INAUGURATION OF THE MOUTOA MONUMENT.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXI, Issue 2309, 13 January 1866, Page 8

INAUGURATION OF THE MOUTOA MONUMENT.

Wr! recently published a short account of this | from the Wangamd Chronicle, bill as the neeount | given by the Times of the 29th ult. is much [ fuller, we now lay it before our readers. , On Tuesday last a krga con course of people J Europeans and Natives, assembled in tlie Market Place to witness Hie ceremony of unveiling the- \ Moutoa Monument. There were between 500 and GOO natives present, including the principal men of all the Wanganui tribes and the Ngatiapa from Rangitikci. There were also representatives from the various tribes located between ( Wauganui and Wellington ; the Ngutirauknwa, the Ngatihuia, the Rangitane, the Muaupokoand the Ngatiawa. About 2 p.m. the Native Contingent, under. Major McDonnell proceeded to the residence of Lieut.-Col. Logan, for the Presentation Flag, which they brought back with a very unmistakeable degreeof pride and placed beside the Monument. Shorlly after three p.m. his Honor the , Superintendent, accompanied bv Major Durie, j R.M., and W. Duller, Esq., 11.M., ascended a- ! temporary platform erected within the iron rail- j ing, and in sucli a position as to place the flag which, veiled the top of the Monument within reach. Major Durie having requested the Superintendent us the representative of the province to uncover the statue — « ! Dr. Feathcrston said — Major Durie, Ladies and Gentlemen — I not only readily respond to your invitation, but I assure you that no event has occurred during my lengthened adininisfrai tion of the Government of this province, more gratifying to me than to be called upon to bear a a- part in so interesting and memorable a ceremony : u ceremony which though of not unfrequent occurrence in other pavts of the world will, I believe, be performed to-day for the first time in this colony. In discharging the pleasing duty thus imposed upon me, a {aw, and very few words will suflice, for I have but. to remove that covering and she who is at this moment veiled from your gaze, would tell her own tale far more eloquently than I can ; would explain the object of this gathering of the two races, of this mingling together of all ranks and all classes, far more touchingly, far more effectively than T. can possibly pretend to do. Nevertheless, before she is allowed to speak for herself, I will venture to say one or two words. I need scarcely remind you that it has ever been held I hat it was essential to the growth, the greatness and durability of a State, that its people should be thoroughly imbued with the feelings of loyalty and patriotism ; still less, need I remind you that il; has ever been recognised, that no surer means of inspiring that love of country, that feeling of nationality — that spirit of patriotism exist than a public appreciation and acknowledgment of great services, more particularly of services rendered at the loss of life. Nations have in all ages ever deemed it a sacred duty to hand down to posterity, the names and achievements of their great men, not merely with a view of paying a fitting tribute to the individuals themselvs, but more especially for the purpose of exciting by the manifestation ef a nation's gratitude, other men to follow their example, to emulate their deeds, to secure for themselves also a niche in the Temple of Fame. Now though 'tis true that the deeds of great men — their acts of heroism— of devotion to the state, may be found recorded in the pages of its history ; still it is equally true, that no has ever been satisfied with mere historical records, but lias endeavoured in other ways to keep the achievments of its distinguished men constantly in the memory and under the eye of the people It is owing to this two-fold desire of paying a debt of gratitude to their benefactors and ofkeeping alive that spirit of ambition which urges men on to high and mighty actions, and to the feeling that the mere pages of history do not present a sufficiently palpable, visible, ever present memento of those who have deserved well at their hands, who have contributed to their greatness and fame, that nations have from the earliest ages been in tho habit of commemorating their service?, and all events of national importance by the erection of permanent memorials destined to last for ages. It is to the universal prevalence of this feeling that we arc indebted for the greatest triumphs that have been achieved in tho arts of sculpture, of painting, and of architecture. We sec this feeling embodied in the colossal obelisks and mausoleums of Egypt ; in the classic temples of Greece and Italy ; in their