CHAPTER IV.
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Affairs began to look bad again at Patea. The surveys between the Patea and the Waitotara rivers which had been commenced after the completion of the surveys north of Patea, had to be discontinued, the surveyors having been driven in, and the Hau-haus once more in possession.
Being again ordered to Patea, I left Tauranga, proceeded to Wellington, and reported my arrival to the Defence Minister. I assured Colonel Haultain that if not interfered with when I resumed the command, I would soon put matters right in the Patea district, push on the surveys, and encourage the settlers to settle upon their land, which would soon enable us to become strong enough to hold our own. To my surprise he expressed great doubts of my being able to do this, and pressed me take a few months' leave of absence, which I declined.
Just before leaving Wellington for Patea, I had another interview with Colonel Haultain, and again expressed myself confident of a speedy settlement of affairs in the Patea district. To this he replied (perhaps, with a view to encourage me to perform my duty) that as soon as peace was restored, the surveys completed, and the settlers located on their land, I should cease to draw the pay and allowances of Lieut,-Colonel, which was £630 a year, and after that my pay and allowance would be reduced to £400 a year, which left the impression upon my mind that high, pay and allowances were entirely dependent upon the prolongation of the contest.
Thus, I left Wellington for Patea, with the assurance that success would be followed, by reduction of salary, to the extent of £230 per annum, but still with a determination to achieve that success at all hazards.
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On arriving at Patea I concentrated my small force, ordered the surveyors to be ready within a week, to recommence the surveys, and encouraged the settlers to occupy their land. When I sent out the surveyors they were driven in and returned to Patea the same evening.
Having my own men ready, I immediately crossed the Patea and Whenuakura rivers near the sea, made a detour, and marched on Oika, a village close to the bush inland on the Whenuakura river, the place from whence the surveyors had been driven back. I halted the force on the top of a hill, overlooking and commanding the village, but in a position that could not be seen from the village, and ordered them to keep perfectly silent and concealed. I then advanced to the village, accompanied by Mr. Booth, R.M., and one mounted orderly. On reaching the village, which belonged to a hapu of the Pakakohi tribe, I met not less a personage than Titoko Waru, who had just returned from Wanganui, where he had been, as he said, "upon a mission," and was then on his way back to Te Ngutu-o-te-manu. I at once told the Pakakohi that as they had driven in the surveyors I had come out; that their wisest plan was to submit and give no further trouble, as even my patience had a limit. They were bounceable; insisted that they would not let the surveys go on, and set me at defiance. I then gave the preconcerted signal, my men started to their feet, and instantly their glittering bayonets in the bright moonlight had a wonderful effect. I then told the Pakakohi that I had had quite enough of temporising with them, that I now demanded an immediate assurance of their future good, behaviour, and if this were not given, I would act accordingly. They commenced a long palaver to show that the land was theirs, but very prudently wound up by promising not to again molest the surveyors, and as a proof of their sincerity presented me with a fat goose, and requested me to return with my men to Patea. As a prognostication of coming events this unfortunate gander shortly afterwards, during my absence, committed suicide by tumbling over the Patea cliff, but subsequently had the honor of supplying my friend Mr. Booth and a few others with material for a hearty dinner.
I now pushed on the surveys without molestation, and whilst
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doing so received a letter of thanks from my fellow-settlers, and in due course, when most of our difficulties were overcome, I must say that the Hon. the Defence Minister kept his word, thanked me on behalf of the Government, and informed me that my pay and allowances were reduced to £400 a year.
During my absence the Hau-haus south of New Plymouth, had adopted a system of levying black mail, and had forbidden Europeans to travel between Warea and Waimate, a distance of about 60 miles upon the main road between Waimate and New Plymouth. Two of our so called neutral chiefs, Wiremu and Hone Pihama, profited largely by thus having communication stopped. They generously undertook to provide a guide for any European who might venture to travel the tapued road by night, and pay most exorbitantly for his services. Frightful tales were told of how the Hau-haus would kill them if they caught them on the road, and broad hints as to the probability of there being a number of them a-head upon the look out. The first day's march invariably terminated at a half-way house, kept by Wiremu Kingi, where tales of horror were related, and the Pakeha traveller treated to accommodation for which he was fleeced most unmercifully.
Communication with New Plymouth being thus cut off, I received orders from the government, to charter the s.s. Waipara, and send by her 25 men and 1 officer, to relieve a detachment from New Plymouth, stationed at Warea, that they might return to town. Instead of chartering the Waipara I at once determined to march my men over the tapued road to Warea, relieve the detachment there, and put a stop to all this humbug of travelling by night and fleecing the Pakehas. When this determination became known to the natives, they became furious, and cried out, "Awe, who is this Pakeha that will break our Aukati,--our Aukati is to be broken, and he says if we stop him he will fight his way through. We will write to our friend Parati (Parris) we will write to the Kawanahanga (the Government.) Wiremu Kingi was highly indignant, the profits of his half-way house would, he no doubt thought, be in considerable danger if the road was opened.
Having collected a small force to accompany the detachment to Warea, I started and camped for the first might at Kauae, Wirema
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Manaia's place, and the next day made a small village belonging to Hone Pihama the following morning we got to Wiremu Kingi's village. He was very civil, and even accommodating, but tried all his powers of persuasion to induce me to return to Patea. The "Hau-haus would be sure to kill us, thousands were on the road to meet us as we advanced. Ambuscades were laid, and we must fall into them." I quietly told him that he had better come with us and help us to avoid them. At this he gave a look of horror; said that he only lived where he did on sufferance, and that if he accompanied us the Hau-haus would avenge themselves on him. This, no doubt, he thought a clever piece of acting, but I knew that the Hau-haus were his firm friends and that he had daily intercourse with them.
We resumed our march, and having travelled a little over a mile came to small stream across which was a rope of flax with a letter attached. On reading it, I found that it warned us not to proceed any further, and was signed Hupita Paiti, which being interpreted means Fighting Jupiter. I at once felt convinced that our friend Wiremu Kingi had placed the rope and letter there, and afterwards had full proof such was the case. Pushing on with due precaution we reached Warea, without seeing a Hau-hau.
Having relieved the New Plymouth detachment, I left my 25 men to garrison Warea, and returned with my small escort to Opunaki. From there I wrote a letter to the Hau-hau chiefs, and assured them that if I ever heard of any European being prevented from travelling between Patea and New Plymouth, or of any traveller being murdered by them, I would punish them severely. I told them that from that day forward I declared the road open to all; it was the Queen's road now, and must be open to all her majesty's subjects.
To that letter, in due course I received a reply, and a promise that the road should be free to all, which promise the enemy strictly kept, and flocks of sheep and herds of cattle have been repeatedly driven overland. For this service I received the thanks of the Government.
At that time all with me was uphill work. Under the Armed Constabulary Act of 1867, I received the rank of Inspector, tanta-
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mount to that of a Commissioner of Police, under the orders of the Resident Magistrate. The management of the district and the natives were absolutely taken out of my hands, and I was reduced to the position of a subordinate under the control of Mr. Parris and Mr. Booth.
