ON BEING A VETERAN OF THE MAORI WARS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 916, 8 September 1910, Page 4

ON BEING A VETERAN OF THE MAORI WARS.

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'THE GRIMNESS OF CAMPAIGNING,; '■'" ■'■ ■'•:'■ AND NOW:V.:..'.uSIEGLECT;:;;-V^v 0 . ;;,X:':^- : ■■';■.": (By Thohas-Adamson.) ■:,'':;':;".•:.■ Herewith. I appeal to' the members of ,■• Parliament assembled. :to do ; justice :. : tb :':■ ;■'•" those who fought and bled inr this'fair'v. country at the time of the' Maori War.;.-: Many of them wore grievously wounded-.'./ and incapacitated from doing hard work,■■:"■'■ or following?what, prior, to.the : warj:,yra3, ; their usual occupation, not only'. on 'ac-" : count o£ wounds- received," but also -ow-'.": ; ing to the great hardships wluch they had to undergo.' Knowing that a'-great mini- ;'"J : . berof your readers are deeply..interested v". 'in this subject, I hope I. will not bo'con--' sideredegotistical if I relate some: , of my ..'-.,-' varied experiences when / nghting:.foi l ;" New: V Zealand, Home,, and. Beauty." .... ■ ■■• ■'•;',■'■ : . ; : -I was born in Wanganui on September/' ;: 9, 1845, joined tho Wanganui Militia in?.'■'■•'■'■ 1862, and then the Land.Transport." Corps/-.:.: under. General. Carneroh, marching -.with-'.-■■■: him in an expedition; against-.tho hostile , .yj; Natives as far/.;as.Waingongoro'..Vl > : a9 ;.■ ■ present at two engagement's during: that' ■ :" time, viz.i'.TiTukumaru .and:Fatea.."l:camev; r . back.withi the*column to .Wanganui after!. <- six: months'-arduous campaigning, i through, -i- - almost.- impenetrable .iforesft": having /"to.--; ford nvers,'.wade through.".swarnps, etc.,'■ ',;'■ carrying, our 'own ■ provision's' arid"/armsi 1; "'/.' and' about one 'hundred And fifty,r6undft r --'S of ammu'nition' and -blanltet. '■: '. .•.:;,..-:■>.*■ Fighting;Volkner's Murderers/ '-:.[' ....V\ '>'; : ".£. After, a short spell.l joined the.Eorese.■'.'-,-Rangers,-under ..the lateT Captain Hoss,;"'? and. was ■ sent'--tb 'the ; . East '.Coast ■' with : a / ■--'" column ; iinder v the"command , of the : late'.Major"-: Brassey", ' to ' avenge' the : mnrder * :'. i- : of the BeT.3lr:i<Volkner,..w.;hq""'was rnthi ! i.-V. lessly : by : : th?.'Hau : ;Hausi'. :: I took-part in five, engageinantsi ■:viz;, v at-;:'.. AVaiinana . (one)j, at. OpotikT {tw'oj.'i-'ani l '■''■■■'■ Waioweka . (fa-o)y ; 'This " becipied-'.'aboufc' >: '. twelve monthsi- when'-'we; agsfi: to ; Wariganui-.'.' -My-nexti.serya.ee. l was the forces, under, the. lafc; Cc-kjel. M|Don?;..'i-J'' nel, in an expedition; against. -.' I "was present af eight e'ngageln'enfsj .vizi"-':: Pokaikai (onc)V:Kiteohatea'.:(fflree),-Keto-:'-'!;] maraea ; (orie),-' Pungareltu -(one)? Te-:Ngui.-*<| tn: o: te Maim_-(two); T.