PAGES FROM THE PAST.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 October 1922, Page 9

PAGES FROM THE PAST.

THE TARANAKI WARS. THE TAKING OF MATARIKORIKO. I I (By “Juvenis.”) On Tuesday, December the 4th, at 4 p m., a lad named Joseph Sarten, who was at the Henui on horseback, seeking a bullock, was shot and tomahawked. A boy, named William Northcote, who was riding alongside him witnessed* the whole affair. A volley was fired and Sarten fell, and directly afterwards several natives ran from behind a furze hedge and tomahawked him. Northcote escaped and rode into town with the intelligence, and a party of Militia and Rifles, and the inlying picket of the 12th, with the Mounted Volunteers, proceeded to recover the body. It was found where he fell, in the lane running from the Devon Road past the Henui Church, towards the beach, about midway between the Henui and Waiwakahio rivers. He had received three bullets in the back and sides, and was brutally hacked about the head and legs by tomahawks. The horse was led into town with a bullet through its neck. The

mounted men brought the body as far as the Henui, where they met the troops; is was then put into an ambulance cart, and taken to the hospital. The shots in his body and in the horse showed that at least four persons w r ere concerned in the murder, and from the character of the wounds they had evidently been posted . within a few yards of where their victim passed. The poor boy was sixteen years of age, and was the second of the family who met a violent end from the rebels, John Sarten, his brother, being the first man who received death wound in the war. A party of Waikatos were at this time located at Purakau, near Smart's farm, about half-a-mile from the Waiwakaiho river. A dense fog which hung over the district this day was taken advantage of by the enemy for the perpetration of this murder.

The Waikatos Tn large numbers now began to pour into the pas at Matarikoriko and Huirangi, on the edge of the plateau overlooking the Waitara valley, and leading up to the ancient fastness of the tribe at Pukerangiora. In order to reduce these, General Pratt inarched for the Waitara, where he encamped on December the 27th. The next day, with a force consisting of 1,000 men, with all the appurtenances required for a eeige, he advanced towards iKairau, where the enemy in great strength had formed an extensive series of field works, consisting of rifle pits connecting with viaducts that led to gullies (bordering the dense bush surrounding the Matarikoriko pa. The following graphic account is from a letter written at the camp, dated December the 31st, 1800: “The day we left town (28th), we arrived at Mahoetahi about 7 a.m’, and halted for an hour for breakfast, after whiclf we moved on by the road to the left of the blockhouse’, and crossed the Waiongona at the prophet’s pa, above the junction of the Mangoraka with the Waiongona. Fortunately the river was not too deep, -but it would have been too deep the day before, and wo arrived at Waitara at 10 o’clock a.m., and encamped near the pa. We got orders to move at 4 a.m. next morning, and got on the road at that hour, passed the site of the old L pa, and arrived at Ngataiparirua at 5.30 a.m., moved on the advanced ground to Kairau, and commenced firing and throwing shells in the gully towards the pa at Matarikoriko. A working party commenced making a. redoubt, and after a short time (8.30 a.m.), the natives crept up through the fern and gave us a volley. A sharp fight until 9.30, and then all quiet until 12.30 p.m. A heavy fire was then commenced and continued all day and night. One man of the 65th killed, and 1 sergeant and 3 men wounded; two 40th killed, and 14 wounded; one hava] 'brigade Wounded -severely. The 65th fell in at 7 a.m., and marched back to camp (Waitara), with the Naval Brigade. Left the 12th and 40th in camp at Kairau, who wejre engaged with the enemy till 5.30 next morning. All quiet on Sunday. “The fire all Saturday was most terrific, and well sustained on our side, which kept the rebels well in cheek.' Thoy fired out of rifle pits without showing themselves or taking aim, and the bullets went very high. Our people fired 10.000 rounds of ammunition, and about 120 shell and case shot. “The Rev. Mr. Wilson went down to' them yesterday morning, and there was a truce all day. Mr. Wilson’s object was to get them to agree to spare the dead and wounded, and after a good I deal of parleying, an agreement has I been made to that effect; one old savage fellow (a chief) dissenting, but they will not mind him.

“In going over some of the rifle pits a splendid tomahawk, all bloody, and a pouch, a large knife and pipe were found, and various other articles. Two Maori letters were also found, one from Takerei Terangi to Wiremu Hoeta, Rowi, and others, in \vhich he urges them to spare the women and children. This morning intelligence was received that the enemy had evacuated their pa and position, and two companies of the (55th. and a few of the bluejackets rushed into it, and hoisted the Unioil Jack—

one the Colonel of the 65th had ror the purpose. It was well and quickly done. We found the graves of five men, and one buried far down in the gully. A young fellow came over with Mr. Wilson to-day to show his father’s and uncle’s grave. It has been fenced in. The enemy is determined to fight. The following names were found carved on calabashes—ANamahuta,’ and ‘Mihi,’ and in a rifle pit ‘Konuaret?.’ 1.04 men of the Gsth have gone to garrison Matarikoriko. “The Tasmanian Maid loft for Waitara with stores, etc., and returned at midnight. The Cordelia also came up, bringing Colonel Carey, D.A.G., Dr. Moaut. and some wounded men. and returned again in the afternoon. Weather continues fine. "The following is a list of. killed and wounded on Saturday and Sunday: ‘'’December the 29th. IS6-o.—Killed: 40th Regiment—Private James Chinnory. Private Michael Lehan; 65th Regiment —Private John Cain. Wounded: Royal Artillery—Gunner William Smoker, twice in left leg severely, Gunner Jeremiah Wright, left arm. severely; Royal Engineers Sapper Johnston, left arm. severely; Naval Brigade—Alfred Broome, A.R., dangerously: 12th Regiment—Private Robert Dye, slightly; 40th Regiment—Sergeant Instructor of Musketry—Patrick Collins, slightly, Private Roger Lyons, dangerously, Private Richard Fitzgerald, severely, Private James Southwell, dangerously, n ”ivate John Sullivan, severely, Priva*.-’

Benjamin Greenwood, severely. Private William Caplice, dangerously, Private John Mcßrcn. severely, Private Thomas Davy, slightly, Private J. A. Fox, slightly. "December lhe 20th, IS6O. —Wounded: 40th Regiment—Sergeant F. Thale, severely. 65th Regiment—Sergeant William Speakman, sliehtly. Private James Haggan, slightly, Private Martin Kinsella. severely. “Accident. —Private John Weir, 65th Regiment, explosion of rifle, three adulated.”