CUTTING THE FLAGSTAFF.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 184, 6 October 1876, Page 9

CUTTING THE FLAGSTAFF.

(Key. Father Garin's Lecture continued.) At the time the treaty at "Waitangi was signed there had been much hesitation on the part of some of the chiefs in accepting the proposals of the Government. They saw before them a race of men -who had a great power at command, and in case of any serious dispute arising they were ready to obtain submission by law or by war. Maketu, on account of his crime, had been given up to justice, but they said afterwards that they would not give up another man of their race so readily. The English population was increasing lupidly, and would soon outnumber the Maoris, and they felt that it was time for them to put a check upon what they considered a dangerous growing evil, tending to their subjugation. Some writers attribute the cutting of the flagstaff to a private dispute that Heke had with the native wife of an Englishman, but the following will show that it might have been a mere accidental circumstance. Hone Heke had been told by some mischeivous Englishman that the Treaty of Waitangi made the Maoris slaves of the Pakeha, and that when he would see the English flag fly upon the Maeki Hill overlooking the town of Kororareki, he would understand that the Maoris had lost their land, and that they were slaves. "Kuariro te Wenua, He pononga te Maori." To this Heke answered " that he would take care not to let that flag fly, and that he would cut down the flagstaff." When, therefore, the English flag, announcing that New Zealand was now depending on the Sovereignty of England, is hoisted, Heke, according to his promise or threat, goes with some five of his men to Kororareka, after having given notice, and cuts down the flagstaff, putting another to replace it. A. month or two after, an English man-of-war with 250 men, having orders to put up again, in the same hole the same trje which had been cut down, came and executed the work. But Heke, without losing time, is planning another attack. He prepares two trees, one of which will be put up in the place of that of the English, which he will cut down again, and the other to be put up in the front of the French Bishop's residence, as he was not mixed up with that affair, and not to give any offence to the French Government which might come also upon them.f Thus prepared, Heke reads the order that all magistrates and lawyers should leave the place and go away, and that he will not disturb the settlers. It is reported that the Governor is coining from Sydney with a second man-of-war, having on board 250 men, in order to capture Heke alive or dead. . On hearing this Heke says :— " If the Governor comes alone, I h will receive him, and treat him as a friend; if he comes with two |^ soldiers I will also have two men with me ; if he comes with three, \ shall have three ; if ten or more, I shall have ten or more ; I shall receive him in the plain, and there we shall fight. On the 13th of January, 1845, great preparations are made. The Magistrate, Mr. Beckham, comes to ask Father Baty if, in case of an attack, he would allow the women to retire into the C itholic Chapel. Father Baty is quite willing. Every one is preparing, packiug and securing the trunks, several of them carrying tnem into our chapel. It is arranged that Father Baty and Father Forest will go into the chapel, and Father Leon with me will stop at Bishop Pompallier's house to receive those -who will take refuge there. All the town is on the watch, and orders are given to fire upon any one who would attempt to hurt either man or property. I go to bed at 9 o'clock, Father Leon will come at 12 to wake me, so that I may watch in my turn, but as there is no attack he lets me sleep till daylight. The natives amongst themselves do not agree. Eewa declares that if Heke hurts in any way the white men he will shoot him. However, on the 19th, at 5 o'clock in the morning, Heke again cuts down the ilagstaff. There were only 30 soldiers in town and 80 National Guards. Heke had 200 men. At the same time other Maoris, to the number of 400, come to protect the properties of the Europeans against Heke. On the 21st and 22nd it is rumoured that Heke is preparing

an attack upon the town, his plan being to set fire to the barracks, the Magistrate's hotise, and the Customs. Bishop Pompallier, by this time, having come back from Sydney, the Magistrate comes to ask him whether in case of a fight he -would allow the -women and children to retire into the Catholic Church. The Bishop allows it with pleasure. Maori 3 are seen on the hills, the other side of the bay, by Waitangi. Bishop Pompallier, thinking that it is Heke that is coming, goes with Father Baty to meet and pacify him ; but instead of Heke it i* Kepu, who comes to join Tourati Waka to oppose Heke. The Bishop then writes a letter to Heke to exhort him to peace, and retui'ns to Kororareka, where he learns that it has been agreed that if the Government does not put up again the flagstaff there will be no war. The 400 Maoris then leave Kororareka to go home. At this time the English sloop-of-wav, the Hazard, comes tothe Bay of Islands, bringing 30 soldiers of infantry and 150 sailors. They put up the flagstaff again, and the English colors fly oncemore on the Maiki Hill. But now Heke gives the Magistrate notice that on the lltli March next he will come and cut down the flagstaff again. Bishop Pompallier hires a schooner as a safe place for his papers, vestments, and sacred vessels. The Commodore of the Hazard offers the Bishop protection for his schooner. A. good many Maoris offer to the Commodore their services. The Commodore declines because they have no clothes by which they may be distinguished from those of Heke. They return into their tribes. The Bishop writes again to Heke, to invite him to peace, but, if he persist and be stronger than the soldiers who are too few, let him at all events spare the settlers with their wives and children,, who are peaceful owners of their properties. And when the time is near at hand, Heke's men. and Kawiti approach, the Bishop goes along with an Englishman as a witness of what he is going to say. He advises Kawiti to come to some agreement, let him write to the Queen. Kawiti answers, " Bishop,, it is of no use, we are deceived; but I am expecting Heke's orders. You, Bishop, do nob know the thoughts of the white men, they conceal them from you, but we know everything." The Bishop comes back and tells the Magistrate that he must be prepared for an attack at any moment. The Government fortifies the town, puts up two blockades and two batteries. They put up a much larger flagstaff which they line round with iron plates, 3in. wide by -J in. thick ; they build with planks from a wreck a fortification about 10ft. square, fit to hold a few soldiers to defend the flagstaff. Half-way down the hill they establish a battery with a cannon to fire on the Maoris who should attempt to walk up to the flagstaff. During the night of the 11th March, as he had given notice,. Heke divides the troops keeping only 50 men with himself, and giving to Kawiti the remainder, that is, nearly 400, and says, "Now, you, Kawiti, go round by the Matauipe; at the break of day give the attack in that part, as for me I will with my men take care of the flagstaff. Before daylight, Heke with his men, by a long circuit in the bay, goes behind the hill of the flag-station, and through the fern and bush quietly ascends the hill, coming quite close to the blockade or flagstaff, being himself with his men in waiting for tl « opportune time. — {To he continued.)