-.the^i'jreturned..-:c| ■to. Wanganui,' and: ; enlisted. iii hsanui.-Cavalry,: under.,the. late '.-Major; ,'f Finnimore. -I.'was ..present 'at an'-'.env'f. gagement' , at Nu^umaru.;- ;.'''._:C K) %';;;:"r*-.C ; With General- Wh«mor ; e;. ; .-'''';v:^v-V. ;^j;Sj ; V I then joined the , forces under,the lat3- :],: General Whitmbre as scout,' and was pro-..' j .- sent at - the_, taking of; Ta'urangM®.;,pa;ui7; also in engagements at : Karaka flat,, Ota-.. .'!': : utu (on the Tafea* Eiver),'?and Taumahau.:;!."., Prom thenee'we' v niarched'tb ,; '/WaitSrli/t6olc i ' {,' steamer to Auckland,-. there to .: i ? Tauranga. We'■maiched to Malcatui then;:.!; to Te Awa te 'Atrial then on to K6kohinau '.':'?-■ and.Rang;taika,. and-here-.we built ~ j > doubt which- we called, "Gala'tea,"L'aftei.r, l< '-'. the Duke;.of.Edinburgh's;.sh^;'!^!^^?In the Wild Ure'wera. Vv ;■ '.fi! ■'-<<■.'■ . We .'then marched to the ITrowera' confe;;! : try and.- fought a'-pitched battle I, lyithjjthefei ■ Hau Hails;- at Hei : Kereru. ■, From ; we:passed , : on to.Ruatahiina,: and.heraip - . had -an'.-'"engagement" .with'■■ thenenemyTatitr,? which a numberion-both sides were ikilledt. -4 and :wounded. ;:It .was■ lie're'that:j;Vfai^>;■'-;. awarded the ;New Zealand Cross' : for' ging iny mate; Hema.Te biip'of "tMb'."'T'; rivei , V'.wlien::nnder'-'leavjyfire* ,, filp'm I .t''lli«i'Jffi: Maoris, *■ we ■•-being,, ,'surrdundedrtoby; : ithe e;" enemy;-' I had' to i: walk' : -soiuoii miles.'.viz;, , to ■ hoped to 'get surgical -for/-myiS. t. '■ 'wounds; but^when : we .arrived there;, the..: "r. j '■■■ place wbs deserted,-. and-.'as the., , steamer;;!*\ nadi•npt',ar^iTed■ ! 'the^e,Vthere:■^rere■;hb^'p^lj^ , visions.to be had, or'dressing of 'any kiiid';;J; i fbr''my'¥ounds."- l --.So;I--nad'.-tp':dp : tte- ; bestf*V: •L'. coum with'water.-:: : j;!'. .-■/.'■' V/v ; -I -iomitted--'to- J mention;^that received ><;J: .four'T\'o,unas;atvßuatahuhai viz.ptivp.ln,':.::'- 1 : •the-right'arm/'shattering!the;bones :therV}.,,.. of, of:,the"frontal cbestibon<y, j... while a bullet/also passed. through';'my : ,:'v' : foot.' T.he'.'S^rt' : board and reached Napier^;'After••■■myl'.'jJA foot .w'Ks'.'fhii'ly ~he'alod;i.l^wasylanadous•';';.)': to- go'Uo my'-hoineanvWanganuii'-bubp-;':: there :being no other,- means-'of rcachirig,';/:: .'thei;e}a.-sta , lMdijonWo'6fe:anidftV' l^e^';t^i?.f'', whole ■to Wangiiniti,; ; the tima ;-^ ; ' occupied, being.thirteen,daysi: >..... 'i- !^v'i '... .:. I had been iii::;Wangariui: : :rec'uperating ' : ;'-' for^jsoihe"three:mqkths';when v j received;a,'.'' 'communication fxom'th'e Gdvernment:- 'a'Sk , - 1 ' '-■ -;.- : ing" '"me; tp'capture-'JJe -y: who 'ordered r Cha3. 