triumphal arches, in their unrivalled statues, and in many a stately and venerable cathedral pile. Far from this desire to com- j memorate the deeds of their great men having j diminished, wo find in the present day, nation vicing with nation in tho magnificence of tho structures they rear to tho memory of those , who have done the stato good service, more , especially to the memory of the heroes who j have shed their blood, who have sacrificed their lives on the field of battle. It was undoubtedly tl«B same feeling which induced the Legislature of this Proviuco to hand down to posterity tho names of tho gallant men who fell on the now for cvei-fnmed Isle of Moutoa, by the erection of this not inappropriate memorial ; and I feel assured, that all now present, many of whom are fully cognizant of the circumstances under which that engagement took place, and who were far more directly, far more deeply interested in its results, than the inhabitants of other parts of this colony, will not only warmly participate in the feelings of gratitude to the conquerors of Moutoa, but derive peculiar satisfaction in being able to assist at the inauguration of this monument, and in dedicating it to the memory of those

who lost their lives in the service of their country. 33 tit, while we thus do honor to tho dead, we also confer , honor upon the survivors, who, I am proud to say, have since displayed on other fields, the Himo bravery which they exhibited at Moutoa ; for this monument will tell" tho Ule of Mouioa Jar more graphically than any historical record. This monument boars, and will, I trust for iig''*> bessr testimony to tho friendly relations whi.-h lmv evi'r subsisted between the I wo races in ih;s AVoviut'e. But. it- duo.-* something more. Many of you in this settlement have, 1 believe, had the good fortune to witness on more than one aecasion the presentation of the Victoria Cross. 1 do not ask you, whether you understood the feelings o( pride and ple.isuiv expi'rieu;'cd by tlu* co-.nmand-ing-ollicer, when lie clasped tli.it much-coveted (Drosa ou the bivas'n of the gallant men, who had nobly won it. Ido not seek to inquire whether you parlieip.itod in — whether you ontcivd into the emotions which swelled the brea>ts of those brave, men oa having such ;i proud distinction as the Victoria Cross conferred upon them by their Sovereign. But I do ask this. Did anyone of you depart from (but scene without a firm conviction, that there was not a single soldier present, who, at tho moment, was not eager, did no( burn to have an opportunity allbrded him, of winning that glorious prize by similar aels of bravery and heroism. And so it will bo in this case. The statue will act on the natives as the Victoria Cross on the British Troops, will, in fact, be to them a Victoria Cross. It will, I am convinced, stimulate the. natives who are about U> accompany the galluit forces, Imperial and Colonial, under General Chute, on an expedition against the treacherous, plundering, murdering tribes on the coast, lo still greater deeds of Valor — will make them determined not to return until tho objects of the expedition have been fully accomplished — not to return until the murders of Kercti, . of Broughlon, and others have boon avenged — not to return until they arn in a position to make a further appeal to Mrs. Colonel Logan and the ladios of Wanganui, to inscribe upon the " Flag of Moutoa" the names of other victories greater and more decisive in their results than those they have already won. When thai ~-">inl is made, as I trust it will in no long time, Tknow full won tiiHi' w ™!i »?? "? e m -^? »'* *?"> but meet with a ch?erful ; roncU' response-. And now, uncovering this statue, i,*on behalf of tho Province, dedicate it ro the memory of the brave men who fell at Mouton, on the lUh May, 1801, in defence of law and order against fanaticism and barbarism. The unveiling of the statue w,n succeeded by three hearty cheers for our native allies, and iu that vast assemblage of Europeans and natives none cheered more heartily than the British soldiers belonging to the various regiments here. 1 In fact one very noticable feature in the days' proceedings, was the interest which the soldiers took in if, and the evident good feeling between them and the Maorien. . Those three clieers were followed by three really true British cheers for the ' Superintendent, who, when acknowledging the compliment evidently felt some pride in tho position he then occupied. Mrs. Colonel Logan, assisted by Dr. Featherston and Walter Buller, Esq., then ascended the ! platform and unfurled tho Moutoa Flag. His ! Honor the Superintendent called for three cheers for Mrs. Colonel Logan and the ladies of Wanginui; to