THE HERO OF A NATIVE FIGHT.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 30, 25 July 1891, Page 201

THE HERO OF A NATIVE FIGHT.

tT is now nearly a quarter of a century since the North Island of New Zealand was distracted and disorganized by the consequences of the struggle with the Maori race. To incieasethe general turmoil, that section of the fanatical natives known by the name of the Hauhaus moved indiscriminately against natives and Europeans. Among other offensive expeditions

undertaken by them was one against the Wanganui tribe, in which, after mutual manoeuvring, the hostile forces ultimately confronted each other by arrangement at the Island of Moutoa.

The Hauhaus coming down the river in their canoes, were allowed to land unmolested by the Wanganui warriors who, reserving their fire until the assailants had approached to within thirty yards, discharged their fire ineffectually against them. A return volley of the Hauhaus proved n°ore destructive, striking down many of the Wanganui warriors, together with their chiefs, Biwai and Kereti, and a Catholic priest, Father Pezant, who war vainly endeavouring to restore peace between the contending parties. The centre and left, disheartened by the loss of their chief, began to give way, shouting that the enemy were protected by angels ; but Hemi Hape held his ground, and soon proved to the contrary. Nevertheless, his warriors were driven slowly back by the overwhelming force of the Hauhaus. Two-thirds of the island had been gained, and the battle appeared to be lost, when suddenly Tamehana came to the rescue. He had vainly tried to bring back the fugitives, but not succeeding, had returned to share the fate of those who still held ont. Hemi called on his men to take cover from Hauhau’s fire and hold their ground. He was obeyed by all but Tamehana, who fonglit like a demon, killing two men with his double-barrelled gun. At this critical moment, Hemi Hape, the last of the three divisional leaders, was shot dead. His son Marino took the command. Nearly all his men were wounded, and as the Hauhaus rushed forward to finish the fight, Wanganui fired a volley into them at close quarters, killing several But they still came on. and for a moment the fate of Wanganui trembled in the balance. Tamehana was equal to the occasion, for seizing the spear of a dead man, he drove it through the nearest Hauhau, whose arms he took, and drove a tomahawk so deeply into the skull of another as to break the handle in wrenching it out. Finding the gun unloaded, he dashed it in the faces of his foes, and capturing another gun was about to fire it when a bullet struck him in the arm. He nevertheless killed his man. This was his last effort, as the next moment a bullet shattered his knee to pieces, and the tomahawk would soon have finished him ; but his gallant stand had given Haimona time to rally the fugitives and come up to his support. Ashamed of their conduct, they came determined to wipe it out. They tired one volley, killing a chief (brother to Pehi), and then charged pellmell upon the Hauhaus. There was no time to reload, so down went the guns, and all went in with the tomahawk. The enemy were driven in confusion back to the upper end of the island, where, followed by the tomahawks of their pursuers, and exposed to the cross-fire of Mete Kingi’s people, they rushed in a body into the water, and attempted to swim the rapids to the right bank. Just then Haimona recognised the prophet amongst the swimmers, and calling to one of his best fight ing men, Te Moro, said, ‘ There is your fish,’ at the same time handing him his bone mere. Te Moro went for him, and caught him by the hair just as he reached the opposite bank. The prophet, seeing his fate, put up his hand and said, ‘Pai mariri; mariri hau.’ The remainder of what might have been an eloquent speech was cut short by the mere, and Te Moro swam back towing his fish, and threw it at Haimona’s feet. This day he shows two gaps in the mere with great pride. Over fifty Hauhaus were buried on

the island, and twenty more were taken prisoners by Mete Kingi, who surrounded them in a gully. The loss' of the friendlies was sixteen killed and nearly forty wounded—rather severe when it is remembered that not more than eighty men actually took part in the fight. It was only the gallant behaviour of Hemi and Tamehana with the men of Banana that turned the scale and gave us the spectacle of a real old Maori fight in modern times. No other tribe ean boast of an engagement like this for the last fifty years.