'Broughtohv(interpret:v' : ter).:to be murdered/:■He (Broughton) had//:'-.: been:seht : to'a : pa,bn by;,,: ■ vGeneral..''C : amerpii^'m.th''.a-,:flag;!pf;!',tEnee.''' ;: ,;'-'. John-Trayripf:and■'"myself went: fo;-;JVhe« ",', ■: nuakura, aiid-.had.beeii'l there; about, i..-.; foftrdght when'we were.fortm'ate; enough .:;''. to capture ..th'is- I '.arch-rebel:rf^VVvthen , .'*:. handed' him. over.'to; : the '.'custody? of f: tha':'j : police'atid'returned v tp':Wangan^ii: : ': ; C'.K:i:':;; .Campaigning,: With: Kemp^V;^' )V','t'-\ \Some'time-after;this I Maori i?.\.Contingent;:uncler/iMajor. Kemp\-,i. \Ye;:left.-v... ; by: canoe 7 for -Riinana, "(onithe,; W.ahganui'- *■." ; ; River) and; , from -there .marched ;jtp. -Muri- >'':; mutu, : . and /then:.6n':.ta;-H:6to'. J .'Aira';;-,:rronii'. ; ' L '?-.i there -we' prbceeded' to Paja Kai .Va'nd ■ atr' S- • tacked'and : toqk/the'Ppnri'pay! :-After this';];;; ■ffe- ; we : ;stopped 'a.-few,weeks;; aiid.were'-.thenof i;.. ordered to. against',Te.:Kopti; : ;';Nbt: findingshim;; : atjjj:;; that:place,;we-: marched ~;t6.A':Moeran'gj^; ; . (Taupo),. then on to-Niho. to; Patatere; ahd/ then';tb; Japapa^whereV';:;: we had ail engagement' with"..the enemy;;; ■', s they ;losing : heayily.-. We suffered a ! loss %£} of eight;kiUed..■'WeVmar'ched■ on to ; .Mata;';': j- ; Mata where Vβ,agaiu;:fought 'the' enem'y.v;*;; and then ■All- : this:'wa3v. , 'r.;.■ through what.was practically a::terra:in-.J.; cognita. Thence.we went'.back to.-Maka-■■:*"■ tu, Te Awa v :te.Atua,Whakat^e;;. and. ■;;;.: Ohiwa, : and::::ori-, v to,v the Missing VTei'-Kppti , ;.: and..."; his ishprde. ■;■:./ there, • '; we';/went s ; to :.v'Oe\ra, :v/ : ;.antl'i.;: ; :; from there to Opotiki, dnd then up. , theirs .Wai'oweka.' to-,Marae': ■- Tuhi,;":'* where fl'ytef^ S. iagain , engag , edr : tho;eneiny::with' : 'thß' l lat9 v v'v; tjamnel Au»tiu.' : and : 'eighteen Wβ killed.2o:Maorisi aniong-theni.being;-,-!;:; Hakariali,. Who'was-the Hauv gau's; fight- =;-;S: ing xhief, being looked up'on.as. the;great.:-;-; est'warrior in: New; Zealand. ■■ There wa3?;i ; V a' reward -out of :tvvo:thptt!jand.. pounds f>;. (ii2ools;for;Hakariahi,yead:or i dliyey but^-:; ;; inslead of the money:being'.given to; the; ~x twenty ; wlio killed:him; ..ikVwas; divided;-"!'•; among the 'Whole force,".whiclibnly meant ?/.;■:■ a piece.for:u_s;':-Here.Kemp's Column'j-.i;, took some 150' prisoners.-.'We then ..hi arch- V: ■, "ed 'on to,'thb Waiowekii; nyhere ..we-'had':-,.';: analher eneagiimeiit,' .killing.-niauy..of.>thj»;|;'--' enemy.':-;A" er ..lhis : w«. retiirned< tp.-Opo-. ; ::- tiki, and.'• took::stoainer'-to .\yplhnietqii,.;V.^...; and thpii,- on ;tn: A^anganui.: &me nuri-..;/;, dreds of miles were coveroSiniiiarcliihg.v ". and fighting: the'Maoris,-and this thrpugn'-;.:';.: tho roughest' of :New:Ze'alapd: country.