ABOUT THE TOWN

Chronicle (Levin), 18 January 1947, Page 3

ABOUT THE TOWN

T. S.

D.)

(By

Continumg the story oi ine Maori and Pakeha settlement of this ■ district, we find. that at the close of the 18th century New Zealand was beginning to attract attention from the civilised world. The sheltered bays in the north became the rendezvous of whalers, and at the beginning of the 19th century the tribes living in the Bay of Islands became interested in- the "shooting irons" of the Pakeha. Armed with these weapons of destruction, the principal tribe of the north, Nga Puhi, waged a ruthless war upon neighbouring tribes, and these disturbances spread to the Waikato and were ultimately productive of the migration of the Ngati Toa to the Manawatu. Innocent of the ruthless phase of Pakeha civilisation, and tor that matter innocent, too, of the existence of a white race, the Rangitane tribe lived on the fruits of its conquered territory in the peace and happiness of Neolithic man. Little, if any, news had filtered through to their territory of the doings in the north, and it was not until early in the 19th century that there were whisperings of a white race having visited Aotea Roa. The invasion of th'e Waikato by Nga Puhi 'produced considerable inter-tribal strife, and gradually a situation dcvelopcd which caused the entcrprising Ngati Toa chief, Te Rauparaha, to consider shifting camp from Kawhia. Te Rauparaha was a notcd and formidable warrior chief and his tribe was famous for its fighting qualities, having won a grim battlc against a foe armed with muskets. Te Rauparaha was among the first of the Waikato chiefs to appreciate the vii'tue of the firearms which Ngati Puhi had bccome possesscd of, and he decided to procced south to explore the countrysidc. Working in his mind was the thought that he might, along the shores of the strait discovered by Kupe, make contact with some of the Pakehas -who would be prepared to exchange firearms for flax. He passed down the coast from Taranaki, and on down to Wellington, and while returning noticed a ship in Cook Strait. He was reminded that the presence of that ship indicated possible contact with Pakehas and the development of trade, to say nothing of the prospect of winning possession of those weapons of war which had meant so much to the success of Nga Puhi' in the ' north. Te Rauparaha made his decision then and there; he would leave Kawhia and take up ' fesiderice along the coast about Otaki. Returning home he gathered his [people together, axinounced his decision and made prepatations for the departure. Te Rauparaha did |not progress down the coast 011 his second venture without being 'obliged to fight unfriendlv tribes, iwho had 110 wish to have in their Imidst the formidable Ngati Toas, I who had a record of many victories iin the Waikato. 1 Entering the domain of Rangitane, the Maori Napoleon, as he w'as 'later known, Te Rauparaha found . that his mada had preceded him, jfor the people living along the ! coast had departed inland and j taken refuge in the bush. Powever, I at Horowhenua they encountered istubborn opposition from the iMauapoko people, but prevailed and ! ultimately arrived at Otaki. This 1 invasion was not accepted by the 1 resident tribes without some show jof opposition, and while at first I Rangitane was not prepared to match its fighting qualities against Te Rauparaha's men, it later organised raids which made it clear to Ngati Toa that their position was none too secure.