PAGES FROM THE PAST.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 September 1922, Page 9

PAGES FROM THE PAST.

THE TARANAKI WARSAFTER WAIREKA. (By Juvenis.) The village of Omata at the time of the war was situated at the junction of two roads at the foot, of the Waireka Hill, and a little westward of the present church and school house. After the battle it presented ar very sad appearance. In the centre lay a pair of fine working bullocks, dead and swollen, and near to them a dead horse. These animals were the property of the men who were murdered just prior to the battle. The houses had all been sacked, all the windows had been broken by the butt end of guns being driven through them, and such domestic articles as the rebels were unable to carry away were wantonly broken and scattered about. The children’s dolls were derisively hung up by the neck on the fences. The curtains and calico linings of the houses had all been carefully, taken away to serve as bandages for the wounded.

Much indignation was felt at the conduct of Colonel Murray in withdrawing his men at sunset, and leaving the volunteers to their fate, and men wondered why the advantages which had been gained were not followed up. On the day after the battle the Niger steamed down the coast and shelled the native settlement at Warea, after which armed parties went out and obtained as much of the crops as possible, and the natives commenced pillaging the farms and burning the houses of the settlers.

On Sunday, April the 22nd, three Companies of the 65th Regiment, with one brass howitzer and some artillery men, started on a reconnoitring expedition to Wareatea, and returned a few days afterwards without seeing any natives or effecting anything. In the meantime Hapurona had been strengthening his position at Waitara, and his garrison had been reinforced by a number of Waikatosx NARROW ESCAPE OF MR. PARRIS. A number of Taranaki and Ngatiruanui natives, who were on a visit to Potatau, the Maori King at Waikato, •being desirous at this time to return to their homes, the Waikato Rewi, went to the Rev. Mr. Morgan, of Otawa,, and expressed a desire to see Mr. Parris on the road, as his people were about to escort the Taranaki and Ngatiruanui deputations towards their homes. Mr. Parris accordingly started for the north on Friday, the llth day of May. On reaching Urenui he was informed that the natives were expected to be between Tongaporutu and Mimi, but on arriving at Pukekohe he unexpectedly came upon the whole party, finding them seated behind the breakwind away from the pa. A Ngatiruanui chief having been the first to observe Mr. Parris, rose and shook hands with him, for whieh he afterwards received the censure of the whole of his tribe. The natives of Pukekohe—Nikorima’s people seeing Mr. Parris approach waved to him with their blankets to keep off from the war party. Mr. Parris at once rode to the pa, when he discovered that there had been no communication between the two parties. Here he remained a little time. The pa natives, according to custom, put out some potatoes and other food for the war party, after which some of the latter rose and said: —“This white man Parris has arrived and entered the pa, and therefore we suppose the pa belongs to him; in consequence thereof the food is tapu” —i.e. not to be accepted or eaten by then. This produced a discussion, which ended in the Waikatos declining to agree with the others. The Ngatiruanui and Taranaki ate nothing but dry karaka berries brought by them from Waikato, -but the Waikatos partook of some food from the pa. Wetini a Mokau chief, entered the pa and informed Mr. Parris of* the state of feeling amongst the natives being against him, advised him to be cautious, and added that the Mokaus had endeavoured to keep the party back. Mr. Parris asked Wetini if he had any objection to return and to invite the heads of the Waikato party to come and speak with him. He consented, but said it would lead to nothing. He went and remained away fully an hour, during which time Mr. Parris recognised Hone Pumipi, a Kawhia chief, among the party. Mr. Parris asked a native of t*he pa to go and see if Hone would come and see him. Mr. Parris saw Hone submit the proposal to the natives, after which he came towards the pa accompanied by a body guard of four men jirmed with guns.

Hone approached the sde of the pa, and addressing Mt. Parris, said:—“l have come because you have sent for me, but the people are pouri,” evil disposed. Mr. Parris observing an indisposition on Hone’s part to converse—probably owing to the presence of the armed natives — said, “I merely sent to see you and ask you how you are.” Upon which one of the guard said “Let us return,” and they returned. As soon as they rejoined the party the Ngatiruanui and Taranaki rose and fired off their guns, and started for Urenui, some few miles nearer town. The Waikatos remained.

