CUTTING THE FLAGSTAFF.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 185, 13 October 1876, Page 8

CUTTING THE FLAGSTAFF.

(Eev. Father Garin's Lecture continued.) At the first break of the day, Kauiti, according to the order, sounds the attack at the opposite extremities. The Government forces are soon on the spot to resist the attack, and firing rages. In less than a quarter-of-an-hour the Maoris have taken the first battery which was erected on that quarter. During the engagement, the Bishop with his companions, not knowing how far destruction could be carried on, leaves his residence and takes to the boats. Whilst the men are pushing the boats from the shore into the sea, one of them receives a bullet through his hat and another through his coat. As the battle is going on in that part of the town, the soldiers of the battery on the road to the flagstaff, seeing that they had nothing to do, came down from the battery to assist those who were fighting down in the town ; likewise those who were in the fortifications came out for the same purpose, leaving their posts. This was Heke's moment! Scarcely had the last soldier evacuated, leaving the place open, than Heke rushes in, singing out in the Maori fashion: "Tena kokiri kiatoa, kiatoa! Hurrah! " Now, boys ; come on, hurrah ! There you would have seen the iron plates yielding under the steel of the axe, savages fearlessly shouting, striking heavy blows regardless of danger. In vain did the soldiers, turning back, direct against the fortification the gun which was turned against the battlefield, and fire against Heke and his fellows. The cannon balls go through the thick planks and the clay, but the singing and the axes are doing their work. Ten minutes, and a deafening hurrah from Heke and his men announces to the town that the flagstaff is down once more. In every country of the world we see men fighting for their land, whether their rights are true or imaginary ; nevertheless it gives to mau an energy and a courage almost superhuman, and such was the case with Heke and his men.

Already the barracks have fallen under the power of the Maoris. Fighting is kept up till half-past ten in the morning, when the ammunition magazine, having been set on fire, explodes. Then all tlie white population leave the town, which remains in the power of thf natives, to take refuge on board of the man-of-war, and other vessels. Now the Maoris indulge in the plundering of the houses, some setting at random fire to the buildings. After the fall of the tree, Heke, finding in the station of th« flagstaff the wife and daughter of the guardian of the flag, who had been himself fighting against the Maoris, and had been wounded, respected these two females, and did not molest nor insult them, though they were now in a state of excited passions. But he gave orders to six of his men to lay down their weapons, to take a flag of truce, and to lead that mother with her daughter safe to a boat, so as to rejoin the man-of-war. At this sight firing ceases, the two victims are deli vered to their people, who let those six men go back, then fighting resumes — a fact worthy of record, even amongst civilised nations. 1 By this time the Bishop, seeing that the natives were settiwg fire indiscriminately to the houses, comes back to bis residence, and sends a, note to Heke to ask him if they were also going to burn bis buildings. Heke himself comes to the Bishop's house, and tells him that he will not allow this ; but his men won't listen to him, and do all sorts of mischief. But he will publish a notice. On that account he asks for a sheet of paper, and writes himself iv Maori the following notice, -which he affixes to the wall of the house : — " Xi te ao Katoa. Notice to all the world, and let all peoples and all nations know that our fight is only against the red clothes, Kahu tvhero (so they used to call the soldiers). Let nobody burn or break the houses of the Bishop." Consequently the houses of the Bishop were not hurt; even the Maoris spared 15 houses belonging to others, only breaking them with axes, lest by setting the fire on them, those of the Bishop would get on fire. The Bishop, going into his house, sees four or five Maoris taking away some objects and running for their life. He sends after them. Heke is so annoyed at it that he wants to kill the robbers, but the Bishop tells him not to shed any more blood, but only make them return what they stole. Heke accompanies the Bishop into his] .buildings, and Kauiti presents him with a chief's coat (rangitira). In this affair there were several instances of humanity on the part of the natives. After the explosion of the powder magazine, the soldiers and national guards left the battlefield to go on board of the vessels ; some of them taking off their hats to salute the Maoris, and these answering the salute and ceasing to fight, leaving them to go to their boats without hinderance, which was very much against their old custom, for in such cases they were in the habit of killing all those left in their power. Neither did they kill any of those who were lying wounded on the battle-field. After the English soldiers had all retreated, the natives hoisted a flag of truce to give both camps time to carry their wounded and bury their dead. Such proceedings were already great signs of civilisation. For it was only a few years before, that, according to their savage habits, they used to cook and to eat their victims. But this time they would not even kill the settlers; they said their fight was only against the red clothes soldiers. (To he continued.)