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 =3 

 
 NEW ZEALAND 
 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 OR, 
 
 %\i War m S^araaM: 
 
 INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A SETTLER. 
 
 BY 
 
 REV. THOMAS GILBERT, 
 
 FORJIEHLY PASTOK OF riFE GENERAL BAPTIST CHURCH, DITCHLTNG, 
 SUSSEX. 
 
 LONDON : 
 A. W. BENNETT, 5, BISHOPSGATE WITHOUT; 
 
 HOULSTON AND WRIGHT, 65, PATERNOSTER ROW. 
 18(il.
 
 
 r-r'^11 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 The following pages have been written under 
 the pressure of a sorrowful and heavy heart, 
 amidst difficulties to which it is not now neces- 
 sary more particularly to allude. 
 
 I trust I shall be undei'stood when I say I 
 have no other desire than to show (however 
 imperfectly I have fulfilled my task) the im- 
 policy as well as the unchristian character of 
 all war. And this little narrative, taken in 
 connexion with what it may now be presumed 
 is well known of the manner in which the war 
 in Taranaki has been carried on, will only afford 
 another proof that as a nation we have yet to 
 learn the true spirit of the Great Teacher, who 
 said, '* If my kingdom were of this world, then 
 would my servants fight." 
 
 1491409
 
 IV PREFACE. 
 
 I have studied simplicity and accuracy more 
 than originality in my statements of facts ; and 
 if my reflections seem somewhat complaining, I 
 must throw myself on the candour and kind- 
 ness of my readers. 
 
 I have to acknowledge my ohligations to an 
 English gentleman, and to Miss Nicholson (a 
 lady in the Kev. H. Brown's family), for the 
 accompanying sketches. 
 
 That the hlessing of God may attend this 
 little book — that it may not wholly miss its 
 object — but that it may help in some small 
 measure to put the general mind in action, 
 under the pressure of the present " loar spirit" 
 to think righteously and soberly of the real 
 genius of Christianity; and be influenced by 
 its guidance " to follow peace with all men," 
 is the sincere wish of the Author, 
 
 THOMAS GILBEET. 
 
 Nelson, New Zealand, 
 
 November 10th, 1860.
 
 SETTLEES AND SOLDIERS, 
 
 &C., &G. 
 
 Taeanaki is the native name given to a small 
 settlement in the colony of New Zealand. It 
 was formerly termed New Plymouth; but the 
 town alone now goes by that name. Its 
 settlement took place in the early part of the 
 year 1841, under the auspices of a branch 
 of the New Zealand Company, which was 
 established in New Plymouth. It is the 
 richest and best province in the colony for all 
 agricultural pui'poses, and comprises an extent 
 of country so famed for its fertility, that it was 
 long called the garden of New Zealand. " It 
 contains nearly 2,200,000 acres, of which 
 about 300,000 form a belt of the richest arable 
 soil in the colony, extending along a coast- 
 
 B
 
 2 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS J 
 
 line of 115 miles. The remainder, covered 
 with dense forest, is equally fertile, and con- 
 tains hut a small proportion of unavailahle 
 land. The settlers occupy about 11,000 acres 
 of open land, and 32,000 acres of forest land; 
 theraheing, in addition, ahout 20,000 acres of 
 forest land in the hands of the Government, 
 which is unoccupied on account of the 
 insecure state of the province, and the supe- 
 riority of the unpurchased open district in its 
 vicinity." 
 
 " During the first two years of its existence 
 it received, by direct emigration from England, 
 upwards of a thousand settlers ; and though it 
 has received continual additions during the 
 last seventeen years, yet its population, on 
 31st December, 1858, inclusive of increase by 
 birth, only amounted to 2,850 souls." There 
 has been a slight increase since that date. 
 " The native male population (including chil- 
 dren) numbered, in 1857, only 1,751. They 
 hold upwards of 2,000,000 acres, one-seventh 
 of which is immediately available for the
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 3 
 
 plough." All but a very small portion of this 
 land remains wholly uncultivated. 
 
 At Taranaki there is no harbour, and the 
 roadstead is exposed to the north-westerly 
 winds, which are, however, not of very frequent 
 occurrence. The limited quantity of land 
 purchased from the natives, and the uneasi- 
 ness felt on account of the feuds existing 
 amongst them respecting their lands, with 
 which they have always parted very grudgingly, 
 has caused its growth to be very tardy. The 
 settlers, for the most part agriculturists, work- 
 ing very hard, have gained but little more than 
 a comfortable livelihood. Some exceptions 
 (of course) may have existed, but colonial (or, 
 at least, Taranaki) prosperity is a plant of 
 very feeble growth. I have witnessed some 
 striking instances of success. Men with sinewy 
 frames and empty pockets — by dint of hard 
 living and hard working, with no knowledge 
 beyond how to "dig and delve" — first receiving 
 extravagant wages for their labour — finding 
 every facility for acquiring land, cattle, and 
 b2
 
 4 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 sheep — they have become men of comparative 
 prosperity, road-commissioners, legislators, and 
 then the despisers of those whose money 
 first gave them the start. On the other hand, 
 I have witnessed some amount of misery — 
 men suffering deprivations unknown to them 
 in the early part of their life; having but 
 a small amount of capital, and a limited 
 knowledge of the science of agriculture, with 
 an inaptitude to drop readily into the free 
 and easy, and somewhat selfish life of " old 
 settlers," and, for the sake of peace and 
 quietness, enduring annoyances not easily 
 imagined by the members of social life in 
 England. 
 
 In common with other settlements in New 
 Zealand, Taranaki suffered depression for 
 many years, arising from want of capital and 
 a market ; but now the increasing facilities for 
 exporting produce to the Australian markets, 
 and the present very fairly remunerating prices 
 obtained by the farmers, promise a better 
 state of things. Previous to the present
 
 OEj THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 5 
 
 unhappy war with the natives, it was con- 
 fidently believed that a brighter day had 
 dawned upon Taranaki, and that a career of 
 prosperity had at last commenced. 
 
 It has long been felt that what was wanted 
 to ensure this prosperity could only be ob- 
 tained by purchasing more land from the 
 natives. This would, doubtless, be an induce- 
 ment to capitalists to seek a home amongst the 
 fruitful valleys and verdant hills of a country, 
 with (proverbially) " the finest climate in the 
 world ;" and their capital brought into play, 
 would turn twenty-five miles of sea-coast line, 
 having a varying width of iron sand, into a 
 source of wealth, commerce and manufac- 
 ture." An increasing population would of 
 itself create a market, bring 'down the extrava- 
 gantly high price of labour, and cause inter- 
 nal improvements in the country, by which 
 all the settlers would be mutually benefited. 
 It was natural, therefore, that the settlers 
 should have a " longing for the use of land 
 * See Appendix A.
 
 6 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 which was lying useless on all sides around 
 them, the nominal owners not being able to 
 turn it to account." 
 
 The most frequent topic of discussion, with 
 both natives and Europeans, was about the land; 
 and the boasting assertion was continually 
 made by the latter, " The Waitara will he ours 
 hefore long" The progress of the settlement — 
 the success of any extensive enterprise — 
 seemed to hang on the possession of this 
 land. It had a small harbour, and was an 
 eligible spot for a town. Now, unfortunately, 
 these sanguine hopes met with a repulse, by 
 the obstinate refusal of the natives to part 
 with their land. There was a strong feeHng 
 amongst them against the increase of the 
 white man's territory — generated partly, no 
 doubt, from a sense of their own decay in 
 numbers and in power, and seeing the colonists 
 continually increasing in both. Although 
 formerly conquered by the Waikatos, a power- 
 ful northern tribe, and kept in a state of 
 slavery for years, they gladly availed themselves
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 7 
 
 of the opportunity to return to the homes of 
 then' forefathers, made secure by the presence 
 of settlers; and fearing no longer their old 
 enemies the Waikatos, who had consented to 
 their taking possession of the land which, 
 according to Maori laws of conquest, had 
 been confiscated. " Being but a remnant of a 
 once numerous people, disorganized and hardly 
 acknowledging or respecting the authority of 
 their hereditary chiefs, they were prevented 
 by mutual discord, jealousy, and conflicting 
 claims, from acting in concert for the disposal 
 of their lands." Whilst but a few were inclined 
 to sell, the majority were determined that no 
 further alienation of their land should take 
 place. A crude feeling of nationality took 
 possession of the minds of the aborigines of 
 New Zealand generally, and this feeling ex- 
 hibited itself among the Taranaki natives by 
 a determined opposition to the anxious wishes 
 of the settlers to gain possession of Waitara. 
 To the latter, this was the more grievous and 
 difficult to bear patiently, because they saw
 
 8 SETTLEKS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 in other settlements tlie extinction of native 
 titles to a large extent. 
 
 It would be a painful and melancholy 
 history to enter into a full relation of the 
 native feuds, respecting the sale of their 
 lands, or to give the details of the bitter, cruel, 
 and savage warfare that for four years kept the 
 settlement of Taranaki in a state of fear and 
 jeopardy. It is little more than two years ago 
 that the tragedy of Katatore was enacted 
 within the boundaries of the settlement. 
 This chief had some time before slaughtered 
 Bawiri, a native assessor, and six others, in a 
 dispute respecting land, which Eawiri (who, it 
 now appears, had no right to sell) oiFered the 
 Government. And it was whilst he and his 
 followers were cutting the line for the sur- 
 veyors, that the unhappy conflict took place. 
 ^ This was the beginning of our troubles. In 
 January, 1858, Thaia avenged Rawiri's death 
 in the cross-roads outside of New Plymouth, 
 where Katatore was pierced with bullets, beaten 
 and mangled with tomahawks, to the horror of
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 9 
 
 the settlers and consternation of tlie authori- 
 ties — for they were too feeble and powerless 
 to apprehend the murderer.* Katatore had been 
 opposed to the sale of land ; Thaia now favours 
 the sale, and therefore represents the interest 
 which Rawiri shed his blood to secure for the 
 white man, and Wiremu Kingi, with whom the 
 Government is now at war, the opposing side. 
 
 • In the beginning of March, 1859, Te Teira 
 offered for sale his interest on a block of land 
 at Waitara (600 acres), and in the presence of 
 Wiremu Kingi and a large assembly of natives, 
 placed his mat before the Governor's feet, in 
 token of its surrender. His Excellency then 
 declared his determination, — " On the one hand, 
 to take no land from any native who could not 
 show a fair title; and on the others if such a 
 
 * Although it must he mentioned that the miUtia -were 
 called out, and a proclamation issued to the effect that 
 all natives found in arms within a certain distance of New 
 Plymouth would he considered in arms against the 
 Queen, yet it was well known that the natives acted 
 openly in defiance of this, and no measures were taken 
 in pursuance of the threat conveyed in the proclamation.
 
 10 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 title was shown, to alloio no other native or tribe 
 to interfere with the sale of land by such an 
 owner." Wiremu Kingi immediately declared 
 to the Governor, " Notwithstanding Teira's 
 offer, I will not permit the sale of Waitara to 
 the Pakeha. Waitara is in my hands. I will 
 not give it up ;" repeating thrice " I will not;" 
 and adding, " I have spoken." He then with 
 his followers left the presence of his Excellency 
 abruptly. There is, however, this additional 
 fact to be noticed, that Paoro, a native, told 
 the Governor " that Teira could not sell the 
 land he had offered without the consent of 
 Weteriki and himself," and we have no evidence 
 to prove they subsequently consented to the 
 sale. So that, at the very onset, it does not 
 appear clear, that Teira had an indisputable 
 title to sell this block of land. The Governor, 
 however, seems to have been satisfied that 
 Teira could show an " indefeasible right " to 
 the disputed land ; and a part of the purchase- 
 money (,£100) was paid by Mr. Parris, Assistant 
 Land Commissioner, to Teira, on the 29th
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKT. 11 
 
 November, 1859, in the presence of Wiremu 
 Kingi — who then stated, " The land is theirs, 
 but I will not let them sell it." 
 
 The Governor, acting upon the principle 
 which he had laid down, determined to accept 
 Teira's title ; and in the month of January, 
 1860, gave directions to Mr. Parris " to take 
 steps to make AViremu Kingi and his natives 
 aware of the Governor's firm determination to 
 complete the purchase ; and that he was to set 
 about the necessary survey ; but in case of any 
 resistance being made, the survey staff was to 
 retire, and he was to intimate to Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Murray, that the assistance of a 
 military force was necessary, who will there- 
 upon, agreeably to instructions he has received, 
 take military possession of the block of land, 
 and the survey be prosecuted under the pro- 
 tection of the troops." Those instructions 
 being that, in case of any resistance on the 
 part of Wiremu Kingi, or any other native, 
 he was to " call out the Taranaki militia and 
 volunteers, and to proclaim martial law,'' —
 
 12 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 " that he was not to have recourse to that 
 power unless in his opinion it was impossible 
 to carry out the wishes of the Government 
 without doing so."* 
 
 Having thus referred to the Governor's 
 despatches to the Home Government, it will be 
 necessary, in order that the reader may under- 
 stand the circumstances which thickened in 
 their portentous and melancholy character 
 after these instructions were given, again to 
 quote from " Papers on Native Affairs." 
 
 "In the month of February, 1860, the 
 Governor writes to the Home Secretary, 
 stating that ' contrar)^ to the expectation I 
 expressed in my last, Wiremu Kingi has 
 resisted the survey of the land purchased from 
 the chief Teira. No violence was offered, but 
 the unsettled state of the tribes north and 
 south of that district, and the continuance of 
 the King Movement, induced me to take every 
 possible precaution to prevent bloodshed, the 
 consequences of which it would be impossible 
 * See Appendix B.
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 13 
 
 to see.' In another despatch (22nd March), 
 his Excellency states, ' notwithstanding his 
 most sanguine expectations, and endeavours 
 on his part to avoid hostilities, a collision had 
 taken place.' And then his Excellency arrives 
 at the conclusion that ' the contest of Wiremu 
 Kingi is merged in the far greater one of 
 nationality.' In the tenth paragraph of his 
 despatch, the Governor says, ' I now turn to 
 what is in my opinion the real question at 
 issue ; the Maories have seen with alarm the 
 numerical increase of the Europeans, and 
 recognise with bitterness of heart their own 
 decrease, and that the King Movement 'and 
 the Land League are only the practical results 
 of these feelings. And tribes, heretofore at 
 deadly enmity with each other, have all buried 
 their tribal quarrels, and are ready to unite to 
 arrest the progress of the Europeans, and 
 throw off their dominion.' " 
 
 I quote the above words, for they are the 
 key to the explanation of the present unhappy 
 war. The whole difficulty is in the questions
 
 14 SETTLEES AND SOLDIERS J 
 
 of title, and tribal right of the Maori King 
 Movement, and the Anti-land-selling League. 
 If the reader would procure " The Story of 
 New Zealand, Past and Present, Savage and 
 Civilized," by Dr. Thomson, and also a 
 pamphlet, " The Maori King Movement," by 
 Rev. T. Buddie, Auckland, he will learn more 
 respecting the bearing of this question than 
 I can possibly convey in this publication. It 
 is necessary to know something of the history 
 of the dishonourable, and in many instances 
 wilfully perverse government of the colony, 
 to understand why the present melancholy 
 state of things should ever have existed. 
 
 Even from the very meagre allusions above it 
 will be seen, that the present war is ostensibly 
 about what has been termed " a comparatively 
 valueless block of land ; " but in reality against 
 the natives, who are said to be rebels, and 
 " disposed to throw off their allegiance to the 
 Queen." 
 
 It is very doubtful whether the natives have 
 ever had any very clear idea of their obliga-
 
 OR. THE "WAR IN TARANAKl. 16 
 
 tions to Her Majesty, or of allegiance to her 
 sovereignty. The prevaihng notion amongst 
 the most inteUigent natives is, that the 
 Government has not dealt fairly hy them — and 
 the inefficiency of its power or authority to 
 put a stop to native feuds, murders and blood- 
 shed, has led them to seek to do for themselves 
 what should have been done for them. 
 
 In the Quarterly Eeview for October, 1869, 
 there is an able paper on " New Zealand, its 
 Progress and Resources," in which occur the 
 following very apposite words : — " The elected 
 King is animated by no feeling of hostility to 
 the British rule, but a different sentiment may 
 actuate his successor. The pohtical future of 
 New Zealand is certainly not so clear as we 
 could desire to see it, and it is to be hoped 
 that the Colonial Assembly will perceive the 
 necessity of considerable concessions, to enable 
 the Governor to deal in a satisfactory manner 
 wdth difficulties which must increase from year 
 to year, and even now present a threatening 
 aspect. The appropriation of a portion of the
 
 16 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 revenue for native purposes, and the conferring 
 upon the Governor an unfettered discretion in 
 its apphcation, would seem to be the only 
 possible solution of the perplexing problem, 
 how to reconcile the protection of native 
 interests with the domination of a foreign race. 
 The justice and honour of Great Britain are 
 involved, and there can be no doubt that she 
 will see her pledges and intentions fully 
 carried out. 
 
 " If we have estimated correctly the character 
 of this noble people, they are as sensitive on 
 the point of personal treatment as they are 
 jealous of any infringement of their rights, A 
 New Zealauder is ever more ready to resent 
 an affront than to avenge a wrong. A sense 
 of personal worth pervades all classes. They 
 were the original and hereditary proprietors 
 of the soil. The gradation of I'anks is strictly 
 preserved. The demeanour of a high-born 
 chief, in whatever position he may be placed, 
 is marked by a manly ease, a fine tact, 
 and a lofty bearing that would command the
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 17 
 
 admiration of the most fastidious society. The 
 higher orders are habituated to a deferential 
 treatment from their inferiors, and are courteous 
 and affable in return. They are by no means 
 convinced that we possess any natural supe- 
 riority, whatever advantages civilization may 
 have conferred upon us ; and a slight, coming 
 from one of our race, would be felt like a 
 wound. They have their vices and their 
 faults, which certainly are not hidden under 
 the mask of an artificial refinement ; but, in 
 all the attributes of manhood, they are in every 
 respect equal to the people with whom they 
 are politically united. Secure at present by 
 their numbers, and by the force of their 
 character, from any flagrant attack upon their 
 rights, may they never be exposed to a social 
 prosecution ! May no caste-prejudice spring 
 up to ahenate and repel them from our fellow- 
 ship."* 
 That was an anxious day with all the settlers 
 
 * It is astonishing with what quickness the natives 
 acquire the knowledge of writing and arithmetic.
 
 18 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 at Taranaki when it was known that the 
 Assistant Land Commissioner and the staflf of 
 surveyors were gone to the Waitara ; for we all 
 expected they would be opposed by Wiremu 
 Kingi, and feared that serious consequences 
 would ensue. An opposition did take place, but 
 no violence was used. Several Maori women 
 were assembled on Teira's land in expectation 
 of the surveyors, and these took up the chain 
 repeatedly, and prevented the prosecution of 
 the work. The company hastily returned to 
 New Plymouth, and soon the circumstance 
 was generally made known, and at the same 
 time that the Governor intended to enforce 
 the survey — by the aid of the military if 
 necessary. This determination caused some 
 alarm; and the daily expectation of the pro- 
 clamation of martial law (about wliich, in some 
 minds, there was a strangely confused idea) 
 impelled many of the out-settlers to seek in the 
 town a refuge from dangers which seemed to 
 them inevitable. A sort of panic gave an 
 impulse to several, hastily to leave their
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 19 
 
 homes, with their wives and children, their 
 goods and chattels. This feeling soon caused 
 the town to fill rapidly, and somewhat alarm- 
 ingly. Carts were to be seen, daily, laden with 
 fm'niture hastily packed, and men's minds were 
 filled with anxiety and forebodings of evil. 
 
 It was felt by the authorities that un- 
 necessary alarm existed, and that people were 
 making things wear a very much worse appear- 
 ance than the reality presented ; and yet 
 official circulars were sent to difi'erent districts, 
 suggesting the propriety of the settlers deter- 
 mining on a place of rendezvous, or the 
 erection of stockades in case of sudden 
 emergency, or of any attack of armed natives. 
 This only increased the alarm ; and ex- 
 aggerated rumours of the intentions of the 
 Maories caused several homes to be at once 
 abandoned. In two instances, the majority 
 of rate-payers refused to respond to the wishes 
 of the provincial Government, and they were 
 pretty well censured for supposed want pf 
 loyalty and patriotism. 
 
 c2
 
 20 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 The district of Omata is one of the most 
 pleasant in the province. The village was (for 
 it no longer exists) ahout four miles from 
 New Plymouth. The settlers were widely 
 scattered over the district, and their quiet 
 homesteads would he seriously exposed to the 
 predatory hahits of the natives, should they 
 engage in open hostilities with the Govern- 
 ment. A public meeting was therefore 
 convened, in compliance with the wishes of 
 the authorities ; and it was concluded, at that 
 meeting, that something must be done to 
 protect property, and at the same time keep 
 the main road from the south open to town ; 
 and suggestions were emphatically given that 
 the best site for a stockade was the very 
 identical spot afterwards chosen by the 
 southern natives for erecting their fortified 
 pah, just previous to the battle of Waireka. 
 It was felt, however, by some of the settlers, 
 that to raise a stockade might be the very 
 means of bringing the natives to the spot, in 
 order to secure so desirable an outpost, but
 
 OK, THE WAR IN TAEANAKI. 21 
 
 the majority were in favour of proceeding 
 immediately with the work. It was remarkable 
 how' little was volunteered in the way of 
 money or labour towards it. The proclama- 
 tion of martial law, the next day after this 
 meeting, and the appointment of certain men 
 to superintend the erection of a fortified place 
 of refuge, gave at once an air of reality to the 
 expectations of open hostilities ; and the 
 settlers began to feel how precarious the 
 tenure of their home happiness was, when 
 such warlike preparations were going on 
 around them. The calling out of the militia 
 and volunteers put an end at once to any indi- 
 vidual option about the matter of entering 
 into the quarrel with the natives — as all, from 
 the age of eighteen years to that of sixty, were 
 compelled to do so unless legally exempted. 
 But few were able to get release from duties 
 which w^ere felt to ill accord with the quiet 
 of a settler's life. 
 
 A distinction had always hitherto been 
 maintained by the natives between the settler
 
 22 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS ; 
 
 and the soldier— the one being his neighbour, 
 the other the armed enforcer of a scarcely 
 admitted right of supremacy of Queen Victoria, 
 who to them was an abstraction of a mighty 
 devouring power, with an appetite never 
 satisfied with empty acres, but always crying, 
 and ever likely to cry, " Sell, sell,'' until the 
 whole of their lands and their children's 
 homes were absorbed by her subjects — 
 the white men yet to land on these distant 
 shores from England, the seat of that power. 
 
 That distinction is now felt, by the influence 
 of the existing war policy which has made the 
 settlers to be parties in the land squabble, to 
 be at an end ; and the happy relation, which 
 once existed between settler and Maori, for ever 
 extinguished. Had it not been for the 
 dragging of the settlers into the quarrel, to this 
 day I believe they might have remained on 
 their farms and in their quite homes. There 
 was something more than mere suspicion of the 
 intention of Government in the minds of the 
 more intelligent and observant natives, when
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 23 
 
 they saw the encouragement given to the 
 formation of Volunteer Rifle Corps, and the 
 constant rifle practice at a target ; and a full 
 realization was arrived at, on the very day that 
 the militia was called out for active service, 
 guns served out, and stockades commenced. 
 This was their frequent inquiry, — " Why all 
 this preparation? Why should every settler be 
 made to bear arms, except it be to exterminate 
 the Maories ?" And again and again was the 
 question put, " How much the Governor make 
 a pay to you to fight the Maories for their land? 
 You don't want land — you plenty land — the 
 Governor want land ?" No explanation would 
 satisfy them, or remove the fears they enter- 
 tained. Could the natives stand still and see 
 all this preparation for war without feeling that 
 in the future there was a dark and terrible 
 ultimatum for them ? They knew nothing of 
 the white man's more than questionable policy 
 that " the best way to promote peace is to be 
 prepared for war." Their history and ex- 
 perience taught them that preparation was
 
 24 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS ; 
 
 ever the certain antecedent of ruthless, bloody, 
 and unsparing warfare. 
 
 I have ever regarded the subject of a col- 
 lision with the natives as dangerous to the 
 whole settlement, and likely to be disastrous 
 to the settlers. These views were generally 
 known at New Plymouth to be entertained by 
 me, and I never scrupled to declare them, 
 however unpopular they might be. On the 
 subject of war generally, I held " peace prin- 
 ciples," in common with many thousands of 
 Christians ; and endeavoured to impress the 
 truth that " what is obtained by the sword, by 
 the sword may perish," Thus far, in a general 
 way ; but of this war in particular, I hold that 
 the madly rushing to arms to settle a quarrel 
 which by no means at the time was made clear 
 what it was about, was not only unchristian and 
 unrighteous, but impolitic and dishonourable. 
 ImpoHtic, as subsequent events have painfully 
 proved ; — dishonourable, first to the natives, 
 because the promise had been made to them, 
 " on the part of the Crown, that they should
 
 OK, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 25 
 
 be one people with us, one people under one 
 law," and " as a sacred promise " it was said of 
 the Government "that when we usethese words, 
 conscious as we are of their deep import, we 
 mean what we say;" — dishonourable to the 
 settlers, because being shut out from any 
 representative legislation on native land ques- 
 tions, they had been guaranteed protection, 
 and the Imperial power had engaged to adjudi- 
 cate on these matters ; — and yet we are 
 victimised by a sudden and unlooked-for 
 participation of the experimental legislation 
 of a 7iew policy respecting the natives, and their 
 King Movement and its adjunct the Anti-land- 
 selling League. 
 
 It will, therefore, be no matter of sui'prise to 
 the reader, that I was not carried along with 
 the current of opinion in Taranaki, which was 
 in favour of war, and in too many instances 
 expressed by a desire to thoroughly exterminate 
 the natives I When the militia was first called 
 out, immediately after the murder of Katatore, 
 I refused to serve, as did also my eldest son,
 
 26 SETTLEES AND SOLDIERS ; 
 
 George Channing Gilbert. I was after a time 
 legally exempted, as having been a minister of 
 religion in England. My son was fined five 
 pounds. We both memorialized the Governor, 
 claimed our exemption from serving, on the 
 broad principles of Christian truth, and were 
 officially informed that the Government had no 
 power to remit the fine. I believe there was 
 some legal quibble about the Militia Act, and 
 therefore, after a few months, the fine was 
 remitted. When it was determined by Govern- 
 ment that Teira's land at the Waitara should 
 be surveyed — forcibly if resisted, and such 
 resistance did actually take place — the militia 
 was, after a few days' notice, called out for 
 active service. Notwithstanding my legal 
 exemption, I received a summons, as did also 
 my two eldest sons, to appear at the muster of 
 the male settlers, to be sworn in to serve in 
 the militia until lawfully discharged from its 
 duties. We all three answered to this sum- 
 mons, and met our assembled brother-settlers. 
 On the presentation of the New Testament to
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 27 
 
 US by the appointed Captain, I and my eldest 
 son both objected to taking the oath, or even 
 making an affirmation, stating that we could 
 not conscientiously enter into a solemn agree- 
 ment to take up arms and fight, as we believed 
 all war to be unchristian and impolitic. The 
 Captain replied, " In the fulfilment of my duty I 
 must read to you the clause in the Militia Act 
 applying to your refusal." This he did, and by 
 that clause we were threatened with fines and 
 imprisonment, if we persisted in our refusal to 
 serve. Knowing the righteousness of our 
 position, we were both firm and steadfast. My 
 son Thomas (aged twenty years) had no very 
 strong feeling about the matter, and without 
 well knowing the nature of the engagement he 
 was entering into, took the oath, and was 
 enrolled as a private. It was a painful and 
 difficult position for a father to be placed in : — 
 one son conscientiously refusing the oath and 
 the service, the other as truthfully saying he 
 did not object to the oath, although very much 
 disliking the service. No protestations of mine
 
 28 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS ; 
 
 respecting this lad would have any effect, for 
 every one concerned in the affair was full of 
 bitterness and wrath against me and my eldest 
 son. I did not, at that time, claim exemption 
 from serving, on the ground of my having been 
 a Christian minister ; and my objections were 
 at once set down as arising from meanness, 
 cowardice, and want of patriotism. In a letter, 
 however, to the Commander of the militia I 
 stated, more fully than I could with propriety 
 in an open field and amidst a crowd of settlers, 
 my objections, and claimed legal exemption. 
 I was at once released, and this release rescued 
 me from being drilled in a service so opposed 
 to the spirit of Christianity, and delivered me 
 from the threatened consequences of a refusal 
 to submit. 
 
 My son George, by the great kindness of an 
 ever dear friend, was enabled, with the full 
 consent of Colonel Murray and that of the 
 Commander of the militia, to proceed at once 
 to Nelson; and so escaped the fines and 
 imprisonment, which would inevitably have
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 29 
 
 been inflicted had he remained in Taranaki, 
 as nothing would have induced him to sacrifice 
 principle, or disobey his conscience. This 
 friend was a close neighbour, a gentleman of a 
 Quaker family, whose delicate health obtained 
 for him exemption from serving in the militia. 
 These two had but a few hours to get ready, 
 and they left by steamer, with only a carpet 
 bag; and thus made the first disruption of ties, 
 the nearest and dearest to me and mine. 
 
 Soon the habitual inclination to exaggerate 
 every trifling event, led my unfortunate neigh- 
 bours to the inventing or imagining the most 
 fearful and direful calamities as approaching. 
 Eumours of the most extraordinary character 
 precipitated the removal of nearly all the 
 families of the out-settlers into town, and 
 excited the builders of the Omata and other 
 stockades into a most persevering and constant 
 effort to complete their places of refuge. I 
 remained with my family, quietly pursuing 
 our usual avocations, but mourning with a 
 full heart over this state of things, and now
 
 80 SETTLERS AND SOLDIEES ; 
 
 and then having a feeble anticipation of the 
 coming storm, giving httle credence to each 
 report as it v^afted its way to our dehghtful and 
 quiet homestead. Until an absolute necessity 
 presented itself, we were all determined not to 
 fly. There was a printed notice posted close 
 to the proclamation of martial law (but a 
 few yards from my fence), issued by Colonel 
 Murray, the then sole responsible authority in 
 Taranaki, that due notice should be given 
 to the settlers when it was deemed ab- 
 solutely necessary for them to resort with 
 their families to town for safety. We relied on 
 this, as did some few others in the neighbour- 
 hood. 
 
