MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Daily Times, 26 September 1933, Page 4

MAORI MEMORIES

(By J.H.S., for “The Daily Times.”)

THE CAUSE OF WAR (PAPA WHAWHAI).

. In defiance of every patient protest by the rightful owners who were assisted by their and our good- friend Hadfield, Teira the pretender was paid £2OO for the Waitara block; even so, Wiremu Kingi, with great tact and forbearance found means of stopping the survey without risk or bloodshed. Women Were employed to hug the surveyarms and carry off their chains and pegs. Then came Governor Browne’s infamous ‘ ‘ Declaration of war against the Queen’s Friendly Natives.” Wiremu’s dignified reply to Colonel Murray reminded him that the Governor .said all land-owners must consent to a sale, otherwise it is not legal. “I do not wish for anger; all I want is my own land. I will hold the land. Write me. Peace be with you.” To this the Governor’s haughty reply was “Surrender at once, or I fire upon you, and your fate is sealed.” The troops set to work with their tjwenty-four pound howitzers on the Pa. Three Europeans Avere dangerously wounded. In the morning a breach Avas made and rushed by the soldiers; but neither a dead nor a live Maori Avas inside, not one Avas killed: all had gone before the daAvn. Our soldiers Avere astonished at the skill Avitli Avliich the hasty structure had been planned and built, defended and evacuated, by officers avlio had never purchased a commission. Governor BroAvne Avas thus suddenly made a sadder and Aviser man; but not a Aviso one. It Avas not more guns and troops he needed, but some really capable leaders, such as Sir George Grey had so easily found ready made in Te Whero Whero and Waka Nene. Thousands of outlying settlers and even toAvns Avere at the mercy of the Avell-armed Maoris, Avho had been provoked into rebellion. Soldiers Avere madly permitted to set an example of pillage ’ and murder, which, but for the beneficent inffuertce still retained by the missionaries and especially by Archdeacon Hadfield, Avould certainly have resulted in our extermination.