PAGES FROM THE PAST.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 March 1922, Page 9

PAGES FROM THE PAST.

BAI i LE OF WAI RE KA. NEW PLYMOUTH SAVED FROM MASSACRE. (By “Juvenis.”) Tuesday next, the 28th inst., is the 62nd tnfiriyersary of the Battle of Waireka, the successful outcome of which saved New Plymouth from destruction and its*people from massacre. There is still a number of the brave men who participated in this fateful battle in the land of the living, and it is fitting that honor be done them on each anniversary. It is to the credit of the younger men of the town that they do something each year to recognise the ! services rendered by these old the men who made possible the beneficient conditions we all enjoy to-day. The Battle of Waireka has been described many times, but a brief sketch o-f the engagement this Saturday will probably not be considered inappropriate. It was about mid-day on March 28, 1860, when the families in New Plymouth were about to sit down to their early dinner, that the firing of two guns from Marsland Hill passed like an electric shot through every human breast. A lady who resided a short distance from town described the scene as follows:—“On hearing the alarm signal we simultaneously arose from our table and I hurried the little ones into town. ‘Fly. children, fly; don't wait for me!’ Putting tiny bundles of clothes into their arms I sent them hurriedly off. My neighbors and I follower! so soon as we could collect a few things together, being hurried on by a messenger on horseback, who cried out, “For God’s sake fly! The Maoris are upon us. /Five murdejfs have been committed at Omata. We scarcely know friends from fofes.” We went as far as we could into the town, coming upon traces of the frightened children on our way. Picking up odds and ends of the little bundles which the A had dropped, we eventually overtook them, and on reaching town found thd houses all filled with an alarmed people.” ALL THE FORCES MUSTERED. Tt being known that a few settlers remained in the Omata district, amongst then;! being the Rev. Mr. Brown, Colonel Gold, commanding the forces, with anxiety for their safety, called together all the available forces, both soldiers and civilians, and mustered them in Brougham Street. The Naval Brigade o-f H.M.S. Niger, ifl charge of Lieut. Blake, was alsb called upon. All that could be mustered of the 65th Regiment was 84, and of the Naval Brigade 25, making a total of 109. The Militia mustered 52, and the Volunteers 98, which were officered by ten. Tljp military force left town by a road to the south, through the district known as Westown at the present day, with a view of cutting oil any natives who might be coming that way into New Plymouth. The civilian force, mustering not rilore than 160 all told, were instructed to proceed along the beach till they reached the Waireka stream, and thence to make their way to the rear of the natives, who bad built a pa on the hill from which a flag of defiance was visible. Tf the civilian force succeeded in rescuing the -families, the men were to join the military at a spot known as the Whaler’s Gate, on the main road from town.

All these arrangements were, however, frustrated, for tire civilians, on reaching the Waireka Stream, were savagely attacked by the natives, who had mustered some eight hundred strong, and were concealed in the high flax growing on the land. A regular and well-direc-ted fire was set up by the volunteers with a view of driving the Maoris towards their fortified position, and a good* deal of skirmishing was done. By the time the firing had commenced Colonel -Murray with his miltary force had arrived at the main road, and, as he found the civilians were engaged with the natives, he despatched the Naval Brigade and a sub-division of the 65th Regiment to their assistance. Colonel Murray with the remainder of the force continued his inarch along the road to a lane about a quarter of a mile from the stockade, and running down by the side of McKellar’s farm towards the sea. A DESPERATE FIGHT. The blue-jackets met Major Brown'# party in McKellar’s paddock, shooting on their way many of the Maoris in the gullies. On the two forces joining, a i position was taken up. A desperate fight ensued. It was at this spot Lieutenant Blake, R.N., whilst leading on his men, received a ball jn his breast. Afterwards Sergeant Fahey, of the militia, fell mortally wounded by a bullet through his neck, and Mr. Messenger, one of the volunteers, received a wound in his arm. Captains Stapp and Atkinson and the volunteers had taken up a position on the high ground to the south of Waireka stockade, and it was here the force did good work in driving the natives back towards their stronghold. It was in one of these sorties that Captain Stapp was seen on a -fence waving his sword and urging on the men to follow him, and an attack was made which caused quite a panic for a time among the rebels, The fighting continued for about three hours, when, as the sum was getting low in the heavens, Colonel Murray ordered the signal for the retreat to be sounded.

However, about that time Cahtain Cracoft, of H.M.S. Niger, with axty blue jackets arrived upon the scene Brom town, and having from an elevated position surveyed the contending forces; decided to march direct on to the enemy’s stronghold, offering £lO reward to the j man who hauled down the flag. At half-past five in the afternoon the little I force started on this somewhat perilous ..expedition, and in less, than a couple of , hours the Waireka stockade bad been |siormo<l and the* obnoxious flag in the possession of the plucky blue jackets, lit was fierce whilst it lasted. The sail|ors fought like tigers, and soon scatteried the natives in all directions. Having accomplished his task. Captain Cracroft i collected his men, who, carrying their four wounded comrades and the flag they had captured, started for town, arriving there about 11 o’clock. THE CASUALTIES. I The following were the casualties: 'Killed: Sergeant Fahey (Militia); [wounded. Lieut. Blake. R.M., Lieut. IL i’lamerton (Volunteers); privates, W. [Bayly (Militia), Climo (Militia), -I. ijla'wken (Volunteers), Inch (Volunteers). W. Oliver (Militia). F. G. Rawson (Volunteers). The native loss ,was very large, some dozen chiefs alone haying been killis’l. and in their retreat it took, fourteen carts to carry tlieir dead and wounded. In New Plymouth at dusk on the [night of the engagement the excitement

was considerable, due to the -fact that a messenger had brought in the news that the civilian force had been cut off from the troops, that several men had been wounded and one was dead. An attack on the town was feared, and orders were issued for every one to be on the alert. Many of the women fled to Mars : land Hill for safety, ajid one poor creature there gave premature birth to a child. At about 11 o’clock it was decided to send out another force to help the missing ones if possible. Tt was perfectly dark at the time, which made it more dangerous for those brave men who went. The force came upon a few stragglers, but passing them, pushed on to the Omata stockade, where many of the wounded were lying. Tbe officer in charge of the party declined yo proceed •further, as he was told that the roads wwe infested with natives, and their strength was insufficient to contend against the horde of savages who were about. The party then decided to return. / It was nearly midnight before the militia and volunteers reached town. The streets were crowded, for no one could remain indoors whilst some of the party might at that moment be lying dead. Besides, all were anxious to learn how the men had escaped from the position it was reported they had been in. Cheers rent the air; men holloaed till they were hoarse; women were hysterical; children crying; drums beating, [bugles sounding orders; in fact, it was I a scene of intense excitement, and beggars all description, stated a scribe of the time. \