 It was singular how many people repeated 
 everything they heard from others, no matter 
 how inconsistent in point of fact ; how some 
 with an over-excited imagination seemed to 
 see, hear, and feel things which did not 
 exist; and how others again told the most 
 unblushing falsehoods. As an example : — I 
 one day met a settler, who said to me, " The
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 31 
 
 Commander is going to hunt out the Maories 
 with 300 dogs. My word, that will be better 
 than shooting them I " No thought was 
 bestowed on the impracticability of training the 
 dogs, even if such a number could have been 
 obtained, or of taken them when trained into 
 the bush, or of the inhumanity of the whole 
 project. How strange, that men who have 
 an acute sense of right with regard to every- 
 thing belonging to the white man, should 
 be so utterly oblivious of the fact, that the 
 natives are men of like feelings and passions 
 with themselves ! And again, nothing is so 
 irritating as such falsehoods; so the authori- 
 ties, in a public notice, cautioned persons 
 against giving " public currency to rumours 
 of danger from natives supposed to entertain 
 hostile sentiments ; " and required that " in- 
 telligence affecting the safety of the settlement 
 should be communicated to them, and not 
 made public unless its authenticity was fully 
 ascertained, and the necessity for its publica- 
 tion quite apparent." I mention this, because
 
 32 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 it only tended to confirm us in the wisdom of 
 patiently waiting on events. 
 
 I may be pardoned for giving a brief 
 description of my homestead, its surrounding 
 scenery, and the neighbours, with whom I 
 shared the dangers out of which a merciful 
 Providence delivered us. Brighton-place 
 Farm lies about a mile south from the Omata 
 church, on a road branching out of the main 
 southern road. This road is continued past 
 my house for several miles into the bush, 
 towards the foot of Mount Egmont; but 
 having a branch road, a short distance from 
 my house, winding round into the main road 
 again — the junction being at the Omata Inn. 
 Out of this, in a straight line with the inn, 
 there branched another road, leading in its 
 winding course past several settlers' homesteads 
 into the mountain road, not far from Burton's 
 hill. On the mountain road was Batapihipihi, 
 a small native pah, surrounded by Maori 
 reserve land. 
 
 I am thus particular in describing these
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TAEANAKI. 33 
 
 roads and their relative position, as I shall 
 have occasion again to refer to them. My 
 house is pleasantly situated on slightly rising 
 ground ahove, and but a few chains from the 
 road. The country around is rather high, 
 above the level of the sea, being for the most 
 part open towards the shore, with several 
 nicely cultivated farms in the distance — having 
 cleared bush land on all sides — still with a 
 sufficient number of resei-ved spots of standing 
 evergreen trees to be a striking feature in the 
 landscape. We enjoyed many fine and delight- 
 ful views. The open roadstead with the ships 
 at anchor, the steamers frequently passing 
 and touching at New Plymouth, the military 
 barracks and the flag-staff could all be seen. 
 The white limestone cliffs of Mokau, frequently 
 glaring in the sunhght, called to mind the 
 chalk cliffs of dear old England — Beachy Head, 
 and other favourite localities at " home" 
 
 " Our farm" was our pride. For nine years 
 I and my family had toiled, far too often fail- 
 ing in the realization of our fondly cherished 
 
 D
 
 34 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS ; 
 
 hopes, that prosperity would crown our un- 
 tiring industry and self-denial. We had 
 brought the small proportion of arable land, 
 on the farm of fifty acres, into a high state of 
 cultivation — ploughing deep — fallowing — dib- 
 bling in our wheat, drilling in our swede 
 turnips with guano, and growing beans to a 
 much larger extent than any other farm in 
 Taranaki. We had a nice, pleasant garden — 
 fruitful apple and peach orchards, with shrub- 
 beries of native plants — a beautiful belt of 
 bush at the back of the house, with dense 
 undergrowth of shrub-like trees, through 
 which numerous walks were cut; one afford- 
 ing a long vista looking out upon the mountain, 
 the sea, and the jutting point of land at 
 Tataraimaka. 
 
 Our delight, at the close of day, was to 
 watch the setting sun at the beginning and 
 end of this walk — the transitory twilight, the 
 purple tinge decking the clouds, and the 
 nearest range of wooded hills with a soft and 
 shadowy light — the glorious mountain — the
 
 OK, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 35 
 
 last object glowing with the effulgent rays, 
 illumined in a wonderfully beautiful manner — 
 a portion of the firmament displaying the 
 brightest blue — while over the whole the most 
 delicate shades of colour seemed breathed as 
 it were like a dissolving rainbow, whose glow- 
 ing colours were intermingled, and yet singly 
 perceptible. Alas ! this display of colours 
 continued but for a little time, then gradually 
 faded till it vanished entirely, and the moun- 
 tain assumed a pale, ashy, leaden-like appear- 
 ance. This most beautiful scene it was our 
 happiness often to witness. 
 
 Across the road, but a few yards from the 
 entrance to my house, was the gate and path 
 leading down a small valley to the " Swiss 
 Cottage," the residence of my before-mentioned 
 friend. A pleasant spot, redeemed from the 
 wilderness ! The garden, lawn, shrubberies, 
 conservatory, and house, perfectly unique in 
 the taste displayed, and the admirable skill 
 exhibited in rearing the choicest and most 
 expensive plants and shrubs ; it was an 
 d2
 
 36 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS ; 
 
 exquisitely beautiful place. My eldest son 
 George lived with my friend. I dare not trust 
 myself to speak of the happy hours spent in 
 that house, garden, and grounds — suffice it 
 to say, they were to me as the oasis in the 
 desert of my colonial experience. 
 
 Near to my house was Brookwood, with its 
 park-like scenery and farm buildings, the 
 residence of Kev. H. Brown, formerly Rector 
 of Burton Pedwardine, near Sleaford, Lincoln. 
 Mr. Brown was the resident clergyman of 
 Omata. He is the head of a large family 
 of children, with servants and labourers about 
 him — actively useful and zealous in the 
 performance of his parochial duties. These 
 duties often brought him into relationship 
 with the southern natives, many of whom 
 regarded him as their missionary, He had 
 not settled amongst us more than a year, and 
 during that time had been at considerable 
 expense in improving the estate and employ- 
 ing labour on the farm. It is a grievous thing 
 that a gentleman so universally respected as

 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 37 
 
 Mr. Brown was, and is, in his parish, both 
 at home and at Omata, should be called upon, 
 so early in his colonial career, to experience 
 so many trials as have fallen to his share. 
 The firmness of Mr. Brown and family in 
 remaining at Brookwood, notwithstanding the 
 alarm of nearly all around, greatly encouraged 
 me, my wife and family, to remain in our 
 house, trusting in our heavenly Father for 
 protection and safety. 
 
 Another neighbour was Mr. Touett, formerly 
 a resident in the island of Jersey. With the 
 manners and language of a Frenchman, he had 
 been exempted as a foreigner from serving in 
 the militia, and as such was considered by 
 the natives. He, however, entertained the 
 same views of the unlawfulness of all war as 
 myself, my friend, and my eldest son ; and 
 feeling secure by the oft-repeated assurances 
 of the Maories that he would not be touched, 
 for fear of bringing the " French to fight 
 them," he remained in his house with his wife 
 and family. Besides these I have named, there
 
 38 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 was Mr. Somers (a German), wife and child ; 
 he was employed by Mr. Brown. Also, Manuel 
 De Castro (a Portuguese), wife and children ; 
 James Keeler, a superannuated whaler, with 
 his Maori wife; also, Hannah, a Maori woman, 
 the faithful wife of a neighbour, who was then 
 serving as a private in the militia. These 
 all lived in singular proximity to my house, 
 and, being neutral, were often assured of their 
 safety. 
 
 In order that my narrative may be under- 
 stood by the reader, it will be necessary briefly 
 to allude to the fact of the Governor's arrival 
 at New Plymouth, and the circumstances 
 which led to a collision with the natives. An 
 attempt was made to bring W. Kingi to 
 terms, either to see or communicate with the 
 Governor. When, after some difficulty, Eev. 
 J. Whitely, a Wesleyan Missionary, found W. 
 Ivingi, and prevailed on him to admit a con- 
 ference with Mr. Parris, he replied he could 
 send his decision to his Excellency next day. 
 Mr. Whitely endeavoured to urge the natives
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 39 
 
 to give up their opposition to the survey — said 
 the land would be surveyed ; and if the chain 
 was again touched whilst the surveyors were 
 marking the boundaries, the military would fire 
 upon them. Their answer was, "What! kill us 
 for touching a chain — a thing that has no blood, 
 no life !" The promised decision of W. Kingi 
 was not considered by the Governor satisfac- 
 tory ; and this soon became evident to people, 
 from the bustle in the camp. 
 
 Sunday, March 4th, was very unlike a day of 
 rest, of devotion, and love to God and man. The 
 whole of the day was occupied in getting ready 
 for the troops to march to Waitara before day- 
 light the next morning. At half-past three on 
 Monday, a.m., the troops silently assembled — 
 the advance sounded, and the column marched 
 oflfin slow time. Well would it have been for 
 Taranaki, if those troops had never left their 
 camp ! For, disguise the fact however you may 
 — that, instead of being our protectors, to them 
 we owe in reality our difficulties, our mis- 
 chances, our losses, and our doubts of a speedy
 
 40 SETTLEES AND SOLDIEES ; 
 
 and safe termination of the war, — the idea 
 forces itself upon the mind, from the ex- 
 perience ah'eady gained, that our miUtary 
 estabhshment is thoroughly inefficient to coj)e 
 with the predatory mode of warfare pursued by 
 the aborigines. The troops reached Waitara 
 without obstruction ; and, during the very 
 evening of their arrival, intelligence was received 
 in camp that W. Kingi had requested an 
 interview with the Governor. A favourable 
 inference was drawn from this, and accordingly 
 the guns on board the steamer " Niger " were 
 not landed; the harbour boats returned to 
 town with the pilot, and the " Niger" was to 
 follow in the morning with the Governor. 
 This intelligence tended to allay apprehensions 
 of hostilities, and gave hope of a speedy 
 termination of existing difficulties. The next 
 day it was found that the natives had erected 
 a stockade during the night. They also, on 
 that day, stopped the provision carts for the 
 camp, in charge of a mounted escort ; but gave 
 way before the firm attitude taken by the
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 41 
 
 settlers who composed it. The seamen from 
 the " Niger " were landed, and these, together 
 with the military, proceeded to capture and 
 destroy the pah, but which was found empty. 
 Teira and his natives set fire to the Kuhikuhi 
 pah, W. Kingi's place of residence, which was 
 totally consumed. It was stated by W. Kingi's 
 party that they would take what was in the carts 
 in payment for their houses, which they supposed 
 the soldiers had fired. The natives had built 
 a pah on the direct road to the camp. Here- 
 upon the following letter was sent by Mr. 
 Parris to the natives : — 
 
 To the Chief ivho obstructs the Queen's Road. 
 
 You have presumed to block up the Queen's road, to 
 build on the Queen's land, and to stop the free passage 
 of persons going and coming. 
 
 This is levying war against the Queen ! Destroy the 
 places you have built ; ask my forgiveness, and you shall 
 receive it. If you refuse, the blood of your people 
 be on your head. 
 
 I shall fire upon you in twenty minutes from this 
 time, if you have not obeyed my order. 
 
 (Signed) T. Gobe Browne. 
 Cavip, Waitara, QtJi March, 18G0.
 
 42 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 The pall was abandoned by the natives 
 in ten minutes, and the mihtary at once totally 
 destroyed it. 
 
 The day on which this occurred was an 
 alarming one for many — not so much from 
 the real circumstances related above, but from 
 the exaggerated accounts soon set afloat ; and 
 at the same time that 500 natives were just 
 upon Omata from the south, to join Wiremu 
 Kingi ; and that they intended to kill all the 
 white people indiscriminately. 
 
 A neighbouring gentleman, to whom I had 
 promised my bullocks and cart whenever he 
 w^ished to send his family to town, called upon 
 me in the afternoon, requesting the immediate 
 use of the cart. He reported what he had 
 just heard, and evidently fully believed the 
 rumours ; he urged upon me the propriety of 
 removing my family at once. I hesitated, and 
 we went together across to Rev. H. Brown, 
 and told him about the matter. He said, he 
 could but consider it an exaggerated rumour ; 
 and although strongly urged by this gentleman,
 
 OR, THE WAE IN TAEANAKI. 43 
 
 said he should not remove his family into 
 town until he heard something more to sub- 
 stantiate the truth of the report. Mr. Brown 
 took some pains to ascertain if there was any 
 foundation in tlie rumour ; lent his horse to a 
 near neighbour, to ride into town to make 
 inquiries ; and went in search of natives who 
 might know something about so large a body 
 coming up from the south. He met with 
 Tamati Wiremu, of the Poutoka pah, on the 
 southern road, a friendly chief, and questioned 
 him, but could see at once that Tamati knew 
 nothing about the matter; and as he was 
 quietly smoking his pipe, there could be no 
 great cause for alarm, as this chief had been 
 active and faithful in obtaining information 
 respecting the movements and designs of the 
 southern natives. Whilst Mr. Brown was 
 away, making these inquiries, we were all 
 excitement, and as there was not much time 
 to consider, and the report seemed feasible » 
 I at once apprised my wife and family of what 
 I had heard. Not being altogether satisfied
 
 44 SETTLEKS AND SOLDIEKS ; 
 
 of their safety, as I was neither a foreigner 
 nor a missionary, nor a recognised minister 
 of rehgion hy the natives — the reasons assigned 
 by them for the determined preservation of 
 some famihes whom I have named around — 
 and not feeUng sure that my position as an 
 advocate for peace would be understood or 
 appreciated, the love of those near and dear 
 to me prompted me to send my wife and girls 
 into town. Mr. Brown very kindly lent his 
 cartj as mine was already engaged; sending 
 one of his sons as driver. We had no time 
 even to put up bedding — this was sent in my 
 own cart, after the return of my son from con- 
 veying a neighbour's family to town. And 
 thus hastily my wife bade adieu to her home, 
 which she and the family have never seen 
 since, and to all appearances, at present, never 
 will! It was a wet afternoon, and the poor 
 creatures were soaked to the skin by the time 
 they reached town; their bedding being wet 
 and unfit for use that night. 
 
 I was thus left with three sons, one
 
 OE, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 45 
 
 seventeen years of age, the others, thirteen 
 and eleven respectively. This panic caused 
 the Captain at the stockade to order all the 
 militia-men into garrison ; and the families I 
 have before-named were the only remaining 
 inhabitants near Brighton -place. These thirty- 
 five souls remained in their homes up to the 
 battle of \\^aireka. In fact, it was ostensibly 
 to remove them, that the troops and volunteers 
 proceeded to Omata, and engaged in a battle 
 with the natives, as I shall have occasion to 
 show in the course of my narrative. 
 
 Nothing occurred at the Waitara for some 
 days. The troops were occupied in improving 
 the camp — clearing away the fern in its 
 vicinity, and making themselves comfortable. 
 We pursued our daily routine of faim-work, 
 missing sadly the " thousand fond endearing 
 ties of tenderness, domestic nature's best and 
 loveliest gift, with which she well atones the 
 niggard boon of fortune." 
 
 One day, whilst cutting beans, one lad only 
 being with me, a circumstance occurred which,
 
 46 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 though trifling in itself, was yet very significant. 
 Seeing the sheep getting through a fence 
 near to us, I sent the boy to drive them away. 
 I was thus left quite alone. I was stooping, 
 cutting the beans, when after a few minutes 
 I heard behind rhe a noise of some one walk- 
 ing among the bean-stalks. Supposing it to 
 be my son, I did not look up from my work 
 for a few moments ; the noise ceased, and then, 
 not seeing the boy resume his work, I looked 
 behind me, and there saw a tall Maori with his 
 tattoed face, upon which was depicted evident 
 excitement and anxiety. He stood for another 
 moment or two, and neither of us spoke. 
 
 I put out my hand, he took it, pressing it 
 • warmly, but still said not a word. I gave the 
 usual native salutation, and after a few 
 minutes more of silence he said, "Come to 
 the house." As we walked on towards the 
 house, he inquired after my wife and family, 
 said I had done wrong in sending them away — 
 I need not have feared any evil would happen 
 to them. He would "look out," or take care
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKT. 47 
 
 of my place, cattle, and all belonging to me ; 
 said I was right in not being a soldier — the 
 soldiers were bad — the fighting was bad, &c. 
 The thought involuntarily entered my mind, 
 how easily this native might have put me out 
 of the world by a blow, while standing behind 
 me ; and I must confess that I thought, if the 
 natives were so savage and treacherous towards 
 the white people as they are usually repre- 
 sented by their enemies, I must have escaped 
 by the exercise of a more powerful motive 
 than generally actuates them in a state of 
 excitement. At the house there were other 
 natives. We talked about the disputed 
 Waitara land, the evils likely to arise from 
 fighting about it; and I expressed a hope 
 that the quarrel would be settled without 
 shedding blood. The natives took a piece of 
 charcoal from the hearth, drew on the floor 
 the rude outline representing Teira's land, 
 and the land intersecting it claimed by other 
 natives. I asked them if they intended to 
 fight ? If the southern natives were likely to
 
 48 SETTLEES AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 join Wiremu Kingi ? They all assured me, 
 that unless Maori hlood was shed by the white 
 man first, they should not fight, neither would 
 the southern natives leave the coast for the 
 Waitara. The natives then asked for some 
 peaches ; I pointed out to them the trees, and 
 left them to help themselves. I busied myself 
 about some little matters until they went 
 away, well pleased with their fill of peaches. 
 This little bit of good nature brought me 
 many other customers willing enough to feast, 
 and to have a talk about the coming " fight." 
 How often I wished I knew their language 
 better, that I might have entered more fully 
 into the subject, and learnt what were really 
 their feelings towards the white man. 
 
 I hope I do not weary my readers by 
 dwelling so long on this subject. The most 
 unimportant facts, however, are often interest- 
 ing in their combination, as illustrative of any 
 national feature or ulterior design. I do not 
 tliink the natives at that time expected the 
 Governor to pursue the course which he has
 
 OE, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 49 
 
 done since. The question with them seemed 
 simply to resolve itself into the right that 
 W. Kingi possessed to dispute the sale of 
 Teira's land ; and as frequent reference was 
 made to Mr. McLean, Chief Land Com- 
 missioner, in terms of the highest praise — and 
 as frequent deprecatory allusions to Mr. Parris 
 as his Assistant Commissioner — I cannot hut 
 think that all were looking to him and the 
 Governor for a better adjustment of the cause 
 of the quarrel than by fighting about it. It 
 is yet inexplicable to me how the natives 
 should be so far deluded as to suppose that 
 the Governor, having gone so far in assuming 
 a threatening attitude, should recede at the 
 eleventh hour.* 
 
 * The natives had every reason to suppose the 
 Governor would not prosecute the war ; and a careful 
 examination of the promises and threats of arrest, &c , 
 would lead any one to hope that some trial of the virtue 
 of patient waiting on coming events Avould have kept the 
 countiy from being so unexpectedly plunged into a war, 
 the cost of Avhich will undoubtedly have to be paid by 
 the settlers, whose wishes were in no way consulted
 
 60 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 All doubts upon the matter were settled 
 one Saturday, soon after the circumstance 
 alluded to above. I was at work in the 
 potato-field, with my boys and two Maori 
 women whom I was employing, when we heard 
 the booming of cannon and the frequent 
 discharge of volleys of musketry. The native 
 women were alarmed and excited. They 
 frequently asked me " if the fight had begun ?" 
 I soon learnt the serious news, and hurried 
 into town to see my family, and learn more of 
 what was likely to occur by employing such a 
 fatal method to bring W. Kingi to terms. 
 On the next day — Sunday — the booming of 
 cannon and the excitement in the town all 
 plainly showed that even the Sabbath was no 
 day of rest or cessation from such unchristian 
 work. As this was really the beginning of 
 the war with the natives, and full details 
 are to be found elsewhere, I shall content 
 
 upon tlie matter, except the few who saw looming in the 
 distance personal aggrandizement, and who have, by the 
 prosecution of the war, gained great pecuniary benefits.
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 51 
 
 myself with stating, that the besieged Maories 
 abandoned their pah, after eight hours' 
 cannonading, and effected their escape, with 
 how much loss of life is not known. White 
 men were slain, others wounded, and thus 
 again was " Taranaki, the garden of New 
 Zealand," saturated with human blood ! Land 
 dearly bought at such a price ! 
 
 Now matters began to assume a really 
 serious appearance ; and I could not rest 
 without endeavouring to learn how far it was 
 safe to remain, almost alone, so near to a 
 native pah (Poutoka), It was true these 
 natives were friendly, and professed to be 
 neutral, but we had soon to doubt the pro- 
 fession of some friendly natives. 
 
 Manahi, a chief at Katapihipihi, had de- 
 clared his intention as a friendly native to 
 assist the Governor, and had thereupon re- 
 ceived munitions of war. To him, and also 
 to a large number of friendly natives, who met 
 the Governor on Saturday, March 3rd, wel- 
 coming him to Taranaki, his Excellency 
 E 2
 
 52 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 said "lie had perfect and entire confidence 
 in his native friends, and that he should be 
 glad of an opportunity to prove it." 
 
 In the case of Manahi this confidence was 
 misplaced ; for he, with his followers, joined 
 the southern natives, when their intention of 
 joining in the fight became evident. 
 
 The eagerness of the natives about Omata 
 to thrash out their wheat and to dispose of 
 it at once — the frequent galloping past of 
 single Maories on horseback, evidently couriers 
 hurrying with intelligence southward — the 
 sullen expression on the face of the few 
 natives occasionally to be met with — all fore- 
 boded something evil. So, on the other hand, 
 the feverish excitement of the settlers, who 
 were also anxious to get their corn to market 
 — even working thrashing machines on the 
 Sunday — driving their milch cows into town — 
 buiying some of their property — the suspicions 
 generally entertained against the friendly 
 relatives — the absurd reports in circulation — 
 gave an air of probability to my expectations
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 53 
 
 that Omata would share in the disturbed state 
 of affairs. To my mind, such excitement and 
 reports suggested only a confused and chaotic 
 state of things, which was not an unnatural 
 effect of the general disturbance caused by the 
 shaking confidence in those natives who had 
 hitherto professed friendship. I frequently 
 asked myself if I did right to remain, or keep 
 the boys with me, and thus run the risk of 
 sharing the indiscriminate slaughter it was 
 too evident many of the natives had determined 
 upon, in their savage and frantic discussions 
 at their meetings down the south coast. Yet 
 I felt that, whatever I might be called upon to 
 suffer and to struggle with, my heart could 
 find no repose or certain safety but in a firm 
 trust in the infinite love of God ; that for 
 my mind there was no friend nor helper in 
 the universe like unto my heavenly Father. 
 
 The Wednesday following the commence- 
 ment of hostilities at Waitara, I was rather 
 startled, just about dusk in the afternoon, by a 
 native walking without ceremony into my
 
 64 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS ; 
 
 room. This was Epiali, the nephew of 
 
 Paratena, a great chief of the Taranaka tribe. 
 
 He was very much excited, and said, in ahnost 
 
 breathless haste, " Don't you go town. The 
 
 Maories are all coming up from the south. 
 
 They will kill all who are armed. There are 
 
 400, all armed, as the Maories reckon;* 800 
 
 as you count. One Maori is as good as a 
 
 hundred soldiers." I said, it was nonsense to 
 
 talk like that ; the Governor would send to 
 
 England for more soldiers ; and that while 
 
 every Maori slain would be an irrevocable 
 
 loss, for every soldier or white man slain the 
 
 Queen could send a hundred. He replied, 
 
 " Never mind, you'll see — better stop, although 
 
 I tell you I might be obliged to kill you if you 
 
 were in town." I endeavoured to make as hght 
 
 of his intelligence as I could. He evidently saw 
 
 this, and became vehement in his manner, and 
 
 at last said : "Go and see Mr. Brown. I tell 
 
 * The natives always count their fighting men by 
 pairs, and therefore double the numbers given by them 
 must be reckoned.
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 55 
 
 you, the Maories intend to attack the town." 
 I went across to Brookwood, and found Mr. 
 Brown entertaining the worst apprehensions 
 of the professed intentions of the natives. 
 He had just returned from the coast, whither 
 he had gone " on a mere parochial visit," and 
 had collected all the information he could. 
 He had halted at Kahihe pah, and there 
 parted with Mr. Riemenschneider, a mis- 
 sionary at Warea, but rejoined him imme- 
 diately afterwards, being earnestly entreated 
 by some natives to go on as far as Warea, to 
 verify with his own eyes the reports which he 
 had already heard at the different pahs, to 
 the effect that the vanguard of the taua or war- 
 party was at Warea. Mr. Brown rode on with 
 Mr. Riemenschneider a great part of the way to 
 Warea; but the rain was so heavy that he 
 feared that, if he delayed his return, he would 
 be unable to re-cross the Hungutuhua and 
 Oakara rivers, and therefore turned back 
 to report the intelligence he had collected. 
 While in company with Mr. Riemenschneider,
 
 66 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS ; 
 
 he met four ■white men en route from Wan- 
 ganui. As the road was stopped by the 
 Maories, they had been obhged to hide them- 
 selves in the bush by day, and travel by night, 
 subsisting upon Karaka berries and other 
 wild fruit. 
 
 The next day was wet and foggy. Natives 
 came to warn me, and stated that the southern 
 Maories were on the move. About noon, two 
 natives urged me vehemently to keep near the 
 house ; they said the armed Maories were just 
 behind my house, going on to Eatapihipihi. 
 Mr. Touett ran across to acquaint me with the 
 same fact, which he had learnt from natives. 
 I found afterwards that seventy armed natives 
 passed within a few hundred yards of the 
 house. These assumed a very threatening 
 attitude towards a settler who had left the 
 stockade to look after his cattle. The firing 
 of guns and the yelling in their war- dances 
 were distinctly heard at the stockade. My 
 cart had been pressed several times for the 
 use of the stockade ; and in the morning my
 
 OE, THE WAR IN TAEANAKI. 57 
 
 son Thomas had been sent for it, to get some 
 timber in the bush. I refused it ; and sent a 
 message to the Captain that the natives were 
 in the bush, and that it was not safe to be on 
 the road. That same evening I was some- 
 what startled by the reports of cannon ; but 
 being repeated more than twice, which was the 
 concerted signal of danger to the town, I con- 
 cluded it was either from some vessel at sea, 
 or some demonstration not connected with 
 hostilities. 
 
 Imagine, reader, my situation : my family 
 in a town that was threatened with an attack 
 by 800 natives, and I forbidden, as it were, to 
 go to them ! Love cast out all fear ; I felt 
 impelled to write to my wife, and a few words 
 from my letter may help the reader to con- 
 ceive of my distress of mind: — " The Maories 
 intend to attack the town ; there is no dis- 
 guising that fact. Even if they make any 
 attack, I fear there will be much bloodshed. 
 I have had several natives to see me, and 
 they all persuade me to remain at home. Mr.
 
 58 SETTLERS AND SOLDIEES ; 
 
 Brown lias ascertained that the natives are 
 gathering fast; that they intend to make an 
 attempt to go through the town on to Waitara. 
 I am assured they will not touch unarmed 
 men or families ; hut will kill all they can of 
 those who are prepared to fight against them. 
 I know not what to do on your account and 
 the dear little ones. I know you look to me 
 for help and protection ; but above me, and 
 all that earth has of strength and protection, 
 you will rely on an Almighty arm, and repose 
 your confidence in that Divine Being who 
 will doubtless do what is right. Get every- 
 thing ready to be carted home again at the 
 shortest notice. Do not be misled by any 
 assurance of military power to prevent blood- 
 shed : trust in our heavenly Father, and 
 think for yourself. If anything serious should 
 present itself, rely on my being with you, to 
 guide and do all that human power can to 
 protect you." 
 
 On the Saturday I went to town, and while 
 engaged writing to my son and friend at
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TAEANAKI. 59 
 
 Nelson, a sudden shout alarmed us all for the 
 moment : 250 soldiers passed on then* way to 
 the barracks, to start early next morning for 
 Ratapihipihi. This seemed at once carrying 
 the war pretty close to my door. I left for 
 home the next morning, but felt that the 
 roads were unsafe — that in the high fern 
 natives might be in ambush. I anticipated 
 an attack would be made, and that the natives 
 would seek to disperse, rather than meet a 
 military force in an unprepared state, that 
 being rather their mode of warfare. I met 
 the troops on their return, and nothing had 
 been done. 
 
 When I reached the stockade, all was 
 perfectly quiet. I saw my poor neighbour, 
 Mr. S. Shaw, on duty as sentinel, who two days 
 after was killed. Little did either he or I 
 think it was the last interchange of friendly 
 conversation we should enjoy together. I had 
 also some discourse with another neighbour, 
 who had been compelled to serve in the 
 militia, but who considered the conflict, to
 
 60 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 use his own words, " nothing better than a 
 civil war." He has since been killed. 
 
 It will be recollected that I remained at 
 home with three of my sons ; that at the 
 time the bombardment of the pah at Waitara 
 was commenced we were all at work, getting 
 up potatoes. These potatoes were grown, not 
 on my own farm, but on land close to the 
 main road from the south, adjoining Maori 
 land, and not a great distance from the spot 
 on which the southern natives built their pah, 
 previous to the battle of Waireka. On the 
 Monday after my return from town, the boys 
 and I went with our cart to take away the 
 few potatoes we had been able to plough 
 out of the ground. A gentleman had left 
 his horse under our care. I was riding on 
 this horse when we met ^Mr. W. Carrington, 
 a gentleman well acquainted with Maori 
 character, earnestly desirous to prevent a col- 
 hsion of the Europeans with the natives, and 
 sensitively aUve to the all but inevitable ex- 
 termination of a noble race of men, if the
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 61 
 
 unhappy quarrel became a war of races, and 
 the British power was once fully roused to 
 action against the aborigines. 
 
