POWER OF THE TOHUNGA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 6, 1 February 1909, Page 3

POWER OF THE TOHUNGA.

AN IXCIDKXT OF TIIIC TAIiANAKI WAlt IiIiCALLED. "Hewhiti" writes to the editor: —"Referring to 'Tare' Nelson ami Maori tohungns in your issue of to-day, some ol' your readers may remember tin* attack iiy tiii' Maoris oil the redoubt ai Sentry liili, when the Maoris advanced in a solid body in open daylight and were re]|ulsed with heavy loss. 1 was one of the mounted volunteer corps who rode out there, but arrived too late to do much, as the all'air was over and the bodies of the Maoris were lieing collected. In conversation with a Maori after the war was over, I asked him why they marched up to the redoubt in that niianiier, so contrary to their usual mock- of attack. His reply was that .the Maoris were holding a meeting to discuss the matter, when the tohunga or prophet (To L'a, 1 think, was his liaine), addressing the meeting, picltetl up two stones. and, holding them out at arms' length in 'his open hands, stated that if the stones fell to pieces they •ivere certain- of success and could capture the redoubt without trouble or loss. In a few minutes, while his arms were stretched out, the stones crumbled up and fell to the ground. That decided that they were to attack the redoubt without fear. I ridiculed the yarn about the stones breaking up, hut lie assured me that it was (juitc- true, as he was close by the prophet and saw what took place. Veal's afterwards, ■when slacking some blocks of limestone anil -seeing tlleni crumble up, I thought of the Maori s story of the •prophet, and that it might possibly 1>« Si solution of the 'miracle' ol the stones

Inear Sentry I-1L11." DEFEAT OF THE KISHELS AT SKNTJiV HILL. After On' second rebellion of Hai>uromi Wi Ivingi's lighting general. it \>as taken possession of liy the British, a redoubt formed, and a hloekhouse em-t-------ed oh it which wiirj strongly garrisoned. From an t'lU'ly )>our of tin; morning of Saturday, the 30th of April, ISIW, the inen in the fort hoard the rebels shouting anil chanting their war songs at Jliinutalii. The sounds gradually ilrew

nearer, and at 5' a.m. it was eviili'nt that tin* rebels were in force at Waioa«ona ford, which is nearly opposite to Sentyy Jlill. Shortly atlcr they were seen "by the sentries to Iks emerging 'from tiie, bush which lies ill the ri\'f;r valley between Hie ford and tlic hill, nnd distant about SOU yards. About ;iUU of tiieni advanced along ine road, and made slowly and steadily for tfie redoubt. Captain Shortt, of the 57th, who was in command, ordered bis men, 73 in number, to lie dowa under tbe breastwork of tbe redoubt, and kept the sentry marching to and fro as usual, as if no' danger was expected. The rebels advanced till they wt,e about 150 yards off, but then halted as if rather doubtful. Then Captain Sliortt gave the word of command, and tbe men sprang upon their feet, and opened a liitudeiotis lire upon the rebels with tlieir rilles a.iu

two euhorn mortars. The rebels drew liar'k a little, liut stood the lire remarkably wuli, taking such cover as the iiijrh fern ami tin- ii'iTK")an(!f3 of t iu ground fjavf them. Til'I}' 1 }' letunn'il the "ire, but only mmwhlml '» lull'"!! Drummer 1). ilurk-y ill tin' shoulder. One rebel eaine up to the redoubt, and was shot williin SO yards of it. Butler eame up with rcinloreements from ilahoctahi, and ordered a eharfje. when the )ast of the rebels ran, leaviiif. 34 dead ir.nl wounded, two ot the wound ed dying shortly afterwards A Haw ' tnuv was then hoisted at hen ry 1. , -mid a native messenger despatched to Uauutahi to tell the 'natives to eo.uu and i;„rv tbi'lr dead. Tl.» louj.d a lavjjv iiniuber 111 Njtatiaw.i, iiml a y,^

Stat., of grief at the they Imd ash.in«l, Imt lie eould m>t persuade tkm to come 111) for their dead. On tile Si return the «»« of truce ?« hauled Joivii ««d the I'mon ***"£ Aiuonj. tl|e rebels wlw f' 1 '! '!' 11 J occasion were !'nvei|g>i Knigi chief >1 ■tauuki; Mniwlii, of tl,e Nff.motn liapu of Xgatiuwa, who wax coiiceuied n 1 Omata nmrders; Tupara Ke.na Tul.l <'ain), ofS«atui«;ai «nd Ttmati Hone, head cl.ief of Kgatnuamu.