MAORI CHIVALRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1788, 12 February 1918, Page 1

MAORI CHIVALRY.

Writing in a recent issue of the i Auckland Star, Mr C. J. Hutchinson says:— In last Saturday’s .supplement an article on the late “Mokau” Jones contains numerous references to Wetere Te Rerenga, also of Mokau, and I ask the favour of a little space in order that the good actions done hy Wetere may he remembered in his honour, as I know the opinion was generally held (hat Wetere was concerned in the deaths of Mr Whitefy and Lieut. Gascoigne at White Cliffs, which I do not believe to be true. I was not there when that happened, but I saw a good deal of Wetere both during what little lighting there was and after, when he visited Auckland many years ago. On the latter occasion Wetere solemnly denied being concerned in these deaths. In the articles above referred to, a gallant deed of Wetere’s is described, 'where he and some of his men, at the risk of their otvn lives, saved Wilson Hursthousc and companion from drowning. On another occasion Wetere. prevented the shooting of Mr Wilkinson, surveyor. An ambuscade was waiting to shoot Wilkinson, when Wetere got on behind Wilkinson on his horse, and called out to the ambuscade that if they wished to shoot Wilkinson they must shoot through Wetere, and Wetere showed me a ring which Wilkinson gave him afterwards in commemoration. In 1805 or 1800 —I forget which —we had constantly to prevent the natives from looting the Alexandra steamer, which was stranded near White Cliffs, and at that time Bir George Grey sent important messages to the natives, which I delivered under the protection of a white handkerchief as a Hag of truce. Wetere was in command, and I told him that if he wished to reply to the Governor’s message he would be quite safe if he showed anything white. His men called him to speak to them a few paees back, and on his return to me,he said: ‘‘These men want to HU you, and you must go,” but they came afterwards and held conferences with the Civil Commissioner, and many friendly talks with us; and I offer these stories in justice to the memory of Wetere Te Rerenga and of the chivalry of the Maori race.