 His horse was galloping, but when Mr. Car- 
 rington saw us he halted, and told us the 
 natives were not twelve miles down the coast ; 
 that Robert Erangi (a native chief, and brother- 
 in-law to Mr. Carrington) had been with them, 
 trying to urge them not to carry out their pur- 
 pose of proceeding on the main road towards 
 the town ; that although they knew this chief 
 had put a tapu on the road, they were very 
 obstinate, and no doubt would come on that day 
 towards evening. I rode with haste to see 
 Kobert Erangi, and found him in an excited 
 state. He urged me to hasten back to the 
 potato-field, and get what I wished as quickly 
 as possible. This I did, and the boys were 
 soon on the road home with their load. I rode 
 across to Mr. Brown, told him what I had 
 heard, which was soon afterwards confirmed 
 by a native, who had ridden some distance 
 to apprise him of the proximity of the natives,
 
 62 SETTLEKS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 but not that tliey really intended to proceed 
 past the Omata stockade. 
 
 The next day (Tuesday, March STth), about 
 seventy natives passed the very field where 
 we had been at work, and on which we had 
 left about ten tons of potatoes not ploughed 
 out of the ground. I then felt for the first 
 time convinced that the Waitara was not to 
 be the only scene of Maori hostilities — the 
 more so as I learnt towards evening that these 
 natives were building a pah above the Wai- 
 reka hill. Believing that they were simply 
 preparing to bivouac for the night, and not 
 really making a formidable pah, I did not feel 
 so alarmed as otherwise I should have done. 
 Previously 'to my learning these facts, I had 
 allowed my son William to take horse and 
 proceed to town. We had all often been on 
 the road to the stockade and to town. In the 
 morning, about ten, my son Thomas came 
 to spend the day with us ; as it was wet, he 
 had on a soldier's great-coat. ^ Just as we were 
 sitting down to dinner, two Maories came
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 63 
 
 to apprise me that they were going to 
 spread about all over the bush near to the 
 roads, and that we must not go beyond the 
 fence. By this time, Thomas, feeling some- 
 what alarmed, had left to go to the stockade. 
 I called to him, " Pray don't put on your coat, 
 as you might not be known ; and seeing you 
 clothed as a soldier, serious consequences might 
 follow." I felt that his safety was in his not 
 being armed, and in his being well known by 
 many of the Maories. He had left about two 
 hours when the same two Maories who came 
 before told me to keep close within my fences ; 
 that I and the boys should be safe. We soon 
 heard reports of guns, repeated again and 
 again. I listened with eagerness to catch the 
 sounds, that I might determine whence they 
 came. Now (as I have before described) out 
 of the main southern road there was a cross- 
 road, in a line from the Inn, which, avoiding 
 the stockade, would lead near to Ratapihipihi, 
 which, by crossing some cleared land, the 
 natives could find. The reports seemed dis-
 
 64 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS ; 
 
 tinctly to come from that cross-road. I 
 thankfully came to the conclusion that the 
 natives had abandoned their original inten- 
 tion of proceeding on the main road by the 
 stockade to town. I may just state that a 
 hill between my house and the stockade on 
 this main road could be so distinctly seen 
 that foot passengers were plainly distin- 
 guished. I set the boys to watch this hill. 
 I regarded the reports of guns as mere salutes, 
 which the natives are fond of giving in mere 
 bravado. From my house the stockade could 
 be seen very plainly, and as we watched the 
 movements of the men in garrison, we could see 
 that there was excitement amongst them, but 
 seeing no indication of actual collision, I con- 
 cluded the natives had passed up the road 
 above-named, I anxiously awaited the return 
 of my son William from town, and was getting 
 very uneasy about him. The boys at one 
 time thought they saw their brother riding 
 over the hill, and said, " Here comes Willie ! " 
 I waited the space of time sufficient, as I
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 65 
 
 thought, for WilHam to reach home. I did 
 not feel any serious alarm on his account, as 
 he was well known to the natives, and not two 
 hours before I had seen the son of the Rev. 
 H. Brown pass by, and I knew he had come 
 by the same road by which I expected my son. 
 As William did not return, I felt the boys must 
 have been mistaken, and that he had remained 
 in town for safety. I had just made up my 
 mind to this, when the same two Maories I 
 have before mentioned ran up from the gate, 
 and vehemently urged me not to leave the 
 house, as the " fight " had begun. Mr. Brown 
 at this moment had very kindly come across 
 the fields to tell me that a native had been to 
 bis house to say the " fight" was commenced; 
 that he and all his household must keep 
 within his own fence, as the Maories were 
 now about in the bush, and on all the cross- 
 roads. Mr. Brown, with an hospitality grate- 
 fully to be remembered, ofiered his house as 
 a place of refuge for all the neighbours, if 
 there should be any real danger. I ran across 
 
 F
 
 06 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 to Mr. Touett, fearing he might not know 
 all this, and told him what Mr. Brown and 
 the natives had said. He was already made 
 acquainted with the fact ; and further stated, 
 that Manuel De Castro had seen shots fired at 
 a white man, and had hardly escaped himself, 
 as a bullet had whizzed past his face, and a 
 native had beckoned to him to go. As he 
 was on his horse at the time, he set spurs 
 and galloped home. 
 
 I had scarcely reached my door when I saw 
 five armed Maories in their war-dress, headed 
 by Manuel De Castro, open the gate, and walk 
 up to the house, a distance of four chains. 
 I went towards them on the path, and Manuel 
 said, " Mr. Gilbert, you must leave this house 
 at once ; these natives tell me that five Euro- 
 peans lie dead at this moment on the road 
 not far from the Inn.** The natives were 
 excited, and one had evidently been drinking. 
 By questioning them I found that three men 
 were killed and two boys. One was Mr. Ford, 
 a townsman and store-keeper ; but either the
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 67 
 
 natives did not know, or were unwilling to tell 
 me, who the others were. A cold shudder ran 
 through my body, and my face paled, for I 
 thought of my two boys, who had that day 
 been on the road. I mentioned them both 
 by name, and was assured that they were not 
 killed. 
 
 I did not think any other than that the 
 slain had met with their death at one and the 
 same time, from being met with arms by the 
 natives. I was told to be quick, as I must 
 go across to Mr. Brown's house, whither the 
 rest of the people were gone, and that all were 
 to remain there until the natives had left. I 
 asked if I could take some blankets. The 
 natives consented, and I went into the house, 
 followed by them, rolled up a bundle of bed- 
 ding, caught up a few clothes and some clean 
 linen, and pushing a few other things into a 
 carpet bag, left my house, never again to lay 
 my weaiy head and aching heart with quiet- 
 ness within its walls. Before, however, we left 
 the premises, one of the natives looked rather 
 F 2
 
 68 SETTLEES AND SOLDIERS ; ^ 
 
 fiercely at me, and said, " Where is the gun to 
 shoot the pigeon? You have a gun: where is it?" 
 I was quite sure he knew I had a gun, because 
 he, not being a stranger to my house, had seen 
 it. I answered, " Away." " Where? " still more 
 fiercely, he inquired. I replied, " Buried in 
 the ground." This was true. I valued the 
 gun, as having once belonged to a dear friend, 
 and presented to me by his widow in England 
 on my coming out to New Zealand. I had 
 for some time past kept this gun out of sight, 
 secreting it above the ceiling of my room ; but 
 only the day before I had put it into a long 
 narrow box, with powder and shot, which my 
 son Edward had buried by crawling under 
 the house, and scratching a hole in the dry 
 earth, had covered it well and smoothly over. 
 Happily, the native did not press the ques- 
 tion, for at that moment Manuel said to me, 
 " Tell him you have sent it to town." I re- 
 phed, " That would not be true; and even if 
 I could say so, it would be regarded by the 
 natives in a far worse light than my burying
 
 OE, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 69 
 
 it in the ground." The attention of the 
 native was taken by the sight of some spades. 
 He asked me to give him one. I said, " Too 
 much ; " by which I was understood to mean 
 I did not want to supply the natives with 
 anything that could be used against my fellow- 
 settlers, well knowing the use to which it 
 would be put. However, the Maori took the 
 spade and said, " Thankee." Four of the 
 natives hereupon left. The remaining one, 
 a young man, caught up my bundle, and the 
 lads and I accompanied him across the fields 
 to Brookwood, where I found the neighbours 
 around already assembled. It appeared not 
 unlikely that we might all be exposed to great 
 danger by going to our houses, and we there- 
 fore thankfully placed ourselves under the 
 protection of Mr. Brown. It was now getting 
 dusk. Mr. Brown returned from reading 
 
 o 
 
 prayers to the natives assembled on the 
 Waireka Hill, and who were building a pah 
 close to the road near to Mrs. Jury's house. 
 I believe he did not at first know that five
 
 70 SETTLEES AND SOLDIERS ; 
 
 persons had been killed. The natives were 
 somewhat impatient, although joining him in 
 the prayers, and said to him at the conclusion 
 — " You should have been shorter, as we are 
 thinking more about fighting and building our 
 pah than saying our prayers." 
 
 In the course of the evening, Epiah came 
 to Brookwood, and as it was getting dark, 
 wished to stay all night to protect us ; but 
 thoughtfully endeavouring to make it appear 
 that he feared the Maories might mistake him 
 for a white man , as he was dressed like one, 
 and that perhaps soldiers would be by that 
 time on the road. He informed us that the 
 bodies of Messrs. Ford, Shaw, and Passmore 
 were then on the road. We felt shocked 
 at the idea of the bodies being exposed, 
 well knowing that a number of pigs were at 
 large ; and we would have at once gone with 
 a cart to get the mortal remains of our brother- 
 settlers, but Epiah said it was too dark and 
 would be very dangerous to go, as Maories 
 were thickly scattered over the line of road
 
 OE, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 71 
 
 and in the bush on every side. We requested 
 him to go to the natives at dawn of day, and 
 negotiate with them for us to go and get the 
 bodies, urging that every white Christian felt 
 this to be his bounden duty in any circum- 
 stances. This he agreed to do. 
 
 After the ladies of Mr. Brown's family and 
 the wives and children of the settlers assembled 
 had retired for the night, having all joined (the 
 two natives as well) in prayer to Almighty 
 God, beseeching His care and protection — 
 the men all sat down round the kitchen fire, 
 being anxious to listen to Epiah, who seemed 
 inclined to be communicative. A curious 
 and remarkable group was that which, with 
 perils and dangers around, quietly assembled 
 to hear the Maori talk ! James Keeler, a 
 God-fearing man, was our interpreter. He 
 had lived twenty years amongst the natives, 
 and was pretty well acquainted with their 
 peculiar traits of character. We all listened 
 for several hours. I cannot give here the 
 various interesting topics which were talked
 
 72 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 over that night ; but the main points were 
 so fastened uj)on my mind that I shall never 
 forget them, nor the deep and earnest tone of 
 Epiah. The discourse was opened by asking 
 the native " why the fight was begun in such 
 a discreditable manner, as all the world would 
 at once pronounce the killing of unarmed men 
 and boys to be murder ? Had these poor 
 settlers been slain in fair and open fight, the 
 perpetrators of the deed would not have 
 appeared in such a dishonourable position. 
 The facts would go down to posterity as a dark 
 and foul blot on the Maori character !" To 
 this Ej)iah replied, " He was sore at heart 
 about the death of the white men and boys, 
 as were many other natives ; and the only 
 excuse offered was, it was done to bring on 
 the 'fight.' The natives had come up the 
 coast with their hearts black towards the white 
 man, and were impatient to settle a quarrel 
 which had been brewing for many years." 
 
 It was urged " that the southern natives 
 could have no part in W. Kingi's quarrel with
 
 OE, THE WAR IN TARANAKT. 73 
 
 the Governor, nor the poor murdered settlers 
 with their grievances, which were with the 
 Governor more than the settlers. That the 
 southern natives, by mixing themselves up 
 with a quarrel that did not in the least 
 appertain to them, was rendering it both 
 difficult and dangerous to adjust it now 
 satisfactorily. The reply Epiah made was, 
 " The southern natives had their own wrongs, 
 and had been waiting only for a fitting 
 opportunity to seek revenge." And here com- 
 menced a history, briefly but touchingly related, 
 of all the supposed wrongs the natives have 
 suffered at the hands of the white man, even 
 from the first discovery of New Zealand by 
 Tasman, in 1642, to its formation into a 
 British colony in 1840, and from that time to. 
 the present." Epiah was evidently a thoughtful 
 and intelligent native, a man of property, and 
 much liked by the settlers. He had studied 
 the history of his own people, and watched 
 the rapid decline of his nation, and the 
 
 * See Appendix C.
 
 74 SETTLEES AND SOLDIERS ; 
 
 increasing and all but overwhelming power of 
 tlie white man. He foresaw, with a kind of 
 prophetic vision, the extinction of his race, the 
 absorption of the land of his forefathers by 
 the sons of Japheth ; and a kind of despairing 
 struggle seemed to loom in the distant future. 
 " It was," he said, " the too-frequent and 
 all-absorbing talk of the Maories, that of the 
 increasing number and power of the white 
 man, and the future probability that he would 
 not leave a home for the children of the 
 Maori." 
 
 It seemed to be an anxious inquiry with 
 Epiah whether England was still at war with 
 China, and whether the Queen's subjects in 
 India were all quiet. 
 
 It was a long way in the night ere the con- 
 versation ended, and we each retired to seek 
 rest. I spread my blankets on the floor of 
 Mr. Brown's drawing-room, and tried in vain 
 to find forgetfulness in sleep. The dear, 
 good Mr. Brown fared but little better than I ; 
 and we spent the night in anxious con-
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 75 
 
 versation,and in prayer to our heavenly Father, 
 earnestly beseeching Him of His infinite good- 
 ness to avert the fearful calamities which 
 seemed to be hanging over our fellow-settlers, 
 and still more over those who were so dear to 
 us ; if not, to give us grace to submit to His will. 
 At the earliest dawn I felt uneasy and 
 anxious that Epiah should go and see the 
 natives, and make arrangements for us to 
 go and search, and, if need be, bury the 
 bodies. We all partook of the kind hospitality 
 of Mr. Brown, who at the breakfast table 
 seemed deeply moved, and said but little, once 
 asking us all to forgive his not conversing, 
 as he was in a painful state of mind. The 
 ladies seemed self-possessed, calm, and reposed 
 the utmost confidence and faith in the solemn 
 promise of the natives, that nothing should 
 befal Mr. Brown, his family, or any of those 
 under his protection. It seemed to me that 
 they had prayerfully put their trust in God, 
 and were willingly waiting His will concerning 
 their safety.
 
 76 SETTLEES AND SOLDIEES ; 
 
 After breakfast, Epiah came to tell us that 
 we must all go up to the pah wearing white 
 scarfs ; that it was necessary we should look 
 every Maori full in the face, that we might 
 be known in case of any confusion, and that 
 our lives might be spared in any serious 
 conflict. It was not necessary for the females 
 or children to leave home. There was a 
 feeling expressed by one of the servants that 
 she did not think it quite right for all the 
 men to go away and leave such a number 
 of women and children exposed to the Maories. 
 This was the only indication I saw of any 
 mistrust in the natives. 
 
 The ladies provided us with calico scarfs, 
 and we left them and the children to the care 
 of God. The Rev. H. Brown rode on his 
 horse, his son Frank driving the bullocks in 
 the cart to get the bodies. The two Maori 
 women I have beforenamed accompanied us. 
 When we arrived at the pah, we found the 
 natives all eagerly engaged at work upon their 
 rifle-pits, &c. ; some few were preparing food —
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 77 
 
 others pulling down fences — all were full of 
 levity and excitement. The two Maori women 
 with us were greatly excited, and, long before 
 we reached the pah, began a kind of lamenta- 
 tion, which was responded to by the assembled 
 natives. All were anxious to shake hands 
 with us. I was surprised to see so many mere 
 lads, and some very old and decrepid men^ 
 whom I thought it would have been well for 
 the natives to have left at their homes. There 
 were but a few fine-looking young men amongst 
 them, but they all seemed full of confidence 
 and of success in fighting with the soldiers. 
 We were told that we, and all belonging to us, 
 were tapu (sacred) ; that it was well we had on 
 the white scarfs, as other natives were coming 
 up, who, perhaps, would not know or spare us, 
 but for the scarfs ; and we were urged on no 
 account to go anywhere without having them 
 on. We were not to wonder, however, if we 
 should lose a sheep or pig, as when an enemy 
 was travelling through a country, it was usual 
 to help themselves to whatever they found.
 
 78 SETTLEES AND SOLDIEES ; 
 
 We replied, that wc relied on their good faith 
 towards us; that life was of more value to us 
 than many sheep, pigs, or oxen ; that our 
 business with them, at that time, was to gain 
 their consent to seek the dead bodies of our 
 brethren, that we might decently save them 
 from the ravages of pigs, &c. After some pro 
 a,nd con, we were told that the bodies of the 
 men had been taken, the day before, by the 
 stockade men ; that the bodies of the two lads 
 were still in the road, but that we might go 
 and get them, to do as we wished with them. 
 Knowing that the road was lined on each side 
 with natives, and fearing that we might not, 
 after all the directions given, find the bodies, 
 we expressed a wish for some natives to guide 
 us. This was at length agreed to, but on 
 condition that Mr. Brown should ride to the 
 stockade, and wish the Captain to keep 
 his men or sentinels within garrison ; and 
 should any natives be slain in the fight, 
 that a flag of truce should be hoisted at 
 the stockade, that the Maories might do
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 79 
 
 for their dead what we were asking to do 
 for ours. 
 
 Just as we were about to start, other natives 
 from the south came in sight, and we were 
 made to sit down until their arrival. We had 
 then to pass down through their ranks, and 
 shake hands with each native. Another con- 
 sultation was held about us and our business ; 
 suddenly, up rose the whole body of natives, 
 shouting, " that all would go as guides." I 
 trembled lest our mission would end in a sad 
 and melancholy manner, for I thought there 
 was a deeper meaning behind, and that we in 
 some way were to be made hostages while the 
 fight with the men at the stockade took place. 
 Through our interpreter, we made the natives 
 understand that we wished only to be guided 
 by one or two to the bodies, and did 
 not fear either Maories or soldiers — as they 
 had answered for their own men, and we 
 could answer for the soldiers — for, all the world 
 over, a truce was ever granted to bury the 
 dead.
 
 80 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS ; 
 
 The road between the Inn and the pah, a 
 distance of half a mile, was in the possession 
 of native scouts, but still they thought they 
 saw soldiers, and feared being taken by sur- 
 prise. A native messenger was sent on the 
 road before us. Mr. Brown rode to the 
 stockade, and on endeavouring to make 
 arrangements in accordance with the wishes 
 of the natives, w^as told by the Captain that 
 no flag of truce could be hoisted for rebels 
 and murderers; but that he would keep his 
 men close until the bodies were delivered at 
 the stockade. I may here state, that the two 
 fathers of the lads learnt for the first time of 
 the death of their sons. They had been 
 missing from an early hour in the morning, 
 when they had gone out to search after some 
 cattle, and it was feared they had been killed. 
 
 In riding back, Mr. Brown scoured the 
 fields, in order to satisfy the natives that no 
 troops were about. When he arrived amongst 
 us, happily he did not communicate the 
 message about the flag of truce.
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 81 
 
 At length we left the })a]i, headed by two 
 chiefs — one having a small tomahawk, the 
 other a white whalebone spear, both bearing 
 a white emblem of a temporary truce. I 
 wished the native with the tomahawk to put 
 that out of sight, and he was endeavouring to 
 do so, but our interpreter signified it was 
 immaterial. I did not feel it so. We were on 
 a mission of Christian duty, and the instru- 
 ment was hateful to my sight at that moment. 
 Our company then consisted of the Rev. H. 
 Brown, on his horse, his son,* with the cart, 
 five Europeans, and the two native chiefs. 
 The native women we had left with the 
 Maories at the pah. We walked down one 
 steep hill and up the other, with the Waireka 
 stream flowing along in quiet in the valley, 
 little thinking that, ere night, the very spot 
 we were going over would be the scene of 
 conflict, and that many of the natives we had 
 left behind would meet with death, when they 
 
 * This jDooi- lad was shot at the hattle of the 
 Mahoetahi, on Novemher 6th, 1800. 
 
 G
 
 82 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 least expected it. With depressed spirits, and 
 feelings of a sad and painful nature, we saw 
 the spot where two of our brother-settlers had 
 been shot. The ground was saturated with 
 blood, but there was no appearance of a struggle 
 having taken place. Opposite the Inn, a little 
 out of the road, was a cart with a load of 
 timber, the two bullocks dead in their yoke. 
 A little further on the road we came to 
 evident traces of blood, and close to the bank, 
 a s];)ot with a pool which had soaked into the 
 ground (here poor Ford was shot) ; and a little 
 further still, a dead horse. In deeper sorrow we 
 journeyed on, down rather a steep hill, to a 
 bridge across a stream; and there, as if thrown 
 in amongst the bushes, lay the mangled 
 bodies of the poor lads we were searching for. 
 A ghastly spectacle ! Their stiffened limbs 
 bent, as if a severe struggle for life had been 
 made. Their faces were much swollen, and 
 fearfully cut ; one poor boy with a deep gash 
 in the forehead, and the fingers of one hand 
 nearly cut off; the other lad covered with
 
 OE, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 83 
 
 mud, with a frightfully lacerated opening in 
 the throat. Oh! must God's beautiful earth 
 be thus polluted with human blood, and His 
 innocent creatures be thus cruelly butchered 1 
 Even the native chiefs looked awe-struck, as 
 if conscious that it was a deed not for human 
 eyes to look upon. They carefully kept from 
 touching the bodies. We put the bodies in 
 the cart and covered them with a sheet, 
 returning to the cross-roads at the Inn. As 
 we passed the various spots I have named, we 
 covered the blood with two or three S2:)adefuls 
 of earth. At the Inn we parted from Mr. 
 Brown and his son, who proceeded on to the 
 stockade with the bodies. As we retraced our 
 steps towards the pah, we observed the natives 
 had put up a white flag. Little was said, for 
 deep sorrow filled our hearts, and I for one 
 mourned over the fate of my hard-working 
 brethren, their widowed and fatherless famihes. 
 The two natives with us had none of the 
 outward signs of a wild and savage nature. 
 Dressed in European clothing, they walked 
 
 g2
 
 84 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 with stern but graceful deportment by our side. 
 I felt how fearful the delusion must be that 
 could blind them to the fact, that a terrible 
 reckoning must one day be made for the bloody 
 work which by their presence amongst the 
 insurgents, or their companionship with those 
 who had actually committed the murders, they 
 sanctioned, if they did not participate, in the 
 guilty deed. 
 
 As we drew near to the pah, we saw several 
 natives with back-loads of straw going up the 
 hill to the spot which they were fortifying in 
 their own fashion, and this gave an intimation 
 that they purposed remaining the night. 
 Their appearance was somewhat singular, as 
 tliere were a great number loaded in this way. 
 
 By this time Mr. Brown had deposited the 
 bodies at the stockade, and was on his return 
 to the pah. The flag of truce was taken down, 
 and up went the fighting flag. Other natives 
 came from the south, guns were fired, all was 
 bustle and excitement. By this time 400 had 
 gathered on the ground. Hearing the guns,
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 85 
 
 Mr. Brown had a terrible foreboding that we 
 had all fallen a sacrifice, and that he should 
 not see us alive when he reached the top of 
 the hill. Still we were safe, watched over by 
 a good Providence. Enough, enough, to know 
 that God is good, and what He does is right. 
 
 It was a great satisfaction to learn from Mr. 
 Brown that my two sons were safe; that 
 William had the day before returned to town 
 for safety, and that a message had been sent 
 to my family respecting our preservation. 
 
 Amongst the last arrival of natives were 
 many whom we knew, and had learnt to 
 respect. Eagerly did some five or six seize 
 my hand, and, as the custom of the natives is, 
 under the influence of strong feeling towards 
 those they salute, to put their noses together, 
 I was moved to tears at this expressive mode 
 of respect and assurance of safety ; the more so, 
 as my face was wetted with the tears of the 
 natives, as they delivered themselves of a 
 slightly audible whine of lamentation. The con- 
 stant repetition, " All the same as brethren,''
 
 86 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 gave at once the idea of a dim perception 
 that, but for the war, the two races might hve 
 and love as brethren. Several of these natives 
 had been living in the neighbouring pah, had 
 repeatedly been to my house, and assured me 
 of their protection should any fighting take 
 place in that locality. 
 
 I was surprised to see them. I had always 
 considered them neutral, although expressing 
 themselves to the effect that sufficient care had 
 not been talcen to prove the individual right of 
 Teira to sell the disputed land ; that he ought to 
 have the full consent of Wiremu Kingi, and 
 all the tribe to which he belonged. I am 
 inclined to think, that when the pah at the 
 Waitara was stormed, or, at any rate, previous 
 to that, natives were killed, and that Wiremu 
 Kingi had caused a report to that effect to be 
 circulated amongst the southern natives.* I 
 
 * There is little doubt that the secession of several 
 of the neutral natives took place immediately after the 
 storming of the first pah at Waitara ; and this may be 
 accounted for by the probability that some of their
 
 OE, THE WAR IN TAEANAKI. 87 
 
 cannot account in any other way for the 
 sudden change in the disposition of those 
 natives who had hitherto spoken against 
 fighting. 
 
 In proceeding down through the ranks of 
 armed men I felt perfectly free from fear, 
 although I knew each one had a loaded gun 
 in his hand. I certainly felt not quite satisfied 
 when one native refused to shake hands with 
 me, even after I repeatedly put out my hand 
 and wished him to do so. His companions 
 laughed, and I was puzzled at the time to find 
 a reason for his refusal, as he was a perfect 
 stranger to me. Whether he refused any 
 other of my neighbours I know not, and have 
 had no opportunity to learn. 
 
 We were among the natives nearly three 
 hours, as we could hardly leave without their 
 consent. Our attention was directed to the 
 arrival of Manahi the traitor. With him were 
 
 relations were either killed or "wounded, and the native 
 desire for revenge in such a case is too strong for them 
 to resist the impulse to seek it.
 
 88 -SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS ; 
 
 five natives, who for some time sat in a group 
 by themselves. I have often thought since, 
 that perhaps these were the murderers of my 
 neighbours. Manahi is now known to be one. 
 The Ngatiruanui tribe drew off in a body 
 towards the spot where he and his five 
 followers were seated, and at once squatted 
 in a circle round him. He soon rose up, and 
 threw off his mat to make a speech ; in the 
 course of which, delivered in the native pecu- 
 liar manner — sometimes running a few yards, 
 then suddenly stopping and leaping up in the 
 air — he seemed to work up his hearers to a 
 pitch of excitement like that he was ex- 
 hibiting himself. Our interpreter told us 
 he was urging the Maories to " slay and spare 
 not." 
 
 The whole 400 rose as one man, divided off 
 into three parties, stripped naked to the waist, 
 began the war-dance, each party in succession 
 going through the dance three times. This, to 
 a timid person, and a stranger to native 
 customs, is most frightful. The horrid noises
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 89 
 
 simultaneously made — the hissing like a mul- 
 titude of serpents — with the sonorous ugh, the 
 sound forced out with all their pent-up breath, 
 their eyes rolling and starting as if coming 
 out of their sockets, their tongues protruding, 
 the demoniacal expression of face, the whole 
 frame quivering with wrought-up excitement, 
 and the rapid gesticulations of an unimaginable 
 nature — all gave a hellish kind of reality to 
 war, and all its direful calamities. Then, in 
 one body, in this fearfully excited state, they 
 started down the hill towards the stockade. 
 We also all left, overwhelmed with apprehen- 
 sion respecting our brethren at the stockade, 
 and an inward prayer was offered up for the 
 safety of my poor son, and a deliverance of all 
 from the perils that seemed shadowed over the 
 stockade. The men were few in number, and 
 seemed at once doomed to destruction. We 
 knew not the object of the natives, and dared 
 not ask. The eldest son of Mr. Brown was 
 in the garrison at the time. Our interpreter 
 ejaculated, " The Lord have mercy on the
 
 90 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 souls of those poor creatures in the stockade ! " 
 to which, a most hearty Amen was given. It 
 was a severe trial. 
 
 When we reached the cross-roads, and 
 turned to go towards Brookwood and Brighton- 
 place, we saw a paper stuck on a board, with 
 holes at the corners, which board was tied with 
 flax to a pole against the fence, with writing in 
 the Maori language. The following was given 
 in the local newspaper as a free translation : — 
 
 " Listen ! Listen all the tribes ! The road 
 to our Minister must not be trodden upon; 
 also the road to his friends — James, who is 
 from Kihi ; to Emanuel, who is a Portuguese, 
 to his children and wife ; to Touett, with his 
 wife and children, who are French ; let the 
 thought be light of these three tribes ; to 
 their farms, to their property, let it be light, 
 because the word has gone forth from Paratene, 
 Hoani, Kingi (Parenga), to those people that 
 we must strictly preserve them. Let there be 
 no mistake with us, the three tribes of
 
 OE, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 91 
 
 Taranaki, Ngatiruanui and Ngaraura, let it be 
 light. That is all. 
 
 " From Paratene, " From Kingi, 
 
 ,, HOANI, ,, PORIKAPA. 
 
 " From this tribe of Ngamahanga, from 
 us all, as far as Mokotuna. 
 "March 2Sth, 1860." 
 
