1862 - Grayling, W. I. The War in Taranaki, during the years 1860-1861 - CHAPTER VI. Troops proceed to Auckland...p 45-55

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CHAPTER VI.

THE Governor, on receipt of the despatches of the General announcing the battle of Mahoetahi, immediately sent H. M. S. S. Niger and Victoria to fetch 400 troops from New Plymouth to protect Auckland in case of need, and should the news of the battle have a prejudicial effect on the minds of the Waikatos.

At the scene of strife the insurgents were more determined than ever. Numbers from Waikato continued pouring into King's pas; and occasionally issuing forth in small parties to waylay and murder every European they could meet with, to avenge the deaths of their relatives, in accordance with native custom. A large reserve force had also collected in the North, to march either on Taranaki or Auckland. This active sympathy from the North induced King to seek similar aid from the opposite direction. He sent emissaries to the Wanganui and neighbouring tribes, pressing them to join him at the Waitara.

Since the 6th of November the military had completed a block-

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house on a hill (Ngapuketurua), 800 yards in advance of the Mahoetahi. During the engagement the hill was covered with karaka trees, the bright green shade, in contrast with the brown tinge of the fern lands giving a very refreshing and beautiful appearance. They have been all felled since.

In close contiguity to the blockhouse is another hill, formerly held sacred as the burial ground of Mahau's ancestors, imbedded in which several ancient relics were found. One of the most interesting was a hard, trachytic boulder, of an oval shape, about ten inches in length and six in depth; the top had been cut off so as to form a lid, the centre being hollowed out--in which was placed a piece of red ironstone, the shape, but larger, of a man's thumb. This memento of the dead many generations ago was deposited near to the first chief buried in this sacred ground. Afterwards, on any relatives of the departed dying, the stone was uncovered, the lid removed, a fire lighted, and food cooked near the grave; which, on being presented to the piece of ironstone, as an Atua, or God, was handed round to the surviving relatives. The superstitious feelings of the natives are still so great as to induce them to believe that, if a child touched the stone, in a short space of time it would die, unless the relic and its contents were destroyed. Some natives to whom it was shown could not be induced to touch it, but put their hands behind them, and commenced a low moaning cry.

The General at Taranaki endeavoured to harass the natives by marching armed parties of military and civilians towards the North, to drive them back, and destroy their potato and other plantations.

The Waikatos, in large parties, were still pouring into King's pas at Huirangi and Matarikoriko, where strong defences had been completed; to reduce which General Pratt inarched for the Waitara, where he encamped on Friday, December 27th. The next day, with a force consisting of 1,000 men, with all the appurtenances for a protracted siege, he advanced towards Kairau, where the enemy in great strength had formed an extensive series of field-works, consisting of rifle pits in echelon, connected with viaducts that led to gullies bordering the dense bush surrounding the strongly fortified pa at Matarikoriko; which is situated in a commanding position on a hill

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very similar to that of the Puketakauere, about one mile nearer the Waitara than Kairau.

As the troops advanced nothing was seen of the enemy until the skirmishers, after struggling through high fern and broken country, had passed the spot on which the Kairau pa formerly stood; when the black heads of the natives moving amongst the fern were seen, as they opened a heavy and rapid fire, in the face of which No. 1, or Kairau Redoubt, was planned and executed. The enemy tried every ruse, without the slightest effect, to check the progress of the works. At one time they, with a rapid movement, threatened our right; the next, redoubled the attack on our left and front; but all was of small avail. The redoubt was completed and occupied, amidst the heavy firing of both sides.

Towards nightfall the greater portion of the troops returned to Waitara; leaving the 40th, under the command of Colonel Leslie, to garrison the newly formed camp. During the night firing was continued, with but slight intermission, until 4 o'clock on the Sunday morning, when white flags were shown by the enemy.

The General, on his arrival, requested the Rev. Mr Wilson, who had accompanied him from the Waitara, to communicate with the natives, and ascertain the meaning of their flags of truce. It appeared that it was their wish that fighting for the time should cease, in order that the Sabbath might not be desecrated with blood; consequently, beyond the completing of the works, no firing on either side occurred; the troops being massed in columns in the rear. During the armistice a soldier, who had formed one of the line of skirmishers on the Saturday, left the redoubt to seek for a cap that he had dropped during the engagement. Tempted by the quietude and silence around to advance, he came suddenly on some abandoned rifle-pits, which on the Monday fell into our possession. The natives had so far taken advantage of the sacred day as to retire quickly out of harm's way.

