MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 May 1939, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

WE CAUSED THE WAR IN 1863. (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”) Mohi, a philosophic’ chief who had hitherto firmly pleaded .peace, in reply to Mr Bell said: “We deeply appreciate your past kindnesses. Now your Governor’s forces have crossed our line it is too late—Rewi was utterly wrong, and had Sir George punished him, we would have approved; but now you propose to punish all Waikato, loyal and disloyal alike. Without notice you occupy our lands. Let every Pakeha mark my words —we are all of Waikato, therefore we go to join our people, to live or die with them.” Mr Bell said the Governor had confidential evidence that' Waikato had planned to attack Auckland and murder all Europeans. Mohi replied that if the Governor would produce evidence of such a plot, he and his people would take a solemn oath of allegiance to the Queen, for such an attack without a Taki (challenge) or a Whakatupato (warning) would be Kohuru (murder), of which no Waikato chief would be guilty. At 10 o’clock that night a telegram from the Governor ordered the troops to take the whole party at Kerikeri prisoners. Ihaka, the sick chief, with all the old men, women and children were captured. In some way, never accounted for, unless it was by intuition on his part, Mohi and all his band of ablebodied followers moved silently out 1 of sight and hearing in the darkness. Thus relieved of all their helpless ones, and of all just grounds for forbearance, Mohi at once commenced hostilities. The capture of Ihaka and his party of innocent women and, children just after safe conduct had been promised them was an unfortunate breach of faith. Wiremu Tamihana asked: “Why had Maori property been plundered and prisoners taken, when every white family with their stock and property were sent away safely by the Maoris?” All Waikato thus banded together to resist the common foe.