 We soon learnt to our great satisfaction 
 that the natives had only been within 
 rifle-shot of the stockade, fired off a volley 
 in defiance, danced the war-dance, andretm^ned 
 to their pah, A native named Stephen, 
 long known to my family, and a great favourite 
 with us all, came to the fence separating 
 Brookwood from my farm, and called me by 
 name " Tamiti." I observed, at the same 
 time, three other armed natives seated on the 
 hill-side in my land. I felt sure that Stephen 
 called me for something particular, and that 
 I need not fear any treachery. I had my 
 emblem of peace across my breast and over 
 my shoulder. I went at once to him, and
 
 92 SETTLERS AND SOLDIEES J 
 
 he said, " Come with me to your house, and 
 get what you wish to save, and I will help you." 
 I did so, and found a native woman at the 
 door. Stephen said, " This woman will take 
 care of your house ; the Maories are going 
 into every house, and will take everything 
 they find that may he of any use to them, 
 but nothing shall he taken from you." 
 Stephen had often worked for me, and fifteen 
 shillings were due to him. He wished for the 
 money, and I told him the family was in 
 town, and needed all I had. " Never mind, 
 let me have a small blanket," he said, " that 
 will do as well." Had it been at any other 
 time, I should have been amused at a trifling 
 circumstance which occurred. Stephen was 
 followed into the house by a little, ugly, old 
 Maori, who immediately seated himself at the 
 kitchen table, on which, in the confusion of 
 leaving, we had put a dish of potatoes and 
 meat, a large pot of butter, some honey, and 
 a canister filled with sugar. He began at 
 once to help himself, cramming honey, butter,
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 93 
 
 sugar, meat, and potatoes, into his mouth as 
 fast as he could. Having feasted to his heart's 
 content on this curious compound of eatables, 
 he attempted to force the butter into the 
 canister; but finding he could not without 
 wasting the sugar, he got up from the table, 
 took the butter in his fingers, and was 
 endeavouring to roll it up in his blanket; 
 when, seeing his back turned towards the table, 
 I r^uickly put the canister on a shelf out of 
 sight. The look of astonishment at the 
 sudden disappearance of this prize, when the 
 Maori turned round, was a source of quiet 
 amusement to Stephen. 
 
 Stephen went with me across to Brookwood, 
 and I gave him the blanket. He folded it 
 up and fastened it across his shoulders, and 
 without ceremony walked into the room where 
 the family were at dinner, and so passed out 
 into the garden — assuring each one present of 
 their safety. After dinner, several natives came 
 with wheat to Brookwood, which Mr. Brown 
 had some time before bought of them. The
 
 94 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS ; 
 
 weighing of this wheat and the writing of 
 receipts occupied some httle time. 
 
 I had noticed a Maori youth, well dressed in 
 European clothes, gesticulating and talking 
 with gi-eat vehemence to a few natives before 
 him, and I asked our interpreter what he was 
 saying ; to which he replied, " It appears that 
 some natives have broken open Mr. Touett's 
 house, and taken away some of his things, 
 and it is thought the Maori (Stephen) with 
 your blanket had taken it from your house 
 without your consent." The general feeling, 
 tlierefore, with the natives is, that the curse 
 of God will follow this breaking of ta'pu. 
 " This young fellow is urging, as the best mode 
 of settling the affair, to kill Touett; and then 
 the tapu will end, and the Maories will no 
 longer be restricted from pursuing their 
 plunder." I assured the natives I had given 
 Stephen the blanket, and then our interpreter 
 said to them, "Never mind; whatever may 
 have been taken from Mr. Touett in mistake, 
 cannot now be helped. We value life more
 
 OR, THE WAE IN TAEANAKI. 95 
 
 than any goods, and wish you not to get 
 excited about the matter." For so serious a 
 proposition, I thought the manner of the 
 speaker not in perfect keeping, and his 
 audience consisted of two Maori women, and 
 tliree very stupid-looking natives. It is thus 
 that, free speech being always allowed to 
 every native, the most absurd proposals are 
 made, but scarcely ever entertained, not even 
 by the proposer, for more than a few moments 
 after his excited harangue. 
 
 It was just at this moment that we saw 
 natives running, and heard them shouting, 
 " The soldiers ! the soldiers ! " All the natives 
 at once left. We heard repeated reports of 
 guns, and we concluded that the military were 
 engaged in battle with the natives. 
 
 From the rising ground above the grounds 
 surrounding Brookwood House we could sec 
 distinctly the Maori flag flying, and occasionally 
 see natives walking about on the outskirts of 
 the pah. Soon we saw natives running in an 
 excited manner, and others squatted behind the
 
 96 SETTLEKS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 furze hedges, as if in ambush. One of our 
 party leaving us, and approaching towards the 
 scene of conflict, stood up on the fence that 
 he might witness more clearly the progress of 
 the battle. A whizzing rifle-shot soon dislodged 
 him, and sent him running towards us, and 
 led us to think for the moment that the con- 
 tending parties were approaching. Being at 
 the distance of half a mile from the pah, and 
 the hottest of the engagement being in low 
 ground towards the sea, we were left without 
 even a single conjecture of the success of 
 either party. A fearful foreboding of the 
 discomfiture of the military, and the militia 
 also, who, we doubted not, were among the 
 combatants, took possession of our minds; and 
 this was not removed, even after sun-set — 
 watching as we did the Maori flag, and seeing 
 it as long as we could see anything. The 
 reports of the guns seemed more and more to 
 retire from us, and we felt confirmed in the 
 idea of the military retreating before the 
 natives. Long after sunset we heard the
 
 OR. THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 97 
 
 report of large guns. Once we saw a rocket 
 in the air, and, immediately after, a strong 
 glare of light about the pah ; we thought the 
 straw was on fire, but had no idea that the 
 pah was actually stormed and taken. We 
 were too far off to hear any shouts or yells ; 
 we heard only the report of guns. It seemed 
 to us that a regular movement was made by 
 the natives, as if guided by a notion of 
 military tactics. We retired to the house in 
 a most wretchedly uncertain state of mind 
 respecting the fate of our countrymen, and, it 
 might be, our sons ; but felt convinced that 
 so much firing-off of guns must have been 
 seriously fatal to many poor creatures, who, 
 when they rose to the business of the day, 
 little thought how near their end was at hand. 
 It was while looking at each other, and 
 most anxiously waiting and hoping that we 
 should soon hear something about the affair, 
 that a native (the same who had taken my 
 bundle across to Brookwood) came, in an 
 excited state, seized the bucket at the well, 
 
 H
 
 98 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS ; 
 
 and drank most heartily of the water. . His 
 tongue seemed cleaving to his mouth, and his 
 face was covered with persj^iration. From him 
 we learned that an encounter with the troops 
 had taken place ; that many natives were 
 killed; that Paretene, Paul, and other chiefs 
 were dead ; that a civilian officer had fallen, 
 and several wounded amongst the soldiers ; 
 but not a word of the pah being taken. I 
 think that as this native was not actually 
 engaged in the fighting, but had been watch- 
 ing the battle on theBrookwood side of the pah, 
 he flew with haste to us when he saw the 
 naval brigade approaching, and never stopped 
 to witness the taking of the flag. Thus we 
 were still ignorant of the success of the battle. 
 The account given by the native was anything 
 but cheering. He described (as if by hear- 
 say) the surrounding of Pohamera. a friendly 
 chief, and his natives, near to a wheat-stack — 
 the inevitable massacre of the whole body of 
 volunteers out in the engagement. He told 
 us the soldiers were encamped near the
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 99 
 
 church, and that it was the intention of the 
 natives to surround them in the night, and 
 kill as many as they could. This is all we 
 could learn, for no one else came near the 
 house until early the next morning. 
 
 At family prayers that night, a general 
 response was given to the thanksgiving offered 
 up to Almighty God for the present cessation 
 of fighting, and an earnest prayer that no 
 further shedding of blood should take place, 
 but that at once and for ever peace might 
 reign, and the two races might yield to the 
 will of God, and dwell in love and unity with 
 each other. 
 
 Before retiring for the night, I went to 
 listen for any distant firing or shouting. Oh, 
 what a calm and lovely night ! — the stars 
 glittering in the firmament, and a holy quiet 
 pervading the earth around me. Nature's 
 sweet and soothing influence seemed to fill 
 my soul, and my enraptured vision was carried 
 from the forbidding work of the day to the 
 throne of the God of love. Who amidst such 
 
 h2
 
 100 SETTLEES AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 scenes could realize the fatal fact, that this fair 
 earth had been polluted by sights and sounds, 
 the very reverse of the peace and solemn silence 
 now reigning; and that men, whom God had 
 made but a little lower than the angels, should 
 contend with each other for mastery more as 
 devils, and glory in the slaughter of each other ! 
 Oh, gracious " Father, the world hath not 
 known Thee ! " Thou hast " no pleasure in 
 the death of the wicked;" but war, ruthless 
 war, slays alike the innocent and the guilty ! 
 
 During the continuance of the battle, and 
 even while we heard distinctly the sounds of 
 warfare, I cordially united with Mr. Brown 
 and his family in prayer to our heavenly 
 Father, for those who at the moment might 
 be engaged in deadly strife. 
 
 I have been repeatedly asked since, " Did you 
 not feel that you would all be murdered before 
 morning?" Nay, judging by a very false 
 standard of the character of the natives, it 
 was currently reported in town that we were 
 all slaughtered, and that yells and fearful cries
 
 OE, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 101 
 
 of distress had been heard by some engaged in 
 the fight, as if coming from the direction of 
 Brookwood, Thanks be to God, we were quietly 
 reposing under His ahnighty protection ! 
 
 Early in the morning the native left, and 
 we saw no more of him. Soon after breakfast, 
 an application was made to Mr. Brown to 
 proceed to the pah at Kahihi, to bury the 
 dead. He prepared, and his horse stood 
 saddled for some time, but no further arrange- 
 ment was made about his doing so. Let me 
 here mention, that Mr. Browai had gone up 
 the road towards the pah early in the morning, 
 but had been stopped by natives calhng 
 to him, and telling him to go back. They 
 sought his prayers, but not his blessing; for 
 who could dare to give Grods blessing on such 
 work as night had closed upon, or the smiling 
 morn revealed ? 
 
 We were waiting about the yard when the 
 traitor Manahi came, with a few other natives, 
 all with heavy loads of plunder at their backs. 
 Manahi w^as wounded in the hand. His
 
 102 SETTLERS AND SOLDIEKS ; 
 
 sinister expression of face, greatly heightened 
 by a complacent grin, no doubt on account of 
 his escape from the hapless fate of many of 
 his brethren, who, only the day before, he 
 was urging on to "kill and spare not" the 
 white man — who, however, had unexpectedly 
 punished the insurgents, and sent many of 
 them to their long account.* 
 
 I feel thankful that I did not shake hands 
 with this Manahi. As soon as I heard his 
 name mentioned, I stepped back from the 
 group that surrounded him. An aged Maori, 
 feeling no doubt that the routing and dis- 
 comfiture of the natives placed them all in no 
 enviable position, gave as his parting salutation, 
 " Wait a few days, and the Maories will come 
 up again, stronger and* more determined than 
 
 * The discomfiture of the natives at the battle of 
 Waireka was owing, it is said by the natives, to the ex- 
 pected curse of God coming upon them, because they 
 had taken things from a tapued house ; one of them had 
 refused to shake hands, and they had presumed to pass 
 over a road that had been tajnied by a chief, Kobert 
 Erangi.
 
 OE, THE WAR IN TAEANAKI. 103 
 
 ever." A resolution, I fancy, not very generally 
 shared by the natives that day, whom soon 
 after we saw in the distance, leaving in 
 hurried and confused groups. With the help 
 of glasses, we could see the main southern 
 road stretching before us for three miles, to 
 the Oakura headland ; and along that road 
 we saw the natives loaded with plunder, the 
 property of the poor settlers ; and again and 
 again we heard reports of guns, no doubt as 
 signals of retreat. Many of the more timid 
 natives struck out of the road into the high 
 fern, as if by a more private path to seek their 
 homes, and escape the pursuit of an armed 
 force, which it was very natural for them to 
 suppose would follow up the victory obtained 
 by their opponents the day before. 
 
 I must confess that it was a matter of surprise 
 with us all that we saw no pursuit; and grievous 
 was it to behold the hard savings and earnings 
 of our neighbours carried away from their homes, 
 we having no power to arrest the plunderers in 
 their easy escape from the field of battle.
 
 104 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 It was but little tluit I dared to notice while 
 amongst the 400 natives at their pah, but 
 occasionally I stole a glance at their proceed- 
 ings, and looked into their stockade. I saw 
 how they had burrowed into the earth ; first 
 covering their square holes with rails, doors, 
 and boards, and then putting the earth thrown 
 out over them. Here, doubtless, they intended 
 to take refuge in case of close attack, and so it 
 proved ; as I have since learned that a sailor 
 had his leg cut by a native when he slipped 
 through this roof of earth and wood. I 
 observed that the intrenchments were made 
 on the town- side of the pah only, that level 
 ground surrounded it on all sides but that 
 facing the Omata stockade. The pah itself 
 was made of rails and posts cut from the 
 fences near, tied with flax and some wire, from 
 a wire-fence close at hand, occasionally twisted 
 in. I did not view it as a very formidable 
 afi'air, but ugly and forbidding enough in its 
 commanding position — especially as a steep 
 liill must be ascended to get to it from the road.
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 105 
 
 Could a movement have been made at tlie 
 flank, where no intrenchments existed, the 
 natives could not so well have succeeded 
 in effecting their escape with the property 
 of the settlers. And seeing and knowing 
 all this, I felt, when I saw no pursuit, that 
 a want of promptitude and military energy 
 had again retarded the settlement of an affair 
 which every day w^s becoming more and more 
 serious and complicated. The natives would, 
 of course, construe all this into weakness; 
 and there were numbers waiting only to see 
 which was the strongest party, to decide then] 
 in their actions. The defeat at the Waireka 
 opened the eyes of some few natives, for I 
 am convinced that I afterwards saw two, 
 if not three, of the natives, who were among 
 the war-party, a few days after the battle in the 
 uniform of friendly natives. 
 
 It was not until the afternoon of the day 
 after the battle that Mr. Brown and James 
 Keeler felt it safe to leave the premises. 
 They then rode to the Omata stockade, and
 
 106 SETTLEES AND SOLDIEKS ; 
 
 learned then, for the first time, why the forces 
 were sent out — viz., to rescue the settlers from 
 what was deemed " a frightfully perilous posi- 
 tion," in the midst of savage and treacherous 
 natives. 
 
 I was on the watch for their return. As 
 soon as Mr. Brown saw me he called out, 
 " Get the carts ready for town directly, and 
 tell all to prepare as quickly as possible." 
 This was soon done, not well knowing at the 
 time why we were to leave in such haste, and 
 not inclined to lose time by inquiring ; trusting 
 implicitly in Mr. Brown, well knowing that 
 he must have good reasons for the directions 
 given. Ere we left, Mr. Brown's son, Frank, 
 rode to the cross-roads, and got the Maori 
 placard — the translation of which I have given. 
 This was a document too curious to be lost. 
 We were not long before we were on the 
 road to town. Passing my house down the 
 bush road, with our white calico scarfs over 
 the shoulder, we soon met with several 
 friendly natives, which, it being dusk, and
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 107 
 
 not knowing their uniform, I mistook for 
 southern natives, and felt for one moment a 
 doubt of our safety. On tliat bush road is 
 a large puriri stump, from which a slab was 
 cut, polished and exhibited at the Great Ex- 
 hibition of 1851. We had not journeyed on 
 far past this stump before we saw before us 
 a column of armed men (volunteers), standing 
 in silence, ready to escort us through what, 
 if any hostile natives had been skulking about, 
 would have been a dangerous piece of road, 
 there being close bush that would well serve 
 as a cover. 
 
 Imagine the joy at recognising friends and 
 neighbours, all safe and well, heartily shaking 
 us by the hand, and, instead of reproaching 
 us for the work of danger we had unwittingly 
 given them, only thinking of our safety. 
 Gratitude prompts a full acknowledgment of 
 their heroic conduct, and no one of the com- 
 pany rescued felt it a slight benefit which they 
 had conferred. 
 
 At the Inn, we came out into the main
 
 108 SETTLEES AND SOLDIERS ; 
 
 road. jMore friendly natives were waiting for 
 us, who, as soon as we joined them, shouted 
 out, together with the noble volunteers, a 
 hearty cheer ; guns w^ere fired off by Maories, 
 which altogether gave a martial air to the 
 cavalcade ; and so we journeyed on to the 
 Omata stockade, saw my dear boy safe, and 
 there we left the volunteers. One poor 
 woman amongst us w^as in great trouble for 
 her husband — Mr. Somers. He had gone to 
 his house during the time Mr. Brown was 
 away at the stockade, and our leaving in such 
 a hurry gave no time to look him up, as his 
 house was some distance from Brookwood. 
 His wife, an Irishwoman, most touchingly 
 appealed to me, " Oh ! Mr. Gilbert, I shall 
 never see that man any more ! " I felt that 
 it was an unwise thing of the man to leave 
 in that way, but at the same time felt sure of 
 his safety; and that when he returned to 
 Brookwood, he would conclude that we were 
 off to town, and would at once follow us, if 
 not all the way that night, at any rate as far
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 109 
 
 as the stockade; and so I strived to comfort 
 the poor woman with this assurance. I may 
 just state that the man came to town all right 
 next morning. 
 
 We reached New Plymouth rather late in 
 the evening, wearing our white scarfs, of which 
 we felt not a little proud. They were with us 
 as much an emblem of peace as the soldier's 
 red uniform is of war. The union of families 
 and friends, after so much of a trying nature 
 to deepen our longing to see and embrace 
 each other, gave an air of joy and calm peace 
 to the close of the day. 
 
 All who were in any way engaged in the 
 battle were very desirous to know its results, 
 and not a little chagrined to hear that the 
 natives had returned southward, richly laden 
 with plundered spoil — the more so as my 
 description of the pah, and the hurried retreat 
 of its defenders, at once showed what might 
 ^have been done in taking many of the natives 
 prisoners, or at any rate rescuing the property 
 of the settlers.
 
 110 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 It was natural to boast of the feats done at 
 the battle ; still, it was painful to hear the 
 constant rejoicing that the natives had suf- 
 fered the loss of their chiefs and many of 
 their fighting men. One stripling declared 
 that he had " shot down six Maories;" another, 
 that it was capital fun to see the Maories drop 
 around on all sides. I shall surely not be 
 accused of cowardice, after what I have related 
 of the dangers to which we were all exposed, 
 and the risk of frequent exposure to the 
 reputedly murderous appetite of the natives ; 
 but I could not share in the self-glorification 
 of these Maori-slayers, neither could I engage 
 in a service having for its object the avenging 
 of the murder of my poor neighbours. I 
 say, it may be natural to feel a desire to seek 
 revenge, but it is not Christian ; for Chris- 
 tianity teaches us the duty of restraining these 
 natural feelings, and forbids the rendering evil 
 for evil : " Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord '^ 
 I will repay." 
 ^ Holding these views, I deemed a settlement
 
 OE, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. Ill 
 
 under martial law, and a town likely to be not 
 much better than a garrison — where every man 
 was expected to take up arms, and be fully 
 prepared to kill and destroy at the bidding of 
 officers, who perhaps had no interest in the 
 matter beyond the mere glory of slaying the 
 greatest number — no fitting place for me or my 
 family. I therefore gladly availed myself of 
 the opportunity afforded by the Provincial 
 Government to all exempted by law from 
 serving in the militia, as well as women and 
 children, to proceed by steamers to Nelson, 
 where we all landed in safety on the evening 
 of Good Friday. 
 
 The reader will recollect that my son 
 William had left his home to transact some 
 business in New Plymouth, on the day before 
 the battle of Waireka. All means of com- 
 munication were very soon after his departure 
 cut off, and I remained in a painful state of 
 anxiety about him until Mr. Brown went to 
 tlie Omata stockade with the bodies of the 
 poor murdered lads. It may be well, before
 
 112 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 proceeding further with my narrative, to give 
 some account of him, and what he saw on his 
 attempted journey home — his return to town, 
 and the consequent expedition of the volun- 
 teers, mihtary, &c., to Omata. 
 
 On his way to town, WiUiam had seen a 
 number of natives on the Waireka hill, but 
 not until he had proceeded some distance on 
 the road. They appeared to him to be build- 
 ing a pah. He communicated what he had 
 seen to several persons in town, hurriedly 
 finished his business, and returned as far as 
 the Omata stockade, when he was told the 
 natives had been within six hundred yards, and 
 danced the war-dance ; that several guns had 
 been fired off by them ; and, even while the 
 Captain was speaking, they were to be seen 
 on the brow of the hill he would have to go 
 over. He was strongly advised to return back 
 to town. This, at first, he was inclined to do, 
 as I had particularly wished him not to pro- 
 ceed either way, if he saw any danger; but 
 fearing that I might not be aware of the
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 113 
 
 serious aspect of affairs, he determined to 
 ride home, and try to persuade me to leave 
 home with him and his brothers for town the 
 next day. 
 
 He set spurs to his horse and rode on 
 at a sharp pace until he reached the Inn, 
 and was turning up the road branching out 
 of the main road, when his horse shied and 
 stopped. He looked towards the fence, and 
 there saw a dead body, a few yards before him. 
 He looked steadily at it for a few moments, 
 but the face being covered with blood, he could 
 not discover who it was, although he knew 
 that it was a European. His first impulse 
 was to turn and inform the men at the 
 stockade, galloping his horse until he reached 
 the garrison. Directly he was seen, the men 
 all rushed out, and asked,^ "What is the 
 matter ? " They all looked pale and excited, 
 concluding at once that something serious had 
 happened, by his returning with such haste. 
 He called out, " There is a dead body in the 
 road, just round the corner by the Inn! " 
 I
 
 114 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 The Captain immediately sent off twenty 
 armed men, who had courageously volunteered 
 to go and sec who of their companions was 
 killed. They were accompanied by Mr. Gled- 
 hill, auctioneer, and Mr. Handy, an Omata 
 farmer, on horses. These two persons were 
 just about to go up the same bush road as led 
 to Brighton-place, to see about some cattle ; 
 but seeing so many persons out of the gar- 
 rison, and thinking something must be wrong, 
 they rode up to the stockade and learnt what 
 had happened. They at once said, " We will 
 go with the volunteers, and then gallop back 
 to acquaint the Captain with whatever it may 
 be necessary for him to know." They re- 
 turned in a few minutes, and said, " A cart 
 is wanted immediately ; we have seen three 
 dead bodies," at the same time mentioning 
 their names. As soon as Mr. Gledhill had 
 stated this, a despatch was sent to town. 
 
 William waited until a few others were ready, 
 and then rode with them to town. He found 
 the town volunteers drawn up in a line, in the
 
 OE, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 115 
 
 street. As soon as William was seen, Colonel 
 Gold stopped him, and asked for particulars 
 of what he had witnessed. He was soon 
 surrounded by a crowd, all eager to know 
 who was killed, and where ; and the con- 
 fused questions were somewhat difficult to 
 answer satisfactorily, when the Commander 
 demanded silence, and said, " Let him tell me 
 the particulars ; he can tell his story to you 
 afterwards." After acquainting the Colonel 
 with all he knew and had seen, he was asked 
 by James Ritchie, Esq., to give his evidence 
 to the magistrates, which was taken down in 
 writing. It was now about half-past five 
 o'clock, P.M. When William reached the 
 lodgings where my family was staying, he 
 found his mother and sisters crying, for they 
 had just that moment heard he had been 
 killed. They were joyfully surprised to see 
 him. His mother had on her bonnet for the 
 purpose of going to Mr. Gledhill to inquire 
 about the report, as she was unwilling to 
 believe it until convinced of its truth. 
 
 i2
 
 116 SETTLERS AND SOLDIEES ; 
 
 He met many persons in the evening, to 
 whom he related what he had seen. The 
 sister of one of the poor murdered boys was 
 with my wife, wiien the carts with the bodies 
 of the three men passed the window of the 
 house ; but she did not know at that time of 
 the death of her brother. 
 
 Not many of the towns-people went to bed 
 that night. About ten o'clock the next 
 morning, William went in search of Colonel 
 Gold, for he did not feel certain of the safety 
 of myself and the three boys. He saw 
 Colonel Gold talking to Major Herbert, just 
 by the Brigade Office. He went up to him and re- 
 quested to speak with him. The Colonel turned, 
 and walked with him up the street. William 
 then stated the fact that thirty-five souls 
 were remaining at Omata, and that the armed 
 natives were but a very little distance from the 
 locality where they were living. The Colonel 
 walked on a few steps, evidently excited, and 
 then stopped and said, " This is a very serious 
 business ; something must be done." He
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 117 
 
 called Major Herbert, and said to liim, " How 
 is it these people are not in town ? " Major 
 Herbert replied, "It is their own fault, for 
 they have had notice." William said he was 
 quite certain no notice had been received by 
 his father and others, who, in fact, had relied 
 upon the assurance that proper notice would 
 be given, when it was deemed absolutely neces- 
 sary for the settlers to seek the town. He 
 was asked to describe the country, and he 
 showed that the troops could go through open 
 country by the beach, &c. He was asked if 
 he would go as guide, if troops were sent. He 
 replied, " Willingly; " but thought it would be 
 better for an older and more experienced 
 person to act in that capacity, and named 
 several persons who, he knew, were well 
 acquainted with the face of the country. The 
 Commander said, " It would be better ; go and 
 look up some of the people you have named." 
 This William did, and George Curtis, Esq., 
 J. P., was appointed guide. The Commander 
 then went to see the Governor, and in about
 
 118 SETTLEES AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 an hour after this conversation the expedition 
 to Omata was set on foot. 
 
 This expedition was organised to bring 
 off from Omata the famihes to whom I have 
 referred. As every movement could (by the 
 help of glasses) be distinctly observed from the 
 barracks, it appeared at one time as if the 
 natives were approaching in a body towards 
 the Omata stockade to attack it. This, how- 
 ever, was quickly set right by some one riding 
 in from Omata and stating that the natives 
 had only approached within rifle-shot, fired 
 off a volley in the air, danced their war-dance, 
 and gone back to their pah. A deputation of 
 twelve ladies — mothers and sisters of the poor 
 fellows cooped up at the stockade — were about 
 to wait upon the Governor, to ask that the 
 Omata garrison might be broken up, and the 
 men be allowed to come into town, as from 
 various causes there were so very few to 
 defend it ; and the threatening aspect of the 
 natives was so very alarming to those whose 
 hearts were yearning for the safety of those
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 119 
 
 dear to them. They proceeded down the 
 town towards his Excellency's residence, but 
 the Governor not being at home, they were 
 told by some of the authorities that their 
 petition could not be entertained. Their 
 memorial in the morning had been seen by 
 the Governor, and in answer he had said 
 " that the Omata stockade was one of the 
 places that must be held by the settlers." 
 Just at that moment, a few friendly natives 
 rode into the centre of the town, in a very 
 excited state, and said the southern natives 
 were on their way to attack the town. A 
 concourse of people were assembled on this 
 spot. Every one seemed on the qui vive. 
 Women crying and wringing their hands, 
 children screaming and clinging in fear to 
 their mothers, men running to and fro, the 
 militia and volunteers already in ranks, and not 
 a house but what its inmates were outside, 
 all looking at each other, and eagerly inquiring 
 for news — pale, breathless, and trembling with 
 anxiety.
 
 120 SETTLERS AND SOLDIEES ; 
 
 A proclamation had been issued, some time 
 previous to this, that in any case of real 
 danger, or cause for alarm, two large guns 
 were to be fired from the barracks on 
 Marsland-hill ; the militia and volunteers, 
 within a circle of two miles round, were then 
 to rush into town ; the women and children 
 were to take refuge in the barracks, church, 
 and chapels, and all were to hold themselves 
 in readiness to meet any attack that might 
 be made by the insurgents. The preconcerted 
 signal was given by firing off the two guns; 
 and although it was pretty generally under- 
 stood that this was to be a notice of danger, 
 yet many were at a loss for some time to 
 account for it, imagining all sorts of calamities. 
 My wife's apartments were just opposite, and 
 below the barracks. She saw the smoke of 
 the cannon, and heard the dreadful booming 
 of the report, and immediately a stream of 
 women and children were to be seen hurrying 
 up the steep path into the barracks, for full 
 ten minutes — some women, with a child under
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 121 
 
 each arm, without either hat, bonnet, or shawl 
 — some with a bundle hastily thrown together, 
 and many seemed utterly bewildered, amidst the 
 confusion and noise of women crying, children 
 screaming, and the eager, anxious questions to 
 know what it was all about. Those who had 
 previously left their homes in the distant 
 neighbourhood, and had taken up their tem- 
 porary abode a little distance out* of town, 
 were at once ordered into the church or 
 chapels; and thus again were driven from 
 their thresholds. Can any one imagine the 
 dire confusion occasioned by all this? The 
 scene has been described to me as painful 
 and heart-rending in the extreme. 
 
 The force sent out to Omata consisted of 
 the Light Company of the 65th Regiment; 
 about 140 of the mihtia and volunteers, urtder 
 Captains Browne, Stapp, and Atkinson; and 
 a small party of the war-steamer Niger's 
 crew and n]^rines, under the command of 
 Lieutenant Blake — the whole under the en- 
 tire command of Lieutenant- Colonel Murray.
 
 122 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 The volunteers proceeded by the beach — 
 the mihtary by the main road. 
 
