Hard Pressed.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue XV, 11 April 1903, Page 1026

Hard Pressed.

The spirited drawing entitled “Hard Pressed," which we produce this week, recalls an incident which will be remembered by the “old hands” who were in the colony at that early date, and many of the younger generation will have read of it in the annals of that exciting time known as Heke’s war. A party of regulars, comparatively few in number, were manoeuvring in the vicinity of the Maori warriors* pa one day when they were surprised at both front and rear by well-armed Maoris in overwhelming odds. The order was quickly given to form a double line, back to back, and a desperate encounter ensued. Bullets fell thick and fast, and for a time the chances of the British troops coming out of the ambush were almost hopeless, but they stuck to their posts and eventually beat back the husky hordes; not, however, without leaving more than one gallant soldier dead on the field.