The troops that marched towards Kairau on the Monday morning learned, on their arrival, that a portion of the Kairau garrison had approached and taken possession of the forsaken position at Matarikoriko. Under the hands of the engineers, upon the site of the Maori fortification, a blockhouse soon arose; from which the Waitara

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camp, Puketakauere, and Mahoetahi, are visible, so as to allow of signal communication between them. In the rear of this naturally strong position is a spur, that continues towards the Waitara flat to the river's edge. On the upper side is a dense bush; and in its front, towards the camp at No. 1 Redoubt, an extensive swamp; the road from Kairau being through heavy fern, scrub, and wooded gullies. The rifle-pits in the neighbourhood were so situated as to yield commanding flanking positions.

The native tactics were evidently intended to be similar to those of the 28th of June, when the chief defence was in the natural strength of the rugged country around, and not in the pa that was placed in a conspicuous position as an inducement for the English to advance.

The casualties on Saturday and Saturday night were 3 killed and 21 wounded.

The new redoubt was square, with flanking angles. It was garrisoned from the Sunday by the 65th and a detachment of the 12th, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Wyatt.

Although the news from the South was of a threatening character, the General determined, by a gradual advance, to occupy the whole of this portion of the enemy's country; who had retired from the immediate neighbourhood of the newly formed redoubt on to Huirangi, about a mile to the front of Kairau. The country intervening was a large, tolerably level flat, covered with fern, bordered on the right by a dense belt of timber, and on the left by the cliffs of the Waitara flats; intersected in many places by cross gullies, either heavily timbered or swampy.

In accordance with the system of warfare adopted in this part of New Zealand, after an active measure a lull ensued; all being perfectly quiet, with nothing to excite the monotony of camp life but the hearing of now and then the defiant firing of the natives, who crept up the gullies through the bush, and deliberately aimed at the sentinels stationed on the spur in rear of the new blockhouse at Matarikoriko, or were seen passing by the forest on the right in search of means to regenerate their commissariat. To check this system of obtaining supplies, parties were occasionally sent from the Waitara camp round by the Mahoetahi road; whilst some slight check was

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given to the enemy's works at Huirangi by the shells from the 8-inch guns, that had been removed, for the purpose, to the front.

The new year, although it brought reinforcements of the 65th and the 14th, gave us no hope that there would be a speedy termination to our troubles.

It was not until Monday, January 14th, 1861, that the General again took the field, when he advanced towards Huirangi, throwing up No. 2, a small guard redoubt, 570 yards from Kairau; and afterwards No. 3, a three-square redoubt in echelon, left in front, and within three-quarters of a mile of the Huirangi rifle-pits, from whence the longest double sap on record was run towards works unprotected by artillery. 1 Whilst we were thus gradually creeping on, our flanks and rear were oftentimes annoyed by the wily and quiet movements of the foe. It was some time after the commencement of the sap that two men, who were engaged collecting potatoes in the rear of the Kairau redoubt, were fired on by the Maories, who, under the shelter of the bush, approached them unseen through one of the numerous small gullies. One man was wounded, and another shot dead and carried away.

With the hope of directing the General's attention from the North, the Southern natives again occupied the Waireka and Burton's hills, forming an extensive scries of fortifications and field works, so as to command every road, and completely lock up the English within their town and stockades. In an incredibly short space of time they had completed, in a direct line across the country, no less than ten palisaded pas. The exciting times prior to the General's arrival from Melbourne began again to show themselves.

This bold approach of the Southerns to the town and out-stations called for active measures, in order that a little breathing room might be obtained, beyond the immediate protection of the garrisons. To effect this, a combined movement was planned: the boats of H. M. S. S. Niger, were to pull down the coast and land a party of blue jackets and marines, whilst a force consisting of regulars and volunteers was to march by the Omata road towards the Waireka. The latter, on the march, were fired at by the natives in ambush, and one man fell,

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mortally wounded. Capt. Cracroft, being unable to effect a landing, returned with his boats; and the land force, much to the regret of those forming it, was ordered back to town after having reached Omata.

One of the prisoners that had been in hospital at New Plymouth since the engagement at Mahoetahi, was sent back to his tribe at Huirangi. The Rev. Mr Wilson, who accompanied him to the insurgents' lines, returned with the intelligence that the natives evinced no wish for peace, but declared that they were determined to fight to the last. In answer to an address from one of the chiefs, they frantically performed the war dance. The day following Mr Wilson's visit a Maori woman came over from the enemy, with the tale that the natives were short of food. Colonel Wyatt immediately forwarded her, under escort, to Ihaia's pa at the Waitara.

As the sap advanced, firing from the enemy, answered by our rifles and artillery, was steadily continued almost as a matter of routine.

During the night time the sound of voices, accompanied with the blowing of horns, was constantly heard proceeding from the enemy's lines. Amidst the din the well-known voice of a woman was conspicuous, earnestly haranguing, as if endeavouring to excite the natives to some desperate action, by relating the deeds of her forefathers. She was evidently successful in exciting the impulsive feelings of her listeners; for on Wednesday, January 23rd, a party of Waikatos endeavoured, in a most determined manner, to storm No. 3 Redoubt, which was occupied by the 40th, under the command of Col. Leslie.

