MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 February 1940, Page 8

MAORI MEMORIES

STRATEGY, (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”) Te Kooti, as previously told in these “Memories,” was devoid of every consideration for humanity because of the striking injustice to which he was subjected by being imprisoned with the rebels whom he and his loyal natives had captured. His belief and use of the Maori law of “Utu” (reprisal) knew no human limit. Having recovered from his wounded foot, he gained the help of Uriwera (hot point) and Wairoa (long river) warriors. Selecting 80 of the best armed and competent men he divided them into eight parties of ten each. Their arms were concealed and they all approached their Poverty Bay objective by different routes unseen or unsuspected by our troops. At 11 o’clock on the night of November 8, 1868, they gained admission to eight separate dwellings killing the occupants with their stone patu (strikers) with scarcelj’ a sound except an occasional revolver shot from one of their victims. Te Kooti led her party of ten to Major Bigg’s house. The Major was seen reading by candlelight. Mrs Biggs, hearing a scuffle, arose from her bed carrying their little one —all three were killed, and so on to every house. Captain Wilson was the only one able to make resistance, but he too fell. His little boy escaped. Mrs Wilson was wounded and lay unconscious until daylight, when the lad Jim found her. He kept her alive with raw eggs until they were found by the troops a week later. This heroic lad, now over 83, is probably "still alive in Christchurch.