1961 - The Richmond-Atkinson Papers Vol II - Chapter 1, War in the Waikato, 1863, p 17-78

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Chapter 1

War in the Waikato

1863

Until the summer of 1863 the King leaders were not ready to commence hostilities. The assumption of office by Sir George Grey (in 1861) held out some hope of a more benevolent native policy though his disposition towards the King movement at the moment was unyielding. Cowan says:

This cryptic utterance did nothing to allay the suspicions of the King leaders. On the contrary it hardened them into convictions as the chiefs recognised, one after another, the devices that Grey proposed to use to cause the King to fall. First there was the military road from Drury through the deep bush to the Waikato river. Then the constabulary post at Te Kohekohe, by which they saw that the Governor could control the lower Waikato and, they feared, cut them off from trade with Auckland. Finally there was the order he had given for river gunboats to be built in Australia, whither he had sent a minister to enlist more military settlers.

To forestall these measures the King's people seized the building timber at Te Kohekohe and rafted it down the river. Then at Te Awamutu they moved against the civil administrator (John Gorst), who was conducting a technical institution for Maori boys and publishing a paper, Te Pihoihoi Mokemoke i te Tuanui, 1 whose satirical ripostes to their own Hokioi offended the King runanga. On 25 March the government press was seized and Gorst was sternly

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ordered to leave. He stood his ground till 18 April, when the King chief Rewi prevailed upon the Governor to withdraw him.

Sir George Grey arrived in New Plymouth in April in company with the Premier (Alfred Domett) to announce that the Tataraimaka block was to be occupied by force. The disaffected natives threatened to resist the occupation unless the Waitara block was first given up. Hearing that His Excellency intended to accompany the escort to Tataraimaka on 4 May, they laid an ambush at Wairau in the hope of capturing him. Instead they killed two British officers (Lieut Tragett and Assistant-surgeon Hope) and seven men of the 57th regiment. When, a week after this, the Governor issued a proclamation abandoning the purchase of Teira's land at Waitara, the settlers joined in bitter condemnation of his pusillanimity. The hostile natives could only believe that Waitara was abandoned as the result of their success at Wairau.

In June the first company of the Taranaki Bush Rangers took the field under Captain H. A. Atkinson, to be engaged almost at once in a series of operations. The first was on 4 Jun at Katikara, where General Cameron had established a strong post. In October British troops and colonials fought another successful action at Allen's Hill, where two Victoria Crosses were won.

Meanwhile on 17 Jul, General Cameron crossed the Mangatawhiri river, a tributary of the Waikato. This opened the first Waikato campaign and its immediate effect was to draw away from Taranaki some King warriors who had been helping the enemy in that theatre and a few Wanganui men. Most of 1863 was occupied by General Cameron in a carefully planned advance up the Waikato river towards the King capital at Ngaruawahia. Gunboats on the river played an important part, especially in turning strong enemy positions at Meremere and Rangiriri. In the latter action the British troops suffered the heaviest losses of the campaign, 47 killed and 85 wounded. Preparations were now made, after the occupation of Ngaruawahia, for an overland advance towards the granaries of the King people in the area now occupied by Te Awamutu and Kihikihi.

Parliament met late in 1863 and consequently the weakness of Domett's leadership was not apparent to those of the public who had

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no official associations. In the family letters are many outbursts of anger and disappointment about the management of native affairs. Domett's failure was a sad blow to the Richmonds and Atkinsons. Maria Richmond, the matriarch, who had long been a tolerant admirer of Domett wrote in October, when the days of the ministry were numbered: "He won't rouse himself to take an interest in affairs. It is grievous to see powers like his wasted for want of an earnest purpose in life. He actually never reads a newspaper from sheer idleness." And out of sheer disinclination to resist the governor or any other opponent Domett resigned on 30 October. This made way for an interim government of five experienced but reluctant ministers, - Whitaker, Fox, Thomas Russell, Reader Wood and T. B. Gillies. On one point at least they were agreed: Since the Imperial government had relinquished responsibility for native affairs, the ministry would accept the burden, prepared if necessary to manage the natives in defiance of the Governor.

The campaign of calumny which followed Grey after the occupation of the Tataraimaka block grew in intensity. The Taranaki Herald and A. S. Atkinson's private journals sparkled with satire on His Excellency.

