NEW ZEALAND THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 183, 29 September 1876, Page 13

NEW ZEALAND THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO.

Thb Rev. Father Garin has kindly supplied us with the following report of an intensely interesting lecture delivered by him recently in Nelson : — Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, and to our Maori friends I will say JE Koro ma : Before addressing an audience composed of English, Irish, Germans, Italians, &c., I must first state that, being a Frenchman, I hesitated a good while, doubting whether I should give this lecture or not: I was afraid that my French accentor style would not please my hearers; for instance, you would not like to hear me set the cart before the horse, although you sometimes see the waggons in front of the locomotive; but considering on one hand the object that I had in view, and on the other your constant readiness to assist me in such laudable undertakings (being now forbidden by law to raise funds by means of innocent art-unions), I said to myself : Well ! at all events I shall risk a lecture, twisting my tongue, straining my brains, and enlarging my heart. Trusting therefore in your indulgence and favorable attention, I will begin my subject. As an introduction to my narrative, I will explain to you the nature of this and other Maori weapons. The leading men of whom I have to speak are Captain Hobson (who was afterwards the first Governor of New Zealand), Hone Heke, Kawiti, and his allies, Tamati Waka (the white man's ally), Rewa, Tirarau, and others who preferred to remain peaceable. The principal places are the Bay of Islands, Waitangi, Kororareka, Mangakahia, Kaipara, Wangarei, Waimate, Auckland, and Waikato. Waimate, in regard to Kororareka, is situated as Motueka is in regard to Nelson ; Waitaugi on the Moutere Hills ; Maihi, or Flagstaff Hill, on a hill in the Wood, near the Maitai; Mataui Bay, | Waimea Kiver behind Jenkins' Hill. I In order to be more correct in my statements, I will give them I to you according to the notes I took on the spot. About fifty years ago, before there was any white man in New Zealand, when great numbers emigrated to Canada or the United States, the attention of the public was called to New Zealand. A Company was formed so far back as 1825, with this object, when they mad.c an attempt to establish a colony by sending two vessels with a number of immigrants to the Thames, Auckland ; but the leaders of the expedition, being afraid of the natives, abandoned the scheme. The attempt was renewed in 1833 by the New Zealand Company, and in the following year the first settlement was formed at Port Nicholson (now Wellington). It was, so far, only the speculation of a private company; but the English Government, perceiving that the colonization would proceed, felt it necessary to interfere. A large body of English colonists were going to a new country, and it became necessary that they, as British subjects, should be protected by the authority of the State. Captain Hobson, afterwards the first Governor, was thereupon appointed to negotiate a treaty with the natives ,f or the cession of the sovereignty of the country in order that colonization might be conducted in immediate connection with the Sfcate. He arrived in January, 1840, and the Treaty of Waitangi was signed on the 30th day of that montn. Bishop Pouipallier, Captain Rough, and some Protestant missionaries were present. The same treaty was brought to Waitemata (Auckland), where the chiefs of Waikato signed it also. Some natives afterwards said that all the chiefs north and south were not present. The first clause of the treaty was, that New Zealand, represented by a great many chiefs, was depending on the Sovereign of England. 2nd clause — That the natives were retaining the possession of their lands. 3rd clause — That the British Government would protect the natives against their enemies. At the same time there had been much hesitation. Hone Heke was at first opposed to the establishment of the Government, but afterwards he was the first to sign the treaty in 1840. The following year one of the most ferocious crimes was committed by a native upon an English woman, only a few miles from Waitangi. This crime accidentally hurried on the war which followed. Mrs. Robertson, her two children, the son of a native chief Moka, and an old sailor, were massacred and butchered in a most j barbarous manner, and the monster murderer was a native named ' Maketu, only 19 years old, and previously guilty, it is believed, of I other murders. What induced that savage to commit such a deed ! was simply a spirit of covetousness and a love of plunder, as it is ' surmised. Mrs. Robertson's husband had gone to Europe. She I was left on a small island near Kororareka, at the Bay of Islands, lin company with those who shared her fate. It was on a Saturday j afternoon that monster landed from his canoe in that lonely place, rushing as a tiger upon his victims, stabbing the woman through j the throat, cutting off her arms and legs with an axe, killing two chxlI dren, and burning them with their mother; murdering the old sailor j

