MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 March 1939, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

TWO SIDES.

(Recorded by J.TI.S. for “Times-Age.”)

Up to the arrival of General Cameron, the Maoris were fully convinced of Iheir own superior military strength. Our troops caused them to distrust us, but they did not fear defeat. Hitherto we could not claim a single victory over them until Tamati Waka and his Loyal Maori contingent defeated Heke. Many of the great battles between our Maori friends and the rebel tribes, fought in the forest and the flax swamps, were never recorded, because secrecy and diplomacy were the main factors of success.

In our first estimate of relative strength one hundred militia armed with old “muzzle loaders” from the Crimean Wai- might march through the North Island and capture every Maori Pa; yet we found that 20,000 well equipped soldiers were required in Waikato alone. The loss of life in Taranaki was about equal on each side. The estimated loss of our property, destroyed or carried off, was £150,000, their losses were nominal.

In the open, the Maoris knew we were irrestible; but in their own natural fortress, the forest, their ambuscades, known as “Maori Artillery,” were most ingenious and frequently disastrous to us. Maori custom in the case of noncombatants is to kill men and boys, but not women or infants of either sex. All persons not engaged in fighting were warned to leave the locality or suffer this fate. Their property was generally left unharmed.

In every virtue except loyalty to the “white invaders,” the Waikato Maoris were a good example to all other tribes.

Even with absolute authority, plenty of men, and money,- the new Governor’s task was a most difficult problem.