BATTLE OF ORAKAU

Hokitika Guardian, 8 July 1925, Page 4

BATTLE OF ORAKAU

STORY OK THE SIEGE. "The Waikato ( ampaign "as pra •- tii-ally oxer when the Imperial Troops occupied Te Awamutu early in Ilia year." writes Mr Andrew Kay, oi Kuliikahi. in telling the story ol the lamon- Rattle ol (lrak.au. "Tlr- imi.qu 1,-1 territory, incle.hiig Or. kin!, ivr.i b in.: surveyed into 'J -acre -ei liens for n e'lpaiiun by the militiamen. Il xxa jhe surveyors who discovered and repute I l: ■ carti, xx "I'ie i: i ro.'.r-e o 1 cmislroei im. T hey .".v in i! e distam-" x. ha t appear'd lo la* tie' waving of Hags. A n inspection by glass ivveided the leaving ol soil from the bottom of K: • !;cmhe. rn to ill" pa lapel. Whu l led lo X_g.it ima nipoto coming ha,'.. an! r.■- ■■Milling th ■ olfelisive xvas that th • Waikato Natives twitted the Mauiapolo—, -ax'iuj:, "We lought h r and lust our land. hut. a- soon as the eonqneror touched xonr territory 'Kihikili \"'i all cleared o!f lo the mountain-." 4 hey laid ju-t i occived two kegs ol good sure-tn-kill powder, and with Ibis limy expected to xvipe out ih.e taunt of i owardice. Tile sit" chosen for the pa xxa- nour in the oxt'l'eme. Il xxas on almost level land, with no natural advantage. and xvas overlooked by some rising ground close by on which the besiegers placed an Armstrong gun. The XaUxc- complained that we did not plav the game, inasmuch as xxo a(tacked t!i" redoubt, before they bail ii finished or provisioned. Dll the northern side of the oil there was then a xvhito pine bush and swamp. xxiili some open land between -Irongly held ill ease the Natives might make a dart for cover. On the southern -id" there was a hollow close to the pa. lull clear of gunfire. Here was siatioiieil an uni lying picket *>! the ll'tli Regiment. The main body of the

ttitli xxa- in a fiat, about 20 chains I'rnie tin* im. (lilting tea-tree, wliich was tied in bundles and carried round a detour of at least (ill chains. These bundles of tea-tree xvere used to protect the men who xvere digging and guarding the sap. On the third day of the siege things wore looking had for the Natives. They had no food or water, ami their ammunition xvas running l ew. Hon i -poke to hi- people, -axing, 'll xxo -lax Imre much lunger ue will he all killed: if we make a da-h for liberty some of u- may get away.’ A xx hilt' Hag xxa- planted on the northern angle ju-l onposite the end id our -ap. tilt" bugle s.u.ndtd cease lire. The garrison sprang out from the oppnsit • side xvitli the old men and women ill the centre. They easily brushed the -mall outlying 10th picket aside. The other members "i ibe KJtli xxbo were engaged cutting and carrying the teatree xvere taken completely by surprise and ihe Natives had passed through before they knew what was up. The Native garrison xvas said to he .'fi-i strong, and at least 101 l got cl sir axvay. The only prisoners taken xxere a few wounded or disabled men.’'