Bishop Hadfield's Bell.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7838, 2 June 1905, Page 4

Bishop Hadfield's Bell.

AFTER THE WAIBAU MASSACRE HOW WELLINGTON WAS SAVED. AN INTERESTING CONTROVERSY. Various picturesque stories have been told of the manner in which the wrath of To Rauparaha was turned aside when he returned with his people from the unfortunate collision at J' I™' 1 ™' in I& *3. in which Captain Wakefield and a number of Europeans lost their lives. The natives at Otaki and Waikanae were greatly excited, and it is generally believed that very little was required to precipitate a war of extenmination between them and the white population of Port Nicholson. A story that has received wide credence is that Rev. (). Hadfieid, then missionary at Kapiti and Waikanae, hearing Rauparaha and other chiefs excitedly discussing a descent upon the s;ttlement at Wellington, rang the bell of the mission church for service, and so diverted thc attention of the natives from a dangerous discussion. ; Accounts vary as to thc exact occa-j sion of the ringing of the bell. Speaking at Otaki a week or two ago, Sir Joseph Ward referred to the matter ii\ connection with the work of the mis, sionaries. lie stated that the occasion was a quarrel between the chiefs Te Rauparaha and Whatanui, and that the calling nw«y of the great bodj of thc Maoris to service prevented an inter-tribal light. As thc point is of some historical importance, a member of thc New Zealand Times stall communicated with the Ven. Archdeacon Williams, of Te Aute, in the hope that he would be able to throw some light on the sub ject. The reverend gentleman's reply is of such an interesting nature that we give it in full. " I was appointed to the charge of the Porirua-Manuwatu missionary district in 1847," he writes, "making Otaki my headquarters, in consequence of the then Rev. Mr Hadfield's serious illness, and thc disturbr-d I state of the Maori population. When 'the circumstances in connection with the Wairau trouble were fresh in the memory of European and Maori, I several times heard them discussed, but neve*' beard any wentiyu of ine

| Pinging of the church bell in connection with the event, which I think Mr Hadfield in particular would have referred to had it been correct. The ringing of the chinch hull in the near | neighbourhood at the usual time for service might have terminated a heated discussion upon the Wniruu incident. " 'lhe lirst place visited by Te Ruupaiwhn, beyond the 1 hollies of his own immcJhite followers (after his crossing the Straits subsequent to theWniirua tragedy), was Waikanae. the njsideuce of Xgatiawu (Uirjinu Kingi land his people.) liauparaha is sakl ito have spent the whole night in trying to induce Wiremu Kingi and his | people to join him in exterminating . the Europeans in Wellington and Nelson. " ' We have begun,' he argued, ' let us make an end of them before thc.v grow up, like a huge monster, to destroy us all.' •Wiremu Kingi replied that he hail been on good terms with the pakehas as long us there had been a pakeho in the country, and (hat it was his desire to live and die on fiiendh tern s with them. Tho discussion is said to have have lasted till daylight, when Rauparaha was anxious to start for Otaki. Upon starting, as a last attempt, he said to Wiremu Kingi : 'lf you will not assist me in carrying out my wishes, give me one promise, that you will remain neutral.' " Wiremu Kingi replied : 'You will have to overpower mc and my people before you touch a pak'eha.' "In 1829, when the Rev. Henry Williams, at the Bay of Islands, succeeded in making peace between the Ngntiawa (Wiremu Kingji's people) and Ngatiraukawa, of Otaki, Wiremu Kingi was supported by an armed force of at least live hundred warriors.

"When Rauparaha reached Otaki he was met by Mr Hadfield, who prevailed upon tho Ngatiraukawa to resist Rauparaha in his .designs, and tho latter, meeting with no support, was obliged to desist. To show that they were not empty words of Wiremu Kingi's, I might mention that when at a little later period Rangihaeata was in arms, against the (ioverniuent, Wiremu Ringi, hearing that some of the Ngatiruanui were coming to Rangihaeta's assistance, sent a deputation to inform them that if they came they would have to tight him. A small party came to test the question. Wiremu Kingi took then. prisoners, and delivered them over to Sir George Grey, on board the man-of-war lying off the Kapiti Island, and sent up the coast to say that he had disposed of one contingent, and was now ready for Hie next, which, however, did not put in an appearmce. He also took up arms against Kangihacata, and assisted in driving him and his people out of the forest in the H'orokiwi valley, till they were >ut of the district. ; " This is the Wiremu Kingi that we afterwards drove out of tho Waitara at New Plymouth."