AN INCIDENT OF MAORI WARFARE.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 480, 1 March 1881, Page 3

AN INCIDENT OF MAORI WARFARE.

Tauranpa formerly possessed one of the densest populations and largest and most formidable fortresses •in New Zealand, situated on Mount Mauhganui, the entrance to the harbour, and iiivas only on the introduction of firearms .tliat the Northern tribes — Ngapuhi — attacked this pah, driving its inhabitants into the sea. The massacre was awful ; never had cannibals before so gloated over the hundreds of victims which lay slaughtered before them. The venerable chief Hori Tupaae, at present living at Eftngiwhaea, was young and power ful, and having collected together the remnants of his tribe, Stengel the insult and put a final stop to their invasions in this district. It is thus recorded after Ngapuhi obtained firearms they attacked Tauranga, driving its wretched inhabitants into the. eea, at the rocky point which -' forms Hie north-western extremity of the mountain. Again they invaded Tauranga, and encamped at Natua»we, a knoll overhanging the Wairoa, a mile and a half from the great Otumoetai pah (Captain Crapp's farm). Such was the state of affairs when in the noonday heat of a , Bummer's day, Te Waru (Hori Tupaea), principal ohief of the Ngaiterangi, taking F advantage of the hour when both parties B were indulging in siestas, went out. alone Wk to reconnoitre the enemy. Haying advanced as far as was prudent, he sat down among some ngaio trees near the beach, and presently observed a. man, who proved to be a Ngapuhi chief, coming along the I strand from the enemy's camp; men approached, and turning up from the beaoh sat down under the trees, without perceiving the Tauranga chief who was near him. Instantly, the de'ennination of the latter was taken. He sprang unawares upon the Ngapuhi, disarmed him, and binding his hands with his girdle, drove him towards Otumoami. When they were arrived pretty to the pah he bade the prisoner halt; he untied the girdle, restored his arms, and then delivering up hia own to him, said to the astonished Ngapuhi, 'Now serve me in the same manner.' The relative positions of the chiefs were soon reversed, and the captive-driven captor entered Ngapuhi's oamp,where,so great was thswi h for his death that it was only by the most violent gesticulations accompanied with many unmistakable blows delivered right left, that the Ngapuhi chief compelled * for a moment to desist. ' Hear me,' hi cried, ' hear how I got him, and afterwards kill him if you like.' He then made a candid statement of all that occured, I wherepon the rage of the Ngapuhis was I turned away, and a feeling of intense I admiration succeeded. Hori Tupaea was I unbound, his arms restored, and he was Lk treated with the greatest iespect, and |k ir.vited to mako peace—the thing was so anxiously desire J. The peaco wascontilled, the Ngapnhis returned to the Bay Islnnds, and though in after years they the Thame?, Waikati,, und districts, yet w-is ] ->y tlioxJK , '