HEROIC DEFENCE.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19883, 12 May 1936, Page 3

HEROIC DEFENCE.

BATTLE OF ORAKAU. MAORI WAR 1N WAIKATO. ADDRESS T 0 ROTARY CLUB. The sanguinary warfare in the \Valkato during the Maori King movement. culminating in the heroic defence by a small Maori force of the Orakau Pa, was the ‘basls of an address by Mr J. Ollphant, of Te Awamutu, to the Hamilton Rotary Gull) yesterday. The president. Dr H. E. Annelt, presided over-“a good attendaqce. _ .. _

After recounting the exploits of Hongi Heka after his return from Eng—land in which he wreaked vengeance on enemy tribes with firearms which he had obtained in Australia by the barter of agricultural implements with which he had been presented in Eng—land, Mr Oliphant narrated the cir—cumstances leading up to the Waikatc war. Prior to the outbreak of war, the missionaries. Ashwell and Morgan. arrived in the \Vaikato in 1839 and during the next 20 years their efforts were directed towards the suppression of inter-tribal warfare and the elimination of cannabalism. 'lhe Maoris \wu-n neruiinrl." adapted to Christianity as they had always ackmwimlged the existence of a superior bein-z. Ashweil. in his 'eii‘orts to sunprcss ran—nabalism, founded a pa much after-vw-rls. became the town of Te Awamutu. However. the King Movement was shortly afterwards inaugurated among the Waikato Maoris and this had the active support of the Nsatihaua tribe in the Matang'i district, The Guneral-. Governor. Sir George Grey, paid a sur-i prise visit to Ngaruavvahia and inti—mated that the position would not be tolerated, and shortly afterwards the Maoris in the vicinity of Auckland were commanded to deliver up their arms. They refused to comply with this order, however. and fled to the Waikato. Outbreak of War. The militia entered the Upper Walkato and eventually established them—selves at Mercer. The Ma-oris lost heavily in the first enzasements and fell back on Rangiriri, where they had prepared strong fortifications. General Cameron lost heavily in a frontal at—tnr‘ix‘. hut. succeeded in disoidging the native defenders. The Maoris determined to make a final stand at Paterangi and later Hm white force established itself at Te Bore. Bearing in mind the consequences of previous frontal attacks. Cameron did not. attempt to take the pa at Paterangi by assault, but made his way by night marches into Te Awamutu, which was the virtual storehouse of the Maoris, and drove the natives back.

Rewi, with a force of 300 men, de—cided to make a final stand at Orakau. because he realised that the invading forces would have to pass that way to make further progress. According—ly he strongly fortified a pa there and with his little force of 300, including 12 women! he prepared to resist the onslaughis of a force eomprising iBOO men. After desperate attempts to take the pa by form‘s under the charge of General Vnn Tempski and after the m-i-upanls 11ml lwen shelled and bombed, Rewi was railed upon to surrender. Howl declined all peace overtures, informing the attnrkors that he would fight on “for ever and over." When further resistance was deemed hopeless. the native force made a sortie and rushed for the shelter of the swamps. liiowever, during the flight 101 warlors. including several women, were shot down, and only 7 unwounded )laoris were, taken alive. The battle of Drakau was the finish of the war in the \Vaikatn for it effectively ended the Maori resistance.