On this eventful morning, some time before daylight, the sentinels perceived, at about 60 yards to the extreme left, a large number of natives creeping through the high fern, upon whom they immediately fired, when the garrison stood to their arms. The Waikatos, nothing daunted, rushed forward and joined their comrades already ensconced in the ditch; endeavouring, by means of their tomahawks, to establish extemporaneous scaling ladders, by cutting steps in the steeply inclined banks. Finding themselves foiled in this, they strove to pass the parapet by climbing on each other's shoulders; and so to meet the British bayonet with the tomahawk. Many of the soldiers,

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in reaching over the parapet, had their bayonets wrenched from their rifles. To clear the ditches lighted 24-pound shells were thrown over.

After the conflict had lasted some time, the 65th call was sounded; when two companies of that regiment advanced from Kairau, with a detachment of the 12th as a support. By this means the ditches were soon cleared; and the support coming up, charged the reserve of the enemy stationed on the left, putting all to flight with great slaughter.

The casualties were 5 killed and 11 wounded, including Lieut. Jackson, of the 40th, who was shot through the head while firing at the natives in the ditch; and Captain Miller, of she 12th, wounded in the leg whilst preparing for the charge. The loss of the enemy that fell into our hands consisted of 45 dead, 5 wounded prisoners, and 37 stand of arms; besides many tomahawks, meres, and greenstone gods. Two other dead bodies were afterwards found in the fern.

The tactics of the assailants, as explained by one of the prisoners, were excellent. Their intention was to have made a feint on our right; and, so soon as the native sentinels could see that the men occupying the redoubt had rushed to the part attacked, those who had, during the darkness of the night, secreted themselves in the ditch on the left, were to climb over the parapet, and at once commence the onslaught. In selecting the point of real attack they had used great judgment, in taking advantage of an unflanked side.

The same night, as if by concerted plan, No. 3 Blockhouse, near the town, was fired on by a party of natives from one of the many gullies that intersect the country around. This caused but slight confusion in town, the arrival of the 57th Foot from India having restored confidence to the inhabitants.

Houses still continued to be fired in every direction; notwithstanding that armed parties of English oftentimes marched through the country, both towards the North and South, without falling in with the insurgents; the mischief having been effected by small parties of two or three, who escaped detection by means of the bush and broken country.

During this time the sap gradually progressed towards its desti-

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nation; and Nos. 4 and 5 Redoubts erected as shelter for the guards requisite for the protection of the works during the night 2 770 yards from No. 5 a large square redoubt, with flanking angles, was completed; a single sap continuing 86 yards further, passing beyond the first row of rifle-pits; when those in the rear were rushed, and, as might be expected, found empty.

The whole of the country near and around Huirangi, comprising a great number of acres, was covered with a growth of thistles as dense as a crop of wheat, and four or five feet in height. In the narrow parts of some of the gullies, where the white seed had been collected by the winds, it was so deep as to take a horse up to its girths. The mischief that must accrue throughout this part of New Zealand from this accumulated means of spreading the thistle can barely be imagined. Our children's children will be greater sufferers than even we shall be. The seed, carried by the winds through the bush, will spread in every direction; and little can be done towards checking the evil without the co-operation of the natives.

About 100 yards from No. 6 was the entrance to the beautiful peach grove avenue. It had formerly been a favorite spot of the natives; consequently, much pains had been bestowed on its cultivation. To the right was a dense bush; to the left a copse of small trees, clothed with leaves of a beautiful olive-green tint; whilst on both flanks of the redoubt were steep and deep gullies, connected by a series of zigzag rifle-pits, extending over a space of half a mile. On the opposite side of the gully, to the right, was a beautiful karaka grove, which, in happier days, had been the resort of riding and picnic parties from New Plymouth.

The avenue and its neighbourhood appearing quiet and void of inhabitants, many were induced rather incautiously to approach the bush. One day a volley was fired from some old Maori huts that injudiciously had been left standing, and a sailor fell, receiving a severe wound in his leg.

Foraging parties of the insurgents were constantly moving through every part of the country in search of food; the soldiers having

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possession of most of their potato and corn plantations in the North, By one of these bands Captain W. King, of the Taranaki Militia, was shot dead whilst visiting his property, situated scarcely a mile from town, and in full view of the Marsland Hill barracks. The body, when brought in, was found to have been pierced by six bullets. Notwithstanding this sad warning, a party of armed Volunteers, some little time afterwards, roamed as far as Brooklands, about a mile distant from town, for the purpose of gathering peaches; when they were attacked by natives in ambush. Edward Messenger fell, shot dead; whilst W. Smart received a dangerous wound through the breast. The remainder of the little party bravely held their ground until the arrival of the assistance of which one of their number had gone in search.

