STORIES OF THE PENINSULA.
No. 34.—Maobi History of Banks Peninsula. (Contributed by ihe Rev. J. W. Stack. J
kaihuanga (continued). The severe defeat sustained by the Taumutu people at Hakitai did not crush their spirits, nor weaken their determination to retaliate on the first fitting opportunity. But to accomplish their purpose it was necessary to obtain assistance, since they had received convincing proof in the late engagement that single-handed they were no match for Tamai hara-nui's powerful clans. Accordingly, they commissioned Hine haka, muther of Ihaia Whnitiri, a lady connected with many influential chiefs in the South, to proceed to Otakou and Murihiku, for the purpose of enlisting her friends' sympathies on their behalf, and raising from amongst them an armed force to aid them in the coming struggle. She was successful in her mission, and returned in a few months, accompanied by & considerable body of men. But they were not destined to achieve any great victory, or to inflict any serious loss upon their opponents. On the arrival of their reinforcements at Tanmutu. a messenger was despatched to Kaiapoi to invite the cooperation of all who wished to avenge their women killed at Hakitai. About a hundred warriors responded to the invitation, and set off at once for the seat of war. The combined forces then marched up the coast to attack Wairewa. The engagement which followed—afterwards known as Kai-whare-atua—was almost bloodless, but is memorable for being the first occasion ou which firearms were used in this part of the country. The Ngati pahi, who possessed two guns, occupied a proud and envied position in the fore-front of the expedition. Though few ventured to touch the novel and dangerous weapons, all took a deep interest in their use, and hoped by their means to secure an easy victory, not so much from the execution in the ranks of the enemy likely to follow their di- charge, as from the terror certain to be inspired by the report of firearms heard for the first time. These anticipations would probably have been realised but for the chief Taiaroa, who kept far in advance of every one. and reached Wairewa in time to give the inhabitants warning of approaching danger. On nearing the pa sufficiently to be recognised, he cried out, " Escape, fly for your lives, take to your canoes and pro to sea. for guns are our weapons." The mention of the dreaded guns was quite enough to create an immediate panic. Every one who could move rushed off in headloner flight, and when the Taumutu army arrived, they found the place quite deserted, and the only person they succeeded in shooting was a servant woman named Mihi nui, belonging to Pikoro. In order to understand Taiaroa'a conduct on this and subsequent occasions, it is necessary to bear in mind that although he had accompanied the Southern contingent in the capacity of a leader, he was in reality a Taumutu chief, and closely related to all the Perinsula people. He was a descendant of Te run hikihiki, who wrested that part of the country from Ngatimamoe, but his family having remoTed to Otakou, Taiaroa bad become identified with the people there. Possessing in an eminent degree the qualities requisite to constitute an efficient Maori ruler, he was chosen at tin early age by the people amongst whom he lived to act in that capacity, and acquitted himself so well that he completely supersed»liP!he local chiefs. His fame for courage, wisdom, and generosity spread far and wide, and during the troublous times that followed the. Kaihuanga feud he was unanimously elected to fill the post of chief military ruler of the Ngai Tabu tribe. Though opposed to Hine Haku's mission, he joined those who ralli % d round her standard, hoping in the end to defeat her sanguinary purpose, and to put a stop to the fratricidal strife. On the first opportunity that presented he carried bin purpose into execution, and succeeded, as we have seen, in thwarting the attack on Wairewa. Foiled in their designs, the Taumutu forces returned home, but tho Kaiapoi contingent, after proceeding some distance on their way, began to fear the jeers and taunts they were certain to encounter if they returned empty-handed, so they turned back as far as Kaitangata, where they met and killed Iritoro, son of Mari taki taki and Hinei Wharitia. They little imagined the serious consequence that would ensue, or they might have selected another victim. This man's mother was sister to Tau nunu, a chief who had some time before migrated from the neighborhood of Kaikoura to the Peninsula. He was altracted to these parts by the presence of numerous and influential relations, who were in possession of the land. Upon his arrival, several places were