 The arrangement appears to have been 
 that the civihans should, if possible, pass by 
 the beach round the native force, and take 
 charge of the famihes in question ; the troops 
 halting at the cross-road called the Whaler's 
 Gate, about three quarters of a mile nearer 
 the town "than the stockade, and about two 
 miles from Mr. Brown's house. The country 
 being broken, it would have been difficult 
 for the troops in their stationary position to 
 have quickly seen any danger to the settlers, 
 and it may be justly questioned whether it 
 was very soldier-like to send raw undisciplined 
 men, even although under the care and com- 
 mand of courageous men like the Captains I 
 have named, upon so hazardous a mission, 
 seeing, as they must have done, the natives 
 pouring down in great numbers towards the 
 beach. But the military orders were, " On no 
 account take the men to or near the hush ; and he 
 bach into town before dusk," This was the first
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKT. 123 
 
 induction of the poor unconsulted settlers 
 into the ever-after pursued plan of making 
 them hear the first brunt of the hattle, pro- 
 tecting the soldiers by going in skirmishing 
 order in advance at all the promenades south 
 and north, taking pickets every other night, 
 and working in the intrenchments all 
 day.* 
 
 The pah on the Waireka hill, which is a lofty 
 ridge commanding the main road for a con- 
 siderable distance, could be seen by the naked 
 eye most of the way on the road to it; the 
 natives also could see over the country and 
 along the beach to town ; so that no movement 
 could be made without its being at once seen 
 and known to the insurgents. Parties of 
 natives were out on the rocks, and along the 
 beach, and about the pah, completely inter- 
 cepting communication by way of the road 
 with us, who, nevertheless, felt secure of our 
 safety. The volunteers and militia made their 
 way over the loose iron- sand at a smart pace, 
 
 * See Appendix D.
 
 124 SETTLEES AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 and on arriving at a point beyond Herkawa, 
 about a mile from the great Sugar-loaf Rock, 
 the insurgents were seen pouring down towards 
 the beach, along the edge of the gulley below 
 a farmer's house (Mr. John Jury's). Captain 
 Atkinson was sent forward with fifty men in 
 skirmishing order, and these men were the 
 first to receive the fire. It was some minutes 
 before the main body joined them, and in 
 this interval the advanced party were hard 
 pressed and thrown into disorder for a moment 
 — one young man, F. Eawson, the son of 
 Dr. Rawson, falling badly wounded in »the 
 thigh.* They rallied immediately, and the 
 main body arriving, the whole held their 
 ground, although surrounded and greatly out- 
 numbered. After some time a party was 
 detached to command the beach, and preserve 
 as far as possible the line of retreat. 
 
 * This amiable young man has patiently endured 
 much suffering, through a long and painful illness, 
 in consequence of this wound; and this, alas ! is not the 
 only severe trial of his good father.
 
 ^ 
 
 
 -if 
 
 m 
 
 :^?' 
 
 ^ ■>.■.,
 
 OK, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 125 
 
 It would be difficult to give any correct idea of 
 this battle, even if desirable. It was, however, 
 maintained vigorously for the whole afternoon, 
 until dark. The cover of the volunteer party 
 consisted of the house and stacks of the 
 farmer before alluded to, and a rough but 
 efficient breastwork of logs, firewood, and 
 oat-straw, on which they retreated as night 
 drew on. Their ammunition running low, 
 and no communication taking place with the 
 other parties in the expedition, they were 
 obliged to cease firing, and reserve what few 
 rounds remained for a final rush, should that 
 be necessary. In an early part of the battle, 
 the Niger's party and some of the soldiers 
 appeared in the rear of the militia and volun- 
 teers, and for a time kept the natives from 
 closing in on them. The Niger's men disap- 
 peared, driving a number of natives before 
 them, and the men of the 65th Regiment 
 retired on their support. It is said, that 
 when application was made to Colonel Murray 
 for more help and ammunition, his reply was,
 
 126 SETTLEES AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 " They have got into a mess ; and they must get 
 out of it how they can." 
 
 When it was perceived from the barracks 
 that the fight had begun on the beach, and it 
 was notified that a party of volunteers were 
 hotly engaged with the insurgents, and short 
 of ammunition. Captain Cracroft was re- 
 quested to furnish a naval brigade to accom- 
 pany a lieutenant and a few men of the 65th 
 Regiment in charge of the ammunition to 
 Omata. At three o'clock he landed sixty 
 men and ofiicers, and, guided by Messrs. 
 F. Mace and C. and E. Messenger, used such 
 despatch that he reached the scene of strife 
 at half-past five, having searched every empty 
 house on the line of march. Being relieved 
 of the ammunition, the rocket party was ad- 
 vantageously posted near Mr. Newsham's store 
 in the village, and the remainder of the party 
 proceeded to attack the insurgents along the 
 road to the ridge opposite the pah, into which 
 the natives were swarming. After discharging 
 a few rockets with admirable precision, they
 
 OR, THE WAK IN TAEANAKI. 127 
 
 rushed up the steep hill and entered the 
 intrenchmentSj clearing their way with re- 
 volver, cutlass, and pistol. The sailors called 
 to each other to make " a back," to enable them 
 to jump over the palisades right into the midst 
 of the armed natives. By this bold act the 
 natives were taken by surprise, and somewhat 
 paralysed. Thus, by taking advantage of a 
 thickly-wooded gulley, Capta'n Cracroft came 
 unexpectedly on the natives, opened fire, 
 drove them back, and charging the fugitives, 
 entered the pah simultaneously with them. 
 
 A promised reward of JClO to the capturer of 
 the Maori flag had caused the palisades to be 
 quickly surmounted in the way I have de- 
 scribed, and William Ogden was the first man 
 in amongst the insurgents. This took place 
 in as short a space of time as its narration. 
 The sailors alone took the pah, held it, and 
 only left it to return on board and provide for 
 their creature-comfort and the safety of their 
 craft. Many natives were killed, others were 
 wounded, and several of the principal chiefs
 
 128 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 were slain. It is supposed that about twelve 
 chiefs and sixty Maories were killed, but the 
 certainty of this has never been ascertained — 
 the natives at all hazards taking care of their 
 dead and wounded. 
 
 The Maori flag was captured * and thus a 
 diversion effected, which certainly saved my 
 brother- settlers from being destroyed to a man, 
 from their perilous situation, absolute want of 
 ammunition, and being shamefully abandoned 
 by the militaiy. The recall being sounded by 
 Colonel Murray, the troops returned to town 
 before dusk, in obedience to positive orders. 
 As I have said, the situation of the volunteers 
 and militia was perilous indeed ; and it 
 needed cool and determined officers, like 
 
 * The devices on the flag were Mount Egmont, or 
 Taranaki, and the Sugar-loaf Kock, with the letters 
 M. N., Maori Nation, the figure of a heart and star, or the 
 sun, on a red ground. The natives had explained these 
 symbols to us as meaning that the land from Taranaki to 
 the Sugar Loaf was the land of their forefathers ; that the 
 heart of the Maori was set upon having this laud ; and that 
 the sun or star was the eye of God resting upon it,
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TxiRANAKI. 129 
 
 those who took the lead on this occasion, to main- 
 tain their spirits in such circumstances. They 
 did so, however, and retired silently, under 
 cover of the darkness, and arrived in town 
 after midnight — just as the excitement was 
 fast approaching almost madness, amongst 
 mothers, wives, and sisters, &c., and as a 
 relief party of the 65th Regiment and the 
 militia was leaving for their help. 
 
 At this battle two men were killed — one a 
 soldier, the other a Maori ; and nine settlers 
 were more or less wounded. I had a long 
 conversation with one of these wounded men 
 (a good, pious young man), and had I spare 
 time it would be interesting to relate his story, 
 and how for hours he was left alone near the 
 scene of conflict — the sensations which he had, 
 and the support which the thought of the love 
 of God afl'orded him in his solitude, pain, and 
 danger — the anxious search for him %y his 
 brother and a party who happily found him ere 
 he was quite exhausted with pain and suffering. 
 
 I wish, too, I could convey to the reader 
 
 - K
 
 130 SETTLEES AND SOLDIERb ; 
 
 some idea of a very interesting conversation 
 I had with a farmer's wife, a Scotchwoman, 
 the mother of a large family, and one whose 
 losses since the breaking out of the war may 
 be summed up in the words " lost everything" 
 Her husband had, by the industry and per- 
 severance of himself and family, brought his 
 farm into a state of productiveness even 
 beyond that of most of his neighbours. He 
 had once a quiet, beautiful homestead, and 
 every prospect of prosperity and enjoyment 
 in the decline of life. Alas, for them, and 
 for many others like them, who had toiled 
 for years, these prospects, homes, and farms 
 have become " the abomination of desolation." 
 I believe it did the dear woman good to 
 tell me her sorrows — they came gushing forth 
 in a full torrent, while with tearful eyes and 
 a quivering voice she related to me the inci- 
 dents of the day in town on which the battle 
 of Waireka took place. "Oh!" exclaimed 
 this mother, " what were my feelings none 
 can tell, when I saw my son prepare to go forth
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 131 
 
 to the battle ! I felt that my heart would 
 break should he be killed ! No entreaty 
 would stop him, as he acted from a sense of 
 duty. Our stay and our comfort seemed for 
 the time to have passed as a fleeting shadow 
 from the house, when he turned his back on 
 the door, and I watched his firm, active step 
 down the path. How anxiously did I wait and 
 pray for his return ! How eagerly did I catch 
 every glimpse of hope of safety to him and all ! 
 And when night came, and not my son, I 
 went forth into the town and mingled with 
 the crowd of anxious inquirers ; and there I 
 learnt that the volunteers were surrounded by 
 the natives, abandoned by the military, and 
 no hope of their bein^' saved. The terror and 
 overwhelming sorrow of that hour I wish no 
 mother to experience ! And when the soldiers 
 came into town, unscathed, without the volun- 
 teers, I for one frantically seized an officer by 
 the arm, and asked, in a tone that he dared 
 not resist, ' Where are the volunteers ? ' ' My 
 good woman,' he replied, in a touching and 
 
 K'2
 
 132 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 sympathising tone, 'J hiow not.' I almost 
 sank down under the fearful apprehension 
 that my boy, together with others, would meet 
 with a cruel death, and that I should never 
 see him again, and a kind of stupor seized me 
 while I rested on my daughter's arm. And so 
 hours passed on, until all at once a tumultuous 
 cry of joy thrilled through my veins, and the 
 words ' The volunteers are safe ! ' quickened 
 me into life again. I saw these noble fellows 
 now as anxious to satisfy all interested in their 
 safety, as they were not long before to effect 
 their escape from dangers to which they had 
 been so shamefully exposed. Many anxious 
 voices were raised in loud inquiries for those 
 dear and anxiously-look^d-for ones, who had 
 escaped through God's mercy the perils which 
 at one time it seemed as if death alone would 
 terminate. I am not one of those who think 
 that you and others who remained at Omata 
 caused us all this anguish and sorrow ; for I 
 believe an overruling Providence did by this 
 means save the town and all of us from
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 133 
 
 greater trials than any we have yet ex- 
 perienced." 
 
 A great deal has been said and written 
 about this battle and its cause. I am quite 
 prepared to give full credit to the wish of all 
 engaged in it to do their utmost to effect the 
 rescue of all whose lives at the time were 
 thought to be in the utmost peril; and should 
 very much regret, even more than I do now, 
 that we were the unwilling cause of the con- 
 flict, but for the fact that I think this very 
 unexpected encounter with the natives pre- 
 vented the dire calamity of an attack on the 
 town, by about one thousand well-armed, des- 
 perate natives, which I had reason to believe 
 was planned, and would doubtless have been 
 attempted, had not this taken place. The 
 natives were thus taught that they had tougher 
 men to deal with, in the courageous volunteers 
 and militia — who were, as they thought and 
 felt, defending their own property and that of 
 their neighbours and friends — than the sol- 
 diers, who, as mere mercenaries, fight only for
 
 134 SETTLEHS AND SOLDIEES J 
 
 empty glory, or under the influence of a power 
 which they dare not resist. 
 
 Relying, as most of us did, on the assur- 
 ance that timely notice would be given when 
 our removal was absolutely necessary, I do 
 think it rather hard that a sweeping censure 
 should have been passed upon the Rev. H. 
 Brown, myself, and others, for remaining at 
 Omata until after the battle. Nay, it has 
 been even said that the blood of all slain, 
 and the sufferings of all wounded on that 
 occasion, rest upon our heads. I cannot but 
 trace in the whole affair a merciful Providence, 
 and feel most sincerely thankful that we were 
 made the humble instruments of preventing 
 a vast amount of bloodshed, and probably dire 
 confusion and fearful calamities, too serious 
 to contemplate, hapj)ening to the town. 
 
 It is very doubtful, even if the troops had 
 succeeded in reaching our place of safety, 
 that we should all have placed ourselves 
 under their care and protection. Be it recol- 
 lected, it was no wish of ours that an armed
 
 OE, THE WAR IN TAEANAKI. 135 
 
 expedition should be set on foot on our behalf; 
 and as the natives had been faithful to us, we 
 should have departed from our principles of 
 neutrality if we had placed ourselves under the 
 protection of the military. While quite ready to 
 acknowledge the promptitude of my fellow - 
 settlers in volunteering, no doubt from the 
 very best of motives — and ever anxious as I am 
 to acknowledge with gratitude the hazardous 
 attempt — yet I repeat, that I think it would 
 have been wrong to have gone forth from our 
 unfortified refuge with armed men, while the 
 natives were about, and there was any possi- 
 bility of a conflict when we were in the hands 
 of the military. When we did leave for town, 
 every hostile native was away, and far on the 
 road southward, quietly effecting their escape 
 with the property of the poor plundered settlers. 
 This may seem to many very thankless, 
 but I must contend that the very expedition 
 itself placed us in a most fearfully dangerous 
 situation, especially if the natives had but 
 proved themselves to be such monsters of
 
 136 SETTLEES AND SOLDIERS ,* 
 
 savage cruelty as they are always represented 
 by their enemies. 
 
 It may be urged " that we had no right to 
 argue, but to act ; that we were glad to enjoy 
 all the protection, but shrank from the work of 
 defence." And, unfortunately, this is the spirit 
 with which those who have the authority have 
 made both the willing and the unwilling to 
 act ; the settlers, and their interests, con- 
 sciences and property, being as chaff before 
 the wind of military expediency. 
 
 A few days after the battle, Mr. Brown 
 procured, at a great expense, carts from 
 friendly natives to get some of his goods and 
 chattels into town. I and my son William, 
 with our cart, accompanied this expedition. 
 It was painful to witness the greedy and avari- 
 cious appetite of the natives exhibit itself in 
 their haggling for terms of remuneration for 
 engaging to render their assistance. No carts 
 could be had in town. The native carts were 
 idle, but they refused to let them go without 
 at the same time having a strong armed escort
 
 OE, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 137 
 
 of their own people, and every man in this 
 escort to be paid. Mr. Brown offered terms 
 which one would have thought satisfactory, 
 but the cunning creatures knowing the cir- 
 cumstances of the case, a pressing demand was 
 made for more. We started at last, disgusted 
 with their greediness, and then determined to 
 go on to Brookwood, and to do the best we 
 could, without their carts, their pretended pro- 
 tection, or assistance. But we had not pro- 
 ceeded far before they quickly put to their 
 bullocks in their carts, and immediately 
 followed — thinking, no doubt, the chance of 
 securing so much money would not very soon 
 happen again. We journeyed on with eight 
 bullock-carts and about forty friendly natives, 
 without experiencing anything particular ; 
 arrived at Brookwood ; quickly loaded the 
 carts with what was most urgently required, 
 leaving Mr. Brown's good furniture, and re- 
 turned to within ' a mile of town with our 
 imposing escort. At one particular point, wish- 
 ing some of the natives to turn up a road to
 
 138 SETTLEES AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 secure some of Mr. Touett's property, they 
 objected parting company, and manifested or 
 pretended a fear of hostile natives. They 
 had no objection, however, to my going un- 
 armed to see that all was right. I felt that 
 if I had no other security but their bravery, 
 poor and woful would be my lot ! They 
 managed to ease us of a few little things, which, 
 notwithstanding our vigilance, we could not 
 prevent their taking. 
 
 The Sunday following the battle, all the 
 families that had been under the kind protec- 
 tion of Mr. Brown, and shared together in his 
 hospitality, went to Church in compliance with 
 his wishes. As the service was short, my wife 
 and I went from the Church to the Wesleyan 
 Methodist Chapel. As some portion of the 
 Chapel was occupied by persons as a temporary 
 shelter, an alteration had been made in the 
 time of service that the evenings might be 
 quiet. We were thus enabled to secure seats, 
 just as the first hymn was singing. The Eev. 
 Mr. C. Fletcher, the minister of the Chapel, de-
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 139 
 
 livered a most excellent and appropriate ser- 
 mon, full of spiritual life and comfort, rightly 
 viewing the trials of the moment as lessons 
 conveying a far deeper meaning thJa could 
 be learnt by trusting in our own poor, weak 
 judgment of things — lamenting the unhappy 
 conflict between the two races, who were, 
 in the sight of God, brethren — urging that 
 perhaps our hands were not altogether clean 
 in this matter — that incontestable as the ad- 
 vantages of civilization undoubtedly are, we 
 had not perhaps taken sufficient care to shield 
 the natives from the evils which follow in its 
 train — that we had not exercised that constant 
 watchfulness which was requisite to counteract 
 the grosser influences with which they were 
 brought into contact. Not forgetting the 
 good done by Christian instruction, how much 
 more might it have been, had the natives 
 been brought more frequently and directly 
 into contact with the true principles of order, 
 nationality, and Christian nobleness — that 
 whilst influences have been busy among them
 
 140 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS ; 
 
 for evil, sowing suspicion, misrepresenting 
 actions and motives, wc have not been suffi- 
 ciently active in the opposite direction — that by 
 an exer*cise of the spirit of love, their evil 
 passions might be subdued, and their whole 
 souls brought into subjection to the law of 
 God and Christianity. The prayer was the 
 most earnest pouring out of the pious soul in 
 gratitude to God, and a yearning for that help 
 wdiich is promised to them who seek it, that 
 I ever had the sacred pleasure of listening to. 
 Altogether, the service was consoling, confirming, 
 and soul-supporting. Oh ! what a privilege have 
 those to whom the means of grace are ever 
 available — who, by neither distance, nor care, 
 nor sorrow, nor affliction, are shut out from a 
 full participation in the solemn enjoyment of 
 the house of God 1 
 
 After one more visit to Omata, and a hur- 
 ried preparation to leave New Plymouth, I 
 sought to obtain the consent of the military 
 authorities to proceed at once with my family 
 to Nelson. For such a simple request one
 
 OE, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 141 
 
 would have thought the course smooth enough, 
 especially to one exempted from serving in 
 the militia. I did not find it so, however ; and 
 although, after much perseverance and some 
 not very courteous rebuffs, I succeeded in 
 obtaining what was needful, it is but little 
 for which I feel bound to thank the authori- 
 ties. I saw and heard enough, the few days 
 that I stayed in town, to make me view the then 
 existing state of things as highly immoral, and 
 destructive to the best interests of Taranaki. 
 The settlers had in all things to give prece- 
 dence to the soldiers ; and the overbearing 
 manner of the military officers and coxcombry 
 of the militia officials would have been some- 
 what amusing, had it not been in many 
 respects very trying and painful to bear. 
 
 After a rough passage of thirty- six hours, 
 in which we experienced from the Captain of 
 the Wonga-Wonga and his crew the greatest 
 attention and kindness, we landed at Nelson 
 amidst hundreds of eager but kindly-disposed 
 people. In the crowd, whether from fright
 
 142 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 or excitement, my youngest boy drew his 
 little hand out of mine, and it being dark, he 
 was in a moment mingUng with the crowd. 
 He was immediately caught up and taken into 
 the tavern a few yards from the head of the 
 pier. I was in a very distressed state of mind 
 for a few moments, fearing the dear little 
 fellow had slipped into the water. Eagerly 
 inquiring if such a little fellow had been seen, 
 I at last met with the very gentleman who 
 had, for safety, taken him to the tavern. 
 
 We were all very poor sailors, and glad 
 enough when the vessel became steadier as 
 she passed up Blind Bay to the harbour. 
 The city of Nelson is about a mile from the 
 haven, to which there is an excellent mac- 
 adamised road. In fact, the roads are all good, 
 compared with those of Taranaki. 
 
 Next day, after seeing our luggage safely 
 put into a cart, we journeyed on /oztr miles out 
 of town on the Wakapuaka road, and up a 
 valley called Dodson's Yalley, where almost at 
 its extreme verge, and close under the hills,
 
 OK, THE WAE IN TAEANAKI. 143 
 
 we found our house, which had not been 
 inhabited for more than a year and a half. 
 This I had succeeded in getting rent-free, for 
 there was a generous rivalry with the kind- 
 hearted inhabitants of Nelson to do the 
 utmost for the comfort and shelter of the 
 expatriated Taranaki settlers. It was towards 
 evening when we arrived. 
 
 We spread our beds on the floor, and sought 
 the rest so desirable to our wearied bodies 
 and sorrowing hearts. We all complained of 
 the sensation of the house appearing to reel 
 with us, and the floor to move from our feet, 
 and our heads as heavy as lead. Bare and 
 scanty was our lot ! Yet we were happy in 
 being thus united — dwelling in safety, in 
 peace, and quietness, far away from the strife, 
 the noise, and confusion, which had made the 
 otherwise quiet town of New Plymouth any- 
 thing but an agreeable place of residence. 
 
 To Him whose goodness we beheld en- 
 throned and reigning over all the events of 
 time and the destinies of eternity, who
 
 144 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS ; 
 
 watcheth over His children in their weakness, 
 and subdueth their strength when armed 
 against His will, we committed ourselves and 
 our children, and enjoyed the sweetest night 
 of rest since we were compelled to leave our 
 own lovely home. Dear to each other, it was 
 no little matter for thanksgiving when we 
 awoke on the light of a Sabbath, the most 
 lovely that nature in all her profuse richness 
 could bestow — that we were thus spared to 
 each other to begin life afresh — to suffer and 
 struggle again, if need be, with a firm trust in 
 the infinite love of God. " There is shadow 
 and mystery upon all the creation, till we see 
 God in it ; there is trouble and fear till we 
 see God's love in it." 
 
 I know not how to give an idea of the 
 secluded spot on which stands our little but 
 convenient house. It has about it, notwith- 
 standing its neglected state, an air of quiet 
 prettiness. The front partially covered with 
 roses and honeysuckle, perfuming the air, and 
 in their loveliness reminding us of bygone
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 145 
 
 delights amidst our own sweet garden — the 
 weejDing willows (Salix Babylonica) overhang- 
 ing the babbling rivulet close to the house — • 
 the native fuschia — apple and other fruit trees — 
 all helped to reconcile us to our new home. 
 A year ago I should have thought this place 
 dull and forbidding enough. Compared with 
 my own delightful homestead, it wears an air 
 of poverty and baldness which is anything but 
 enticing to a lover of nature. Yet I feel how 
 kind, indeed, it was of a perfect stranger to 
 give us shelter, and supply us at once with 
 many necessaries and some few luxuries in 
 our destitute state. 
 
 There is more of the stern reality of nature 
 here than one sees at Taranaki. A semicircle 
 of " marvellous hills in fluctuation fixed '' 
 bounds the valley, with an opening looking 
 on to the bay, which, with its singular boulder- 
 bank separating an extensive mud-flat from 
 the shingled shore, forms a straight line 
 stretching for eight miles from the harbour 
 to the hills. The tide ebbs and flows every 
 
 L
 
 146 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS ; 
 
 day over thousands of acres of this land, 
 which, doubtless, at some future day, will he 
 made available for agricultural purposes. This 
 often presents a most lovely scene — calm, 
 clear, and unruffled ; reflecting the clouds and 
 hills on its surface, and laving the shore with 
 a pleasant sound. The opposite shore, with 
 its long range of snow-capped mountains, 
 greatly adds to the beauty of the scene. 
 
 How pleasing the fact, that human nature 
 soon adapts itself to the varying circumstances 
 of life ! Here I find enough to awaken a 
 deep sense of the goodness of the Almighty — 
 enough to carry the "enraptured vision from 
 earth to heaven." And yet here, as if to 
 remind me still that the dreaiy waters of the 
 flood of difficulties were not subsided for the 
 dove of comfort to find a resting place, I had 
 some sore trials, to keep down my too-buoyant 
 spirits; and as it too often happens, origi- 
 nating in the unhappy disposition of some 
 people to injure the character, while refusing 
 to listen to the arguments of those who,
 
 OE, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 147 
 
 however truthful and sincere, may hold views 
 differing from their own. 
 
 There was that said of me which at once 
 shut up the hearts that otherwise were full of 
 sympathy for the suffering stranger. I knew 
 nothing of the opprobrium laid against me for 
 acts which the whole course of my life would 
 belie. I did wonder why cold looks, and in some 
 instances, in hospitable rebuffs, were given, 
 where I looked for sympathy and kindness. 
 Judging by what I heard and read in the local 
 newspapers, I was not surprised that prejudice 
 existed against me for the views I entertained 
 of the unchristian character of all war, and 
 therefore I quietly bore all. It was impossible, 
 however, not to become speedily and painfully 
 sensible of the fact that I was now an exile; 
 and whatever might be my feelings with 
 regard to the unrighteous character of the 
 war that had produced this change, and the 
 consequences to which I was subjected through 
 it — difficulty of procuring suitable employment 
 — sickness in the house, and the inaptitude 
 * l2
 
 148 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS ; 
 
 of those dear to me readily to succumb to the 
 change in our circumstances — I found it not 
 so easy quietly to cope with the unfortunate 
 state of affairs, as regards providing for a large 
 family. 
 
 The refugees were told that help would 
 be afforded to them in their distress, if they 
 complied with the wishes of the Taranaki 
 Government by seeking shelter at Nelson; 
 but, after a few weeks, a rigid economy caused 
 such an alteration in the aid afforded, as 
 seriously to affect the already suffering con- 
 dition of some few families, particularly those 
 with whom the head of the family happened 
 to be — they being expected to obtain employ- 
 ment, and do something towards supporting 
 their families. 
 
 Considerable sickness prevailed amongst the 
 Taranaki people. My family was visited first 
 by a low kind of fever, which laid up my wife 
 and three of the youngest children at the same J 
 time. One of these afterwards had an attack 
 of typhus fever, from which she recovered only 
 
 I
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 149 
 
 through careful and good nursmg, and through 
 God's mercy she was spared to us. In the 
 midst of ah this affliction I received an official 
 letter from New Plymouth, announcing the 
 serious illness, even almost unto death, of the 
 poor lad whom we were compelled to leave 
 behind us when we left Taranaki. I lost no 
 time in seeking the means to enable me to go 
 at once by the steamer to rescue him, if alive, 
 from so execrable a life as he had been forced 
 to lead. To the honour of the Superintendent 
 of Nelson be it said, a moment's hesitation 
 was not needed to dictate to him a generous 
 helping hand ; and I took my passage in the 
 steamer the next day after the receipt of the 
 letter, thus leaving one child d(3lirious and 
 dying for aught I knew, to seek and save 
 another in the hospital at New Plymouth. 
 
 My visit to Taranaki not only afforded me 
 the happiness of finding my son convalescent, 
 but also of meeting with a great deal of kind- 
 ness, and cordial warm-hearted wishes that I 
 might be enabled to satisfy the Nelson ped{)le
 
 150 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 that I was not what I had been represented ; 
 and letters of a satisfactory character were 
 written on my behalf by gentlemen, who (not 
 having their consent to name them) will receive 
 this brief acknowledgment of their kindness, 
 as coming from a heart that will long remember 
 it -^dth gratitude. 
 
 The next day after my arrival at New 
 Plymouth I went out with my bullocks and 
 cart, a neighbour's son as driver, in company 
 with other carts to Omata, to see the state of 
 the farm, and bring into town all that I could 
 find available or useful. Judge of my surprise 
 when I saw the complete ruin and desolation 
 of my lovely home. No words can convey the 
 feelings which took possession of my heart, 
 when I looked round and saw in my own 
 farm and house but a type of the real state of 
 things, as touching all the j^i'operty of my 
 neighbours around. I had left stacks of wheat, 
 oats, and beans ; plantations of mangold 
 wurtzel, carrots, potatoes, and other produce 
 of*' a large and good garden, and, though a
 
 OE, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 151 
 
 small, yet a well- cultivated farm. Of the stacks, 
 not a vestige remained, but the straw and bean 
 haulm worked up into a heap of short litter, 
 the effect of pigs rooting, and cattle constantly 
 treading, after all the grain and the best of 
 the straw were eaten. The ground, covered 
 with root- crops when I left, was bare, and 
 nearly as hard as the road. Fences were 
 broken down to the ground, shrubs and choice 
 plants destroyed, peach trees converted into 
 the shape of umbrella frames, flower borders 
 and paths alike ploughed up by pigs — windows 
 broken, door wide open — the house ransacked 
 and plundered — valuable seeds stolen (I had 
 above JCIO worth of onion seed), ruin and 
 destruction too grievous to dwell upon. Thus 
 have I lost at least ^120 worth of crops, 
 besides my cattle, sheep, and pigs ! 
 
 I hastily put together the few things left 
 with a heavy heart, ran down to the " Swiss 
 Cottage," so often visited and as often enjoyed 
 when my dear friend and I dwelt together in 
 the sweetest harmony, love and fellowship; 
 
 *
 
 152 SETTLEKS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 and there beheld a scene of wanton destruc- 
 tion which led me inwardly to exclaim, " Oh, 
 war ! thou hast blasted our hopes — thou hast 
 demonised the human heart — for even here, in 
 this quiet and lovely spot, where one would 
 have thought peace had found a quiet resting- 
 place, mischief has done its work." At least 
 £,50 worth of valuable bulbs, choice — I may say 
 some of the choicest — plants and shrubs taken 
 away ; the papering of the house torn down 
 and carried away ; the glass of the neat little 
 conservatory broken, doors torn off their 
 hinges, and everything the adverse of its 
 former trim and quiet beauty. I took a 
 hurried view of other neighbours' houses and 
 gardens, all were alike in this desolate and 
 plundered state ! 
 
