PAGES FROM THE PAST

Taranaki Daily News, 8 April 1922, Page 9

PAGES FROM THE PAST

DICKY BARRETT. A VISIT TO NGAMOTUj A NORTHERN INVASION. (By “Juvenis.”) Searching through my old papers and manuscripts dealing with the early history of Taranaki, I came across an account written by a. visitor to Ngamotu in the early days of the settlement. The writer met Dicky Barrett, the whaler, and his observations -of that interesting personality, his wife, and of the associations of the place are well worth reproducing. He also gives an account of the northern invasion in the thirties and the bloody scenes that were then enacted. He says:—

Soon after day-dawn, on a calm summer morning, we accompanied little rotund Mr. Barrett, his tall handsome spouse and some attendants, the latter carrying a limited supply of fern root, dried eels, and a small quantity of broken buiscuit; their daily practice being to look out for whales, even though they were short of lines and other gear, that had been omitted to be shipped in the Brougham; but were now wrecked in the Jewess down at Waikanae, as also other shipments of provisions, etc. This disaster was unknown to us, and we were anxiously on the look-out also for her appearance. The great sugar loaf of Moturoa is a mass of tr achy tic porphyry, rearing its rocky cavernous surfaces to the height of 500 feet; and a considerable portion of its base being washed by the sea, gives the huge lump an impregnable appearance.

We followed our hosts up the steep rugged face of the rock, on to an extensive terrace 100 feet above the sea level. At a portion of the walls of this natural plateau, was a large overarching cavern or niche 23 yards in circumference, containing Barrett’s dwelling “whare,” fronted by a “wata,” or storehouse, erected upon poles and approached by a log with steps cut for the feet. In addition to this natural fortress, other cavernous spaces for stores or shelter were pointed out at higher elevations. A PICTURE. Both sea and land reposed under a deep tone of beauty, a picture of Italian loveliness. All along the curving shore to the Waitara River, wavelets sluggishly laved the gleaming sands, and there was a picturesque quietude, yearned after and appreciated by the artistic capacity of a Turner. Not an object, save sea-birds, broke the surface of the blue ocean. Shoreward the symmetrical cone of Egmont reared 8000 feet into the bright ether, unobscured by cloud or rack, its pointed top, canopied with sparkling silver-tinted snow; thence descending with a graceful curvature to the gent-ly-descending plains of its basement forest; clad with evergreen foliage, uniting with the vast 200 miles sweep of country, within the eye’s compass, and clothed with luxuriant fern and shrub; springing—as the delightful senses of the beholder is aware—from soils of decomposed vegetable and disintegrated volcanic matter; watered by ever-run-ning streams through the whole, at an average of every mile. Reclining comfortably on this esplanade, our merry-eyed, lusty little friend Barrett, pointed out the several localities where the last great tribal savageries were enacted. At the same time our other people were gathering wild cabbage and celery from the rocky interstices around, t oil a mess of same, with the day’s rations before mentioned.

A NORTHERN INVASION. Then we became informed that on such a morning as the present beautiful one, nine years previously, about 2000 of the Ngatiawas and Kawhia claimants of the country, were rich in possession of all the fattest lands, with but the labors of burning off the fern and scrub, and a little prodding and scratching. Large crops of potatoes, kumera, taro, calabashes, melons, maize, and pumpkins were showing abundant harvests for a year’s consumption and barter to traders occasionally. Dried shark and eels were extensively stored for winter use. They luxuriated also in pigeons, tuis, and small birds, besides shoals of mullet and fish on favoralTle occasions. Surrounding the lakelets below our level elevation, were the various fenced crops of Barrett and his European colleagues, mostly gathered into stores at the time described, amidst numerous pigs and poultry for domestic use and “trade” for casual small craft between the coast of New Zealand and the neighboring colonies of New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land.

