MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 April 1939, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

“GOVERNMENT AMMUNITION.” (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”) Timber for police barracks was being rafted from Mangatawhiri to Kohekohe. Mohi and Ihaka. chiefs in Government pay, paddling down stream saw this, and at once sent messengers to Rangiriri for all Waikato with word that “Our fate has come upon us.” The opposing tribes were arriving by canoes, over a thousand men and women on either side.

The Waikato, who claimed ownership of the site, were against the proposed police building, and were throwing the boards and scantlings into the river. The old women from Kohekohe came to the rescue and restored the floating planks. Though both sides were in dead earnest, there was no sign of anger. Laughter and chaffing prevailed. At last the Waikatos left, warning Te Wheoro that they would return in great numbers. At the week-end they arrived, Wi Kumete in charge. He was civil, but angry, and declared that the proposed buildings were barracks for soldiers to take their lands, the name “schools” being a disguise. He and his people had decided that every Government canoe should be searched on arrival for guns and ammunition. The very first day Wi Kumete’s searchers captured four cases containing 100 bottles of o.p. rum, which they declared to be more deadly than a barrel of gunpowder. As evidence against the British Queen’s builders, the rum was placed under custody of Onehi, a young Magistrate of the Maori King. Onehi died a week later of a new disease described by the army doctor as “D.T.’s.” Wi Kumete and his crowd frightened the carpenters out of their wits, packed them, their tools and belongings in their canoe, and set them adrift down stream.