THE PAST.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 274, 21 June 1889, Page 2

THE PAST.

♦ The large population now residing in the Otald, Manawatu, Fahnerston, Sandon and Carnarvon districts, as well as those in Rangitikei, little appreciate what they owe to the peaceful and large tribe of the Ngatirauakawas, who though now to be seen in but small numbers, once controled tie destines oi this West Coast. Those v/ho have been in the colony many yeai-a will appreciate the character that hisio^y has recorded ol their chieis,for never, since tie colonisation ol the colony has de'.'e been any attempted interference with ilie settlers on the lands ol theNgatirauakawas. They have always evinced the grer;ie»ii friendliness to the Pakeha. It is seldom mentioned how they treated the in'ericr tribes whom they found as hunted beasis, when the country was handed over to them by the celebrated fighting chief Te I£au;>araha. Before the English arrived, tais Te Bauparaha had left his property in the north of this island, «nd with a well drilled £".iiiy marched right through to Wellington and also crossed over, and subdued the natives living on the north portion of the middle island. When he had secured possession of this coast, which he did in a moat summary manner by killing every one of the Muaupoko's, Bangitanes and the Ngatiapas that he could find, he invited his friends the Ngatirauakawa to come and settle on that portion stretching between the Otaki and Wangaehu rivers. The signs of the lives these three hunted tribes led, are to be noted to this day. As a rule, it may be mentioned, natives prefer a dwelling on the banks of a river, near a bush, and also select a rising ground for the burial of their dead. This is evident by any glance around this district. When Te Bauparaha made his raid and scattered the tribes then in possession, they had to seek the most secluded places they could find to dwell in, and in all the dense bush around, now the country is being opened by survey, are clearings where they would be least expected to be found. In the ridges in the centre of what was the Moutoa swamp were signs of Maori occupation, in the layers of pipi shells still lying on the ground. In the bush that used to be around Foxton, skeletons of natives lying on the branches of the rata trees have been seen, not to mention old skulls hen* and there. The sandhills on the beach at times gives up their evidence of the truth of the slaughtering that used to be done, as the wind at times removes the sand from skeletons reposing alongside of leaden bullets. After the first colonists arrived, say not more than fourty years ago, this district was the scene of a party of murderers stealthily creeping upon some of these outcasts, with the object of slaying one and all. Why the object was not carried to a successful issue the remnant have to thank the Ngatirauakawa for, as their chief ' old Te Whatanui, though pressed by Te Bauparaha to continue his policy of extermination, refused, and proclaimed that there was land for. all, and they might l.ye in peace. No one can help admiring the true Christian spirit of this good old man, and it is a matter of much, regret that the action of these tribes in after days, when they were assured that the power of the European was mighty enough to prevent their being punished, was of such a character as to have justified Te Bauparaha's opinion that they would hava been better tomahawked. Without going, into all the evidence called on either side at the various Land Courts held to establish the ownership to the Manawatu-Bangitikei block, now known as the Sandon and Carnarvon district, it is undoubtedly shown chat the Ngatitauakawas had possession of the land,- and had acted as a friend and protector of their disputers, and had the advice of Te Bauparaha been followed, not one would have been alive to have made a claim. We find then, from this history, that the Christian action of Te Whatanui led to his tribe suffering a very heavy pecuniary loss, owing to these hunted remnants claiming ownership over property, when every day, previous to the arrival of theNgatirauakawas, they hardly dared call their lives their own. It is the more reason, owing to their actions receiving such little justice, that the amiable and exalted dealings, of Te Whatanui, 'Ihakara and Eereopau should be known to the settlers who now occupy most of the lands once held by th a tribe. Old Te Whatanui is dead, Ihakara Uee in the cemetery at Foxton, and,Kereopa is getting very aged, yet these men, though savage, have offered to all a lesson, in the action of true Christian charity, and a resignation under the infliction, of what must be to their minds and customs, a grievous injustice. To the Europeans they have always acted the part of friends and protectors, and no old settler has anything but good to say of them, let us also add our mite to their oredit.