Untitled

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 379, 24 May 1866, Page 4

Maoei Heads. —lt will be remembered, that our allies, the Arawas, under their chief Adam Clarke, were hemmed in near the lakes by the TJriweras. The gallant conduct of Clarke and his handful of men will not soon be forgotten, nor the brutal fury of the Driweras, amongst whom Kereopa now is. In the sortie made by Clarke he lost five men, whose bodies were left on the field. The Hau-baus, to show their animosity, and as an indication of the fate in store for all the friendly natives, cooked and ate the bodies of these men. T'heir heads were preserved as ghastly trophies of war, and retained amongst the Uriweras. When his Excellency visited the East Coast, ho inquired concerning these heads, and was told by Te Awanui, chief of the Ngatirua, of the Whakatohea tribe, that they could not be got. Be it remembered, that this chief is most loyal, hut had been strongly opposed to us with his people, until he saw that the Maori was the losing side. So, it is said, that his Excellency did not believe him, inasmuch as Te Awanui knew where the heads were, and had had a great deal to do with the whole proceeding; and on leaving he intimated that unless the heads were restored to the Arawas, Te Awanui would be treated to a cat-o’-nine-tails, and degraded from his chief’s rank in the Gazette. Whether these were the exact words used by his Excellency, we cannot say ; but To Awanui himself intimates that they left this impression on Lis mind. Some short time ago, therefore, Mr J, A. Wilson was asked by Te Awanui what would be donb to him if the heads were not forthcoming. That gentleman informed him that whatever the Governor told him would be done to him would certainly be carried out. “Why should Ibe scourged for another man’s offence ?” angrily inquired Te Awanui. “ The Governor will keep his word,” quietly rejoined the other. The natives then consulted another oracle, a half-caste young man who had gone down the coast from Auckland, on business j and he informed them, that his own opinion was they would all be hanged. This was worse and worse ; and the result was that Te Awanui did find the heads about a fortnight afterwards ; and Tiwai, well known in Auckland, took them on the 9th May, and delivered them to the Arawas, at Matata,—Southern Cross, J7th May.