 With a sorrowing heart I sent the cart away, 
 and would have soon followed it into town, 
 but for an indescribable longing to be alone 
 amidst the scenes of my exertions and 
 anxieties, before turning my back on a home 
 which, for eight years, had given me rest and
 
 OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 153 
 
 peace. When I shall see this spot again, 
 Heaven only knows; and how, if ever I do return 
 to my farm, I shall get the means to hring 
 it into anything like the order in which I left 
 it, is to me a difficult question to solve. If 
 compensation is offered by Government, it 
 will, doubtless, be in land purchased by blood; 
 and even that, if I could accept it, is only in the 
 distant future ! That day was a point of my 
 chequered life, and I shall not be thought 
 comj)laining, if, in dwelling with fond recollec- 
 tion upon every feature of the place so familiar 
 to me, but now so changed, I felt grieved; and 
 my heart was full of emotion, not only on my 
 own account, but also for those hapless neigh- 
 bours, who, like me, had left their hearths and 
 homes, and who were compelled to fight, if 
 need be, against a foe exasperated by every 
 imaginable wrong which was thought by them 
 to be the result of the white man's increasing 
 power and number. I felt sorrowful, too, at 
 the change ; for no longer the familiar faces of 
 those who gladdened my path in life were to
 
 154 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 be seen. I had witnessed in town the effects 
 of the change of hfe and the endurance of 
 bitter trials on many of my kind, good neigh- 
 bours, in their pale and emaciated faces, and 
 fervently did I pray that their present wretched 
 mode of life might soon end. Used to com- 
 fort, cleanliness of the highest order, and the 
 quiet of an aifectionate circle, what must they 
 have endured to be cooped up in a garrison 
 amongst drunken, swearing, and dirty, ignorant 
 men? And the worst feature of the whole, 
 no hope of a happier state of things, but a 
 long-protracted, dreary dragging on of un- 
 meaning events, waiting on an unsatisfactory 
 settlement of the question as affecting the two 
 races. I could not but feel and say to myself, 
 " Taranaki is fallen ! and New Zealand will 
 long bow down its head like a bulrush ! This 
 lovely climate and improvable soil, with all its 
 mineral wealth and suceptibilities of progress, 
 will be for a very long time but a fond 
 recollection, or a j)leasing dream long dwelling 
 on the hopeful heart."
 
 OE, THE WAE IN TAEANAKI. 155 
 
 There are circumstances in life which make 
 us seek for sohtude under the pressure of 
 intense emotion, when we have neither lan- 
 guage to express them to ourselves, nor loved 
 ones in whose silent eyes we may read 
 kindred feelings, and find a sympathy which 
 wants no words to portray. 
 
 The thoughts of a home that I had made — 
 the little house where I had spent nearly nine 
 years — the scene of my labours, my joys and 
 sorrows, hopes and disappointments — caused 
 my imagination to call up the fearful effects 
 of war, the full horrors of its devastating 
 power, and I felt humbled in the sight of God; 
 for perhaps I had too highly prized my house- 
 hold gods, and this particular spot of the wide- 
 spreading world. 
 
 There, in all its solitary sweetness and quiet 
 beauty — beauty which happily could not be 
 easily destroyed — it lay before me. A last long 
 lingering look, and I then turned my back 
 upon it, feeling that I should not again tread 
 the ground watered by the sweat of my brow,
 
 150 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS) 
 
 and made almost sacred to me by the often- 
 enjoyed (with inexpressible luxury) converse 
 with sweet Nature. I had almost worshipped 
 her. The flowers, the bees, the trees, all 
 kindled a delightful train of ideas and 
 emotions, which raised my mind to the sub- 
 Hme conception of God, and bestowed the 
 spiritual enjoyment of communion in holy 
 worship of Him, " who hath made of one 
 blood all nations of the earth." 
 
 I was thankful that thus undisturbed I 
 enjoyed this exquisite pleasure, and I turned 
 my feet tow^ards the town with much better 
 spirits than I could have thought it possible 
 when I first saw the place that day. 
 
 If I seem minute in my description of 
 circumstances, and in the relation of my 
 sensations, let those who read my narrative 
 remember, that such little incidents and 
 reflections are, to a considerable extent, a 
 fair representation of wdiat, no doubt, other 
 settlers in Taranaki experience as the result 
 of this unhappy war.
 
 OE, THE WAE IN TAEANAKI. 157 
 
 I made application to the military authorities 
 for the discharge of my son Thomas, and 
 although furnished with a clear certificate 
 of his unfitness for military duty from the 
 medical officer, yet I was bandied about from 
 one office to another, until within a few 
 moments of the steamer "Airedale" leaving 
 for the south. I was compelled at last to 
 leave without obtaining this desirable docu- 
 ment ; and so it may be that he will yet be 
 called into this hateful service again. I was 
 determined, however, not to leave him behind; 
 and I did, therefore, what I think every one 
 else in my situation would have done — got 
 into the boat with my son, just as it was 
 about to leave the shore. The health of my 
 son is very much impaired by the exposure 
 and neglect that he sufi'ered while in the 
 garrison at Omata. His illness arose from 
 inflammation of the lungs. 
 
 The weather was rough and the sea bois- 
 terous, which made it rather doubtful if the 
 steamer would wait in the open roadstead for
 
 158 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 US, and several times the boatmen exclaimed, 
 " She is oft'!" But still they pulled away most 
 heartily, and it was a pleasing excitement to 
 see how beautifully they managed the boat, 
 and kept her head up against the tremendous 
 waves, while she rode buoyantly on till we 
 reached the steamer. 
 
 My son was so weak, that in attempting to 
 swing himself from the boat on to the steamer, 
 he nearly fell into the sea; but, fortunately, 
 the ship at the moment gave a lurch towards 
 the boat, and we caught him, and then pushed 
 him on board in the best way we could. I 
 had left on the beach packages and boxes to 
 take with me, but owing to the roughness of 
 the weather, I had to leave them there in the 
 charge of a friend, and we proceeded on our 
 passage with only a carpet bag. This was 
 most unfortunate, as there was a bale of 
 blankets and some boys' clothing, and the 
 boxes contained warm clothes, &c. My son 
 and I both suffered from sea-sickness ; he was, 
 however, greatly benefited by the passage, and
 
 OE, THE WAR IN TAEANAKI. 159 
 
 we were both only too glad to set our feet on 
 terra firma, and once more to join the family 
 circle. 
 
 After my return from Taranaki the tables 
 seemed turned somewhat in my favour. I 
 met with kind-hearted friends, and I succeeded 
 in obtaining an appointment as teacher to a 
 Government school, at a salary of <£80 per 
 annum. How long this may last is rather 
 doubtful, for although the system adopted 
 here for general unsectarian education is an 
 admirable one, yet, unfortunately, the parents 
 of the children seem not sufficiently to appre- 
 ciate it, to make it certain that a sufficient 
 average number will attend to ensure the 
 amount of salaiy I have named, and a less one 
 would render it difficult to maintain my 
 position. Rightly enough, if a certain average 
 number daily cannot be shown, a reduction 
 in the teacher's salary is made. 
 
 Behold me then, dear reader, daily engaged 
 in the " delightful task, to teach the young 
 idea how to shoot ; " always anxious to learn
 
 160 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 the news from Taranaki, and hopefully looking 
 forward to a safe and speedy settlement of 
 this most unhappy quarrel. 
 
 Every trip of the steamer brings us sad, and 
 still sadder news ! Fathers and husbands 
 murdered, brothers shot and tomahawked, 
 houses burnt, even under the very nose of 
 nearly 2,000 soldiers cooped up in town; 
 horses and cattle driven away in the veiy 
 teeth of a fortified garrison ; unmeaning ex- 
 peditions set on foot, dragging the poor settlers 
 and soldiers along dreary miles of muddy, 
 heavy roads, through rivers, and along the 
 loose, heavy iron- sand ; women forced to leave 
 their husbands and homes by the not-to-be- 
 resisted persuasion of the bayonet ; all termi- 
 nating in nothing but disasters to the settlers 
 and their property, and a still more and more 
 complicated state of the quarrel, which many 
 persons think might have been settled without 
 adopting military force; or if, when once 
 adopted, promptness and vigour had been 
 pursued, the insurgent natives would have
 
 OE, THE WAK IN TARANAKT. 161 
 
 been subdued. Whereas now they are the 
 besiegers of the beleaguered town, and the 
 mihtary are only tarnishing the name of 
 Britain, and bringing disgrace on that "man- 
 slaying profession" in which Englishmen glory, 
 and for which the world has given them credit 
 as being greatly proficient. 
 
 It has often been pleaded, " The Governor 
 could not with honour have avoided the con- 
 flict with Wiremu Kingi and his natives ; " — 
 but I am reminded in this of what was once 
 said by Sir Robert Peel. " In my opinion," 
 said he, " no motive can be more justly branded 
 as ignominious than that which is usually 
 termed cowardice. But there is a temper 
 of mind much more dangerous than this — 
 though it may not be so base — I mean, the 
 fear of being thought to be afraid. Base as a 
 coward is, the man who abandons himself to 
 the fear of being thought a coward displays 
 little more fortitude." 
 
 There are many sul;yects which it might be 
 impossible for his Excellency to contemplate 
 
 M
 
 1C2 SETTLERS AND SOLDIERS; 
 
 without dread — many views from which he 
 might have been fully justified in shrinking 
 before declaring war, or proclaiming martial 
 law; viz., the ruin of the settlements of Tara- 
 naki — the desolation of the settlers' homes — 
 the sorrows overwhelming the hearts of 
 widows, orphans, and bereaved sisters and 
 friends, at the untimely death of those dear 
 to them — the destruction of the hopeful 
 prospects of industrious and self-denying men 
 — the sad forebodings of their irretrievable 
 losses, and the consequent waste of many 
 years of toil and hardships. 
 
 But as we are none of us prophets of 
 the future, and the weakness of humanity 
 clings to governor as well as to the governed, 
 we cannot do better (while justly deprecating 
 this unrighteous war) than earnestly to pray 
 to Almighty God so to guide our councillors, 
 legislators, and ruler, that by the exercise 
 of that " wisdom which cometh down from 
 the Father of lighte, with whom is no 
 - variableness, neither shadow of a turning,"
 
 OR, TPIE WAR IN TARANAKI. 163 
 
 they may be able to bring about a speedy 
 and safe adjustment of this most unhappy 
 quarrel, before it extends into a fierce, cruel, 
 and general contention between the two races 
 now inhabiting these islands. 
 
 M 2
 
 *:i:'^= In order tliat the reader should be made acquainted 
 with the war"n New Zealand to the present time, the Pub- 
 lisher has ajipended extracts from Colonial papers, which give 
 a general outline of the history of the war from the time Mr. 
 Gilbert left Taranaki.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 From the " Southern Cross, ''^ Auckland, Neio Zealand, 
 June 28th, 1860. 
 
 About 150 of the Waikato and Kawhia natives are, 
 or shortly since were, with William King. The two 
 leaders, Epiha and Hone Pumipi, both advocate war. 
 At the first meeting with the Ngatiruanui deputation at 
 Kihikihi, Epiha showed strong sympathy to King, 
 and at the Ngaruawahia meetino- when Ngatiruanui 
 were present. Hone Pumipi strongly urged that 
 Waikato should rise. Epiha, a man whom our 
 informant knows thoroughly, told him that if any 
 fighting should take place during their stay at Tara- 
 naki, he and his friends would take a part in it. The 
 natives in our correspondent's vicinity consider 
 Epiha's delay as an indication of his determination to 
 fight. Supposing, then, any of that party to be 
 killed, it is impossible to say how that would influence 
 the Upper Waikato, Upper Waipu, Kawhia, Mokau, 
 and Taupo natives. It is to be feared that many 
 would be drawn into the war. 
 
 We have been for some while past carefully 
 observing, with the view to ascertain whether there
 
 1G6 APPENDIX. 
 
 be any connexion, or how mucli, between W. King's 
 rebellion and the Waikato kino;-movcment. For we 
 are not one of those who have jumped to the rash 
 conclusion that the two are identical. That some 
 connexion is assumed at Waikato (we cannot speak 
 with confidence about Taranaki) seems clear. During 
 the late meeting, a native of some importance used 
 these words : — " We know that the land belonfis to 
 Taylor; and had it been sold some years ago we 
 should not have interfered. But now, the sale was 
 opposed to the mana of the Maori king." As we have 
 stated from the first, it is not likely that W. King, 
 liad he not expected assistance from the Waikatos, 
 would have gone to such length in his opposition. So 
 long, in fact, as the king-movement continues, so 
 long will there be no secure peace for the colony. 
 
 It was a mistake, from the first, treating this move- 
 ment with neglect, in the expectation that it would 
 die out. But by-gones must be by-gones. The single 
 question now is, how to put it down. We no longer 
 inquire, for this purpose, whether the Governor acted 
 prudently or not in commencing the war. It suffices 
 that the war exists — that cruel murders have been 
 committed, and that the law must be enforced, at any 
 sacrifice. What we have mainly to bear in mind is 
 that the future plans of Waikato will depend upon 
 the mode in which our operations are carried on. Let 
 the war be carried on within as narrow limits as 
 possible — short in time and narrow in space — yet still 
 on a scale extensive enough to convince the Maori 
 that they cannot cope with the Pakeha. This they
 
 APPENDIX. 167 
 
 must be made to feel. Yet it is to be feared tliat 
 the whole affair will end in a plaister, from financial 
 considerations. The war costs W. King so many kits 
 of potatoes per month ; it costs us a number of thou- 
 sands, which, for fear of possible error, we hesitate to 
 name ; and dilatoriness all the while appears to be 
 the order of the day. It would be useless to patch up 
 a pe: ce while the natives are constantly boasting that 
 in the war with Heke, and in the South, they were 
 completely victorious. No race that we are acquainted 
 with have a more conceited idea of their own powers. 
 They consider one ^laori equal to three soldiers. Tlie 
 jingle of rhyme that was current during the Peninsular 
 war, — •' One Frenchman can lick two Portugee, but 
 one Englishman can beat all three," may be retorted 
 on us ; but the odds, in this case, amount in reality to 
 no more than two to one. 
 
 It is lot in Waikato alone that the king-movement 
 needs pitting down. His Majesty's flag is found in 
 several places, and troops cannot be sent in pursuit of 
 it wherever it may chance to be set up. The most 
 feasible plan appears to be that which has already 
 been jartially adopted — that of shutting up the 
 English markets against all who refuse to submit to 
 English law. A stringent act of the Assembly would 
 enable the Governor in a few months to inflict a 
 peacefu. but severe punishment upon offending tribes. 
 What las been commenced at Kawhia might be 
 carried out to a certain extent elsewhere. We do not 
 say, to :he same extent, seeing no necessity to remove 
 the Eufopeans. Let them stay if they please ; but
 
 1C8 APPENDIX. 
 
 make the penalties for trading very severe. Close up 
 the Maori mills ; send back their vessels ; and in a 
 few months a very different state of feeling would 
 exist. Allow no trading with any district until the 
 leadino- men in it sion an acknowledo;nient of sub- 
 
 O O O 
 
 mission to the law. If afterwards opj)osition be offered, 
 put the law again immediately into force. 
 
 The natives can no longer live without Ent^lish 
 supplies. If Europeans be allowed to live in the 
 country, let them only receive what is required for 
 their own private use ; such supplies being liable to 
 inspection by the proper officer. This would be the 
 most difficult part of the scheme to work ; and if 
 found in practice impossible, the Europeans would 
 have to remove themselves. 
 
 The Waikato natives have themselves the idea that 
 the markets will be shortly closed against them. 
 Some of the Mokau natives have just written to one 
 of our informants to inquire whether the markets' are 
 yet open. Others are hurrying down to obtain 
 supplies, hearing that the door will soon be closed. 
 
 Report states that a party of about ten E^avvhia 
 natives had gone to Taranaki to request the Kawhia 
 j)eople there to r. turn. Is this a sign of peace, or of 
 j)feparati()n on their part to resist an expected attack 
 from the Pakeha ? We have not, as yet, the msans of 
 forming an opinion. 
 
 Rewi has returned via Kawhia to Waipi. He 
 reports that before he separated from the Waikatos at 
 Tongopouta (he did not go on himself to Wiitara), 
 that Kpiha had given up the idea of setting up the
 
 ArPENDIX. 169 
 
 king's flag on Teira's land. 2nJly. That when they 
 reached W. King's pah, they found he had the timber 
 ready for a new pah on Teira's land. Its erection was 
 opposed by Epilia, and the timber was being removed 
 to Waitaha, where the new pah would be built. 
 3rdly. That thirty Kawhia natives had started for 
 Taranaki to bring back the Kawdiia people ; but Rewi 
 feared that if they did not return next week, they 
 would be waiting to join in a fight. 
 
 THE FIGHT AT WAITARA. 
 
 From " The Taranaki Herald.''^ 
 
 New Pli/mottth, June ZOth, 1860. 
 
 Whilst last Saturday's sheet was printing, guns 
 were heard at Waitara, and the " Tasmanian Maid" 
 on Tuesday brought intelligence that a reconnoitring 
 party of the 40th had been fired on by natives from 
 the pah recently restored at Puketakauere. This act 
 of aggression loosened the hands of our military com- 
 mander, and steps were taken to punish the insurgents 
 for their growino- boldness. 
 
 Wednesday morning was fixed for attacking the 
 pah. Guns and reinforcements of the 40tli Regiment, 
 and of the blue jackets, were despatched from town ; 
 and plans of proceeding canvassed by men wdth and 
 without authority. 
 
 Weather of the most inclement kind that this 
 country knows, added to the hardships of those pre-
 
 170 APPENDIX. 
 
 paring for tlie rough business. The reinforcements 
 waded out through a sea of mud, under south-west 
 squalls and si lowers. 
 
 The Puketakauere pah consists of two stockades : 
 one upon the intrenchraents of the old pah of the 
 same name, the other new, and apparently without 
 intrench ments. They stand on a ridge formed by 
 two small gulleys. These gulleys meet a little below 
 the pah, and open on to swampy ground in the 
 Waitara Valley, forming a sort of long Y, the stalk 
 towards the river, and the stockades in the fork. 
 
 The main body, consisting of the grenadier and 
 light companies of the 40th Regiment, under Captain 
 Richards, and sixty blue jackets, under 1st Lieut. 
 Battiscombe, of the "Pelorus," with the artillery, 
 approached the pah by the directest road from the 
 camp, and at 7 o'clock, a.m., the guns were brought 
 to bear, and the men extended on the N.W. or sea- 
 ward side of the pah, the smaller gulley between them 
 and it. With this division were Major Nelson, and 
 Captain Seymour of the " Pelorus." 
 
 A second division of about fifty men, under Captain 
 Messenger, was posted on the flat of the Waitara, to 
 cut off the retreat on that side ; and a third, under 
 Captain Bowdler, passed along the river banks, and 
 attempted to take the pah in the rear. 
 
 The natives were aware of the movement, and on 
 the alert. The first firing was on the rearward party, 
 and a ]\Iaori informant states that, finding the troops 
 advancing on that side, many of the natives went out 
 of the stockade; some of them endeavouring to-
 
 APrENDlX. 171 
 
 escape, and some occupying the intrenchnients of a 
 second old pah, to the rearward of — that is to say, 
 nearer the Waitara, than the two stockades. It could 
 be seen that the party under Captain Messenger was 
 doing great execution on tli^ stragglers who attempted 
 to escape, and for a time it appeared as if the attack 
 in the rear would succeed ; but, after a short space, a 
 large reinforcement from the inland settlements of 
 Wi Kingi arrived among the high fern, and a fierce 
 battle ensued ; the natives greatly outnumbering the 
 troops. 
 
 The grenadier company of the 40th Regiment, and 
 the blue jackets, formed the right wing of the main 
 I)arty in front, and extended beyond the head of the 
 gulley, facing partly round towards the south-west side 
 of the pah. Large numbers of the enemy came to 
 the brink of the gulley, and the pah was probably 
 almost empty. The combatants were about 150 yards 
 apart, divided by the gulley, firing briskly and steadily, 
 but not able to close except where the right wing 
 overlapped the head of the gulley, and here a des- 
 perate struggle took place with a party of natives 
 who held a trench — one of the outworks of the old 
 fortifications. Here was the hottest fighting, and the 
 greatest loss sustained by this division. 
 
 Early in the day a messenger of the rebels was 
 seen to start from the rear, and between nine and ten 
 o'clock large reinforcements came from inland ; part 
 of which, as we have already said, attacked the second 
 and third divisions, and the remainder outflanked 
 the main body in the front.
 
 172 APPENDIX. 
 
 Having held liis ground for some time, without 
 reinforcements arriving, or any signs of a diversion 
 appearing, Major Nelson gave orders to sound the 
 retire. 
 
 An attempt to follow \va^ checked by a murderous 
 fire from the artillery, and the main body reti'eated 
 in order, and without serious molestation, and arrived 
 in camp at 1 p.m. The other divisions were much 
 harassed in their retreat, not having heavy guns to 
 support them. We believe it was in retreat that 
 Lieut. Brooke and the other gallant fellows of these 
 divisions were killed. They endeavoured to retire as 
 they had advanced ; but we fear some misunder- 
 standing, or mistake of the ground, was partly the 
 cause of the serious loss on this side. They had to 
 fight their way back to the camp. 
 
 There were men present cool enough to see that 
 the British honour was not only sustained but exalted 
 by this fierce struggle. The great numerical supe- 
 riority of the natives alone made it necessary for our 
 troops to retire. Officers and men fought with steadi- 
 ness and energy, under a fire which an Indian officer 
 compares to that at Ferozeshah and Sobraon, and 
 which a soldier of the Crimea states to have been 
 hotter than that in the Redan. The gallant Captain 
 Seymour, of the " Pelorus," received a bullet in the 
 leg. Lieut. Brooke sold his life dearly, and fell only 
 when his sword arm was helplessly wounded. Non- 
 commissioned officers and privates were recognised, in 
 some cases, singly and coolly firing on large bodies of 
 the enemy, and then as coolly retiring. The enemy,
 
 APPENDIX. 173 
 
 too, showed unexpected resolution, and has proved the 
 first body of men able to meet the British bayonet. 
 
 It must not be omitted either, that thoughtful pre- 
 parations had been made by the excellent commander 
 of the 40th for the day's work. Double rations of 
 food were cooked, carts, bullocks, ammunition, every 
 thing was punctually at its place ; and the excellent 
 plan of operations, and gallant conduct of the attack, 
 did fresh honour to the name idolised by Britons. 
 
 This sanguinary fight would have been the annihi- 
 lation of the native force at Waitara, had more troops 
 been present. 
 
 The large army assembled about W. King is a fine 
 comment on the policy of our Government, which 
 stands trifling with mild addresses and Maori par- 
 liaments, whilst the men whom it seeks to conciliate 
 gather by the thousand, with arms in hand, to give 
 that dignity to the deliberations of their senators 
 which belongs to a sense of their power. 
 
 The blazing houses of Tataraimaka, in the rear of 
 our retreating column on that side, are a further 
 illustration of the system of pausing between every 
 blow in a struggle to make overtures to the foe, and 
 ascertain if he has made up his mind to continue the 
 contest. Clemency is the privilege and embellishment 
 of vigour. India mio-ht have taught what New 
 Zealand is repeating, that the most tremulous hand 
 makes the bloodiest work. 
 
 While the bodies of our gallant comrades are lying 
 unburied among the fern, we cannot criticise or blame. 
 We can but indulge the hope that their blood has not
 
 1 74 APPENDIX. 
 
 run out in vain. The battle of Puketakauere, bloody 
 and inconclusive, is still a break in the cloudy view ; 
 though many more of us may be parted from those 
 nearest us before the vapours roll away, and show us 
 again the blue sky of peace. 
 
 From " 'The Nelson Examiner,^'' August -ith, 1860. 
 
 The news from Waitara is sad enough. Mr. 
 Corbyn Harris, whilst collecting firewood on the 
 beach, on Saturday, the 28th instant, was shot and 
 tomahawked. Two soldiers were with him, and, ob- 
 serving natives approaching, they hailed Mr. Harris ; 
 but he either did not understand them, or felt unable 
 to escape. All three, strange to say, were without 
 their arms. The soldiers escaped to the camp. The 
 deceased was a most exemplary young man, and the 
 only son of Mr. Edwin Harris, one of the New Zealand 
 Company's surveyors. For some years he has been 
 the support of his parents and six sisters, five of whom 
 are already refugees in your province. The body 
 was brought up yesterday by boat. The only other 
 intelligence is, that the red or fighting flag, after a 
 long interval, is again flying at W. Kingi's pah. 
 Some movement may be looked for. 
 
 From the " Taranaki Herald.''^ 
 
 In reporting the abandonment of the Puketakauere 
 pah, which derives its consequence from the assault
 
 APPENDIX. 175 
 
 made upon It on the 27th June, we can do little more 
 than speculate upon the fact. It is no secret now 
 that an expedition, such as should overpower re- 
 sistance, was in course of organisation, and the rebels 
 may have forestalled a movement they could not 
 resist. The position of the pah, besides, had been 
 rendered comparatively valueless as a rallying point 
 to the rebels by the two 8-inch guns of H.M.S. 
 '*' Iris," which command the fortification. In another 
 view, the season for planting is at hand, and no taste 
 for war or rapine will induce the natives to neglect 
 the crops on which they depend for their subsistence. 
 This may, likewise, account for the sudden with- 
 drawal of the southern rebels from their extensive 
 earthworks at Waireka. It must not be imagined, 
 however, that all the natives have quitted the district. 
 The forest and main lines of communication with the 
 rural districts are still infested by roving bands, who 
 pillage and murder as inclination and opportunity 
 prompt. 
 
 From the " Tnranaki News,'' August 30, 1860. 
 
 The natives have, for the present, left the intrench- 
 ments they had formed before the camp at Waireka, 
 and they have been destroyed and filled in. They 
 are known to have suffei'ed loss from the fire of the 
 artillery from the camp, and probably found the place 
 getting too hot for them. A portion of the force is 
 moving towards VVaitara, and the remainder have 
 taken to the bush at the back of the Omata district.
 
 176 APPENDIX. 
 
 and are busy forming a pah on Captain Burton's land 
 — a very elevated position, from which the wliole of 
 the surrounding country can be seen. Nearly the 
 whole of the houses in the Omata district were 
 destroyed before they decamped — the Omata Inn, the 
 extensive stores of Mr. Newsham and the houses 
 adjoining, the extensive stables recently erected by 
 the Rev. G. Bailey, and several other buildings 
 belonging to that gentleman. It is a singular 
 coincidence that, about the same time, the pah at the 
 Waitara was also evacuated. It had been suspected 
 for several days that the enemy had left, and on 
 Wednesday it was taken possession of and destroyed. 
 The main body of the natives are said to be now on 
 the other side of the river Waitara, where they have 
 lately constructed several strong pahs ; while on the 
 other hand it is said that the mail-man reports that 
 he met the Waikatos returning home. What this 
 new move may portend is as yet an enigma. This 
 last intelligence was brought into town by Captain 
 Richards, yesterday afternoon, who did the distance in 
 an hour and fifteen minutes. The demolition of the 
 pah was seen from Bell Block, and during the after- 
 noon a party fi'om the Block-house had the satis- 
 faction of collecting and driving in from sixty to 
 seventy head of cattle. 
 
 During the week, several strong parties have been 
 marched to the Waiwakaiho, sometimes to convoy 
 produce, at others in the hope of surprising some of 
 the natives who have for some time past been engaged 
 in plundering and destroying the houses in the neigh-
 
 APPENDIX. 177 
 
 bourhood of Puketotara. Yei5terday they were seen 
 swarmino; about the houses of Mr. A. Kinop and 
 Dr. Nield, and about 250 men were collected, and 
 after an hour's delay, marched to the spot, but the 
 bh'ds had flown. While the men remained under 
 arms, before starting, a number of natives with the 
 friendly smock on were hanging about the town ; 
 and we have heard it asserted, by several persons upon 
 whose veracity we can rely, that one mounted man 
 especially, who had waited upwards of an hour about 
 the square, was observed to follow the troops as they 
 went out, and about half a mile from town, turn 
 his horse to the sandhills leading to the mouth of 
 the Henui, and ride at racing speed along the beach 
 towards the Waiwakaiho. We are in possession of 
 the man's name, and the pah to which he belongs. 
 
 From the "Nelson Examiner^'' September 5, 1860. 
 
 After an interval of three weeks, we have again 
 news from Taranaki. 
 
 The letters of our correspondents furnish what news 
 tliere is of the war, which, we regret to say, is of a 
 very unsatisfactory nature. A general destruction of 
 the houses which the industrious and hard-working 
 settlers had been compelled to abandon, to find secu- 
 rity for life within the lines of the town ; a wholesale 
 system of plunder, of whatever property, whether 
 stock or otherwise, they can lay their hands upon ; a 
 determination to exterminate, as far as lies in their 
 
 N
 
 178 APPENDIX. 
 
 power, tlie Europeans, Ly murdering every indivi- 
 dual they can come across ; these are the chief events 
 of the past three weeks, as far as the acts of the 
 enemy are concerned. On our side there has been 
 some skirmishing with the enemy, brouglit on by 
 attempts to cut oiF his marauding parties ; and the 
 taking of tlie pah at the Waitara, when it was de- 
 serted. These skirmishes are known to have cost 
 the enemy several lives, while fortunately on our 
 side there were no casualties ; and W. King is sup- 
 posed to have abandoned his pah at Waitara, because 
 he had been made aware that a strong force was pre- 
 paring to attack him. King has retired further into 
 the bush, where he perhaps thinks himself more 
 secure, and will be better able to grow his potatoes. 
 But the event which has caused the most comment at 
 Taranaki, is the treachery of the chief Te Waka, a 
 man who had for eighteen years lived in the town of 
 New Plymouth, and had proved himself, on various 
 trying occasions, the sincere friend of the Europeans. 
 Te Waka's loyalty was so far above suspicion, and 
 his fidelity so long tried, that the Government thought 
 it could venture to reward other chiefs whose loyalty 
 and good faith were more questionable, and slight in 
 some degree their assured supporter. This is sup- 
 posed to have alienated the affections of Te Waka 
 from the Government, but he professed loyalty to the 
 last, and with arms and ammunition furnished him 
 by the authorities, he and his followers went over to 
 the enemy, carrying with him, of course, an intimate 
 knowledge of our plans and position. The defection
 
 APPENDIX. 179 
 
 of Te Waka has shaken confidence in Maori loyalty, 
 however strongly professed. 
 
