MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 July 1940, Page 9

MAORI MEMORIES

TRIBAL LANDS DISPUTE. (Recorded by J.H.S., of Palmerston North, for the “Times-Age.”) The Maori land claimants of Taranaki in 1855, though they feared the seizure of their pigs, cattle and horses by the 450 soldiers who were then landing in surf boats at New Plymouth, felt confident that in the vast forests their lives were safe. Katatore and his party fled to the bush. Wiremu Kingi, fearing Rauparaha’s fate of being put in a sack, during his sleep, asked the Governor “to fight by day and not by night, so that it should be battle, not murder." Colonel Wynyard adopted a neutral attitude. and refused to avenge Rawiri's murder because that chief was. killed for a breach of Maori law by attempting to sell land which was not his. After much inter-tribal fighting, over 59 Maoris were killed and 100 wounded. A truce was declared in December. 1856. Two hundred and fifty soldiers of the 65th were stationed at New Plymouth to protect the settlers and nr< ; to fight the contending parties of Maoris. The soldiers called ihcir peaceful stay “the beef and mutton campaign.' Evidence of its bounty was given !>y the regimental tailors, ’who were kept busy enlarging the waists of coats, vests and trousers. Of the Maori land contestants, Arama Karaka’s parly were Wesleyan, while Wiremu Kingi's and Katalorc's were Church of England. The Rev. Mr Turton and Bishop Sclwyn each thought his own people were the rightful owners of the disputed lands. Worn out with conflict and anxiety. Arama Karaka died in January, 1857. Hostilities between the Maori tribes ceased, but not one acre of land was sold to the Government or the settlers.