the Waitotara district underwent a change for the worse on the withdrawal of the Maori force, and 50 Kupapas, commanded by Wiki Kepa and Met.i King!, were armed and sent to Wereroa, where they were the first of the colonial forces to e itrench in the Wanganui district during the campaign. Lieutenant W. E. Gudgeon was officer commanding the Wereroa Redoubt. but was relieved by Acting Sub-Inspector McDonnell, 'who arrived a week later with 20 men enlisted in Wanganui as members of the New Zealand Armed Constabulary.

“November 1 was an exciting day, a dispatch from Wereroa having reported a rebel force near the redoubt and an attack was expected. The enemy force raided a nearby Maori village Perekama and all the Maoris there joined the enemy. The first-class militia was called in the afternoon, and the Wanganui Volunteer Cavalry ordered into service. A selection of a company from the militia was made, and, commanded by Captain Powell, they marched to Wereroa, spending their first night on the road at Kai Iwi. Supplies at the redoubt were running short, and so two dray loads escorted by the Wanganui Cavalry, were sent, out with this force, which was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel E. Gorton, the District Commander at Wanganui at the time.

, “November 7 was another bad day for the colonial forces, who were defeated again at Okutuku. about 28 miles from town. The defeated force retreated to Nukumaru. It was a few days after their arrival there that Wereroa was attacked and successfully defended. However, some of the first lot of militia had been relieved meantime by the Wanganui Veteran Rifles, but there were still a fair number there on the night of the attack. The force that defended Wereroa, and incidentally Wanganui, were the Wanganui Veteran Rifles, commanded by Lieutenant Thos. Kells, militia, and the Kupapas. Captain Powell, of the Wanganui militia, was officer in command when the redoubt was attacked.

“Colonel Whitmore was ordered to the East Coast to take command against Te Kooti, and LieutenantColonel Herrick succeeded him in command of the field forces, which were withdrawn to the Kai Iw! Stream, less than a day’s march from Wanganui. On December 7, Mr. Booth, resident magistrate from Patea, Mr. Buller, local magistrate, Lieu-tenant-Colonel Herrick, and Major M. Noake met at the militia office and decided the situation had reached a stage, when the defences round Wanganui must be occupied, and the balance of the town militia was called out as well as the three volunteer corps on to the north bank of the river. The positions to be occupied had already been decided upon bv Captain Young, of the Royal Irish Regiment, who was sent for after the first emergency in September, and he occupied the empty stockades during October The emergency carried over Christmas and New Year of 1869, but most of the militia were home for Christmas as th* situation eased a little before Christmas However, the Wanganui Veteran Rifle Volunteers were still at Were M oa six months later. Tfrev were the onlv infantrv company from this district to serve in the campaign. and around Wellington city.

Mr. Parsons said could not answer this question. He was a servant of the Government and was not able to express views on Government policy. Mr. Macnab: If you don’t tell us it will be a waste of time doing anything. Mr. Parsons said that if the regional planning body could produce facts for land development and other works in the Wanganui district, the proposals would be backed up by the Ministry of Works. PAST DIFFICULTIES

The Organisation for National Development approacned local regions, but apart from a general way did not set up any special framework, said Mr. L F. Row. Each local council was left to work out its own salvaLon or otherwise? As a result, regional councils were constituted differently in various districts. “Since then the Ministry of Works has taken over and set out how regional councils should T>e constituted, so as to tie up with the various headings. Basically, they were similar ro what we bad, but there are different headings and it looks as though Lie existing set-up will have to be scrapped and constituted as required by the Ministry of Works.”

Replying to other points raised by Mr. Row, Mr. Juhnston said that as soon as all the required data regarding regional planning schemes was collected by Mr. Sampson it would be submitted to the regional body for the area. “It will give a concrete picture ot the whole district,” he added. Commenting on the point, raised earlier by Mr Macnab. Mr. Johnston taid the scheme for Central Otago dealt mainlv with primary production. including irrigation and hydroelectricity as allied to production from the land. “We all realise that, the

backbone of this country is the primary producer,” he added. Mr. Ammundsen subsequently moved that the old council be disbanded and the new committee, on a less cumbersome basis, be formed. The motion was carried without any dissentient voice being raised.