PAGES FROM THE PAST.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 December 1922, Page 9

PAGES FROM THE PAST.

DEFEAT OF THE MAORIS,Iff AT SENTRY HILL, (By “Juvenis.”) After the second rebellion of Hapurona, Wi Kingi’s fighting general, Sentry Hill was taken possession of by the British, a redoubt formed, and a blockhouse erected on it which was strongly garrisoned. From an early hour of the morning of Saturday, the 30th of April, the men in the fort heard the rebels shouting and chanting their war songs at Manutahi. The sounds gradually drew nearer, and at 9 a.m. it was evident that the rebels were in force at Waiongona ford, which is nearly opposite Sentry Hill. Shortly after they were seen by the sentries to be emerging from the bush whicn lies in the river valley between the ford and the hill, and distant about. 900 yards. About 300 of them advanced along the road, and made slowly and steadily for the redoubt. Captain Shortt, of the 57th, who was in command. ordered the men, 75 in number, to lie down under the breastwork of the redoubt, and kept the sentry marching to and fro as usual, as if no danger was expected. The rebels advanced till they were about 150 yards off, but then halted as if rather doubtful. Then Captain Shortt gave the word of command, and the men sprang upon their feet, and opened a murderous fire upon the rebels with their rifles and two cohorn mortars. The rebels drew back a little, but stood the fire remarkably well, taking such cover as the high fern and irregularities- of the ground gave them. They returned the fire, but onlv succeeded in hitting Drummer D. Hurley in the shoulder. On«- rebel came up to the redoubt, and was shot within 20 yards of it. Major Butler came up with reinforcements, from Ma hoot ahi. and ordered a charge, when the last of the rebels ran, leaving 34 dead and wounded, two of the wounded dying shortly after, ‘wards. A flag of truce was then hoisted at Sentry Hill, and a native messenger despatched to Manutahi to tell the natives to come and bury their dead. The messenger found a largo number of Ngatiawa. Taranaki, and Ngatiruanui natives there in a great state of grief at the loss they bad sustained, but he could not persuade them to come up for their dead. 9n the mes senger’s return the flag of truce was hauled down and the Union Jack hoisted. Among the rebels who fell on this occasion were Farenga Kingi, chief of Taranaki; Manahi, of the Ngamotu hapu of Ngatiawa, whose defection at Ratapihipi at the commencement of the war I have alluded to, and who was concerned in the Omata murders; Tupara Keina (Tubal Cain), chief of Ngatiawa: and Tamati Hone, head chief of Ngatiruanui. During the time in which the foregoing events were taking place in Taranaki. General Cameron was engaged with a Targe force in quelling the insurrection in the Waikato, and no saoper were the northern rebels defeated than those around Taranaki began to elink hade to the remoter parts of their district.

In August, the Maori King with some of his chief people came to reside at Hapurona’s pa at Te Arei, Pukerrangiora.

CAPTURE OF MANUTAHI. MAT Al TAW A AND TE AREI.

Intelligence was received in New Tbmouth on the 7th of October that the Puketapu section of the Mataitawa natives were desirous of making peace, that Wi Kingi’s own people had removed to the east side of the V.rutaxa, and that there would be no difficulty in taking possession of Manutahi and Mataitawa. Accordingly, early on Saturday morning, the Bth, a force consisting of 200 men of the 70th, under Major Ryan, two field guns in charge of Captain Martin, R.A-, the Bushrangers of Captain Good and Jonas, numbering 100 men under Major Atkinson, and Captain Mace’s mounted men, started northward. At Mahoetahi they were reinforced by 150 men of the 4Oth, under Major Saltmarsh, the whole being under the command of Colonel Warre C. 8,., who was attended by his staff, and also by Colonel Lepper and Mr. Parris. The force halted for a short time at Sentry Hill, while messengers went on to Manutahi, and shortly after, wards Colonel Warre ordered the advance, and in doing so addressed the Bushrangers, telling them that as they had been often disappointed he would give them the post of honor that day, although he did not suppose it woulj be one of much danger. Some friendly Puketapu natives went first to see if the pa was evacuated, but when some ; tof them were within a few yards of it ‘they were fired upon, and retired. ' In front of Manutahi there was at .that time a plot of open fern land nearly surrounded with forest, and the pa was built at the south end of this where the open land was about 150 yardg wide, the two ends of the pa resting on the forest. Colonel Warre divided Major Atkinson’s men into two parties, sending one into the bush on the right, and the other into the bush on the left, and ordering the 70th to advance in the open land as a support. The nativeg in the pa fired briskly as the Bushrangers approached, but finding themselves outflanked on both sides, they broke and fled, and two of them fell »as they ran out of the back of the pa, f while a third was wounded and escaped.

The pa was of a very singular shajje, feeing, as has been already stated, 150 yards long, but in the shape of a double concave lens. 20 yards wide in the middle, but expanding in a curve towards , the ends. The ditchers were deep, the , banks high and 12 feet thick, and had it been adequately garrisoned it would have been hard to take. The loss on the side of the British ’ was but slight—Private Scammel of the ! Bushrangers being shot, through the j upper part of the arm while looking through the palisading of the pa: Private Henry Turner had a very narrow escape, part of the socket of his bayonet being shot away, and the end of his revolver preventing the ball entering his hip. He and a rebel had a duel from opposite sides of the palisading. Leaving the Bushrangers to destroy Manutahi. Colonel Warre went on with Major Saltmarsh’s party of the 70th, /and the mounted men and friendly natives, to Mataitawa. but no resistance was attempted there. No fortifications were found at this place.