Over all the country, at the time of Barrett’s narrative, from this “lookout* for whales, south and west, on such a morning as the present one, a look-out man signalled to the station below, “distant smoke in the north.” By the time Barrett had arrived at the Bastion, the whaler had ascended to a higher perch with his glass, and reported a sudden disappearance of the smoke, as if quenched with water, beyond Waitara and in the localities of some outside hapus. Barrett’s emissaries and other? from the Ngatiawa chief, Wharepouri, who happened to be at the station, were immediately sent scampering along the twelve miles beach towards Pukerangiora to ascertain the cause of so significant a sign, as witnessed with, the glass on Moturoa. THE WAR PARTY. A few hours after a great war party from the north, of about 4000 in number, were seen distributed here and there, hapus haxl settled in outer spots. Several men and women returning from a visit were secured by a scouting party, and became the first victims. Some of these fought and were killed, the rest submitted to be bound with flax, and were sent across the Waitara into a stockade hastily prepared for the purpose. About six miles from the mouth of the Waitara and on its banks, an abrupt promontory terminates with' deep escarpments, rendering it naturally an unassailable fortification, by arms at that, time available. Extensive cultivations were in full bearing on both sides of the Pukerangiora. Range, owned by about 1500 of the Ngatiawa. and Kawhia. tribes, who had united (at the time of Te Ruaparaha’s migration southwards) in building the fort, which they deemed to be a stronghold; whence the entire country could be intimidated and placed under mastThe Pukerangiora people found read#

access to the coast, through the bush, eastward of Egmfont, and via the Patea river. Three expert leaders had endeavored to outvie their coadjutors in outheroding Herod in displays of refined tortures of their victims, too obscenely filthy for description. One instance may be mentioned. In their raids, the little ghoul Te Ringa Kuri (afterwards chief of Kaiwara) and liis baboon son, crucified with slow torture and derision the Wfaikato chief Waharoa, father of Wiremu Thompson, “the peace-maker.”

NGATIAWAS CUT OFF. The time had now arrived for the final dispersion from Taranaki of the wild tribal brutes by a combination of Northern Ngapuhis and Waikatos under the leadership of the great Te Wherowhero, the future king, taking up the “ture” of Hongi, that one law should govern all the tribes. The war party of 4000 was seen by Barrett and his Moturoa neighbors to spread in detachments about the huge fortified pa. Hundreds of the besieged, who were at work upon their cultivation and cut off from the fort, upon the sudden' appearance of the advanced warriors, fled to the bush. The occupants of the pa found themselves that morning cut off from both their cultivations, and also the track through the forest round Mount Egmont. The Waikato leader disposed his chiefs at all the salient points around the citadel, amidst abundance of food, whilst the unhappy besieged looked down upon the scene with all hope abandoned, beyond shortly becoming food for their adversaries, for the stores of provisions of the season’s growth had not been gathered and conveyed up into the pa, so deliberate and abrupt was the invasion. Parleyings went on from time to time, the execution of certain chiefs of both Kawhia and Taranaki was demanded, and others with the rest of the inhabitants to be marched away North and incorporated with the itribes.

BLOODY MASSACRES.

Attacks and sorties were repeatedly made over a course of twelve days, with losses on both sides. Want of rest and famine had prostrated the garrison to a state of despair, and evacuation of the pa was determined, but consequent, upon this resolve, a rush for the bush was made in the day time, with most disastrous results.

The half-starved wretches were pursued and several hundreds were, killed, captured, and brought back. Te Ringa Kuri, his son and numbers of the cowardly, cruel, cannibal Calibans, had already deserted the pa at night, and fouijd their way eastward to the Straits, thus swelling the anthropophagi of Ruaparaha. The fighting captives of the garrison were driven into whares, under guards with tomahawks, thence brought out before Te Wherowhero and other Northern chiefs, who formed a long array of squatters upon the ground, before logs of wood, each with his tomahawk and mere alongside.

Three hundred captives in succession were thrown down in front of the logs, and the executing chief, seizing the hair with one hand, struck off the tattooed head with the tomahawk, to be preserved and sold to the European traders (a commodity prohibited afterwards by the Governor of New South Wales) the untattooed heads were smashed with the pounamu mere. Te Wherowhero. half-blinded, and floating in blood and brains, at last exclaimed