The General still continued to persevere in his slow but sure advance at the Waitara. The distance between the last erected redoubt at Huirangi and Te Arei, where the natives had retired, was about two miles higher up the river Waitara. The road lay through the avenue by a deep wooded gully; the belt of timber to the right continuing to the hills, where the natives had sunk another set of rifle-pits, in sufficiently elevated positions to command the country around.

On Sunday, February 16th, a movement was made from Huirangi towards Te Arei, in two divisions; one passing through the avenue, by the rich cultivations, on to the fern flats; the other round the right of the wooded gully to the left, through an old graveyard situated on rising ground near the steeply inclined banks that lead to the river. The troops advanced about a mile, when another large redoubt was thrown up. At one time the skirmishers in front were so near to the Maories as to be enabled to converse with them.

The occupation of No. 7 was not effected without loss on our part. One officer--Captain Strange, of the 65th--was mortally wounded; whilst nine men of various regiments also received injuries.

At times the firing from the enemy's elevated positions was intensely heavy. The natural features of the country were such that the flanks were as much exposed as the front. On the completion of No. 7 the garrisons of the redoubts between No. 6 and Kairau were

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withdrawn; Colonel Leslie, with the 40th, moving to the front.

Working parties were daily employed in denuding the country, as far as the avenue, of all the timber on the left, so as to leave an open space of communication. The country around the redoubt consisted of a large flat of table land, situated on the summit of the high cliffs of the Waitara; beneath which were the beautiful river flats, dotted here and there with plots of cultivation: whilst the greater part was clothed with a luxurious undergrowth of vegetation, above which the elegant fern tree arose, casting its deep shade over the dark rippling waters. On the opposite side of the river the white, perpendicular cliffs of magnesian limestone, hundreds of feet in height, bore the appearance of the ruins of some vast amphitheatre. Immediately in front were the rough and rugged hills of Te Arei and Pukerangiora, honeycombed in every direction with pits; to reach which a single sap was run forward. During its progress firing by the enemy was so constant that but few days passed without some casualties on our part. A large recently fenced-in grave was discovered by the right skirmishers at the edge of the bush, capable of containing seven or eight bodies; in all probability the remains of some of those that fell at the attack on No. 3 Redoubt.

Of the 8-inch guns formerly at Kairau, one had been placed in No. 6, the other in the front: at dark shells were often sent to where it was imagined the enemy retired for sleeping quarters.

Night after night the Maories were heard blowing horns, howling, hooting, and making other hideous noises. One amongst them often called out in excellent English the various commands, in imitation of the military. A pretty good idea could be formed when any death of consequence occurred, by hearing from the enemy's position the tangi, or lamentations for the dead, poured forth in place of the general hooting and shouting.

The sap had now progressed so far as to bring Hapurona's right position more under the fire of artillery and small arms.

One night, more than usual noise was heard from the enemy's lines; when, presently, a fire was perceived at the head of the sap, which was soon followed by three hearty cheers, given by Hapurona's men; which were immediately responded to by our rifles and artillery.

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The next morning it was found that the sap rollers had been removed to the insurgents' pa, with a great many gabions; where, when daylight appeared, they could be seen holding a conspicuous position, whilst an intimation was scrawled on the parapet, in Maori, of Hapurona having visited the works. To check these visits for the future, a small square guard redoubt--No. 8--was completed, within 200 yards of the first tier of rifle-pits; from whence a double sap daily progressed, protected in its course by two demi-parallels. To protect the sap from further molestation, two 10-inch shells were so attached as to explode on the slightest movement of the rollers; that were, ere long, again attempted, the adventurous Maories suffering for their daring.

The rugged state of the country was such, that at times the enemy crawled within a few yards of the working parties, calling out to the soldiers for tobacco, which request was oftener than not acceded to, a small parcel being thrown over the brow of the hill intervening between; when instantly a return was made by a basket of peaches, with a request that they would send the basket back.

The works were now rapidly continued; and, day after day, some pit or position of the enemy was rendered untenable. Several times a rush was made upon the works; when actually sticks were thrown by the secreted Maories at the working parties. These were answered by hand grenades and shells from the cohorn mortars; the shelving rock protecting the assailants from all other missiles. By way of a diversion from our front a movement was occasionally attempted by Hapurona from the bush and gullies on our right. On one occasion we had three killed and nine wounded.

At Omata a large body of Maories had collected, with the intention of attacking the guard escorting the provisions for the Stockade. A skirmish ensued, and five men of the 57th and 65th Regts. wounded.