PUKEKOHE EAST.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 85, 20 September 1915, Page 2

PUKEKOHE EAST.

OLD TIMES RE-CALLED.

THE FIGHT AT THE CdURCH.

The following appeared in the "Auckland Star" of Saturday last, viz. :

Reference has recently been made to the service rendered by Auculand < Volunteers and Militia during the Maori War. Mr D. McFarland s=nds us an account of the galjant defence of East I'ukekuhe by a patty of volunteers and militia, whi.h took place on the 14th of September, 1363-fifty-two years ago, and formed one of the roost striking early episodes of those troublous times. The facts, briefly, are these:—The settlers of East Pukekohe, together with others occupying land south ot Diury, had been warned to have their homes. A few who owned land at East Pukekohe resolved to defend the settlement, and the little church was turned into a stockade. A small body of militia had been sent from Auckland, under Sergeant Perry, and these, with the volunteer settlers of the district, made up a tot)I force of not more than thirty. The church was a small building, measuring 30 feet by 20 feet, situated in ths centre of a l'j-acre paddock, which had recently been cleared uf bush, but the stumps were standing. The defenders built a bullet-proof wall made of tree trunks piled 7 feet high all roiii d the church, ten feet from the building, with a ditch outsjde. The wall was pierced for rifles. Mr McFarland thus describes the fight: "The little garrison bad not time to complete their work, as the Maoris came suddenly upon them. It was a bright frosty morning, and the volunteers, thirty in number, were cleaning their rifles outside the palisading when a shot was fired and 200 Maoris came running and calling out their warcry. Unly thirty against 200, it almost seemed sure death, and in the midst of a denee bush about 45 miles from Auckland. If the Maoris had known that only thirty volunteers were in the church tbey would have taken it by storm. The men had only a little ammunition, no food or water, but the Maoris thought that a large number of volunteers were inside the church. The firing on both sides was kept up for three hours. The men's guns were so hot from firing incessantly that they could scarcely hold them, still the brave little garrison fought on against such fearful odds, and resolved to fight to the last. When their last rounds of ammunition were gone, they heard shots in the distance, and after three hours' fighting, the Imperial troops just --ame up in time, and the Maoris.Vieanng the shots and seeing the soldiers on the crest of the hill, stampeded in all directions. During the tight Scott had hia eyebrow grazed, and, mirable dictu, ocly one man was wounded. Sergeant l'crry was the only one who was experienced in regard to war, a3 he was an old soldier. Scott and Easton were commissioned to guard the slab

doorway, and found themselves almost istlated and in the moßt dangerous position. Only two of the defenders are alive * Captain Scott, of the Manor HousejK" ' Epsom, and Mr A. Roost, of Pukekohe; one, Easton, died about a year ago, and do notice was taken of his deatn. AUs! so soon forgotten, thesd brave deeds! Perry and Scott received war medals and i commissions, but I do not think of the Jthere received anything, it does not trcubla them now, a tbey bave all answered the roll-cnH except Scott and Roosc." A •* ■