assigned to him, and he selected Ripapa, in Lyttelton Harbor, as the site of his fortified pa. This chief no sooner heard of the death of his nephew than he planned and carried out a scheme of ample vengeance. The Kaiapoi warriors had barely reached their homes before he was on the war path, intent on surprising Whakaepa (Coalgfate), a populous offshoot from Kaiapoi. His movements were so secret and so rapid, that be captured the pa without a struggle, and put everyone to death. It was not till some time after Tau nunu's return to Ripapa that the Kaiapoi people learnt the terrible fate that had befallen their friends at Whakaepa. The whole population was roused to frenzy by the news, and it was resolved to send as large a force as could be mustered to punish Tau nunu ; but receiving intelli-
gence that Taiaroa was marching up the coast, accompanied by a considerable body of men, armed with muskets, the Kaiapoi leaders determined to await his arrival, and get him if possible to unite hie forces with theirs. Their proposal was ultimately accepted, but instead of proceeding at once to attack Ripapa, the combined forces first marched against Wairewa. Taiaroa repeated the warning ho gave the inhabitants on a former occasion, and with a like result at first, for when the besiegers arrived they found the inhabitants had escaped to their canoes. Pikoro was the only man on the spot they discovered, and he was killed, together with Tauakina, Te ata ka hua kina, and Kaihaere, sisters of Tamai hara-nui. Taiaroa's well-intentioned plan for securing the safety of his friends was not, however, destined to be successful this time. The Murihiku musketeers were unwilling to be again deprived of their prey. Having after a short search discovered two or three canoes, they pursued tbe fugitives, who in their over-crowded canoes were readily over taken, when the majority of them were either shot or drowned. The cannibal feast that followed this engagement was regarded at the time as peculiarly atrocious, on account of the close relationship between the devourers and tho devoured, and it was from what took place on this occasion that the feud came to be known in the annals of the tribe as "Eat Relation." Leaving Wairewa, the expedition marched up the Okiri Valley, and over the Waipuna Saddle, and down the Otutu spur, to Koukourarata. The scouts in advance came there upon Te-hanui-orangi, an elderly chief, who was sitting in the sunshine quite unconscious of the existence of danger. His youthful companions were all asleep under the trees, at a short distance off, but before they could be alarmed he was killed. The noise of the struggle roused the young men, who flew too late to his rescue, but they caught one of his assailants, Te Whaka moa moa. The rest of them took to flight, and rejoined their main body, who hearing what had happened, decided to push on at once to Purau, fearing if they were to delay that night Tau nunu might receive warning of their approach. It was arranged that all who were armed with muskets should embark in canoes, and proceed by water to Ripapa, while the rest should climb over the hills, and assault the pa on the land side. Taiaroa, who was desirous to give Tau nunu a chance to escape hurried forward, and was the first to get within hearing of the pa, when he shouted out, '* Fly, ebcape, guns are our weapons." But Tau nunu had anticipated an attack, and had already taken the precaution to cross the harbor a day or two before. Many, however, adopted Taiaroa's friendly advice, and tried to escape in their canoes, but were not quick enough in getting out of musket range, for the attack party that went round by water reached Ripapa almost as soon as their companions arrived by land, and they at once opened a distructive fire on the escaping canoes. The result was that few who tried to get away by water succeeded ; but with the connivance of Taiaroa, many of the inhabitants passed through the assailants' ranks and reached the hills at the back of the pa, where they stopped pursuit by rolling great stories down upon all who attempted to follow them. [Note. —In tbe 28th line of Btory No. 33, for '• felt his sacred and oppressive lestriciion," read " felt his sucred presence an oppressive restriction," &c._ It was his presence that imposed a restriction upon their liberty of action.] (To be continued.)
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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 680, 19 January 1883, Page 2
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1,553STORIES OF THE PENINSULA. Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 680, 19 January 1883, Page 2
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