"Te Wanahu Corner."

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 71, 22 August 1885, Page 3

"Te Wanahu Corner."

(Original.) lAtthosido of the road that winds through Peel Forest, there is a tree bearing the inscription "Te Wanahu Corner.,' According to tradition, this spot wasthesence of a Maori battle fought many years ago, At that time a baud of warriors from the North Island, bent on conquest and pillage, arrived on ths coast ; and at Patiti Point, near Timaru, a fierce fight. was fought between tl.» n and the Maoris of Timaru and Avowhentiaj resulting m the defeat of the litter. The remainder of the tribe retreated to Peel Forest and the gorge of the Rahgitata ; but while. in the bush .w.ere overtaken by the enemy, and m the .conflict which ensued, tba Arowhenua chief, Te Wanaliu, was killed. The remainder of his people lived among the hills for some time, and at last returned to their old home.] Here on the- hill where fern-trees wave, In the days of long ago, Was the last retreat of a Maori brave ; Wild and lone was the warrior's grave ; • Te Wanahu lies below. On level Arowhenua plain And shore of Timaru, That still their Maori names retain, The Maoris dwelt beneath the reign Of brave Te Wanahu. Over the deep a Northern crew, Far m the day 3of yore, Bowing the painted war-canoe, Their faces dark with the fierce tattoo, Came to. Patiti shore. , Te Wanahu stood, as legends tell, And swore with martial breath To die, or the Northern foe repel, They danced On the shore .with fearful "'■"• yell; '' ' ' '[...' ' ' ' 1 The terrible dance of : death. .'..-. , They fought and fell by the' ocean deep Till the foam was red .with gore ; High on the land was -a slaughtered . i : heap; ' ■ ; ■ Long did the Maori mothers weep ' ' For the fight on Patiti 'shore. The battle was fought ; the North had • won ■;■■-.'■ - • ■ Te Wanahu's shattered band • Back' to the pah m haste wiisgone; In haste the drief at 'set of sun Spoke to th-3211, sp mr m, hand. '.' Hear, 0 tribe-! ;..tho lightns o'er. ;• .sT;herNbrfchei'n'"gbil\iaVe strong! • ■■ The sons of the North are at our door, — The Hower of my life on yonder shore Lie ft dead and ghastly, throng-1-{l To-m»rrow raissthp funeral cry ;~ '•"Ta-mbVr6.^Ja^e.'n : tf-iiie"'sliim i ; : ;' '; To-^iglWafartothe-hillAve'tiyV'" ' : Or else by the Northern spear we die On Arowhenua plain.''..-.. . . k " .'. •' 0 ArowhenuaV arid Timaru tide, -."*■*•■•■-. - And they thought of: the braves oii the • beach who died's I V . ';, "I £. V. , And the wives who were widowe'di wailed and cried . „., * Fo^w^pJ^e^heje^hey^ver^wad. ; And^o|in|tnß^l|.rT| raes if ec| a^rjiy ;i.' r i Bed was his hand from the fatal fray ; And nmny^piJeierei'clftSvn of day x ; Tl*§ .bijnd . gone, „.;...,•,• ■ v texqd" : the.darly green bu3h ;.-.,.. L But all too late— the foe/is.. nigh ; ; The men Of the nortli .their march descry ; With savage yell and. r^ush. \\, On lull'T'e', WaQali^vturne^ atpay^r • l t'tlie,\yp^en,ancl^ >y 4 eajj go, oji. '.':'•'.'. My warriors," stand aiid;giiaT3 the way. : Weipassto.the spifit^woi'ld- td iay^V But we go nOfe.:thero:alone;! i ' . > : "Look your last on hill and sky, • f *l^fiai l h^risre'6' i t >? * ? ""-^■■-^r^k He waved liis greenstone 7reer«,high, , ' And slrou'te'd 'dvifa'6'ri bfeftle-cry; " ''' The foe came on apace. The.-bird' of -the forest, scared away, Far on the, uibiintain flew,-. Crushed were the ferns, and red that '■.day;- r .■•>'••.. -.••;-;.; I ,:' '- .-V--' - The frail white creeper shattered lay .At the.teet of Te Wanahu. _ . , - Mothers of Manakaii tore their hair . For: the braves who came no more ; ; And maids'; of Waikato m dark despair Mourned for the' host that perished there; .-,.'". Or died at Patiti shore, . But the men of • the South wexe falling fast •;■.-. Around their dying chief ; He fell at the foot of a pine at last ; Through Reinga gate his spirit passed • With grim farewell and brief . And still the Bangitita rolls, And wails m a tongue unknown For Te Wanahu and his warriors' souls ; For them no Christian requiem, tolls ; They lie m the forest lone, ' Jessica.