ESCAPE OF MAORI PRISONERS FROM CHATHAM ISLANDS.

Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 398, 1 August 1868, Page 3

ESCAPE OF MAORI PRISONERS FROM CHATHAM ISLANDS.

THB CHIEF OFFICER'S ACCOUNT, [Fromthe Wellington Independent July 23.] The schooner Rifleman is owned by Messrs Wilson and M'Clatchie, of Lytteltoß, eighty-two tons burthen, and usually trades coastwise. She left Wellington for the Chatham Islands about a month ago (June 28), being chartered by Mr Walter Hood, cattls dealer of Christchurch, lo bring cattle from the Chathams to Dunedia. She conveyed Government stores, arriving at the Islands on Friday, July 3. On that day Sergeant Elliott, of the gu&rd of Armed Constabulary, came oil* to the vessel in charge of twelve or fifteen Maori prisoners to take the Government stores brought by the vessel, ashore. Five boat loads of flour were landed that day. On Saturday, July 4, as it rained heavily in the forenoon, no work was done. Captain Christian (the master of the vessel) went ashore at 10 a.m. to transact business with Mr Hood, one of the charter party. At 1 p.m. Mr Hood came off to the vessel accompanied by another gentleman named Taylor, in the ship's boat. He went into the hold and sampled pome casks of ale. In the meantime, While the chief officer (W. A. Payne) was down in the hold with Messrs Hood and Taylor, Sergeant Elliott can>e on board, being rowed by a crew of prisoners, for a plough which was consigned to Captain Thomas, R.M., and in charge of the guard. He took the plough and went ashore, accompanied by Messrs Hood and Taylor. As soon as the boat reached the beach those on board heard a great hallooing And shouting by the Maori prisoners, and *fche report of four muskets. The Maoris were seen running backwards and forwards in a very excited manner on the beach. The prisoners then seized the Government boat, and ten of them came on board the vessel, armed with rifles. \ On coming alongside, the chief officer ordered them off, told them not to attempt to board, and actually pushed two of them back into the boat. They insisted on board. There was another boatload of Maoris closely following the first. The natives swarmed on deck, and armed sentries were placed in the forecastle and cabin. The ohief officer, the steward and three seamen (in fact all hands) were forced to go aft and remain under guard, being threatened with death if they attempted to move. "Taihoa" (by-and-bye, or presently) was the word of command. Several of the fellows had swords, which they brandished threateningly, and also exhibited pistols and revolvers. The rest of the Maoris were, meanwhile, busily employed in bringing off the women and children, making a total of about 200 Bouls. When all the women and children had been got on board, some of the natives went on board the Florence, ketch, of Greymouth, which was at anchor near the Rifleman. They forcibly took her and brought her up close alongside the Rifleman. Captain Priest and four men were on board the Florence. When all the prisoners had got on board the Rifleman, they ordered Captain Priest and his crew to go ashore in the Rifleman's boat. They then lifted the ketch's anchor, and Allowed her to drift on to the beach, where she was lying high and dry next morning. They then compelled the chief officer (Mr Payne), Capt. Christian- being forcibly detained on shore, to weigh anchor and sail for the East Coast (Poverty Bay), which,

after much threatening, was reluctantly done, the Maoris promising to spare the lives of the crew and surrender the ship as soon as they (the natives) were landed. The head chief, or ringleader of the miscreants, came off nearly the last, and at once told the crew that if they did not convey them at once to Poverty Bay, they would all be killed. During all this time no signs of life or activity were visible on shore, and the chief officer feared that all the Europeans on the island had been murdered. This (if the story subsequently told by the Maoris be correct) is happily not the case. Sail was made on the evening of the 4th instant, at seven o'clock, but as it was blowing strongly from the westward the schooner could not beat out, and had to run back to Waitangi, the anchorage, for shelter. As soon as the sails were stowed, the crow were all ordered below, the chief saying, "We will look after the ship." The men went below accordingly. Next morning (Sunday, the sth) sail was made again, aud the chief officer observed four or five persons standing in front of the barracks, and Captain Christian and Mr Hood walking on the beach. Nothing unusual occurred on the passage from the Chatham Islands on the East Coast (six miles south of Poverty Bay) until Thursday, July 9, when, having had a head wind for two days, the Maori chief, supposed to be named "Koatee," ordered one of their number to be thrown overboard "to bring" (as they said) " a fair wind." This was accordingly done about seven a.m. The unfortunate man was dragged on deck, his hands tied, and notwithstanding his pitiful cries and resistance, he was pitched overboard, like a dog. He was seen for some time afterwards struggling in the water, but his fellow countrymen did not relent. They evidently regarded him as a kind of Jonah, and he was sacrificed to propitiate the " God of the Winds." Truly this was an example of "a foul expedient for fair weather!" The sacrifice of the wretched man is the more remarkable, as it is stated that he was the father of the head chief. A queer mode of expressing filial affection ! The Maoris were generally quiet throughout the passage, but an armed guard walked the dee'e day and night, narrowly watching every movement of the crew. A Maori stood near the helm, armed with a carbine and sword, to see that the proper course was steered. The crew were not allowed to cook ; a halfcaste named Baker, assisted by Maoris, took possession of the galley and did the cooking. Baker and others spoke English fluently. A quantity of hay was used for beds by the natives. The Rifleman anchored off a place called Whareongaonga, six miles south of Poverty Bay, on Friday, at 7 a.m. The landing of the natives, their women and children, occupied the whole night, during which the crew were kept below. In the morning (Saturday), at daybreak, the Maoris commenced to take the cargo ashore, consisting of a quantity of flour, sugar, tea, a quantity of gin, and a couple of cases of porter ; and also stole all the wearing apparel, blankets, &c. , that they could lay hands on. They finally brought two casks of water off to the ship, and told the chief officer that he and his ship and crew might go, as they (the natives) had done with them. Sail was immediately set, and the ship started for this port, being the seat of Government, and the chief officer being anxious to report the whole affair at head-quarters as soon as possible. Head winds and gales from north-west to south, were experienced for a whole week, during which no canvas could be carried. This accounts for the delay in the arrival of the Rifleman. Cape Palisser was made on Sunday last, since which time light winds from S. to S.W. prevailed until Tuesday evening, when a breeze from N.W. sprung up, enabling the schooner to reach Wellington yesterday afternoon, at 3 o'clock. The escaped prisoners are well provided with arms ; they had thirty-eight rifles, seven double-barrelled guns, four revolvers, nine pistols, about half a-dozen swords, three kegs of powder, and a quantity of cartridges. All these, with tomahawks and other articles of offence and defence will make them rather a formidable enemy in their entrenched position On the passage, in reply to the repeated inquiries of the chief officer, the Maoris said they had killed no one in the Chathams, but had overpowered and "tiedj? them all up." They appeared to be very jubilant over their performance, laughing constantly, and evidently pluming themselves on their out-witting the too confinding white man.