Shortly afterwards the head of the Waikato party, Epiha, came to the pa to see Mr. Parris, and made the following disclosure. He commenced with' a regular scolding:—“You are foolish; you have brought your body upon us without sending a messengei’ or a letter to let u<s know you were coming; if we had met you on the march you would have been shot dead without our being able to save - ® you. As it is you are dead.” Mr. Parris interrupted him to explain that it was in consequence of being requested by Mr. Morgan and Rewi to meet the party that he had come, and he asked Epiha to explain what he meant •by saying he was dead. Epiha replied, “It has been proposed to murder you. Shortly after your arrival this morning Erueti —one of Wi Kingi’a natives — camo to us Waikatos and said .vhen he saw you his flesh shook, and that he was going to Urenui. Epiha asked, ‘What for?’ Erueti answered, ‘to wait for Parris’s return.’ Epiha said. ‘What to do?’ Erueti replied. ‘To finish him.' Epi ha observed, ‘We have not come from W’aikato for any such thing as murder, and if you determine to do it we shall leave at once and return to Waikato.’ Erueti was displeased and left for Urenui with three others—l Tori, Paori and Taimona, all of Kaipakopako.” This J occurred before the Taranakis and i Ngatiruanui started for Ureuni. A long i and anxious conversation ensued as to i the course to be taken, which ended in j Epiha stating that he would wait for Mr. ; Parris at Urenui and see him safely ‘across

A PERILOUS SITUATION. After Epiha left it was arranged with Nikorima that a party of ten of his natives should accompany Air. Parris far as Waitara. Night was now setting in, and as the party approached Ureuni they sang out to warn Epiha. who was across the river. In ascending the cliff the natives were found assembled near the top, the party halted, and Mr. Pain's was asked to come to the front. A row of armed natives was on each side of the path. As soon as Mr. Parris had got clear of the armed men, Epiha ordered a halt, and requested the ten natives who had accompanied Mr. Parris from Pukekohe to return to their pa. This they refused to do, and as it threatened an unpleasant discussion Mr. Parris entreated them to return, as he threw himself entirely on the Waikato. Hone Pumipi thereupon stopped forth from the crowd and said, “Parris, I’ll take charge of you.” As Hone said this a man in a flax mat forced his way forward and rubbed noses with Mr. Parris. Hone observing this seized the stranger by the chest and forced him back, when he explained. “This is my white man,” and he proved to be a brother of Teira, of the Waitara. The situation was one of extreme peril. A large body of natives hustled Mr. Parris, and amongst the crowd, though they could not be distinguished in’ the starlight, were many of the conspirators. The chiefs Epiha and Hone now called out to them to stand clear of the Pakeha,. and the dark mass of Maoris fell back. It was communicated to Mr. Parris that the ambush party had gone on to Onaero. An armed party of Waikatos then a native on each side of Mr. Parris grasping him by the hand, besides a rear and an advanced guard; and in this way Mr. Parris was conducted ?o Waiau., about five miles, in the darkness of the night. On arriving at Onaero where the road passes through a piecj of bush the party halted, one native remarking, “This it the spot in which they said they would kill him. ’ Double file's were here placed around Mr. Parris, and the whole were directed to keep close together. From Waiau to Waitara the road was on the beach. At the former place- Mr. Parris was required to join in a elever .extempore prayer for the King, the Queen’s and his own safety. After whieh Mr. Parris separated from his preservers. Epiha, in reply to the acknowledgements made to him, told M. Parris not to attribute his deliverance to him, but to God; that he would yet meet him as an enemy by daylight,'hut that-he (Mr. Parris), had seen that he would not consent to his being murdered. The Waikato escort was estimated at 150 natives, the. Taranaki and Ngatiruanui depution at 50. [The above account is taken from Wells’ History of Taranaki.]