MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 June 1940, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

A CALAMITY. (Recorded by J.H.S., of Palmerston North, for the “Times-Age.”) The most striking defeat suffered by

British troops in New Zealand was that at Ohaeawai on July 1, 1845. Colonel Despard thought the palisades broken in two places would permit a bayonet charge; but nothing was known of that third inner wall of massive tree trunks and the underground volleys. One hundred and sixty soldiers under Major Macpherson, and 40 seamen under Lieutenant Philpott, R.N., from 80 yards rushed to their fate. In ten minutes 100 of our men fell, and the whole of our forces withdrew a quarter of a mile. The dark night was one of horror where not one man slept. Screams of captured soldiers in the pa who were being tortured by burning kauri gum and red-hot ramrods, and the yells of victory, sent our men frantic. They begged to be permitted to rush to the rescue, but the officers knew it simply meant a double calamity. Archdeacon Henry Williams approached the pa to bury the dead, but was warned off by a chief. Two days later the Maoris hoisted a flag of truce and called the soldiers to come for their dead, numbering 34, including Lieutenant Philpott, who was scalped. Sixtysix were wounded, several later dying. Seven days later more ammunition arrived for the 32-pounder, and some shots were fired into the pa, when it was found that every Maori had left by a well-disguised tunnel. Their howling dogs tied outside the pa disguised The retreat.

The body of one Maori was found, also that of Captain Grant. The flesh of his hip had been cut away for sacramental purposes, not for cannibalism.