as he arose, “I am tired; let the rest live.” He was a man of majestic proportions, with noble countenance, elaborately tattooed, but now in streaming scarlet from head to foot with the sanguinary remains of his victims. Affording a wide contrast to his after time role of defender of Auckland, and standing forth at Government House, under Sir George Grey’s magnetic influence, as one of nature’s noblemen; clad in evening costume, bearing himself with smiles of urbanity and gentleness as of lygh culture. CHILDREN. THROWN FROM MOTUROA. While the slaughter of the chiefs and leaders was in process of being effected, numbers of mothers cast their children over the precipice on to the rocky river bed below, and leaped themselves after them. Mobs of struggling combatants went pell-mell rolling over the cliffs, and scores were shot and speared beyond the edges, and went crashing down upon the dead and dying below till the river was literally flowing with blood. Maori ovens were prepared with screaming exultations, both inside and below the pa, and a continuous feasting was instituted throughout the course of two or three days. Tattooed heads were stuck on short poles and placed opposite the banqueters, who showered upon the heads the most disgusting vilifications, keeping the carousers in roars of derisive laughter. A few gourmands, possessed with an extensive development of the organ of alimentiveness, succumbed to an inordinate indulgence in their favorite meats, and fairly died of repletion, although their deaths were generally attributed to the peculiar demoniacal powers of the departed upon whom they had banqueted.

CANNONS TO THE RESCUE. At Moturoa it was considered that the war party would retire, satisfied with the destruction of the stronghold and utter defeat of the tribes; nevertheless, every precaution was exercised by Wharepouri, his 350 warriors, and Barrett with his European crew. They conveyed and hauled up four cannonades on to the Moturoa platform and mounted them; upwards of 300 muskets were to hand, also their kegs of powder and all available ammunition, in the form of hoop-iron, stones, broken iron pots, rivets, and nails. All their stocks o-f provisions were carried, hauled up, and stowed in the spaces and interstices of the rocky fort. Sides and roofs of whares were *cut asunder and hauled up to erect for shelter, and everything useful that could be removed was thus secured.

The six Europeans—namely, Barrett, Wright, Oliver, Akers, Phillips, and Love and their families—felt inclined to risk a fight to the death rather than abandon their possessions and improvements. They urged upon Wharepouri and his remnant of warriors to follow plans determined upon, and not to be alarmed at the superior numbers of the taua should'•they come South. The natives at last fell in with the views of the whalers, and agreed to follow their lead. The Waikatos on their part learned that the Taranaki people had four field pieces in the hands of the whalers, and this -had infused into their minds certain potent impressions of European prestige, and that the reduction of the fort would have to bo accomplished in a more hesitating manner than that of Pukerangiora. Their deliberations were therefore based upon operating with “cunning tactics,” out of range of the big guns, according to

the version of Barrett and his party, of Europeans. THE ATTACKERS RETIRE. At daybreak the Great Northern Army was discovered from the rarn-» parts of Moturoa, at a distance of sew eral miles, making their way over the sandy shore *n a disorderly, slovenly manner. Clay had been provided, at the advice of Barrett, for banking up their raupo whares to prevent the baDs of the enemy from taking effect. The Europeans cast lots as to the guns, took their respective stations, and the natives theirs also, with loaded arms and ammunition in readiness. Te Wherowhero, seeing the garrison fully occupied, left his armed detachment and strode forward towards the fort, waving his mat as a signal for a parley. This was responded to by W harepouri, who ran down the declivity to the beach. The two hostile commanders saluted each other, and sat down on the sands, embracing with an outburst of a tangi, nose to nose, as if they felt themselves to be the most endeared friends. They whined forth a conversation of former times—of the ancient friendship that had existed between the tribes. “Because violent men have tried to exterminate their neighbors, was that any fault of his ” inquired Wharepouri, aI J lading to Ruaparaha. “What offence had these people at Ngamotu committed that they should be threatened with this taua, to. be destroyed like the natives of Pukerangiora Were they not all related to each other? Did not the same ancestors bring them forth? Was not this country large enough for all the tribes? Were they not weakening themselves before the coming into the country of the paJtaefca, before whom they may yet have to make a stand for the possession of the country? Why should he and his tribe be made slaves to those to whom they had formerly given freedom -as had been the case in a previous war.—• ‘Were the Europeans not to be feared, that even when they were dead, a native could not eat their remains, without fear of the wrath of their atual”—instancing some Europeans who had been killed at Taranaki and devoured, except the right hands, which had performed acts of bravery. Much conversation of like kind took’ place, on which at separating they embraced each other, and finally Te Wherowhero exclaimed, “Well, we will have peace, and before we part admit me and some of your and my friends into your pa, that we may embrace and declare mutual amity to cement our future affection!”