Ruka Aratapu.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 218, 20 September 1901, Page 4

Ruka Aratapu.

A BKAYK GISBOKNE WAIUiIOK.

(Special to Times.) Auckland, last night. The following is one ol a series oi biographical sketches that have been prepared by an author formerly of Gisborne:

Buka (.Luke; Avatapu was one ol Major i Itopata's right-liand men in many a wild iigln against Te Kooti and the rebel Hauliaus in 1808-71. He is a Poverty Bay Native, and a man of determined courage, lie first distinguished himself in 1(308, at the siege of Ngatapu, a picturesque hillfort away back in the ranges, inland from ! Poverty Buv, where Te Kooti and his | escapees from the Chatham Islands took i refuge after they had perpetrated the ] Poverty Bay massacre. Buka Aratapu | was of a little band ot toas (braves) who, | with liop at a, came to close quarters with i the rebels, pursuing them up to their own j wall of defence, and fought muzzle to ; muzzle with only a wall between them, lie was one of those who, by cool courage, ; ably supported Bopata throughout a long : night of desperate fighting. Towards daybreak, Bopata, not being reinforced, withdrew, under a heavy tire, still showing a bold front and carrying oil his wounded. ! L is stated that, at this light Buka Aratapu climbed a tree, whence lie could see down into the pa, and from his elevated position did some execution. Bopata, fearing he might be shot, ordered him to comedown, but in vain : Buka stuck to his tree and came olf scot-free. At the second attack on Ngatapa Buka was also cu L';!yiA. In I.SiG-1 i Ik: whs Mill soldiering under Major Uopala ami CupGun Tortcr. with lho rank of lieulcmmt. in the native loree 1111 pK\vovl lo fiuni. down the rebels. and he marched and fought all through thu I.,'ivwofa campaigns, ('n September 4, UGi, iu: look a leading part in Uie light near Maungapuhalu, in the Urewcra mountains. where Te Kooti was very nearly captured. J.iout.-Colonel Porter gives tile following account of thu engagement in his 11 Cite of Major Kopata Wahawulni" : "A< the day dawned the force moved to tiie attack, twenty men under the narrator forming the centre, twenty under Lieutenants Large and iluka Aratapu the right, anti twenty under Hun arc Potac the left. The two Hank attacks extended from each wing so as to completely surround the enemy. The men crept through the bush with the utmost caution, as thu j snapping of a twig would have upset j everything. The centre took up its position 1 outside the fallen timber at the lower part, and directly in front of the clearing, Te Kooti's people being camped in temporary whares just inside the clearing, instructions had been giv en to liuka in the right attack that when the surround was complete he was to call upon To Kooti and his people lo surrender, so as to avoid unnecessary bloodshed. However, the plan was upset through one of Henare’s men shooting a woman who had come out to cut firewood before the surround was complete. All was soon confusion amongst the Hauhaus. The kokiri (charge) was given, and the clearing charged. The lighting became hand-to-hand, and the tiring dangerously cross for both sides, and unfortunately several women were killed and wounded in the melee. The engagement was sharp and shoit. The enemy being so completely surprised could offer little effectual defence, and all but eight were captured or killed. On the first shot being fired Te Kooti burst through the back of his whare, carbine in hand, being seen only by a few. Ho stood for a moment behind a." tree : then called put in Maori: ‘lt is Xgatiporou ! Escape who can !’ lie then, accompanied by one wife and followed by several others, jumped down a clilf and escaped. There were several personal encounters as is usual in the attack. Lieutenants Large and liuka, upon the alarm being given, were the first to charge from the right Hank. Pursuing parties were at once sent after Te Kooti, but did not succeed in overtaking him, though a few of his party were captured and brought in. Among them was Wi Wchikorc, a staunch follower of To Kooti's, with many misdeeds to account for, one being the murder of his wife and children, whom he had said were an encumbrance to him in the bush. This man was ordered to be shot and not left to the slow process of the law to deal out justice.’ After this light Captain Porter's force occupied Opokere pa, an abandoned Urcwera stronghold on the top of a high range, and liuka Aratapu and Lieut. Large were stationed there some time, subsequently surrounding and surprising the turbulent Ngalihuri tribe at Tauaki and Te Jvakari. When a military post was established at Maunga-pohatu I" Rucky Mountain ”) in the heart of the Urewcra country,' liuka and thirty of Ropata’s best men were detached to garrison it, and remained there till November, 1871, when the forces were withdrawn.