CHAPTER III. A SHORT CAMPAIGN ON THE EAST COAST.
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CHAPTER III.
A SHORT CAMPAIGN ON THE EAST COAST.
When thus prepared to settle upon my land, and to encourage my fellow settlers to follow my example, I received an order from the Honourable J. C. Richmond, then Acting Defence Minister, to proceed at once to Tauranga, on the East Coast, where my services were required. Knowing the danger to which my departure would expose the Patea district, I remonstrated, and pointed out to Mr. Richmond that I had been appointed to this command with the understanding that myself and fellow-settlers, were to have our land in the district and settle there. That in spite of all opposition, and in the face of many difficulties, we had driven the enemy back, pushed on and nearly completed the surveys, and that now for me to leave the district would be to undo all that had been done. That my doing so would have a very bad effect upon the natives whom I had compelled to surrender.
Remonstrance was vain: Mr. Richmond insisted upon my going, and I had then no other alternative than that of throwing up my commission and becoming a private settler, or of selling off at a fearful sacrifice my agricultural implements, stock, &c., and proceed to Tauranga.
It would have been well for myself and fellow-settlers, and for the colony at large, if I had then thrown up my commission and remained in the Patea district, but in obedience to orders I left all, and proceeded to Tauranga, and took command of the Arawas.
At Tauranga, I met the Defence Minister, Colonel Haultain, who
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was there on the sick list, laid up from his exertions in trying to hunt up the enemy. He promised me that I should have an independent command and not be interfered with by any one.
From my experience of Civil Commissioners upon the West Coast, I at first dreaded the interference of Mr. Clarke, Civil Commissioner of Tauranga, but unlike Mr. Parris and Mr. Booth, he rendered me most valuable assistance. Having collected the Arawas I marched to Rotorua lakes. An hour after my arrival, Lieutenant-Colonel St. John--then Major--arrived, and by virtue of his seniority, took command. For some days he led us over a great many hills, but could not find the enemy. He then, with most of his men, returned to Tauranga, and reported to Colonel Haultain that there was no enemy in the district.
The day that he left I assumed the command, and in the evening started with a small force, Europeans and Arawas, for a night's march. Early next morning, we came upon the enemy's camp, but not of the main body. We at once attacked the position, drove the enemy out, killed two men and captured a third, a young fellow whom the Arawas wanted to tomahawk, but I spared him for another purpose. In his terror, he told me where I should fall in with the enemy's main body, and as he knew that it was more than his life was worth to deceive me, I ordered him to lead on. Having divided my force into three divisions, we pushed forward, came upon the enemy's main position, surrounded and attacked before they were aware of our proximity, and killed a considerable number of them. The remainder fled, and we pursued until we drove them out of the district, leaving their killed and wounded behind. I halted to rest my force and get up supplies of provisions and ammunition, prepared (if necessary) to pursue the enemy to the Waikato.
Thus, whilst Lieut.-Colonel St. John, who had been two or three days on his return march to Tauranga, was reporting to Colonel Haultain that there was no enemy in the district, Mr. Clarke conveyed to him my despatch reporting our success. The following is a copy of Colonel Haultain's letter in reply to my despatch:--
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"Tauranga, 29th March, 1867.
MY DEAR MCDONNELL,
I received your letter containing the account of yesterday's operations with much satisfaction. I have sent it on at once to Wellington. You have shown your usual skill and energy, and have given the Hau-haus a heavier blow than we managed to inflict in all our expeditions. I expect the rebels will now retreat; if so, we shall put the Arawas off pay shortly. Let me know what you would like to do yourself, &c., &c.
Yours very truly,
T. HAULTAIN."
"Colonial Defence Office,
"Wellington, 1st May, 1867."
"SIR--I have the honor by direction of the Defence Minister, to inform you that in consideration of your services in the Field on various occasions, both on the East and West Coasts, his Excellency the Governor has been pleased to promote you to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the Auckland Militia. A copy of the New Zealand Gazette containing the notification is transmitted herewith.
I have &c.,
J. HOLT, Under Secretary.
Lieut.-Col. McDonnell,
Auckland Militia, Tauranga."
I strongly urged upon Colonel Haultain to allow me to follow up the enemy whilst the panic lasted, and my men were flushed with success. The Arawas were particularly anxious to follow up the pursuit, and every European in the force was eager to be led on, Mr. Clarke, the Civil Commissioner, a man thoroughly conversant with Native affairs, and the state of the district, strongly recommended my plan as the only way of effectively putting an end to the rebellion.
When Colonel Haultain refused to allow us to advance, the Arawa Chiefs became most indignant and said:--"The Government will never do any good until the tree itself is hewn down"--meaning the Waikato and the King movement. "Let us go to Waikato, destroy the trunk, and the branches will die of themselves." We could master a force able and willing to strike an effectual blow, but as usual, indecision, want of determination, and a muddling policy prevailed.
It is a lamentable fact that during the past few years, whilst pretending to carry out a self-reliant policy, at the very time that an effectual blow could have been struck, some evil Civil or Military genius has interposed his authority, and thus prolonged the con-
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test. Thus it was at Tauranga, as well as at Patea and elsewhere, and thus it continues to be still. It is only sacrifice of life, and a waste of money to continue the contest upon that principle.
