A CHIEF'S BRAVERY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 2, 18 January 1937, Page 3

A CHIEF'S BRAVERY

Our Own Correspondent)

70th Anniversary of Battle of Te Kopane MAORI WARS RECALLED % ~

(From

WAIROA, Jan. 18. To-day is the seventieth anniversary of the battle of Te Koppane, foukht near the foothills of Waikaremoana, with a combined force of Europeans and loyal Maoris. A iew days after the indecisive fight at Marumaru between Major Fraser's force and the Maoris, a move was made against the Maoris, who had retired in the direction of Waikaremoana. Though said to be a combined forcei, it seemed evident from the start that the engagement was mainly in the hands of the loyal natives, the chiefs in command bejng Ropata Wahawha., of Poverty Bay, Thaka Whaenga, of Nuhaka, and Pitikira Kopu, of Wairoa. The force numbered 500 or 600 and the rebels about the same number. About four miles below Onepoto (the outlet) at a spot called Te Kopane, the Maoris entrenching themselves cleverly in a well-selected position. They made a determined stand, the trenches being masked hy a master hand to • make thedr capture no easy matter. The rifle pits, on three differeni slopes were not easily discernable' by the scouts or any advancing force. Ropata, with the eye of a practised warrior, descried a scrub-covered de* file which, he surmised might afford a good spot for an ambush. He advised caution and further reconnoitring, but the Wairoa men were pusliing on at once, claiming preference in the advance." To this Ropata assented, with the remark that it was their country and they should know it, and if they led the way he would follow. He counselled an effort to dravv the enemy's iire, but even this the Wairoa hot-heads would not accept. They moved on but, when well into the deiile, the Hauhaus opened iire on both sides. ELEVEN MEN KILLED. Eleven men were killed and a number wounded. Ropata, true to his soldier instincts, suggested a flanking Iire on the rifle pus, followed by a storming party. Tnis was well met by the Hauhaus, and the loyal force wavered for ia time. A retreat seemed not unlikely, but cover- was saught, and the enemy's fire replied to, though with 'iittle eli'ect on the cleverly-entrenched foe. In a few moments they emerged from the trenches with a yell, and advanced on the loyal Maoris. Ihaka Whaanga called on his men to charge and drive back the enemy, laccompanyiug tho order with speech and gesture characteristic of the Maori at war. But there was no immediate respon-se. Ngatikahungunn fled helter-skelter down the sloping track, halting N at a cohvenient distance. Ihaka Whaanga, however, kept liis face to the foe. Advancing practically alone, he received a fcnllet wound in tlie hip. He emptied his weapon at the enemy with a defijant shout, snatched another carbine from one of his men and fired again, but another bullet from the trenches stopped any further effort on his part. Loyalty to their chief was now conipleteiy restored, and his followers dashed forward to recover his body. He was borne to the rear, and he recovered to fight agiain. Retreat now seemed inevitable. Indeed, the European officers, Major Fraser, and Captain St. George, conferred with Iiiaka- A retreat had been actually decided upop when a brilliant idea suggested itself to the brave Ropata. "jLet the fern be fired," he said. i This was done, and the fire, roaring up the hillside, ctaused so much smoke that the enenty were> driven out of their trenches. The loyalist forees then plucked up courage. Prominent among the storming party was Ropata 's gallant Ngatiporou, who took possession of the trenches and opened a hot fire on the now-tTeating Itauhaus, inflicting heavy losses. , Those who were spared fell back on Waikaremoana, leav'mg 80 dead on the field PRISONERS SHOT. Among the prisoners taken was a noted cliief; Tamai-o-nga Eangi, a uaiue of which he. was intensely proud, for it meant the leading person of the Wairoa. After the fight, this prisoner was shot by Ropata, following the usuat custoni in the case of his own race, who had 'once been warned oi tlie r.on sequeuces of ag'an taking np arius. Kopu ploaded for the life of this chief, but without avail. The unfortunate part was that for } ears Fraser got ti.iblame for this. The praclice was a common ona in Maori warfare. Ropata was always severo with his owi people, A V.:t!u later he captured, on the shnros oH Waikaremoana, a celebirited ilauhau chief called Tuatini Tamai-o-naa-rangi. Ropata asked him his name — an insult to a chief whose name must have "at.ruck against the skies." , 'On hearing the rank of his prisoner, Major Fraser said to Ropata, "This chief ought to be shot." Ropata, taking the .remark seriously, ordered: "Shoot Idin." Some liours later, finding tlie X'l-isor.cr wa.s still alive. Ropata de"Uired: "You all appear to be afraicl to shoot tliis m an — but I am not.l " saying, he took liim to the edge of the lake and shot him with three othcrs with his revolver.