TAURANGA

Wellington Independent, Volume XX, Issue 2238, 29 July 1865, Page 3

TAURANGA

SUCCESS OF THE PAI MARIRES KEREOPA AT THE HEAD OF 700 SAVAGES. LOSS OF FIVE OF THE AEAWA CHIEFS. THEIR BODIES IxToKED & EATEN SURRENDEROFTHE CHIEFMOANANUI, WITH SEVERAL OTHERS, "NGA-TE-RANGIS." [FROM TnE CORRESPONDENT OF THE " NEW ZEALAND HERALp." Camp Tauranga, 17tli July. It is my painful duty to inform you of the brutal and savage conduct of this mad sect, the Hnu Haua, or what they are more commonly known by the name of, " Pai Marire" who in an engagement at Huriwere with a portion of the Arawas, succeeded in securing live bodies of their victims who had fallen, and afterwards severed their heads from their bodies, to be preserved, and then feasted on their remains. From accounts which have within this last day or two been brought from inland to the authorities of this place, we learn that an engagement which had recently taken place at To Waiiti, in the Huriwera district, between Kereopa, Mr Volkner's murderer, and a number of the Arawas belonging to Tarawera, who were led on by Adam Clarke (Te Kuru o te Marama), a chief of immense and powerful influence throughout the inland districts. Kereopa had been very diligent in recruiting and adding numbers to his strength the wholo time ho has been allowed to remain at the Bay of Plenty, so much so that when he arrived at To Waiiti he nurabored 700 strong. This number consisted of chiefs from every hapu in that district, who had all declared vengeance on the Arawas, on account of their firm determination to stand and shelter themselves under the banner and protection of the British Crown. The place that was chosen was well selected j being at tho head of the Bay of Plenty, and in the very centre of a dense population, who had all with one exception embraced this savaee and damnable faith. Tawaroa was the name of the place, and it was here that a fov? faithful loyal natives resided, about 150 in number, who on Kerpopa's arrival being mado known to these unprotected poople, they sent a messenger off to. Tarawera, a distance of thirty or forty miles acquainting Adam Clarke of the fact, which, upon his hearing, he quickly sent special messengers on to Rotorua and Maketu, for the whole of tho Arawa tribe to come in to liis assistance and endeavor, if possible, to secure tho murderers of Mr Volkner and bring them into justice. The Arawas immediately assented to go and those at Makotu started at once for Roturua, but finding that it would take some time to collect the whole force togothei*, a messenger was sent on to Adam Clarke informing him of that fact ; I but it would appear that Adam had received intelligence that the lives of the loyal natives atTe Waiiti wore in danger, inasmuch as Kereopa was actually engaged erecting fortifications on all sides of them. This caused Adam at once to start with what men he then had at command, leaving instructions for the Arawas, which were expected to muster at least 800 men, to follow on. Adam Clarke on reaching Te Waiiti found his friends all but hemmed in, when he at once with his brave 80 men set to work with all his might and entrenched and fortified a position, until such times as tho Arawas should arrive, but this would not suit the subtle and cunning Kereopa ; he perceived a weak and unprotected spot and at once arranged to erect a pah close by, which would prevent the loyal natives from getting a supply of water. With the force which Kereopa had at his command, it only took a few hours to accomplish, and was soon guarded by some of his picked men. Adam soon began sensitively to feel his helpless condition and not being able to account for the delay of th» Arawas, saw that there was no alternative for him but either to return or othorwise attack the enemy, who had just taken possession of their new position, by doing which he would have an opportunity of releasing his friends and retreating back to Tarawera. After maturely considering his plans, he determined upon, making an. attack, let the consequences be what they may, and having only 4 l^jft^e^.^j|n^;p- protect .