-,';;::-:.:; ■' 'Our-pay; when 1 in 'the':Militia;:.was' 2s."^::/:.■ Gd. per 'ilay; J-'orest'.Ran'seiV 3s- ; ' 6d.-;-; ! ;v Wanganui';' Gavalrr, ■;.- 65.;: 6d.; / Scouts,': ; .fe.*;;'.; ; fid.';'witli, Kemp,.3s.. Gd.- We had to pay.:',';. ior our food out,of this nvuninceht.euiiiiv^;;V: -.'-. It.::may- appear that- 'I-\:'.am -Epmej X-~s. what': prolix, 'tut :my object -.in writ-;.:-*. ' in"/ at : such- length : 1 ' is,- -that ;sbme;> : . of those who/have reaped.tlie benefit'.of■::?..-; .our exertions.; in overcoming:: :a;: : hostile-;: : '; ftlrce. and so ending tho 'war,-: niay;lorm..r : -,; aii idea'.what strenuous efforts ;\vt":lhade J.;..? and what" hardships; we; hadA.to'put,iup,-V : ; with and. contend, against before Vpeaee: ; ; ■ was .■■ , pr'oolaim^J.V.-'"'llr ;; Ve^erien^es'.' , /are;.: ; '; , -':;- not singular'. 1 Hundreds .of.pthei-s ; toblc/' V,', part in and suffered the same hardships iV ! - 'as-myself .in^the-Mapri'war.--• ;n.; ;.--* ; .-.;;'■>; ; ;And .Whai^'i^e^JTo^l^ffi^^x:;., Have those ..who'.Heft; • these: shores' to .J----fight ugaihsst''Hie,'B6ei:s'iU;.South: 1 Africa ~;t been treated, in- the cavalier.. mahiief' in';?-: which we -have ?.'''No. : ,, All-.-; those -who V; .were-'-wqunded ;h.av(3r : -received -■.adequate,'; ~ pensions'..:;l: am: receiving! the .munificent' ;V 'suia of 2s. 1 2d..- urn- ilay,'" Vind ■: 1: will- ask ;.; : : : ■if..'that .is-.;a^sufficient/^ pehsipn.vfor-a;; man who;;in the : :pri.me of,life, lost the- ";>■". use.of his right.arm,'iand received sorious ..;.> injury, to. his . chest.' through": wounds re-, ; ceived -w fcri-;figiitihg for . this, country;.■ 0f..., :; ours.; The" pension applied; for: by:th.e;'; veterans who ,-fought'.'in'.'''the'.'Maori is, -: as all. fair-mindetl: men'? must■-'; admit,: v'. :■.';. a' just-one,: aiid will .not: have: to be paid :.::•: for any;,grrat knß(h,.of, Hnie, ";as-',.aU,'.' .'.-.' must: be,considfrably over; sixty years : of .; . age and, in ,the: course of, nature,. itliey^:-: .. will ■ have ..passed ;put■ ,-to ::.tho: : :great- -;: ■■ onajbrityin a. very few.years: , ■■■•;-..'.•; "■ V;: : . 'I think.that - Sir ; ; our l do Premier, is w;rbug when.:, objecting Xo ; ,a; v--'-..pcnHon'''wWcli'.;should'-\ : haTfrVfen'V.B'raritcd;;-;;-'';;: ; years a?o to those whb tfiiVteriallyOielpett.,;.;,; to confer ; New :.Zealandi:U'Hmv: caitilpve 1 •of- country., obtain' when? such",.treatment. -; : ; is meted-put':to'-.a-body.'-qt' meiiswhp;have'i- >j done so Miiuch ' for;this^laii<l.■'';;; liamentarians; shpuld ; ,nc(w.;ehdeaybnr."fp'.,.;-;.:;".-,.;; - Ch«er the iveat bues;who are.-beiuiing,;i;:;:,;. '■-''■ 'Neath their ''■..Weary: , !, burdens;-now, : ''. ! ;/ts--:i :'.,'.Lifti;the :pallid - fscesnupwards/.;:>;■& ;;S : '■: :' i Sm6oth;;the-.care'wpr6;-trouble^browt-^i:;4:.