Taranaki’s Fight Against the Maoris.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 25, 22 June 1910, Page 43

Taranaki’s Fight Against the Maoris.

THE WAIREKA ENGAGEMENT—PAKEHA AND MAORI STORIES.

THE history of New Zealand colonisation is studded with deeds of valour. It is possible to be brave without physical -fighting. Heroism may be shown in the everyday •business of life, and there are weapons that may be even more effective than ‘■Brown Bess” and her bayonet. Still “Brown Bess” in the hands of a man who fought for his country, and by so doing provided peaceful possession for happy successors, effected much for Taranaki. Recently the survivors of the Battle of Waireka and their friends celebrated The Jubilee of the Engagement. The Maori unrest of 1860 required strenuous handling, and it is apparent that in the successful issue the Taranaki Rifle volunteers and militia bore themselves notably. It has frequently been said that the corps was harshly treated, and that “undisciplined raw troops” should have been more carefully shepherded and helped. But in the history of all bush fighting and guerilla warfare, if has been proved time and again that the hardy son of the soil, who knows the country and loves it, is the equal, if not the superior, of the trained soldier who is not so well acquainted with the country, and who has not the same incentive to fight as the soldier-civilian. Mr J. Black, who was a sergeant in the corps, chats interestingly of the engagement as shared in by himself. The Maoris. had been “out of hand” for some time. They were “spoiling for fight,” and, in order to get it, they shot to death, on the road close to the Omata run, three settlers, Messrs S. .Shaw, S. Ford and H. Passmore. To make double sure the natives tomahawked all three. The Rev. H. 11. Brown found Pote and Parker, iboth settlers’ sons, tomahawked to death. A Punitive Expedition was the only course possible, for opinion in this town would brook no delay. The day after the receipt of the message conveying news of the murders the troops left for New Plymouth en route for Waireka, filled with the justice of their cause, and spurred to endeavour by popular enthusiasm. The militia and volunteers (Capt. Brown commanding) took the sea-beach, the regular troops marching along the road. The irregular force was 150 strong, and it was a strong, confident and cheerful party that moved out to fight The First Battle in which British volunteers were engaged. When the Waireka stream was reached dispositions were affected, Capt. Stapp’s force taking the centre and Capt. Brown and Capt. Atkinson proceeding to the flanks. The Maoris from the Waireka pah, evidently expecting trouble, gallantly prepared to meet it by rushing pell-mell down the hills towards the stream. Therefore, as soon as the advance force saw anything solid to fire at, it loosed a couple of rounds, the distinction of firing them falling to Sergeant McCoy and Private C. Allen. The advance had been moving “en eschelon,” but it quickly broke into a smart double for The Seat of the Trouble.

which they did with accompanying yells. Many of the yells were bitten short., for the range was only 50 yards. Captain Stapp instructed his men to “Give it to ’em!” and to use Mr. Black’s expression, “they fell like blackbirds.” Lieut. Blake, commanding a shore party of bluejackets, had been shot in the preliminary skirmish, and Colonel Murray ordered the retirement of the sailor-men. ' .There seems to have. been numerous ill-timed withdrawals from strong positions by Colonel Murray, and it was therefore inexpedient for the volunteers to push the advance unsupported. Captain Atkinson occupied the southern gully, and Captain Stapp’s command found itself in an open dip, with a number of wounded. This party retired to Jury’s farm, and there the wounded found sanctuary and such “first-aid” as could be given them. Heavy Firing from left, right and centre continued, and the dull roar, of the “Brown Bess” mingled with the loud explosions of reloaded shot-guns. As in the Crimea, many men, in, their haste to “get even,” put the bullet in first and the powder after, or inserted an extra charge, or forgot the cap —and so on. There is at least one story of a Maori being killed by the bursting of his gun, which was loaded with nails. The volunteers’ ammunition ran short, and orders were issued that no unnecessary shots were to be fired. The short Enfield was always a poor weapon, but it is a povertystricken gun indeed if you cannot feed it. Colonel Murray had a cartload of ammunition, and Orderly-sergeant William Brown (late of the Csth) volunteered to carry a dispatch requesting a supply and Reinforcements. It is said that Colonel Murray’s reply was to the effect that since the volunteers had got into a mess, they could get out of it. It is worth .observing that in many subsequent affairs volunteers have got regulars out-of a hole. Au inquiry, in respect of the ammunition was subsequently made by the War Office. The Maoris’ Flag Lowered. It was observed that the flag on the Maori pah was lowered just about sundown, but the party at Jury’s thought that this might be a device of the enemy, and did not investigate, although Coad and Bailey volunteered to do so. It was further thought that Colonel Murray might have outflanked the enemy and launched his blow at the rear of the pah The Maoris moved to within 50 yards of Jury’s, and fired some ineffectual shots, to which there was reply. They did not return, and the volunteers moved away in fours to the Omata Blockade, refreshed, and then set out on a return to town. A strong party from town was met outside the hotel on the South-road at two o’clock with food and ammunition. There was great rejoicing when it was found that the casualties were comparatively few. The Niger Men to the Rescue. It was then discovered that the lowering of the flag had been effected by Captain Craeroft and a party from H.M.s. Niger. It was galling that British bluejackets should be left aboard while there obvious thing—to invest the pah. Captain Craeroft landed every available man (in addition to the shore party under Lieut. Blake), and simply proceeded to do the obvious thing—to invest the pah. Capt. Craeroft had never been in action before, and it is related of him that lie was cooler in action than any man on the field that day. The story goes that he smoked a cigar during the storming of the pah, and offered £lO to any man who would capture the flag. The coxswain of his gig rushed the offer, and his skipper was alongside. A Maori, it is said, was about to tomahawk the coxswain, when the captain remarked, “Excuse me, that’s my coxswain.” and cut the Maori down with his sword. The casualties among the citizen soldiers engaged that day was two killed and 14 wounded. Paul Inch, who persisted in fighting while

The centre attack was composed of 25 or 30 citizen soldiers. The Maoris were between 000 and 700 strong, armed variously with double-barrelled shot guns, muskets, tomahawks—anything that would fire a shot or make a wound. The Maoris were always good soldiers, both in attack or defence, and so they frequently avoided unnecessarily exposing themselves, were wary in their ekirmishing and careful in launching their foree, which in this case was done in circular formation, the wings widespread and curved so that an enfilading fire would be ineffectual. To close in on the centre seemed to be

The Idea of the Maori Header. As they closed, it was necessary for them to surmount a four-rail fence,

badly wounded, wag mentioned in despatches for bravery, and it was impossible to prevent him wielding a weapon until he fell exhausted. And so the Taranaki volunteers did that day what every real Britisher, whether soldier or civilian, would be proud to do. We honour them, revere the memory of those who died, and admire the veterans who survive. And if at any future time it should be necessary to fight for hearth and home, it is certain that the descendants of the brave pioneers would advance to the fray with as much keenness as did the citizen soldiers on March 28, 1860.