precipitating upon the rocks of the sea, from a cliff 100 feet hio-h another child 10 or 12 years old, who was running away to escape' Two days after (November 22nd) the news reached Kororareka; a great alarm spreads ; nearly all the natives have left the town ; a mournful and sinister silence prevails. However the bay is crossed by numerous boats and canoes. The Maoris on the one hand, according to their wild customs, expect a sudden rise of all the white men to rush and slaughter them at once; on the other hand, the white men think that this massacre is only the signal for the massacre of all the white m«n. A message is sent to the commander of an English man-of-war anchored at Kussell Town, a few miles from Kororareka. A regular watch is kept during the ni^ht. To the great uneasiness of the white population, the three men-of-war which were in the Bay sail away the next morning when their presence was most needed. A schooner loaded with Europeans had been tacking about in the Bay all the night for fear of a murderous attack. Meanwhile, the news came that the murderer had been found out; that he is the son of a Maori chief; j the natives keep him in irons among them ; they have found on him frno watches and a gold chain that he took from his victims. Moka, an influential chief, shows the culprit to the Europeans The town remains in a state of stupor and fea,r. Some suggest that an attack should be made on the Maoris to force them to surrender the murderer; the Magistrate, Mr. Beckham, opposes the suggestion. He even forbids arming for a defence. People are j suprised that he does not take any steps in the matter. I However, two Europeans go to the natives, who were meeting | to consider the affair ; they ask that the murderer should be surrendered. The natives make a sort of promise, but they seem to fear to meddle too much ; they wish for peace, but are afraid of '. the white men, who want to assist them in capturing the guilty, i The day is over, and nothing has been done; the anxiety continues, and apprehensions are entertained for the night. Eewa, another influential chief, has sent the news of the event to headquarters, to Papahia and Hokianga. His intentions i are not known. A general slaughter of all the whites is still ap- I prehended ; the Maories may come to surprise us either by a small ' bay at the back of the town, or by the beach in front — a position ; very similar to ours here in Nelson, where Maoris could come by ■ the Waimea Road from the Rabbit Island or by the Port. I In such a. threatening aspect, I consult with my companions — j what, in case of a general slaughter, we should do ? It was ; decided that everyone should try to make his escape, and if we were obliged to part, and survive, we should try to meet our Bishop again. We notice some of the natives walking apparently without i fear, some carrying arms. Before going to bed, I place my Prayer- I book on my table, and my Bible in my pocket, to take them with me in case I have to run away ; I think with myself that perhaps ' to-morrow I shall be amongst the dead. Every one is on the look • ' out. The white men provide themselves with guns, revolvers, ! Btabbing knives, &c. An Englishman comes to offer us four guns ; we decline taking them, at the same time thanking him with gratitude for his attention. As for me, my plan is to make my escape by the back of the house over the hills, if they attack us by | the front; and if by the back, I shall rush into the sea to reach by [ swimming an English vessel anchored at about half a mile from the I shore. I have my window a little open to hear if anything hap- ' pens ; I resign my life into the hands of God for His glory. I wind up my alarm to rise at 1 o'clock to see if everything is quiet. The alarm sounds ; I get up, but find everything silent. On the 24th (Wednesday) the chiefs Kewa, Moka, and others send for Father Epalle and Father Petit- Jean, Bishop Pompallier being absent. They declare that although they do not like to interfere too much in that affair, yet they have sent for the father , of the murderer, who comes, bringing him with him. I Numerous canoes appear in the bay. The natives show themselves again. A large meeting takes place, and they decide that Maketu, the murderer, shall be handed over to justice. ! The Magistrate comes from Russell Town at 2 o'clock p.m., ! with 25 soldiers. Towards evening, at 6 o'clock, the soldiers march to the centre of the town ; at the other extremity opposite, the Magistrate, accompanied by his officers and a long file of Europeans and Maoris, advances. It is Maketu who is led to the boat of the Magistrate, to be conveyed to Russell Town to prison; the culprit steps into the boat his countenance much cast down. .Three soldiers and the Magistrate go in the boat and pull away, leaving the natives struck with that imposing countenance of the pakeha, which they had never witnessed before. They know that their man has not long to live, and that he will be rewarded according to his deserts Tahioa ki te mate. The natives admire the conduct of the white men; they tell me that it is " kapai." As for themselves they say that, according to their old habits, they would have, as madmen, made a rush upon the murderer's tribe, and made a general slaughter ; whereas the white men proceed slowly; the eldest of them are consulted; every inquiry is made ; proper information taken ; this is " kapai/' *' He ritenga pai tenei." — A war-dance takes place, and peace is restored. — "Ka niau te rongo." (To he continued.)