this cull the crowd vociferously reI spondecl, and thus terminated the first act of this memorable ceremony. At four o'clock one hundred of the principal ' natives with their respective chiefs were seated in the long-room of Punlenvy's Hotel, where a substantial dinner had been provided for them, and afc which His Honor the Superintendent presided. After dinner the usual loyal toasts — the Queen and Royal family ; His Excellency tho Governor, Sec, were drank with enthusiasm. Mr. Buller I then in a short but very appropriate speech pro- ! posed a toast, for which all were evidently prclwivd, — it was "The Superintendent of Wollhur--1 ton," and from the manner iu which it was ro- ' ceived was evidently tho toast of the evening. I Dr. Fentherston, on rising to reply, was most j enthusiastically received, lie replied at considcrable length, and then with evident emotion proi poscl a toast to be drank in solemn silence — I "To the memory of Uoatii Hipango, Ilemi Nape, and the other brave men who fell at Moutoa and Oh.iutahi." j Then followed a toast, which speedily dispelled ! cvory feeling but that of a desire to lvuder the ! events of the day h morable to the memory of the bravo men who had fallen, and a bond of union between the Maoris and. their Engljsh fellow subjects. It was : — " Tho Ladies of Wnngamu," which wo need 1 hardly say wn3 cheerfully responded to. Then followed : — " Major McDonnell aud the Native Contingent, Major Diane and his brother Magistrates, &c." During the festivities inside Dunleavy's Hotel, 300 Maories were feasted outside on the Marketplace, close to the Monument. A booth had been erected for the occasion, but it was too small to accommodato the whole of tho guests. The gentlemen who formed a Committee to superin- ' tent the out-door festivities did all they could to have an ample supply of substantial food and two barrels of beer upon the ground for such as might choose to partake of it. The most perfect sobriety and good feeling prevailed, and after a pleasant evening's entertainment the crowd dispersed between 7 nnd 8 p.m. MEETING AT PUTIKI. On Wednesday, tho 27th, at 2 p.m., the natives ' assembled at Putiki, to meet His Honor the Superintendent in order to arrange finally regarding the contemplated operations against the Ngatiruanui and Ngatanui. His Honor was accompanied by Waller Buller, Esq., R.M. ; — Booth, Esq., K.M. ; and Majors McDonnell and Von Tempsky. About 400 natives awaited their arrival, and, as usual, Dr. Featherston was enthusiastically received. Tho recej)tion was initiated by the performance of several war dances, after which the Korero commencedinrightcarnest. Dr. Featherston's address to the Chiefs and men present was repeatedly interrupted by loud and prolonged cheering. With one voice they de- ' clarcd their willingness to proceed at once to seize i the murderers of Keriti and Mr. Broughton. DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT. The monument is fifteen feet high, aud partakes of a Grecian character. It consists of a I square pedestal, placed upon double plinths. The cornice is cavettoed and filletted, and the overweathering is a blocking upon which is placed a stopped fluted column with an attic base, surmounted by a life-sized statue of " Grief," reclining upon a broken portion of the shaft. The upper portion of the pedestal is enriched, at each corner arc corbelled cusps, from which spring an J ornamental arc, the spandriU's are pannelled, bas relievo carvings of flowers being executed therein. The whole is surrounded by an ornamental cast iron railing, secured to stone coping. Tho names lof the dead aro cut on the pedestal. Tho mom;I ment is from the works of Huxley, Parker and Co., Melbourne. # On one aide of the pedestal is the following in- ' Bcription : — ' " Kua Whakaarahia tenei toma e te parawino o Wcrotana hei Whaltamaruharatanga mo nga toa tana i Kinga ki Mcutoa i to 14 o Nga ra o Moi 1864, i te awhinatanga i te noho-pai o akina ana e nga ritcnga kino o namata e to whakapono-porangi." On another Bide — To the memory of those Brave Men, who fell at Moutoa, 14th May, 1864, in defence of Law and Order agcinat , Funatacism and Barbarism, , this Monument is erected by the Province of Wellington.

Tho third side contains the names of those \vh ° fell— " Kuo nga tangota enei i kingaki Moutoa : — % TTmni Nape % \Vi:ni te Vain iFeremia te Ivangilakuku Kotohiko Waitoki Wiremu te Waruiii \Vnivna to l\)h( ¥ Jiatiu te Totidii Jla.re iy .Kaho Lay Brother ICulogo Kereti te Iliwathi Riwai Tawhitorangi I'enetiio te Korewa Maniheru Mani Jlakaraia te Kiaki Pehirn te Kohuoranru Jluhipa te Whakaruku." The other side — •ith September, 1865. Isaac Earl Fcai herston, Superintendent. .