THE RAWENE TROUBLE. A MAORI RISING AVERTED.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVI, Issue 2, 13 May 1898, Page 31

THE RAWENE TROUBLE. A MAORI RISING AVERTED.

Periodical trouble is met with in the collection of the dog tax from the Maoris in certain parts of the King 1 Country, but this year the attitude of the natives has been of a serious and threatening character. The first intimation of the trouble came in the following message from Auckland dated April 29th :—": — " 1 rom Rawene in the North Inspector Hickson received news to-day that the Maoiis there are threatening a " hostile demonstration " upon the township. The trouble is simply that a number of Rawene Natives have recently been served with summonses for refusing to pay the dog tax. The Maori seems to have a rooted hatred for the dog tax, and to be summoned for non-payment is apparently a cross he will not bear in silence. It will be remembered, perhaps, that these same Rawene Maoris made a " demonstration " a couple of years ago, marching through the settlement with loaded firearms. On that occasion the martial outburst was allowed to fizzle out, and it is not expeoted that the present little " complication " will lead to any serious results. A number of Maoris in the Hokianga district, and between there and the Bay of Islands, have always been bitterly opposed to the dog tax." The anticipation that the complication would not lead "to any serious results " was hardly realised, for at one time the aspect of affairs would seem to indicate that the Maoris would take extreme measures to evade the hateful tax. Two days later Inspector Hiokeon of Auckland advised the government that they were still displaying a threatening attitude. The disaffected Maoris were led by Hone Toia, and the feature which lent most danger to the rising was the fanaticism of the leader and his followers. Three years ago these Maoris estranged theaiselves from the majority of their people, went into an encampment by themselves, and sent one of their number to Parihaka on a visit to Te Whiti, whose doctrines they adopted. The main points of the Te Whiti doctrine are the consultation of spirits, a " true " interpretation of the Bible, and a determination to refrain as far as possible from joining in the discussion of subjects introduced by the European Government. Hone Toia's people comprised 230 people, and despite statements to the contrary they were well armed and most of them were mounted. When the government were intimated from the Auckland inspector of police that the trouble was assuming a threatening phase, a message was despatched to Hone Toia pointing out the serious consequences likely to ensue from his conduct. Hone Toia replied : " Will play, or otherwise fight ; this too at Rawene. Will come with all my guns and fight to-morrow." As the news arrived that the Maoris were moving on to the township of Rawene, Inspector Hickson sent out a reconnoitring party, and warning was received that Maori pickets were along the road to Taheke. The settlers at Rawene and in the surrounding districts were greatly alarmed, and the township was deserted. The natives declared their intention to fight, but said they would not interfere with women and children, but would deal only with the Government and with men. On midnight on May 1 a force of 100 Permanent Artillery men with Nordenfeldt field guns were despatched from Wellington in the Hinemoa for Hokianga, while a detachment of police and artillery left Onehunga for the same place. On May 3 the authorities at Auckland seized 2000 cartridges intended for the Maoris, and the condition of affairs was most critical. H.M.S. Torch was despatched from Picton to Hokianga. When she and the Permanent Artillery from North and South arrived they learnt that the hostile force was encamped on the Waimea Flat. A number of friendly chiefs, including the well-known Ngapuhi chief Pene Taui, were also at Hokianga doing their utmost in the interests of peace. The Maori force had been augmented slightly by some of the Whirnaki tribe. Hone Toia threatened to murder some of the Government officials, but he notified that the postmasters and telegraphists would be regarded as neutral. The special correspondent of the Press Association wired that " the rebellious Maoris belonged to the Mahurehure section of the great [Ngapuhi tribe, and include also many reckless young fellows belonging to the Ngatihau, Ihutai, and other neighbouring tribes. Hone Toia, the present leader, is a young man anxious for notoriety. He is by no means a crank, but is very long headed, and is using some fanatical-minded men as tools. Danger was expected to arise from the use of firearms in the hands of some of these men, who are described as very fanatical and determined to fight. The grievance of these Maoris was their bitter objection to the dog tax and to the tax on their lands. The Maoris protest against this, and Mr. Clendon, S.M., the dog registrar and bis deputy, the County Council chairman, and the police of the local district have in consequence incurred the war-like Maoris' severe displeasure. The Maoris even went so far as to threaten to shoot Mr. Clendon and the others named, When a request was sent to the Maoris to lay down their arms and disperse quietly they said they would stay till the Government acceded to their request to abolish all taxes on Maoris. If the Government did not do so they would fight, but they would not fire the first shot ; they would let the Government do that. Hone Toia is not a man of much rank himself. His grandmother was a slave woman who was brought captive %y the north by the Ngapuhi after one of their old-time raids on t laranaki. A newspaper correspondent who was present wrote : — The Natives who caused the trouble are well ormed. A number of them have got Winchester repeating rifles, some have Enfield rifles, while the rest have double-barrelled shot guns loaded, however, with bullets. Mr. Clendon also states that they have abundance of ammunition. Several influential chiefs amongst the Ngapuhi tribe have interviewed the Waima Maoris with a view to persuading them bo cease their agitation and submit to the law, but so far without avail. Amongst the chiefs who have seen and reasoned with the Maoris are Hone Ngapua (father of Hone Heke, M.H.R.), Pene Taui, and others.

The two principal North Hokianga chiefs — Rei te Tai and Hapakaka Moetara, the latter being a descendant of the great chief Papahia of former days — went out to Waima to see Hone Toi» and his people, but could not induce them to listen to reason. The Maoris said they would fight if the Government did not grant their wishes. Outposts were tent out and pickets posted, one outpost going out three miles with Maxim guns. The force will make an advance on Waima to-morrow morning, the principal part going up by road and the rest in a boat up the Taheke Creek. The Natives will be ordered to disperse, and the ringleaders will be arrested. Every preparation is being made for a hostile reception. The Press Association correspondent also wired : —"I learn that 60 or 70 men of these people — mostly young men — were iv ambush yesterday in the bush, watching for the troops, and would have fired on the troops but for a message from Toia. They performed a war dance before leaving the settlement on that occassion, and were very much excited. The natives brought in no ammunition to the colonel. It is believed they had most of their arms planted away safely somewhere. The colonel insisted on their bringing in their arms, and no doubt more will be handed in tomorrow." Eventually, through the instrumentality of Hone Heke and the friendly chiefs, the rebellious Maoris laid down their arms, and the leaders submitted themselves for arrest. A few days after the permanent artillery left the district and quietness once more reigned. Before the force left Waima, Colonel Newall addressed the Maoris present through Mr. Brown, interpreter. He said he came to Waima with love for the Maori in his heart. He left again with the same feeling because the mana of tne Queen had been upheld, and the Ngapuhi chiefs had shown their desire that the law should be maintained. A letter from Hone Heke was his (Colonel Newall's) strongest arm in coming to Waima. He thanked Hone Heke and all those of the Ngapuhi who had brought this matter to a conclusion and prevented him (Colonel Newall) from using his guns. The Government would be glad when he returned that the barrels of his guns were clean and free from powder. There is no doubt that it was only Heke's telegram to Toia that prevented the Maori ambuscade firing on the troops in the bush. Had the message arrived 10 minutes later there would have been a fight.