THE NATIVE DISTURBANCES AT TARANAKI

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume I, Issue 7, 1 August 1855, Page 5

THE NATIVE DISTURBANCES AT TARANAKI

We had thought that the period for quarrelling and fighting had passed away from this Island. We had considered that the many advantages and good things which the Natives now possess, would induce them to direct their thought in another way; and abandon the bad customs of bygone days. By adhering to Christianity, the greatest of all blessings which had been introduced, taught, and explained to them year by year by their Missionaries, and which they are still teaching. Indeed the great majority of the tribes & in this I land do fulfil the law of Moses which command* that 'Thou shalt not kill.' Some few however

still d : si-egard this law ai'd the word of God, inasmuch as we sec. that life is still being sacrificed. The following is the origin of the fighting at Taranaki or rather at Pukotapu. A crop of whent.belonging to Rawiri Waiaua was pulled up, and burnt by a native, Topia. Rawiri heard of! this and said, 'Why have they burnt my wheat. Is I it not an old cultivation of mine? Why could they not have left it to grow." The old chief wa. K grieved at this conduct and he wished to sell the wheat-field to the Europeans. Rawiri accordingly went to the town of New Plymouth and spoke to Mr. Cooper about the sale of the land, but no agreement was come to. Afterwards Rawiri with his elder brother Te Knpi. wont with their followers to mark thr boundaries of the land. They went quietly and peacefully without anv guns in their hands Rawiri having s;iid to his people, 'These are my own children who are disputing about the land, and say that we are not to mark off the boundaries.' When Rawiri arrived at th.e spot, Katstore and his people wore there all armed with guns; one shot was fired, which was followed by a volley that killed some of Rawiri's people en the spot; some, including Rawiri himself, died two or three days afterwards. All the people who known Rawiri Waiaua very much regret him : f<>r he was an excellent old man ; very peaceably who suppressed and most friendly in his disposirion towards both Europeans and Natives. Therefore the regret for this good old Chief Rawiri Waiaua, the sou of Paora Oroatua, will be very long felt. His last words were, "After I die, do not avenge my death." He then took an affectionate farewell of both Europeans and Natives. Another quarrel at Taranaki, was caused by a native of Nsjatiruanui who committed adultery with the wife of Thaia Kirikumara. Ihaia was sadly displeased about this, and one of his men shot the adulterer. A war paTty from the Nga tiruanui came to seek satisfaction When they arrived at the Mamaku, Ihaia's pa, a skirmish, took place, in which lives were lost on both sides : and according to Native custom, as some of both parties were killed, this quarrel was fairly tcrminatied. Ihaia was aided on this occasion by Rauiera of te Ilua, who heard the firing, and supposing that Ihaia was in danger, Rauiera with his-, followers immedaitely proceeded to Mamaku to assist their relative Ihaia Recently Arama Karaka Mitikahau had a skirmish with Katatove's party, when Topia the originator of the first quarrel was killed. The Europeans do not interfere in this quarrel.