INTRODUCTION INTO THE BAY OF PLENTY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 132, 6 March 1940, Page 3

INTRODUCTION INTO THE BAY OF PLENTY

SLAYINGS AND REPRISALS The Hauhau cult Avas introduced into the Bay of Plentj r by Patara and Kereopa, of Taranaki, about April of 1865. Patara and Kereopa met the Tuhoe, Ngati-Manawa and Ngati-Whare people at Tauaroa, near Galatea and a combined meeting was held for the purpose of explaining the new 'religion* and obtaining converts. The two 'missionaries' brought with them the head of Captain Lloyd and also two European prisoners. Tuhoe, Ngati-Whare and a few of the Ngati-Manawa accepted the new cult readily. The head of Captain Lloyd, wft&hkd been killed by the Haiihau ippk at Ahuahu, Taranaki, in April, 1864, was exposed to the assembled natives for the purpose of working up their feelings, and the visitors also harangued them in such a way as to convert them into something like raging maniacs, who danced round the head, biting at it and uttering ferocious yells. The J women were the worst and accounts of the proceedings are of a most revolting nature. Meetings of the Hauhaus were often held during the war, especially just before a fight or raiding expedition. The functions were conducted round a pole, like a flagstaff, set up in the ground, and known as a niu. The two atua (gods or demons) of the niu function and the militant Hauhau cult, were Riki and Rura. Riki war the 'sAVord-wielder,' or war god and. Rura wajs the god of peace. • mm* The first notable event in the Bay of Plenty after the acceptance of Hauhauism was the murder of the Rev. Mr Volckner at Opotiki. It "was an illustration of the savage ferocity of the Maori people who excited by' a so-called religion. Mr Volckner had proved half a great friend to the Maoris. In June of the same year, Mr Fulloon and several others were murdered at Whakatane. After these slayings the Taranaki visitors, Kereopa and others, became important people but a fight at Waiapu depleted the Taranaki contingent and the remainder fled lo Ruatahuna. After Jiving there ■with Hie Tuhoe for some time they decided that letter hunting might fce had in the home grounds and when they left for the West Coast a party of Tuhoe accompanied them as an escort. There were troublsome times in the Opotiki district in 18ffG for there were many hostiles of the Tuhoe tribe in the vicinity. Military settlers were placed on the land and. this assisted in checking the trouble. In 18G7 Opotiki and the surrounding country was in a very unsettled state. Major St. John was in command of the district, and he had many savage, treacherous natives to deal with. Some of those termed "semi-friendly' were probably the most dangerous. The majority of the Maoris on the outskirts of Opotiki and Waimana and in the Whakatane Valley were definitely hostile and looking for trouble. Occasionally they found it.

In May the natives murdered two of the Gpoti'u settlers, Moore and Beggs. In September a party of Hauhaus .attempted to destroy the blockhouse at Waiocka. About this time Major St, John received a message from those oi the Tuhoe tribe who were living at Ruatoki that they intended to tight. These natives had been active in making raids down the "NY hakatane Valley and running of horses and cattle belonging to the friuidly-Ngati-Pukeko. Major St. John proposed that the Otcnuku pa at Ruatoki should be garrisoned by a forcc of friendly Ngati-Pukeko and a few Europeans, as-it commanded a view of the whole Avidth of the valley, and the entrance to the narrow gorge leading to the interior. It would have

made an excellent advanced post, and would also have mi'ch weakened the raiding powers of the Fuhoe, but the Government declined io sanction it, hoping that, it' no aggressive action were taiven, the lighting would ccase throughout the district. • Another proposal of the Major's was to make a night march and attack the Tuhoe at. Ruatoki hut this also was not permitted. The intention of the Government at this time was, apparently, to placate the natives in all possible ways, and to avoid attaching them. A more vigorous policy had to be instituted and carried out in 1869 and 1870. An argument advanced against the garrisoning of Otenuku was that it would give the Bauhau party a casus belli! This was after tihe unprovoked murders of settlcis b> them, their openly declared intention of fighting the Europeans, their stealing of stock and their attacks on friendly, natives. In December, 1867, Major St. John offered to lead an expedition to Te Whaiti against the murderers of Moore, Begg, White, Volckner, etc., many of whom were then at heru, saying that, with the Opotiki Volunteer Hangers, he would guarantee to bring most of them in, dead or alive. However, these aggressive movements Avere not permitted. (Condensed from Elsdon Best's "Tuhoe")

EX-MINISTER REPROVED

1 FEAR FOR SECRETS OF CABINET The Times reproves Mr Hore Belisha l'or writing for newspapers so soon after quiting Lite War Cabinet. "Thepractice of ex-Ministers writ ing for newspapers coulcl easily be abused if Ministers became less scrupulous than we know tliem to be," says The Times. "Mr Horc Belisha would have been more prudent if he had not contracted to enlighten the public on the war six weeks after leaving the War Cabinet. "A newspaper securing an exMinister's services hopes to obtain , a certain amount of inside information based on his Cabinet experiences.

"Thus, an ex-Minister may unconsciously reveal Cabinet secrets. "Moreover, the newspaper may offer a reward far exceeding ordinary journalistic payments, thus placing on the ex-Minister a heavy obligation which he might be expected to recognise if he resumed office." Mr Hore Belisha recently began a series of articles in a 'Sunday paper. One of these Avas censored because, the Prime Minister explain ed, the excised passages were unsuitable for publication under the author's name.