“PASSING MAORI MEMORIES.”

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 457, 15 June 1937, Page 2

“PASSING MAORI MEMORIES.”

RECORDED BY J.H.S. FOR “THE TARANAKI CENTRAL PRESS.”

In 1856 and 57, disarming the Maoris became a point of discord between the comparatively weaker Europeans. The Maoris looked on with no little merriment and even disdain toward our peaceful ions’and bitter political differences. Pride in the newly acquired deadly weapons led to competitions in which living (targets were men of their own race, against whom aginary causes led to deadly leg. Two family parties of the Ngati Kahungunu fought. Eight were killed and sixteen wounded before the injured feelings of the attackers were appealed. The dispute originated' in an unequal division of Government money received for the sale of land. This would have be=n easily adjusted, had not one speaker used this forbidden taunt, “Te Hapuku has sold the forest, so must in future cook his food with the -bones of his ancestors for fuel.” When reasoned with on tine impropriety of shedding blood for idle words, the aggressor said “A blow is soon forgotten, but an insult lives for ever.” A fighting pa was then built on the disputed land. During the fight, both sides ed friendship for the white sd‘tiers In reply to a fear of the results to the British residents expressed by she editor, Moa Nui, the chief wrote to the Napier newspaper a remarkable letter, concluding with this striking passage 4 “Hejir us. You need not fear us. We are not so fond of a fight as to seek two enemies, the pakeha as well as Te Hapuku Let s<f tiers remain in peace. We do not act treacherously -to those who brought good to our country.” Te Hapuku Wat besieged in his

chivalry, set a prominent part of his own fontified walls ablaze <to appease their grief. Subsequently a declaration of peace was ratified by the fair exchange of thirty muskets and ammunition, for thirty horses, in token of mutual sincerity. A similar dispute in Taranaki las ing many years gave us valuable lessons in Maori tactics. Wiremu Kinki blockaded Ihaia’s stockade at Karaka. This little garrison, 'to eave their women and children, offered to surrender :c the British; but when told their chief would be hanged for murder, refused. ,p hey then opened the gates and fled to the forest in darkness, the men silently and sing_ ly returned and set a trap to catch the besiegers, which only failed because of ’a soldier’s information.

new Pa for several months, and when in danger of massacre was relieved by Mr. Donald McLean’s intervention as ah arbiter of peace, ly backed by " 280 armed men kept well out of sight and sound. Te Ha-puku was to walk out of his Pa, which was 'then set on fire. Wowen and children wept at leaving their homes. Moa Nui, with Maori