A Maoriland Slaughter.

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2108, 31 May 1898, Page 3

A Maoriland Slaughter.

[Written for the “ Sydney Bulletin-’*]

The Maoris had been giving the Government a lot of trouble in the Upper

Thames district. They had hampered

the operations of the men who weie v jdoirig the triangular survey; indeed, i-'they had gone so far that shots had been fired, and some of the survey party had been wounded; It was Easter-time, and the Govern, ment arranged that'the Waikato Cavalry—about 200 strong—should ride through the disaffected country down to the Thames to .take part in the Easter encampment; thus killing two birds with one stone. The troopers would get a fortnight’s training and'the Maoris a fright. . • We started on our 200-mile ride A'- with fresh horses and light hearts. '... Everything in proper military style ; • advance and rear guards, baggage- - • waggons and all sthe rest of .it. , - We marched bv way of Te Aroha, • hut," as the goldfields had hot been discovered, there were no bridges over - . -the rivers, arid the .roads were little ' better than. Maori tracks. . ' were,expecting to be stopped in of the many. bushes and defiles : if way, and when,. after passing through the, old mining township of . ' Ohinemuii, we - reached the scene of : the native trouble, we were more than ever prepared for hostilities, because at camp the. night before we had been visited by natives, both men arid women, who, we learnt afterwards, had come to ascertain if we were too numerous to deal with. They evidently * considered us so,, for when we passed through their village next day not a Maori was to be seen. The whole place ’ was given up to Captain Cook pigs and mongrel dogs. We arrived at the Thames in due coarse;.and, when the r manoeuvres were over, started on our

homeward ride. On coming again to the border of the native country the had been'stopped by an old chief and ;a whole tribe of Maoris, and word came hastily hack to column, ■ that the Colon el was wanted at the- - front A halt was called, and we all • ' made ready for the fray.' We . were; ~ ordered to advance in single file, and • " moved forwards in a long line. r* Halt! DismountT Couple.' horses ! Draw - swords! Attack land,slash weiit : - - ' two hundred sabres, cutting, and thrust ing Jake mad, for we had got so worked-. ■ up with excitement that we were ; determined to give no .'quarter ; and presently on all. sides lay our victims —-shedding thedif . ’s-bli oi with which - " " bur swords were'also dr.pping. : But ;'. .worse remained—for-we no w'proceeded to make preparations for devouring \ the slain—water-'meloiis 1 v •.'-'v-'-'Ye's, there they were ; one for each .. .man in the troop, and placed ;abou£tS : x . feet apart :’iu.X a - straiglit" line, alpng .. h ; which wethadrbeeu-dra.wn up/' Ohly - thhse who have had. a long and dusty p march can tell how we appreciated " . the result of that skirmish; •' ' - J The Maoris were bur guests at a dauce in camp that evening. . • This was the only time my sword "<b was drawn on active service. ' . . • ' Range