A NATIONAL RESERVE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2293, 29 October 1914, Page 9

A NATIONAL RESERVE

SITE OF ORAKAU PA. Mr. H. Walton, of Waikanae, whose breast is laden with as many war medals as would satisfy any three men, and who was. a gun captain in the Royal Navy, attached to the Baltic Fleet during the Crimean War, and fought under the late Admiral Sir Henry Keppel, when ho destroyed a formidable flotilla of Chinese war junks in Fat Sham Bay (1857), was among those present at the conference of Veterans yesterday. This fine old warrior, who was subsequently engaged in the Maori War,' put forward a proposal that some ten ■ acres on the site of the famous Orakau Pa should be reserved, and that a pa similar to the historical one should be erected as a national monument to the brave men who fell on both sides, and also as an attraction to tourists and a milestone in the Maori War. He had thought that such a reserve might become a place well cropped with weeds, but the Waiki County Council had offered to ' keep it clean.' Tablets could be oreeted to the memory of those who fell in the fight, and the road which now wont right through the block 'could bo conducted round it, and so a memorial could be created for all time. Mr. J. A. Capper, another. Orakau veteran, had another and more modified idea. Hβ said that pits were dug, and the Maoris who were killed were buried on the slope opposite the pa, and thoro he suggested that a memorial should bo erected to the memory of tho bravo Maoris who fell in that action It would only mean tho enclosing of an acre or an acre- and a half as a burial ground to effect his purpose, which proposition was approved by Hare Wahanui (son of the great Wahanui). Colonel Nowall, C.8., pointed out the site of tho pa was already a Government reserve, and that a blockhouse under his charge had stood on tho spot for some years after the big action. "Thero aro no peach trees left there now," added tho Colonel, with a emile that spoke of not altogether unpleasant memories. No dofinite resolution was arrived a, respecting tho proposed memorials.