who was narrowly -watching what was going on, sprang .forth in sarage array, with tho whole of his force, for the purpose of taking possession of Adam's pali, and butchering the fen* men who were left in charge of it, but Adam seeing what they run after, at once relinquished possession of their newly taken pah, and with hearts of men and Christians fought through the midst of those demon savages, and finally reached their friends just in time to save them. Adam lost five of his chief men, who fell into the hands of Kereopa, who treated them in the same barbarous manner in which Mr Volkner was served with this exception, that the bodies of these poor men were cooked and feasted upon. Adam, getting discouraged at his loss, besides having a number wounded, and seeing no signs of the Arawas coming up to his assistance, determined to retreat to Tarawera, and take with him the friendly natives whom he had preserved from falling into the hands of these barbarous savages, There is some mystery, and many conjectures, as to the cause of the Arawas not proceeding on to Waiiti. As I hope to have something definite from the scene of this engagement in the course of a few days, I shall not disclose the stories which are afloat, but leave it for 'another occasion. This band of savage fanatics are highly delighted with their temporary victory which they have achieved over the Queen a, natives, and which will now give them a fresh stimulus to commit further daring acts of brutality. The effect of this victory is quite evident and visible even in Tauranga, where this horrid harakia is allowed to bo openly preached and practised. On the 13 th inst., information was received that the rebel chief Te Moananui might be expected in camp, for the purpose of surrenj dering, along with several others. About j 2 p.m. a number of the friendlies who were in camp announced that the rebel chiefs were sailing up the river in the direction of the camp, which caused a little excitement at the time of their landing. Until such times ai arrangements had been made by the authorities as to where they were to be received, &c, they were escorted into the temporary building used as a Custom House, where they remained for a full hour, when they were summoned up to the old quarters, where all tho other branches of the Ngaterangia has surrendered, which was in the lawn in front of the residence of Colonel Greer, C. B. commander of the forces in this district. Lieut. Colonel Shuttleworth, 68thL. 1., commanding this station in the absence of Colonel Greer, was present along with Henry Tacy Clarke, Esq., civil commissioner of Tauranga, Adjt., Corry, Colonel Harrington, Ist Waikato Regiment, &c, &c. Mr H. E. Rice was in attendance on behalf of the natives. After some preliminary discussion amongst the authorities, it was agreed that nothing but aa unconditional surrender would be received. To this Mr Rice stated that the natives had come for that purpose, and that it was positively and clearly understood by the whole of them. Colonel Shuttleworth then desired j Mr Rice to read over to them the declaration which was made by the Ngaterangis at the general surrender in August, 1864. They were then asked whether they were prepared to make the same declaration, to which they allindividually gave their assent. This being considered satisfactory, they were then called upon to come forward with what arms, Jfcc, they possessed, and sign their names to the memorable Ngaterangi declaration of 1864. Te Moananui produced an old doublebarrelled gun and pouch ; Hohepa Pakiwero produced a musket and pouch. All the others had no arms save two or three pouches which were not worth looking at. Mr Commissioner Clarke was very careful in making enquiries as to where their arms were, or rather what had become of them, the answers of which were all taken down, to be used against them if needful on a future occasion. The surrender of these people was in every way satisfactory, quite in character with all the previous surrenders of the Ngatirangis. lunderstandfromagentleman, who recently visited these people, that he found amongst them several of Thompson's people who had recently surrendered at Te Awamutu. One of them named Irihia pressed hard upon this rebel chief to demand the same terms as had been granted by Mr George Graham and Brigadier-General Carey to Thompson, which he described as being that Thompson is to be allowed the " mana" of his king and karakia, and the Europeans are to be allowed their Queen and. their karakia; that when the king does anything grieviously wrong, the Queen must put him right, and in like manner when the Queen commits herself, it shall be right and just for the king to put her right. They are also to be allowed the privileges of enjoying and spreading the faith of Pai Mairireism the same as we enjoy the blessings of the true Christian faith. The gentleman had thus visited them in order to assure them that if they were anxious for peace there was still mercy for them, but he must at once honestly tell them that they had better stay where they were than attempt, to ask of the Tauranga authorities to accede to such ludicrous proposals, as they never would bo granted ; but if they were in themselves anxious for peace, and would accept to submit under the same tei'ms as the Ngati- - rangis had done, which was an unreserved and unconditional surrender, they would be received and mercy would be extended to them, but they wore also plainly informed that they would not be allowed to follow or practise the tenets of the Hau Pai Mairire faith. Te Moananui then rose and said : Friend. Enough. Your assurances are sufficient. The same assurances were given by you last year to tho Ngaterangis, and were afterwards ratified by his Excellency in person. lam now satisfied with the terms named by you. As for Thompsons's terms I have nothing to do with him. I consent this very week to submit, and for ever to live and die under the banner and protection of the Queen and her institutions. The steamer Egmont arrived in harbor early on the morning of the 14th. I understand that she stuck for some time on the mud bank, which is no uncommon circumstances. A boat was, however, sent from tho steamer on shore with letters from Wellington for the commanding officer. It soon became known that this vessel had been chartered by Government to convey 350 of our Ist Waikato regiment on to Auckland, there to be dispersed about the Thames and all around Waikato, but the commanding officer, Lieut. Col. Shuttleworth, did not think it prudent to weaken this force without first referring tho matter to headquarters in Auckland, consequently the Eg* mont, without any notice being afforded' -to us to write by her, was dispatched on to town, and would no doubt have made a rapid trip of it, had it not been that she again got ■ on shore at the lower spit going out, .where Bhe and her pilot had to remain all night. The following morning came in with . -^ of wind Jfrom the N.E., w^ioh, ;pa^^,th(ig^