 The Waikatos who had been assisting King have 
 returned home laden with plunder ; but it is conjec- 
 tured that King is not over-much satisfied with his 
 late allies ; perhaps the plunder carried off by them 
 he may consider as more than their share of the spoil. 
 Nevertheless, two hundred more Waikatos were on 
 their way down, just double the number of those who 
 had returned. General Pratt had paid a visit to the 
 Governor in Auckland, and something, it is said, will 
 be undertaken agahist the enemy when the women 
 and children are removed to a place of safety. It 
 has been a matter of remark that the rebels have 
 generally abstained from destroying the best of the 
 houses which have been abandoned by the settlers, 
 but a reason has been assigned by them for this : — they 
 were spared that they might become the residences 
 of their chiefs, while the barracks at Taranaki are to 
 be the abode of their king ; so certain are they that 
 they shall drive the Europeans out of the country. 
 
 From the ''Nelson Advertiser, ^^ September 8, 1860. 
 
 A native from the Waiwakaiho reported in town 
 this morning that a body of the enemy were on 
 A. King's land at the Henui. One hundred of the 65th, 
 fifty of the 40th, fifty blue jackets, and fifty militia 
 and volunteers, under their respective officers — the
 
 180 APPENDIX. 
 
 whole commanded by Colonel Leslie, 40th Regiment 
 — marched out against the rebels. The force, on 
 reaching the turning of the road leading up to the 
 Colonial Hospital, were thrown out, in skirmishing 
 order; the 65th took the right and the volunteers the 
 left of the road, and went in extended order up to 
 A. King's house, when it was found that the enemy had 
 decamped, leaving a large fire burning outside King's 
 house. It was raining smartly, and the whole force 
 returned to town. A report was afloat in town 
 to-day that the Puketakauere pah at Waitara was 
 occupied by the troops and destroyed. This rumour 
 was confirmed by the arrival of Captain Richards 
 and Mr. du Moulin overland, who had volunteered 
 to come up with the news. The pah was occupied 
 by the 40th on Tuesday, and found evacuated. No 
 natives were seen, and nothing whatever found in 
 the pah. The evacuation of the pah has naturally 
 surprised every one. We can only account for it, 
 that the Waikatos have returned home, and that 
 some disagreement has transpired between them and Wi 
 Kingi's people; and, no doubt, they have pressed Kingi's 
 bullocks and carts to remove the plunder taken by 
 them from us. It is reported that Tamati Teito, the 
 prophet and leading man in the rebellion, and who 
 has taken Kingi's place at the head of his party, has 
 visited Tamati Wiremu, the friendly chief at Poutoko, 
 and is said to have expressed himself as follows to 
 him : — " If my war had been with Parris alone, the 
 war would have been ended long ago ; but the great 
 he (evil) has been the Waikato." It is known that
 
 APPENDIX. 181 
 
 the Waikato party are a number of reckless young 
 men, who have taken part in tlie war merely for the 
 sake of plunder. After sacking and burning our 
 houses, they appear to have returned laden with spoil, 
 and probably have refused to share it with Kingi. 
 Finding that the Puketakauere pah would be 
 untenable without the reinforcements from Waikato, 
 Kingi's people have not occupied it since they left. A 
 few Waikatos, however, are said to remain with Teito 
 and his party at Puketotara. It is said by the 
 natives that the murders committed northwards were 
 committed by Waikatos. Regarding the evacuation 
 of Puketakauere, the friendly natives advise its imme- 
 diate occupation, to prevent its being held by the 
 rebels again. 
 
 From the'^ Taranaki News" September 13, 1860. 
 
 About noon, Saturday 8th, the detachment of the 
 12th Regiment, stationed at the Bell Block-house, 
 arrived in town. This concentration of troops na- 
 turally confirms the rumour that active measures on a 
 larfje scale are about to be taken. Much excitement 
 still prevails in town concerning the removal of the 
 women and children. 
 
 No brighter day (Monday, 10th) ever dawned on 
 Taranaki than this, as to the weather; and the feelings 
 of most men were quite in harmony with it when it 
 was announced to the militia on parade that an expe- 
 dition in force would set out to-day against W. Kingi,
 
 182 APPENDIX. 
 
 to consist of three divisions; the first under Major 
 Nelson, the second under Major Hutchins, and the 
 tliird under Colonel Leslie, the whole consisting of 
 more than 1,500 men, under the command of Major- 
 General Pratt, C.B. At noon the troops left town, 
 appearing quite an armj, as thej extended, with 
 baggage-carts, more than a mile in length : fifty of 
 the volunteer rifles were allowed to accompany the 
 expedition. At four p.m., the whole of the militia 
 left in town, to the number of 170, was assembled, 
 and appointed to various posts in the trenches in 
 case of an attack. 
 
 The Waitara expedition reached Mahoetahi about 
 six o'clock on Monday, and encamped for the night 
 on either side of the road, the General and staif 
 occupying the pah. Orders were given to be in 
 readiness to start at three in the morning, but it was 
 four o'clock before they were in motion. The third 
 division struck in across the Waiongana, on the 
 Huirangi road ; the friendly natives and volunteers 
 in advance, the troops following, and halted a short 
 distance from the Ngatiparirua pah at daybreak. The 
 second division crossed the Waiongana, on the 
 Devon line, and struck in and took up a position 
 with the guns on the Waitara side of the pah, 
 and arrived on the ground later. The guns opened 
 fire upon the pah, and after a few shots it 
 was rushed and destroyed, having been deserted 
 by the enemy. The volunteers and third division 
 aided in the work of demolition. The first division, 
 consisting of the 40th and bluejackets, under Major
 
 APPENDIX. 183 
 
 Nelson, had taken up a position inland of the Kairoa 
 pah, upon which the division advanced, while the 
 volunteers were thrown out in extended order on 
 the opposite side. The pah was quickly taken, a few 
 friendly Maories and the blue jackets being the first 
 to enter. 
 
 The pah was of great strength, and of complicated 
 construction, and had been very recently deserted. 
 The whole was pulled down and given to the fire, and 
 the ground-works destroyed. The guns from Wai- 
 tarahad by this time arrived on the ground, and the 
 first and second divisions, and some friendly Maories 
 from Waitara, then advanced on the Huirangi pah, 
 the volunteers being held in reserve. The advance- 
 guard of the first division and some friendly natives 
 advanced and examined the pali, and were proceeding 
 inland through an opening in the bush, when a heavy 
 fire was opened on them from either side by the enemy 
 concealed in the bush, upon which the advancing 
 party returned the fire and retired. A sharp fire 
 from the guns was then opened uj)on the bush, and 
 rockets thrown in with rapidity and admirable pre- 
 cision. The pall was then set on fire, and the volun- 
 teers were detached to destroy another pah in the 
 neighbourhood. While this was going on, it was 
 observable that the enemy were receiving a consider- 
 able accession of numbers, and a party was seen to 
 move as if for the purpose of cutting off the volun- 
 teers, upon which a gun was turned in that direction, 
 and their advance checked. A general advance was 
 now made in skirmishing order to the bush, the enemy
 
 184 APPENDIX. 
 
 keeping up a heavy and sustained fire from the cover 
 of the bush, and our fire, in reply, was kept up ; tlie 
 guns at the same time throwing shot and shell into 
 the bush wherever smoke was to be seen. The 
 firing was kept up till noon, when the troops retired 
 to the camp, and yesterday returned to town. The 
 number of the rebels engaged is not known, nor their 
 casualties, but from the accounts of eye-witnesses 
 they must have been heavy, especially from the fire 
 of the large guns. The loss on our side is one man 
 missing, and three slightly wounded. 
 
 Time does not allow of our making any observations 
 upon this expedition at present. Whatever its object 
 may have been, public expectation has not been per- 
 fectly realised in what has been done, although we 
 have no doubt the enemy has received considerable 
 damage. 
 
 From the " Taranald Herald,'' October 6, 1860. 
 
 An order having arrived from New Plymouth to 
 the effect that an expedition should be organised on 
 the morning of the 29th (Saturday last), whose object 
 was the destruction of the rifle-pits in the Kairau pah, 
 the palisading of which had been previously destroyed 
 on the 11th instant, at nine a.m., two divisions set 
 out from the camp by different roads, to meet at the 
 place above-mentioned, for the accomplishment of the 
 object in view. One division was under Major Nel- 
 son, and the other under Col. Leslie, 40th Regiment,
 
 APPENDIX. 185 
 
 who had the command of the whole. With the latter 
 were three howitzers, and the intrenching tools re- 
 quired, together with some carts. This division 
 advanced hy the road crossing the Devon line, and 
 leading past Puketakauere, directly to the side of the 
 Ngataiparirua pah. The other advanced by the 
 route held on the 11th instant by the Waitara divi- 
 sion. A number of horses and cattle were seen in 
 the valley of the Waitara, and some of the latter were 
 subsequently driven in. When Major Nelson's 
 division arrived at Kairau, it was sent forward to 
 protect the other, which proceeded to destroy the 
 rifle-pits. The hostile natives came out of the bush 
 adjoining what was once the Huirangi pah, and 
 commenced driving; their cattle into the bush. After 
 this, they came out into the fern, and began a well- 
 sustained fire, which, however, was, in consequence of 
 the distance, wholly thrown away. It is supposed 
 that the orders from New Plymouth were not to fire 
 a shot, for the guns were loaded and the natives were 
 within rifle-shot, and yet remained unmolested. After 
 the destruction of the pits had been completed, the 
 order was given to retire, and it was executed, Major 
 Nelson's division being in rear. The column halted 
 for a short time on arriving at the Ngataiparirua pah, 
 and proceeded to burn some palisading which re- 
 mained standing. The fern was also set fire to, and 
 the column proceeded on their way. During this 
 time, the hostile natives advanced closer, and their 
 bullets began to fall about, but did no harm. Finding 
 that they were allowed to advance so far with im-
 
 186 APPENDIX. 
 
 punity, they grew more bold, and began to lessen the 
 distance between themselves and the rear-guard. 
 
 Mr. Dli Moulin and two of the mounted volunteers 
 had a narrow escape of being cut off. Having ridden 
 with two of Ihaia's natives to drive off some cattle, 
 they succeeded in getting them fairly under weigh on 
 the road by the river, and leaving the two natives to 
 drive them home, were returning to rejoin the rear- 
 guard, when they were saluted by a volley from the 
 natives who were following the line of march. Mr. 
 Du Moulin, in taking a short cut, got bogged in a 
 swamp, but providentially succeeded in getting out in 
 time, by dismounting and leading his horse. The 
 other two dashed past the Maories, and all three suc- 
 ceeded in rejoining the rear-guard. 
 
 The natives, increasing in boldness, advanced closer 
 and closer, until their fire began to take effect ; our 
 men were still forbidden to fire, and the bullets were 
 flying thickly about. At last, three men of the 40th 
 having been severely wounded, the rear-guard were 
 in self-defence obliged to return the enemy's fire, as 
 the latter were within 100 yards ofthem, and pressing 
 them close. The order to fire was, however, not 
 given, but it was time to act without orders. The 
 Maories were soon checked, and retired shortly after- 
 wards, discharging at a distance a few desultory shots. 
 The force then marched past Puketakauere, and re- 
 turned to camp. 
 
 It was a very severe trial for the troops, as there is 
 nothing more dispiriting than to be subject to the lire 
 of a contemptible enemy, without more power of
 
 APPENDIX. 187 
 
 defence than a flock of sheep ; indeed, the truth of 
 this was too clearly shown on this occasion. At one 
 time, quite a panic was established in the rear-guard, 
 as the troops in this helpless state saw their comrades 
 struck down by their side. It is much to be feared 
 that a continuation of this sort of business will have 
 the effect of ruining the spirit, and damping the courage 
 of troops, whose equal, when properly managed, can- 
 not be found in the world. * 
 
 New Plymouth, October IQth, 1860. 
 
 On Thursday last the General, with a force of 
 nearly 1100 men, and one 8-inch gun, and two 
 24-pounder howitzers, opened fire on the three rebel 
 pahs at Kaihihi. The guns commenced bombarding 
 the pahs at eleven a.m., and kept it up till dark, with 
 considerable effect. In the afternoon a party of rebels 
 took up a position in the corner of a bush to the left, 
 and I am sorry to say with effect. They fired — 
 particularly one man with a rifle — hotly upon the 
 engineers who were throwing up a breastwork, and 
 erecting a platform for the 8-inch gun in front of 
 Orongomaihangai, at a distance of 250 yards, wound- 
 ing Captain Paisley, R.E. ; Sergeant Howatt, R.E. ; 
 three soldiers ^nd one militia-man. These were our 
 only casualties during the whole affair. On Friday 
 morning there was no firing from the pahs, and, under 
 the smoke of the two howitzers, they were rushed by 
 the troops, civilians, and friendly natives, and found 
 evacuated. The fire of the previous day had been
 
 188 APPENDIX. 
 
 too hot for the inmates, and the 8-inch gun must have 
 astonished tliem. The rebels evidently made a pre- 
 cipitate retreat in the night, for they left a large 
 quantity of potatoes, kumaras, &c., and seven carts, 
 and a rifle. We can form no idea of the loss of the 
 enemy — blood vyras seen in one of the pahs, and a 
 newly-made stretcher found, on which wounded or 
 killed had apparently been carried. The round shot 
 and shell made great* havoc in the pits and trenches 
 of the pahs. Several of the underground chambers, 
 into which the shells had fallen, had been thrown into 
 one. The pahs were very ingeniously fortified, and 
 had evidently been intended to stand a regular siege. 
 A few hours, however, proved to the enemy that their 
 pahs were not proof against our appliances, and I 
 believe that the southern rebels have received a blow 
 which will paralyze their energies for the future, and 
 has proved to them the folly of trying their strength 
 with us. I do not think we shall be troubled much 
 more by the Taranakis and Ngatiruanuis. They are 
 running out of ammunition — two or ♦three nails were 
 tied together, evidently intended to supply the place 
 of a bullet. The General intended following up the 
 enemy to Warea, but news reached him of the coming 
 of a strong force of our northern friends, the Waikatos, 
 and as there is but a small force at Waitara and in 
 town, he gave orders for returning to head-quarters, 
 and the expedition all arrived on Saturday evening. 
 
 There is a rumour in town to-day that the advanced 
 guard of the Waikatos have arrived at Waitara. I 
 believe 850 will be down before another week has
 
 APPENDIX. 189 
 
 gone. They consist of upper Waikatos — the lower 
 Waikatos are to " watch Auckland." I hope they 
 will all come here ; we cannot lose much more ; we 
 have the forces here, and let the battle for the Queen's 
 supremacy be fought out at Taranaki. What can be 
 said in justification of the raid of these northern 
 rebels ? What pretence have they ? Is it not 
 unprovoked aggression? Why did they come before, 
 and maraud and murder ? Simply because they have 
 been petted too much, and require chastising. God 
 grant that our arms may be successful in asserting 
 the rights of our beloved Sovereign, and punishing 
 and completely subduing a horde of rebellious 
 savages. 
 
 A large force will march to Waitara in a few days. 
 I hope the General will allow the Waikatos to erect a 
 pah or pahs on Taylor's land, and then attack them. 
 Let them all come, I repeat. 
 
 From the '^ Taranaki News," November 8th, 1860. 
 We give in brief an account, as truly as we have 
 been able to gather, of the fight on Tuesday. The 
 day will assuredly be a red-letter-day in the annals 
 of this province. The episodes which belong to the 
 details of the action must be postponed to another 
 occasion. The following will put our readers in pos- 
 session of a graphic outline of the business. We 
 should congratulate ourselves that on this occasion the 
 65th, the militia, and volunteers, Avere mixed in the 
 combat, and that any acerbities which, out of writing
 
 190 APPENDIX. 
 
 and talking, may have grown up, are as perfectly dis- 
 persed as when the acid meets the alkali. 
 
 After a pleasant three hours' march, the troops 
 were halted, and a 24-pounder ordered to the front ; 
 the advance was resumed, and shortly afterwards a 
 few scattered shots denoted the presence of the enemy. 
 While the troops were extending, a soldier of the 65 th 
 went to the rear, shot in the arm; the gun on the 
 right went at intervals like a regular salute; the 
 volunteers and militia were on the left, and tlie Ions 
 S. W. side of Mahoetahi presented itself to the line of 
 advance about 200 yards off. A party of volunteers, 
 under Captain Atkinson, was detached still more to 
 the left, to outflank the natives on the seaward N.W. 
 side ; a company of the 65th, under Captain Turner, 
 made a dash forward and took the inland S.E. pah, 
 and a few minutes after it was communicated to 
 Major Herbert, just as he had told the militia and 
 volunteers to fix bayonets and charge the N.W. end 
 of the pah, as the best means of getting rid of the 
 heavy fire they were under from the enemy in the 
 pah. There was a swamp to get through, and then 
 there was a stiff large fence running up to the left of 
 the pah, which afforded good cover to advance under 
 while they got close to the pah, when the Major and 
 Captain Brown led the men through a gap and 
 charged up the pah, which was no sooner taken than 
 they turned and fired at the men as they rushed to 
 the edge. Henry Edgecombe fell dead here ; and a 
 soldier of the 65th, who had joined the charge of the 
 militia and volunteers, fell ; and, extraordinary to
 
 APPENDIX. 191 
 
 say, a volunteer who had joined in the charge under 
 Captain Turner, of the Ooth, on the S.E. end of the 
 pah, fell mortally wounded ; he was the son of the 
 Rev. Mr. Brown. The General and his staff were in 
 the centre of the pah almost as soon as it was taken. 
 The flying natives were now shut in by Mahoetahi in 
 their front, with a swamp in the rear ; some got 
 around the head of the swamp before it was shut in by 
 our riglit, and Captain Atkinson shot one of them at 
 ten paces with a revolver, taking his arms and 
 accoutrements from him. Some ten natives were 
 shot before they could take cover in the swamp, or 
 through it on the other side, when Colonel Mould, 
 advancing from the Waitara, on the other side of the 
 swamp from our left, with his force of 40th and 65th 
 under JNIajor Nelson, and a piece of artillery, turned 
 them out of their covers and drove them before them 
 for miles, strewing the road with dead. In his 
 advance INIajor Nelson sent a shell into the swamp 
 in which some of the enemy lay, taking cover on 
 abandoning the pah, and from whence they continued 
 to be very troublesome, without giving us a chance 
 of seeing them. A shell had a most beautiful effect ; 
 the natives rose out of the swamp like birds, and were 
 shot down or bayoneted, as they would not surren- 
 der ; not unreasonably, as among themselves mercy 
 is very rarely extended to a prisoner taken fighting. 
 
 Orders were given to collect the dead, of which 
 upwards of thirty that were readily visible were 
 collected ; four more were known to be lying dead 
 from a shell, but too far ofiF to be brought in ; these.
 
 192 APPENDIX. 
 
 with five prisoners, makes a known loss of more than 
 forty men on the Waikato side, which perhaps does 
 not comprise much more than half the absolute loss of 
 the enemy, of whom there were probably 200 in 
 action. One of the chiefs killed was one of the two 
 who sent a challenge, in which they said, " Come and 
 meet us, and don't be long about it, but settle it at 
 once." The unwounded prisoner who was taken, 
 Avas lying on the ground pretending to be dead, and, 
 it is said, declined to show any signs of life till he was 
 thrown across a gun-carriage and the gun was fired, 
 when he showed a decided preference for walking as 
 a prisoner. The fight lasted about an hour from the 
 time it commenced, when the enemy broke and fled ; 
 and this may be considered the most sharp, short, 
 and decisive affair that has ever taken place in New 
 Zealand. 
 
 About two o'clock the troops re-formed and 
 returned to town, leaving a force under Major 
 Hutchins to occupy and fortify Mahoetai, the 
 materials for a block-house having been taken 
 with the expedition. As the detachments marched 
 past the Bell Block stockade they were loudly cheered 
 by the garrison of troops and militia, and got into 
 town at five p.m. 
 
 We would suggest that it will be very desirable in 
 future to inform the forces engaged where the friendly 
 natives are placed, as the fire on the enemy was fre- 
 quently stopped, and the enemy spared, from a belief 
 that they were friendly natives. The natives killed 
 were all Waikatos.
 
 APPENDIX. 193 
 
 On tins occasion we can give a more satisfactory 
 account of casualties than we have been able to do on 
 previous occasions ; gratulation and regret walk side 
 by side, and we have to recognise that no important 
 good can be accomplished out of difficulty without 
 sacrifice. 
 
 KILLED. 
 
 Q5tli Regiment. — W. McGivern, F. Rooney. 
 Volunteers. — F. Brown, H. Edgecombe. 
 
 WOUNDED. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel C. Sillery, D.Q.M.G., slightly. 
 
 40^/i Regiment. — E. McKay, slightly. 
 
 %5th Regiment. — Captain Turner, severely ; Ser- 
 geant J. Knight, severely ; B. Boyan, very severely ; 
 T. Coleman, severely ; P. Connolly, severely ; H. 
 Gibson, slightly ; D. McBrierty, very severely ; 
 W. C. Ray, severely ; R. Whitlow, severely ; G. 
 Wilmot, very severely ; J. Lalley, dangerously ; 
 Corporal W. Roberts, slightly. 
 
 Volunteers. — J. Ward, slightly ; R. Langman, 
 slightly ; W. Vercoe, slightly ; T. Yeale, slightly. 
 
 NATIVES KILLED. 
 
 Tai Porutu, Warangi, Hakopa (chiefs), Tamu, 
 Ikaraika, Hakopa, Heneriko, Wiriana, Hakopa, 
 Wanganui, Pari, Tamihana, Hatewera, Hirene, 
 Tamiana, Warawara, Tamati, Hemi Karanga, 
 Watewera. 
 
 Fourteen dead, names not obtained. 
 
 Three wounded in hospital. 
 
 One in gaol. 
 

 
 194 APPENDIX. 
 
 From a Private Correspondent of the "New Zealand 
 Gazette:' 
 
 Taranaki, December 12, 1860. 
 
 We are indebted to a private correspondent for the 
 latest news in England from the seat of war : — 
 
 " I am sorry to say that there is no immediate 
 prospect of a speedy termination of the war in New 
 Zealand. The rebels are still in open rebellion, and 
 hardly a week closes without a horrible murder. You 
 will see in the Herald of the 8th instant, an account 
 of the murder of a defenceless boy, within a mile of 
 our lines and outposts. I am very glad to see that 
 the Home Government are taking the matter up, and 
 it is the sincere prayer of every New Zealand colo- 
 nist that this war be not ended until the Maories are 
 subdued, and taught such a lesson as shall for ever 
 prevent a repetition of their present rebellious and 
 unprovoked conduct. Laying down their arms, 
 giving up the murderers, and confiscation of the 
 territory of the rebels will secure this, and be the 
 making of this beautiful colony. You will read 
 with pleasure and interest, the account of a signal 
 victory over the Waikato insurgents at Mahoetahi, 
 about nine miles from town, by the military and 
 volunteer rifles, when the enemy lost forty-five killed 
 and several wounded. Nothing of importance has 
 transpired since. The Waikatos are collecting their 
 forces at Waitara, and we have just heard of the 
 defection of an influential chief at Waikato, William
 
 APPENDIX. 195 
 
 Thomp-on by name, who is on his way to join the 
 insurgents at Waitara. General Pratt, it is rumoured, 
 will shortly attack them in force." 
 
 From the Correspondent of the " New Zealand 
 Examinei'.'^ 
 
 Keio Plymouth, January 13, 1861. 
 
 When I closed my letter by the last mail, it was 
 known that the next expedition against the natives 
 would be despatched into the Waitara country. 
 There W. Kingi and his natives reside, and have 
 their cultivations ; moreover, the Waikatos had taken 
 as their position the site of an old pah called Matari- 
 koriko, about 3,000 yards inland of Puketakuere, 
 near the banks of the Waitara river. Great results 
 were anticipated from the movement. A blow well 
 struck and followed up in that quarter might vir- 
 tually terminate the war as regards Kingi and his 
 Waikato allies, leaving only the Taranaki and Ngati- 
 ruanui tribes to be dealt with afterwards. 
 
 You will see from the newspapers that Matari- 
 koriko fell into our hands on the 30th ultimo, the 
 position, which had hardly the appearance of being 
 fortified, having been abandoned after a day's firing 
 from rifle-pits at Kairau, from which their main 
 defence was made, and which pits were designed to 
 enfilade any advance upon the pah. The loss on our 
 side was three killed and twenty wounded ; on the 
 enemy's, as far as can be ascertained, 135 killed, and 
 03
 
 106 APPENDIX. 
 
 seventy wounded. The intelligence of the occupa- 
 tion of the pah gave, as may be supposed, great satis- 
 faction to our jieople, coupled as it was with the 
 intimation that the General had taken the field with 
 the determination to follow up the enemy, and 
 occupy his country. But this satisfaction was not 
 of long duration, as we soon found that the General's 
 pursuit was to terminate at the borders of the forest, 
 and that his plan of occupying the country by 
 means of military posts will take several thousand 
 men. Instead, therefore, of putting an end to the 
 war within two months, as the General stated before 
 leaving town, it is now broadly reported as coming 
 from himself, that the war cannot be decided at 
 Waitara; and further, that he has applied for 4,000 
 troops in addition to the reinforcements already pro- 
 mised. I am sorry to believe that these will now be 
 required. The General, with a force far larger than 
 Colonel Gold had under his command, has absolutely 
 done nothing. At the end often months, the country 
 (excepting the few military posts we hold) is in the 
 hands of the enemy. Coals are imported from Aus- 
 tralia, because it is considered unsafe to venture 
 into the forest for firewood. Hay (absolutely essen- 
 tial for the gun and commissariat cattle) is left uncut 
 within sight of blockhouses, in the open country, for 
 the same reason, and cattle are swept off from the 
 nearest farms in open day, without an effort to recover 
 them. With these startling facts before the public, 
 it may be reasonably expected that another com- 
 mander will be sent out without delay. It would
 
 APPENDIX. IQT 
 
 be far more agreeable to praise General Pratt, than 
 to censure liini. 
 
 As an instance, I may cite that the Colonial Press, 
 without an exception, has given the fullest credit to 
 the General for his movement upon Matarikoriko, 
 and his plan of the campaign, as it was then under- 
 stood. This, as we have seen, has undergone con- 
 siderable alteration since he took the field. His cam- 
 paign at Waitara virtually terminated at Matari- 
 koriko. Certain posts were to be held, and the 
 troops were to return to town en route to the south. 
 But a different course of action is forced upon him by 
 the natives, who spoke very disparagingly of the 
 General, and threatened to attack him if he does not 
 attack them very shortly. An expedition, in con- 
 sequence, will move out early to-morrow morning 
 against the rifle-pits, which are much more formid- 
 able than they need have been, from the General 
 having permitted them to make them so. The most 
 useful guns the General has are the little mortars, 
 which appear to be exactly suited to the warfare he 
 is engaged in. They are easily moved about, and 
 fired in any direction, and sure to discover the 
 whereabouts of the natives, before the troops get 
 within ranjTe. Some more of these should be sent 
 out. 
 
 The coming week will be one of great moment, 
 and much must hinge on the result. An attack on 
 the town is still talked of as probable. It might, 
 undoubtedly, be entered at various points by a deter- 
 mined body of natives, and much injury inflicted.
 
 108 APPENDIX. 
 
 before we could be brought to bear upon them in 
 the dead of the night. The defences reflect no credit 
 on the engineer department. The natives sliow us 
 far more science in this respect. Our earthworks are 
 sloped, as if to assist an enemy over, in the run in ; 
 but the natives build theirs perfectly upright, which 
 could only be scaled. The strength in town and 
 the outlying posts is from 700 to 800, mostly militia 
 and volunteers, whose acquaintance with the ground 
 makes them especially valuable as a defensive force. 
 We have, besides, our old friend the " Niger," once 
 more. She returned from the White Cliffs during 
 the recent S.E. gale, and has once more taken up 
 her berth off the town, watchful and ready as ever 
 to land her gallant force. The " Victoria" is likewise 
 to remain here for the same purpose. The services 
 this sloop has rendered the province and colony cannot 
 be over-estimated. 
 
 The steam transport, " Robert Lowe," from Auck- 
 land, via " Napier" and " Wellington," with 250 men 
 of the 65th, is hourly expected. These will probably 
 be taken on to Waitara. 
 
 P.S. — 14th January, 7 a.m. — No news from 
 Waitara. 
 
 Ft'om a Correspondent of " Tlie JVeiv Zealand 
 Examiner.'''' 
 
 New Plymouth, February 11, 1861. 
 It will be seen from the local papers that the war 
 is not progressing favourably. Of the ultimate result
 
 APPENDIX. 199 
 
 there can be no doubt ; but General Pratt's mode of 
 carrying it on is in the highest degree injurious to 
 all parties concerned. We found fault with Colonel 
 Gold, and justly too, that, with less than 500 regulars, 
 he failed in his mission ; but General Pratt, with six 
 times the force, is not more successful. The truth is, 
 that he is too old (as the rank of General in our 
 service but too usually implies) to cope with his active 
 enemy. As to the manner in which this should be 
 done, a stranger to the colony, such as General Pratt 
 was, might well be at fault. It was, perhaps, for this 
 reason that the Governor particularly called his atten- 
 tion to the importance of harassing the natives by 
 means of armed bodies of men, kept moving about 
 with secresy and expedition, and of destroying their 
 cultivations and property. It is obvious that a war 
 with savages may be indefinitely protracted if no 
 measures are taken for starving the enemy, and that 
 it may prove a needlessly ruinous one to ourselves 
 if the country is surrendered to them. Whilst, there- 
 fore, the General is employing 2500 men at a "sap" 
 fifteen miles from town, we in the town are menaced 
 on our south by the Ngatiruanui and Taranaki tribes, 
 who are once more in position on Waireka-hill, from 
 whence they send out small bands of natives to murder, 
 pillage, and destroy. All we in the town are per- 
 mitted to do is, to keep open communication with the 
 Bell blockhouse and Mahoetahi on one side, and 
 the Omata stockade on the other. The rest of the 
 country — all that lies south of a line drawn between 
 the above posts — we give up to the enemy. No man
 
 200 APPENDIX. 
 
 can venture five hundred yards out witliout the risk 
 of being cut off. Houses are burnt in tlie o}ien day, 
 and horses and cattle driven off without the slightest 
 attempt being made to interfere with the natives. On 
 Friday last, one of the best settlers, the only son of 
 Captain King, R.N., was surprised and shot on his 
 own property, within sight of the Marsland-hill 
 garrison; and though we are perplexed in accounting 
 for the infatuation which led him to venture there, 
 it is a shame and a reproach to our military adminis- 
 tration that such bloody scenes can be done, and are 
 permitted. In previous letters I have called attention 
 to the necessity of sending out to us a new commander, 
 and unless this be done the news from the colony will 
 continue to be from bad to worse. I regret time does 
 not allow of my writing at greater length. This partly 
 arises from the mail being dispatched two days earlier 
 than usual, to make up for the month of February, 
 that no delay may occur in the delivery in England. 
 
