MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Daily Times, 29 August 1933, Page 4

MAORI MEMORIES

(By J.H.S., for “The Daily Times.”) 11 EAUPARAIIA’S VERSION OF TUA MARINA. Ruaparalni’s own narrative of the Wairau massacre, given to Governor Fitzroy in the presence of the Rev. Octavius Hadfield, who had a very remarkable moral influence over the Maori chief and his followers, is important because it harmonised in detail with other fragmentary evidence. In these days of telegraph, telephone, wireless, car, steamer, and airplane it is difficult to realise that this national catastrophe was not even heard of in Nelson, seventy miles away, until nine days after the event. Rauparalia, speaking to the Governor eight months after the tragedy, said: “Thompson, Wakefield, a constable and others crossed the creek and accused me of burning the white men’s property. I replied that the Maoris had destroyed nothing but the raupo and rushes grown on their own land. They produced handcuffs and the Queen’s warrant for my arrest. I replied that I would sooner be killed than be tied up. If you are angry let us talk quietly, even if it is all day and all night; but I refuse to go with you. Thompson laid hold of me and I pushed him away; he then called on his men to fire. As their men crossed the creek, one fired. Our women and children were seated on the ground roasting potatoes. Then more shots came, two Maoris fell dead and three were wounded. We fired a volley and all ran except their leaders whom we captured and killed as due payment. Thompson asked me to spare their lives, but it is not the Maori way to spare the lives of Chiefs taken in fair fight, for they cannot be made slaves.” Of the forty-six men who were led like sheep to slaughter, nineteen were killed, five were wounded, and twenty-two escaped. The twenty-seven who survived were grossly libelled by the Governor as cowards and deserters; but their fellow pioneers, to their honour be it said, absolutely refused to believe, and but for their loyalty to Queen Victoria, would have served him as Rangi Haeata did Thompson for shooting Rpngp, .hjs Mrifq. ,