FAMOUS MAORI CHIEF.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 August 1922, Page 5

FAMOUS MAORI CHIEF.

AN INTERESTING SKETCH. At Monday night’s meeting of the Victoria League, an interesting address on “Te Rauparaha” was given by Mr. R. H. Rockel. Mr. Rockel said that as all the better harbors and most accessible supplies of timber and other necessities were to be found on the east coast of the North Island, the Maoris on that coast came earliest into contact with European whalers and' traders. This meant that these nations, especially those living in the Auckland Peninsula, obtained supplies of firearms early in the 19th century. Armed with these weapons, the Ngapuhi, and, later on, the, Waikato tribes carried on devastating wars against their less well armed countrymen. In order to save his tribe, the Ngatitoa of Kawhia. from destruction, Te Rauparaha, about the year 1820, led them down the west coast to Manawatu. Here he completely subjugated the tribes and made his headquarters at the island of Kapiti. After consolidating his power he extended his conquests as far south as Akaroa. The most notable incidents of these expeditions were the sack of the pahs at Kaikoura, Omihi and Kaipohia. The capture of the latter was preceded by the treacherous seizure, with the assistance of the captain of a European brig, of the great Nga[itahu chief, Tamaiharanui. Later, towards I 1840,, Te Rauparaha came into contact with the officials of the New Zealand Company. This led inevitably to land troubles, which culminated in the tragic encounter at Tuamarina in June, 1843. In 1845, in consequence of the threatening attitude of the Maoris in the nieghborhood of Wellington, and in consequence of murders committed, the Governor (Sir George Grey) caused the arrest of the old chief in his whare at Porirua.

The agitation immediately ceased when the prime disturber of the peace was removed. After being kept in honorable captivity for about 12 months he was released. For three years he lived quietly at Kapiti, and died in 1849. Te Rauparaha, or “‘Ro-buller,” as the Europeans generally called him, was undoubtedly one of the ablest of a large number of very able Maori chiefs, while in the arts of treachery and bloodshed he had no superior.