 Frov% the Taranahi Herald, February 11, 1861. 
 
 The "Tasmanian Maid," just arrived in the an- 
 chorage, brings us information respecting the heavy 
 firing heard yesterday at Waitara. 
 
 General Pratt has resolved on constructing a re- 
 doubt about a mile in advance of redoubt No. 6 in 
 the peach grove, and about 400 yards from Te Arei 
 pah, near Pukerangioro. The pah is not now in a 
 fortified state, but there is a village of a few huts on
 
 APPENDIX. 201 
 
 the site of an old pah, half way up the slope of a 
 ridge. There are many rifle-pits on several eminences 
 around; the ground is covered with fern, in some 
 places very high, and there is a deep gulley between 
 the position chosen for the redoubt and Te Arei pah. 
 A force, consisting of about 1200 men of the 12th, 
 14th, 40th, and 65th regiments and artillery, with 
 the Royal Engineers, advanced at daybreak yesterday, 
 and was immediately met by heavy firing from the 
 enemy ensconced in their pits. Our men were obliged 
 to lie down, and the working parties were covered 
 chiefly by the fire of the artillery, as the natives 
 could only be seen at rare intervals. The rifles, 
 however, were constantly in readiness to fire into 
 the enemy when seen. The natives were full of de- 
 termination, and at times came within speaking dis- 
 tance, inviting our men to come on, who replied by 
 recommending them to stand out. Several old women 
 were vociferous in encouraging the enemy. 
 
 The redoubt was constructed on a small hill 
 crowned with fern trees, commanding the gulley, and 
 within easy shelling range of the village or pah Te 
 Arei. 
 
 The 40tli, and Captain Strange's and Captain 
 Turner's companies, 65th, were extended in front 
 across the roads from the peach grove to Te Arei, 
 the 40th on the left, the 65th on the right. The 
 detachment of the 12th, and the light company 65th, 
 kept the road in the rear of the working parties, 
 extending from the peach grove to near the new 
 redoubt. Almost every little eminence, and the
 
 202 ArPENDix. 
 
 edges of the busli, were occupied by the enemy, one 
 party as near as 150 to 200 yards to the men of the 
 65th on the right front. Captain Strange's men had 
 formed themselves rifle-pits, and that gallant officer 
 was lying in one of these when he received a wound 
 in the thigh, the bullet cutting the femoral artery, 
 and causing death by hemorrhage. Eleven others 
 were wounded: three of the Royal Artillery, one of the 
 12th regiment, one of the 40th, five of the 65th, and a 
 bullock-driver. Nine of the bullocks were hit, but 
 not so as to injure them seriously. The wounds, 
 except two which are dangerous, are not of a cha- 
 racter to disable the men permanently. 
 
 Captain Strange was universally esteemed, not 
 only in his regiment, but by every one who came in 
 contact with him in the whole force. The civilians 
 in the Bell Block, where he was long in command, 
 will hear of his death with extreme regret. No 
 soldier in Taranaki had more respect and good-will 
 from the settlers. At present, nothing is known of 
 the Maori loss. It is conjectured by a good authority 
 that they did sufiPer, and a rumour reached town this 
 morning, by a native, that two or more had been 
 killed. Little, however, was seen of them during 
 the day, beyond the smoke of their guns. One indi- 
 vidual, placed at the foot of the hill, is said to have 
 caused a large part of the loss on our side ; but though 
 a great deal of attention was paid him in consequence, 
 he seemed to escape. 
 
 The whole of the redoubts between Kairau and 
 No. 6 are to be destroyed to-day. Colonel Wyatt
 
 APPENDIX. 203 
 
 was left in command at the new position, with about 
 350 men. 
 
 THE BATTLE OF HUIRANGI. 
 
 On the morning of the 23rcl of January, a little 
 before daybreak, an attack was made by the Maories 
 upon a new redoubt thrown up in front of Huirangi, 
 the great, and perhaps the last, stronghold of the 
 insurgent natives. On this occasion they did not 
 wait to be attacked, but themselves became the 
 assailants, and it is impossible not to admire the skill 
 with which the assault was planned, and the reckless 
 daring with which it was made. 
 
 A " storming party" of the Maories crept up through 
 the fern and gained the ditch of the redoubt, and 
 then, as we have been informed, cutting with their 
 tomahawks small foot-holes in the slope, they swarmed 
 up the sides of the parapet " in the most desperate 
 and determined manner," seizing hold of the very 
 bayonets that were pointed against them. In rear of 
 this forlorn hope, there was a strong supporting party, 
 and skirmishers were in line on all flanks of the 
 redoubt. 
 
 " The plan of the enemy," writes Colonel Leslie, 
 the gallant commander of the garrison, " appeared to 
 be to keep down the fire of our men on the parapets 
 by their support and by their line of skirmishers, 
 while the storming party scaled the left face of the 
 redoubt."
 
 204 APPENDIX. 
 
 They failed, as they must always fail, and have 
 suffered a terrible punishment. With thirty-six 
 known to have been killed, they will not have less 
 than twice that number wounded, many of whom 
 have got away only to die. 
 
 With soldierly frankness, General Pratt, after his 
 experience at Taranaki, recognises some of the good 
 qualities of his misguided opponents, and " trusts that 
 the severe losses this manly and high-spirited race 
 are so continually receiving, will teach them how 
 unavailing are their efforts against her Majesty's 
 supremacy, and will soon lead to a termination of this 
 unhappy internecine war." 
 
 It is the lesson exactly which the real friends to 
 the natives should earnestly inculcate, and urge them 
 at once to take to heart. Every hour that passes 
 renders the danger of this struggle growing into a 
 war of races more and more imminent ; and whilst the 
 result of such a war is not difficult to predict, the 
 course which must be travelled to reach the end cannot 
 be contemplated without horror. 
 
 If the scenes which Taranaki has witnessed should 
 chance to be repeated elsewhere, the difficulty of the 
 native question will not be reduced, whilst the dis- 
 position to make allowances for peace sake will be 
 seriously lessened. 
 
 From the "Melbourne Argus,'^ Febrtiary 23rd, 1861. 
 
 Via Sydney, we have intelligence from the seat of 
 war up to the 11th inst., thus giving us four weeks*
 
 APPENDIX. 205 
 
 later news than we were enabled to forward by the 
 last mail. We then published the dispatch from 
 Major-General Pratt, giving an account of his ex- 
 pedition of the 28th December against the Waikatos, 
 which had resulted in the Maories being driven from 
 a very strong position at Matarikoriko, after three 
 days' fighting, with a loss on our side of three killed 
 and twenty-two wounded, and on that of the natives 
 of 135 killed, seventy wounded, and fifteen missing. 
 The " Boanerges" had also just arrived from Cork, 
 with the 2nd battalion of the 14th foot, consisting of 
 about 500 men. Since then, a further reinforcement, 
 consisting of about 430 of the 57th regiment, has 
 arrived by the " Castilian," from Bombay, and ad- 
 ditional troops are also expected from India and China, 
 the 64th regiment in particular being named. 
 
 Extract from a Letter dated Nelson, Feb. 28th, 1861. 
 
 Our last accounts from that now wretched place 
 (Taranaki) are very distressing ; fever Is raging, and 
 funerals almost daily occur, whereas, before the war, 
 a grave had not been opened for sixteen months. Our 
 liouses are now entirely gone, the southern natives 
 having come up again and burnt all thej left last 
 year, and also driven away the remaining cattle, so 
 that our hopes are at a lower ebb than ever. What 
 can we do if we ever get back again, with nothing to 
 shelter us, and no means of putting up a house for a 
 long time ? ^
 
 NOTES. 
 
 A. — See page 5. 
 
 I HA.VE been favoured with the following communi- 
 cation respecting the "iron sand " at New Plymouth by 
 agentleman recently returned from a visit to England. 
 
 66, Chancery Lane, 
 29th l\ov., 1859. 
 Messrs. J. Gladstone &Co. 
 
 Gentlemen, — In reply to your application to me 
 respecting the iron sand found at Taranaki (New 
 Plymouth), New Zealand, I have much pleasure in 
 fully confirming the statement of Capt. Moreshead on 
 this subject. The samples shown to me by that gen- 
 tleman and yourselves are from samples of the sand 
 as it exists in abundance for several miles along the 
 sea-shore in the immediate vicinity of the town of 
 New Plymouth. 
 
 The sand is found unmixed with extraneous matter 
 between high and low water-mark, and in some places 
 is several feet in depth. Abundance of wood suitable 
 for charcoal can also be obtained within a short 
 distance of the sea-shore. 
 
 It may be interesting to know that the sand has 
 been smelted on the spotn^nd converted into bar iron 
 of good quality ; and from what I have seen and do
 
 APPENDIX. 207 
 
 know of the matter I have very little doubt that it 
 only requires the judicious application of a moderate 
 amount of capital and skill to convert the iron sand 
 into merchantable iron. 
 
 I am. Gentlemen, 
 
 Yours, very obediently, 
 
 J. C."Sharland', M.P.C. 
 
 Report on the Iron Sand from New Plymouth. 
 
 The black sand from New Plymouth consists almost 
 wholly of crystals of the magnetic oxide of iron. 
 These crystals are remarkably uniform in size, but 
 their angles and edges are much worn, as though by 
 attrition. They are not contaminated by any sulphuret 
 of iron, but are mixed with a small quantity of a white 
 mineral. 
 
 Acids resolve the black sand into the following 
 constituents: Magnetic oxide of iron, 93*95 per cent.; 
 whitemineral, 5"52; trace of lime and loss, 0*52. This 
 white mineral was found to be a silicate of alumina 
 and lime, with a trace of iron, its constituents being in 
 the following proportions : — Silicic acid, 3*42; alumina, 
 1*65; lime, 0'37; trace of iron and loss, 0.08, the per 
 centaofe of the white mineral. The amount of 
 metallic iron existing in the magnetic oxide is 68*04 
 per cent, of the black sand. The whole analysis may 
 therefore be thus expressed: — Iron, 68*04; oxygen 
 and undetermined traces, 26*52 ; silicic acid, 3*4 ; 
 alumina, 1 Q5 ; lime, 0*37. 
 
 As this black sand contains so large a per centage 
 of iron, and that in combination merely with oxygen.
 
 208 APPENDIX. 
 
 and is in such a state of division, it may be considered 
 a remarkably rich ore of iron, and one that will be 
 easily reduced. 
 
 (Signed) J. H. Gladstone, Ph.D., F.R.S. 
 28, Leicester Gardens, Hyde Park, 
 2lst November, 1859. 
 
 B.—Page 12. 
 
 The following succinct view of the political bear- 
 ing of the question with regard to the Government 
 and the natives may help to elucidate the matter in 
 the text : — " Although Teira had stated ' he was the 
 owner of the land,'' it was almost directly found that 
 such was not the case. In a letter from Teira and 
 Ritimana to the Governor (20th March, 1859), they 
 say, *I am endeavouring to find out the justice of the 
 interference of the people with our (himself and 
 Eitimana) love to you. Your word, advising them to 
 mark off their own piece icithin our line (boundary of 
 the block offered by Teira) they have received, but 
 they do not consent. I consent, because it is correct.' 
 When Teira found that the Governor was fully aware 
 that the whole of the land was .not his to offer, he 
 admitted that it belonged to seven others also, and 
 entered into a justification of having offered it without 
 their consent. He says, in a letter to the Governor, 
 ' The land belongs to all of us ; the land that we two 
 consent to, the seven consent to our offering it to you ; 
 it is our land from our ancestors, and therefore we 
 consent rightly for you to have it. — Do not listen to
 
 APPENDIX. 209 
 
 the words of others, but listen to us seven. The thought 
 was mine and Ritimana's to sell it to you.' The 
 Governor was evidently desirous of acting with caution, 
 and he wrote to Mr. Parris (27th Sept. 1859) direct- 
 ing him to ' inform Teira that the purchase will not 
 be completed until Mr. M'Lean visits Taranaki.' 
 Unfortunately, this promise was never fulfilled. The 
 investigation of title was conducted solely by Mr. 
 Parris ; Mr. M'Lean was away down the coast, 
 recovering from an illness, and did not visit New Ply- 
 mouth until after the commencement of hostilities. 
 When the Governor wrote to W. Kingi (2nd April, 
 1859), telling him that he intended to purchase Teira's 
 individual piece, Kingi wrote back (25th April, 1859) 
 as follows : — ' I will not agree to our bed-room being 
 sold (I mean Waitara here), for this bed belongs to the 
 xvhole of Its ; and do not you be in haste to give the 
 money. Do you hearken to my word; if you give the 
 money secretly, you will get no land for it.' It may 
 be supposed that if W. Kingi really had a title to 
 the land, he would have asserted it more strongly, or 
 at any rate more frequently, than he appears to have 
 done ; but the best proof that it was not reasonable to 
 suppose so, is to be found in the instructions given by 
 Mr. McLean to the Taranaki Land Commissioner. 
 He says : — ' A record of all claims submitted by the 
 )iatives should be noted by you, more especially in 
 those cases where conflicting interests have to be 
 dealt with ; and great care should be taken not to 
 give too much prominence to that class of claimants 
 who are frequently the first to offer their land for 
 
 P
 
 2]0 APrENDIX. 
 
 sale from the fact of tlieir title being in many instances 
 very defective, llie actual owner, in contradistinction 
 to the class to which I have just referred, s<?Wo?/i makes 
 a noisy or boasting demonstration of what his claims 
 really are ; it may therefore be inferred, /rowi his silent 
 and iincom/irornising demeanour, that his rights are not 
 to be trifled with, and that without his acquiescence 
 it will be impossible to make a valid purchase. This 
 class of claimants it will be ^-our duty to search out, 
 as they will be the least likely, from feeling seem e in the 
 justice of their cnuse, to press themselves upon your 
 notice.' ' There are many proofs that there is no such 
 thing as an individual claim, clear and independent of 
 the tribal right. The chiefs exercise an influence in 
 the disposal of the land, but have only an individual 
 claim like the rest of the people on particular por- 
 tions/ Such was the testimony given by thirty-two out of 
 thirty-four witnesses examined before a Board of Inquiry 
 on this subject in 1855. By an attentive perusal of the 
 various despatHies sent by the Governor, it will be 
 seen that it is only making matters worse to deny the 
 tribal right, so clearly admitted even by the Governor 
 in one of his Home despatches. The argument, ' that 
 if the tribal right in the land exists at all, W. Kingi 
 could neither possess nor exercise it — Potatau, the 
 chief of the Waikatos, having attained it by conquest, 
 and sold all his claims at New Plymouth to the New 
 Zealand Company ' — is somewhat limping, for if W. 
 Kingi's tribal right is rendered void by Potatau's con- 
 quest, is not Teira's individual right rendered also 
 void ? The fact is, the Governor has adopted ' a new
 
 APPENDIX. 211 
 
 policy,' and the war is its first fruits. When the 
 survey of the Waitara took place, it was first resisted 
 by some women, and afterwards by about eighty 
 men, but unarmed and without violence. The 
 Governor did not do what he had publicly told the 
 natives he would do, in case of resistance, viz., cause 
 them to be arrested and taken before the judge or 
 magistrate; although he had informed Sir E. L. Bulvver, 
 on the 29th March, 1859, that * this declaration (to 
 arrest, &c.) was received with satisfaction by both 
 races.' And there is every reason to believe that the 
 natives expected this to be the issue of their resistance, 
 and not the immediate adoption of armed force. Had 
 this been done, it might have saved the present blood- 
 shed, and prevented the proclamation of martial law. 
 The Taranaki Herald, 20th Feb., 1860, giving an 
 account of this resistance to the survey, uses these 
 singular words : — ^A survey was effectually resisted 
 by some eighty natives without arms ; and as it was no 
 part of the plan to persist in the attempt, the party 
 
 returned to town A letter was addressed to the 
 
 natives by Lieutenant-Colonel Murray without any 
 satisfactory result, and immediately a proclamation of 
 martial law was issued to assert Her Majesty's 
 sovereign authority against natives in arms to resist 
 her. It is evident that it was supposed an armed 
 resistance would take place when the proclamation 
 was drawn up and dated {January 25th) ; but when 
 on the 20th February it was resisted without arms, the 
 military officer had no power to alter the proclamation 
 or withhold it, having been instructed, " Should
 
 212 APPENDIX. 
 
 W. Kingi, or any other iiutive, endeavour to prevent 
 the survey, or in any way interfere with the 
 prosecution of the work, military force was to be used, 
 martial law to be proclaimed, and the volunteers and 
 militia called out into active service.' ' Without arms' 
 or ' in arms' made no difference to him ; he had orders 
 from the Government at Auckland to issue it, and issue 
 it he did." — Compiled from " Wellington IndependenW^ 
 
 C.—Page 73. 
 
 When Epiah was told that the expedition of the 
 southern natives, then assembled at the Waireka pah, 
 would be considered as a marauding one,he referred in 
 his reply to the history of the Jews, as affording an ex- 
 ample of often settling their grievances by fighting, and 
 that their wai's were sanctioned by God ; that even 
 instructions were given by the Almighty to slay every 
 man, woman and child amongst their enemies, to seize 
 all their property, and to take possession of their land. 
 
 As far as we who were then assembled, and all belong- 
 ing to us, were concerned, we might feel quite certain 
 of our safety. We were referred to the second chapter 
 of Joshua, and were put much in the same relation to 
 the natives that Rahab and her household were 
 towards the Israelites when the city of Jericho was 
 taken and destroyed. (Joshua, xxiv. and xxv.) 
 But as to taking away any of the settlers' property — 
 the country now being in their hands as enemies to 
 the white men who had commenced hostilities against 
 them — all was theirs to do as they w^ould or could.
 
 APPENDIX. Sl3 
 
 Some Maories less acquainted with us might take our 
 goods, but we need not fear this — the tapu which was 
 put on us, and all belonging to us, was imperative, and 
 the curse of God would assuredly rest upon the 
 guilty breach of it. And here again reference was 
 made to the book of Joshua (chap, vii.) A curse 
 would in like manner rest on the Maories if they did 
 not abide by the covenant made with us. Here, it 
 will be seen, application was made of an historical 
 fact as having a prophetic character; and in this 
 application the mere letter, and not the spirit, was 
 understood by the natives. 
 
 The Missionaries attach great importance to the 
 fact that the natives love the Bible, and refer to this 
 circumstance as a strong indication of the instinctive 
 reverence that they have for religion. This love of 
 the Book may, however, I think, be accounted for on 
 other grounds than any deep religious emotions it 
 encrenders in the hearts of the aborigines. It is 
 almost the only book they have translated into their 
 own language, and its history of the Jewish people 
 (with whom the natives claim relationship) is the most 
 remarkable of all histories. Its beautiful pictures of 
 patriarchal life — its repeated accounts of the early 
 wars of the Hebrew nation — its rigid enactment of 
 gorgeous forms and sacrificial ceremonies — its well- 
 understood idiomatic style, would all tend to please 
 and engage their attention ; but at the same time, 
 literally understood, miserably mislead a warlike, rude, 
 and savage nation, untaught in the spiritualism con- 
 veyed in the yet far more important history of Christ 
 
 p3
 
 214 APPENDIX. 
 
 and His mission in the New Testament. It has been 
 well said, " Whatever change the native character has 
 undergone by the reception of Christianity, but little 
 has taken place in their mode of living, or their habits 
 of thought. .. .The Maori language sufficed for the 
 requirements of a barbarous race, but it can never be 
 made an instrument of refined spiritual thought, or 
 become adapted to the higher purposes of life .... 
 There does not seem sufficient compass in the language 
 to give impressive conceptions of the great work of 
 human redemption. .. .Their religion was once a 
 childish superstition, having its source merely in the 
 imagination . . . .Yet some of their ancient legends are 
 strikingly imaginative and poetical, and their mytho- 
 logy is not without some trace of a Mosaic origin. 
 Their mode of numbering the people is like that of 
 the Israelites of old — the women and children not 
 being reckoned, but only the fighting men ; their 
 genealogy is also from the female line." * Still, their 
 religion owes not its source in the intellect so much as 
 in the exercise of a fair share of sound reason and 
 good common sense, which led them at once to discard 
 their ancient superstitions and to adopt the more con- 
 genial system which taught them that God was their 
 Father, and that all mankind were brethren. 
 
 It is granted they say their prayers, but do they 
 really pray ? Manahi, the traitor, was at prayers on 
 the Sunday morning the troops went out to Ratapihipihi. 
 They (I fear) worship God in form, but not in spirit 
 and in truth ; for had they known Him, " whom to 
 
 * Compiled from the Quarterly Review, No. 212, Oct., 1859.
 
 APPENDIX. 215 
 
 know is life eternal," they would have been more 
 spiritually minded, and thus be the possessors of a life 
 and peace which would have made tliem less savage 
 in seeking revenge for any blood shed by their brethren 
 on account of quarrels about their lands. Even when 
 their minister. Rev. J. Whitely, reasoned and remon- 
 strated with Ihaih for waylaying and murdering 
 Katotore, he was met by Ihaih saying, " It is not your 
 business to talk to me about this ; you pray and I 
 ^yill pray with you, but if you urge me on this point 
 I will shoot you." I ought in fairness to state that 
 Ihaih sent a note of apology to Mr. Whitely for 
 threatening him, but still this circumstance shows 
 what was the natural impulse of the man, and how 
 little he was really influenced by the religion of that 
 Divine Being to whom he was willing to say his 
 prayers, but not to imbibe His spirit and teaching, the 
 genius of which is love, " peace on earth, and good- 
 will towards all men." 
 
 Another illustration of the above argument is 
 afforded in the circumstance mentioned in the text of 
 the Rev. H. Brown, who, not knowing then of the 
 painful fact of the murders just committed at Omata, 
 went up to the native pah to read prayers, and was 
 told at the conclusion " You should have been shorter; 
 we were thinking more about fightino; and building 
 the pah than about saying our prayers." 
 
 The teaching most likely to be effective would be 
 that of example ; but what was the example set before 
 them by the white man ? Promises broken, and the 
 Sabbath generally chosen for warlike display, &c. ;
 
 216 APPENDIX. 
 
 besides which, it was no uncommon thing to hear the 
 Christian white man speak and act in perfect accord- 
 ance with tlie avowed opinion " that a musket-ball 
 for every New Zealander was the best mode of 
 civilizing the country;" or, again, that " a ship-load of 
 infected pestilential blankets would ease the settlers 
 of a host of troublesome niggers, and make them 
 more inclined to part with their land." 
 
 It was in allusion to the early intercourse of the 
 Europeans with the natives that Epiah stated that the 
 " Devil's Missionaries had first impregnated the 
 Maories with disease, taught everything that was bad, 
 given them the intoxicating xoipera (drink), adminis- 
 tered to the passions by which they were naturally 
 inflamed against each other, introduced them to the 
 knowledge of depraved acts and licentious gratifications 
 of the most debasing; kind." With a few honourable 
 exceptions, the white man was ever guided by one 
 ruling passion — the love of gain. 
 
 Even the Missionaries had signally failed in teach- 
 ing them certain truths and principles, the knowledge 
 of which would have been of essential service to them 
 in their dealings with the white man. The value of 
 money as a circulating medium was for a long time 
 hidden from them ; and it was only by their occasional 
 intercourse with Australia, England, &c., through 
 their shrewder brethren who visited these countries, 
 and saw the great value set upon money, and the 
 importance in which it was held by traders of all 
 descriptions. To their Missionaries they said, " Why 
 do you keep us in ignorance respecting so much that
 
 APPENDIX. 217 
 
 it is essential for us to know? Why should not webe 
 all treated as the white man treats his fellow-settler, 
 and have money for our land, that we may trade as 
 do others ?" Still the system of barter was the one 
 generally practised in dealing with the natives ; cun- 
 ning, tlierefore, became the ruling passion, and money 
 the great object to be attained. Epiah referred to the 
 New Zealand Company, and some of its dealings with 
 the natives ; and with reference to transactions nearer 
 the present time, he named several blocks of land as 
 having been fairly sold with the full consent of all 
 the tribes to which they ostensibly belonged. But 
 other lands were named not so fairly sold, and " the 
 Maori's heart was black " about the matter. Par- 
 ticular allusion was made to the Paratutu line, wdiich 
 was cut, and the block sold by the Puketapau tribe. 
 Ever since then " the heart of the natives had been 
 black," and therefore it was not altogether the ques- 
 tion of the land at Waitara which the southern 
 natives felt aggrieved about, but that the Puketapau 
 tribe had sold the land to the white man, which, as a 
 tribe, they had no right to do. But why this 
 grievance on the matter of this particular block of 
 land should be fastened on the settlers, Epiah did not 
 or could not explain. 
 
 I may remark that the " land question," in con- 
 nexion with the literal interpretation of the Bible, is 
 not one of trivial importance with the natives. 
 
 Taranaki, like Shechem of old, "the garden of 
 Palestine," is the "garden of New Zealand." Distant 
 natives always describe it in charming language.
 
 218 APPENDIX. 
 
 There are, irideed, wild forests and tangled thickets, 
 but there is also always a congenial soil to beget 
 verdure ; no violent mountain torrents, but always 
 water flowing from " father Taranaki (Mount Eg- 
 mont) in pure and limpid streams ;" the melody of 
 singing birds, for they, too, know where to find their 
 best quarters ; a mild climate, and an easy life and 
 much pleasure. These characteristics, so like the 
 Palestine of the Jews, give to the history of the land 
 an interest, which to the natives is often greater than 
 that felt by the settler, who is merely seeking to 
 make a home in a land endeared to him by no 
 associations of ancient kith or kind, no reminiscences 
 of heroic deeds, nor the burial places of chiefs and 
 warriors. 
 
 It will be recollected that the very scene of 
 Jotham's parable of the trees — the first parable of the 
 Bible — was Shechem ; and that parable, I am told, is 
 a favourite reading lesson with the natives,* ^Judges, 
 ix. 7 — 15.) And it is significant, in connexion 
 with Epiah's conversation, and the description given 
 
 * In reference to Omata, it may be said that it is considered 
 one of the most beautiful districts in Taranaki. It contains 
 many meadows, pleasant homesteads, and rural scenery, un- 
 equalled by any in New Zealand. Not far from my farm, on 
 the main soutliern road, lies the little village of Omata, consist- 
 ing of half-a-dozen houses, a store and an inn, a small church 
 and a Primitive Methodist chapel, a wheelwright's shop, a 
 library of more than 000 volumes under tlie care of a settler 
 in the village. A few scattered cottages and farms, with the 
 I'eddence of Rev. G. Bailey, formerly officiating clergyman for 
 Omata, are situated in the neighbourhood.
 
 APPENDIX. 219 
 
 to US by the natives of the symbols on the Maori flag, 
 that it is precisely here that the promise "Lift up now 
 thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art, north- 
 ward and southward, and eastward and westward, for all 
 the land which thou seest to thee will I give it, and to 
 thy seed for ever," — is applied by the natives to 
 Taranaki. 
 
 T>.—Page 123. 
 
 The following is only a meagre part of the sad 
 experience of the settlers, communicated to me by 
 those who have been compelled to play at soldiers : — 
 
 " On picket-duty all night ; at nine o'clock a.m., 
 next day, marched oflF with a party to get firewood ; 
 on duty again all night, as sentinel at intervals of two 
 hours, — 710 sentry boxes, a single tattered blanket 
 served out to each man> at night, often wet, full of 
 maggots and fleas, the same delivered up in the 
 morning, and served out again at night ; shoes tied 
 on the feet with flax, having often to pace to and fro 
 in water over the ankles. One morning called up 
 at four o'clock to go with a party to Omata (five 
 miles from town) to dig up potatoes — the military on 
 guard while we were at work ; home to town about 
 four o'clock p.m. ; then ordered to go a mile out of 
 town to cut and tie up hay for ofiicers' horses ; on 
 duty again as sentinel at night. On one occasion, an 
 officer in the militia (a settler, who, by the way, is 
 pretty well paid for his military services,) made an 
 ofi^erof a cow-lodge which stood about nine miles inland.
 
 220 APPENDIX. 
 
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 sent off with ten bullock carts to bring it into town. 
 Having reached the place, about one o'clock p.m., they 
 had then to load the carts, the rain coming down in 
 torrents, which then brouo-ht it near to ninht. Before 
 starting with their load, darkness came on, and the 
 men had to walk for miles in mud and water, through 
 bad roads, reaching town between nine and ten o'clock 
 at night. The orders then were to be on duty at four 
 o'clock a.m., next morning, at the flag-staff. The con- 
 sequences were, that above twelve of the company 
 caught severe colds, which will doubtless bring them 
 to a premature grave. Ten cow-sheds, that would 
 have well answered the purpose for which this was 
 required, could have been got within half-an-hour's 
 journey from the centre of the town. I could fill 
 pages with details of similar or even worse hardships, 
 but I forbear." 
 
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