AN EXPERIENCE OF THE MAORI WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 95, 30 July 1910, Page 9

AN EXPERIENCE OF THE MAORI WAR.

Admiral Sir T. R. Fremantle tells the following story of his experiences in the Maori War. He says:— Many of the incidents in my naval career that I recall most vividly occurred during the period when 1 was in command of H.M.S. Eclipse during the New Zealand War of 1866. The Eclipse was a small 700-ton steamer, barque rigged, 200 feet in length, and drawing only 12 feet of water. She carried four guns, and was one of a class then called des-

patch boats. I had the Governor, Sir George Grey, on board several times, and

it is in connection with one of these cruises that the incident I am about to relate occurred.

In the spring of 1866 we sailed to Ka

wliia, and afterwards to Raglan. I recollect that there were bar harbors at each place, and that we had little more than a foot to spare at Raglan. The •Maoris seemed surly at Kawhia," and I had the unpleasant experience there while out (luck shooting of being surrounded by armed natives. My coxswain called out to me that we were cut oft' from the boat, but as I had just got near some ducks I had a shot at them, and bagged a couple, which was fortunate, as the natives were reassured when they saw that I was simply out for sport, for they evidently thought from my men being armed that hostilities were intended.

At Raglan we rode up to a place cailea 'Hamilton in order to, hold a korero, or conference, with the Maori King and a native known as the "Kingt-maker," who went by the nazne of William Thomson— Wiremu Tamehana te Wakaroa, William Thompson of Wakaroa. Thompson was held to be .an arch rebel, and the Auckland papers, who knew of Sir George's intention, laughed at the idea of Thompson consenting to meet him. In this they were perfectly correct, for Thompson failed to appear, and after waiting 48 hours I remarked to the Governor that I had better return to my ship. To this he only replied in hie quiet way by saying, as though there-were no difficulty about the matter, that he was expecting Thompson. I could not help telling him that he was the only one of us who did so, but at the same time I suggested that I should ride into what was then known as the "King Country," and endeavor to bring him to the meeting. To this he eventually consented, after pointing out the risk I ran, and I set out about half-past ten, accompanied by two Maoris and Mr. Mair, a very able man, who wa,s resident magistrate of the Waikato.

Armed with revolvers, we followed Thompson for several days, ibut he avoided us, and the further we went the worse things began to look, until at last some hostile natives, who pretended to help us, at a place where we had to cross the upper waters of the Thames, went off with our horses. The village to which these men belonged was up a hill which overlooked the river. As we could not possibly get forward or backward without horses, there was nothing for it but to take the bull by the horns, so marched up to the Maori village, though all the Maoris had disappeared; it was like a city fcf the dead until an old Maori appeared and made insulting remarks about us. Mair said more than once that he did not like the look of things at all, but I told him to take no notice, so we walked on, and sitting down in a conspicuous position in the middle of the kianga (Maori village), we lit our pipes and waited. I

The Maoris had evidently been holding a consultation as to what they should do with us, for in about ten minutes the chief men suddenly emerged out of an apparently empty "whare" or cottage, apologised for our reception, restored our horses, and after insisting that we should partake of the fattedi calf, in the shape of a small half-cooked pig, allowed us to resume our journey.

Mair agreed with me that we were very fortunate to get off with our lives. Had we not shown an unconcerned demeanor I have no doubt this story would never have been written, for this adventure occurred during "a period when a number of white men were on various occasions brutally put to death. 'After another day's riding we succeeded in coming up with Thompson, and a great korero was held to discuss whether he should be allowed to accompany us. Thompson himself made numerous excuses, and it was eventually decided that he should not come, as the Governor would undoubtedly take off his head. I at once offered to remain with them as a hostage until Thompson returned safely, but : I must admit to having been heartily gla<l' when they 'were satisfied to let him come with us if I guaranteed his safe return, and I was much flattered at their trust in the word of te rangatira te ("man o' war"), for there was a great deal of hostile feeling about, and had they kept me there was no knowing whether some very ''regrettable accident" to me might not have taken place. Happily our adventures and the risks we ran were not wasted. Next day Mair set off to ride by easy stages to Hamilton with Thompson, who could only ride slowly owing to an injury he had received, while I pressed forward with one of the Maoris. Being a light weight, I covered the 80 miles to Hamilton in good time, and arrived there soon after dark. Mair reached us two days later with Thompson, whose arrival soon became known, with the result that other chiefs followed, and Sir George held a big "korero," at which various points were discussed, and a friendly understanding arrived at. So far as our troops were concerned, this practically put an end to the New Zealand War.

I should like to add a word about Sir George Grey, who was a great man in every way. It was, I feel sure, a subject of regret to him that he could not show his appreciation of the service I had done him on this occasion, as the Governor had made a long journey to meet "The King-maker," and it was not generally known that the korero would never have taken place but for my bringing William Thompson to heel by a somewhat adventurous ride."