For the greater part of 1863 H. A. Atkinson was in the field with his Bush Rangers. Life for the settlers was on the whole less hazardous than it had been, but C. W. Richmond, writing from Otago, had painful misgivings about the sort of guerilla warfare in which the citizen soldiers of Taranaki were now engaged. His anxiety was mainly on behalf of the wives and families, but there is evidence that the women preferred to remain within reach of their brothers and husbands rather than at a distance, where imagined dangers would intensify their apprehension. Maria Richmond, for instance, though hostilities were close at hand, scouted her son's anxiety for her safety: she was "very much disinclined to move at present."

As well as being in Parliament H. A. Atkinson was in 1863 a member of the provincial council and deputy superintendent. Henry Richmond was commissioner of crown lands, and for a few months provincial treasurer. James Richmond, as commissioner of crown lands for Nelson and some time provincial secretary paid visits to

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outlying portions of the province which he considered should be settled. In Parliament he made some of his best speeches. In his letters are interesting character sketches of James E. FitzGerald and Julius Vogel.

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Mary Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Nelson, 2 Jan 1863

I agree with you in a great measure in what you say about Mr Broughton. . . . His present step, however, does not give me much confidence. He has thrown up his appointment here through the continued urgent demands of his Aunt, whose heart is set upon spiting the Governors, for their unpardonable offence of shutting her out of the College. He is now going to live at Canterbury with his Aunt - and be I suppose the Principal of the College there. I can hardly believe he will ever develop more if he remains with his Aunt. Her tyrannical strength of will seems to take all the strength out of him, and render him limp and indolent . . .

1863/1

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, Th 8 Jan 1863

Wrote article, also draft of letter as secretary of the Lancashire Relief Fund Committee forwarding £319.4 as 1st instalment, this has been collected in 5 days & is a very creditable sum.

M 19 Jan . . . Talked with Harry a little about getting the race course made over for a permanent public recreation ground (it is now educational reserve) . . .

Tu 20 Jan . ... In afn. saw Charles Brown . . . went with him to Harry's to attend a meeting by a few worthies called together by the Revd H. H. Brown to consider the subject of making our case better known in England. We decided to petition Parliament . . . Then went & played cricket till sunset . . .

M 10 Feb ... In afn. attended meeting of worthies to finish the Memorial to the Queen about the state of our affairs. In evg. went to hear Captain Wilson lecture on Clairvoyance - with 'the usual illustrations' - i.e. not of clairvoyance but of electro biology, or rather animal magnetism, for it was obviously that in some cases . . . The best of all perhaps was when the patients were made to believe that they were in the water to see them throw themselves down flat on the floor & strike out for very life.

S 14 Feb . . . Attended a public meeting. After a good deal of wasted eloquence from William Bayly & Upjohn & a little even from old Samuels a letter was adopted to be sent to the Govt, in which we offer to go back on our lands if they (the Govt.) will find us the means & recommend us to do it . . .

M 16 Feb ... I am going to act as 'own correspondent' to the Cross for a while.

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E. W. Stafford to C. W. Richmond - - - Christchurch, 27 Jan 1863

I had fondly hoped to have met you here - airing your new judgeship, which I did my little best to keep you out of! - but found your Honor had skeddadled before my arrival. ... I am acting from memory as to what is wanted for Idaburn, remembering however, the urgency with which McPherson asked for fresh male stock I have arranged with the Studholmes, whose sheep are universally commended, that McPherson may have as many rams as he may want for us up to 200 (two hundred) from their station nearest the Waitaki. The price is £3 each ... It is not, however,

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compulsory on us to take them if McPherson does not like them on inspection ... I also got from Mr Wilkin an authority to his managers at his Wanaka Lake station to deliver 3 or more bulls to be selected by McPherson from any of Wilkin's stock there - one (Falcon) excepted . . . Wherever we get either bulls or rams they should be got to Idaburn while the days are long and the weather fine . . .

I have ordered some gorse seed, and will have that and gorse and thorn plants sent when the proper time comes . . .

I am about to make investments here which makes me desirous to sell my share in Idaburn from want of money, and if you are not disposed to purchase it yourself will your Honor look out someone to replace your loving partner!

Conceive Whitaker in harness again as Atty. Genl.! but not - I am happy to say - one of the Cabinet. It is too dreadful a shame to be responsible for now. 24 hours in Auckd., where I had not till the other day been since I left office, would convince the most sceptical, or rather undeceive the most sanguinely disposed to believe in G.G's solving the 'difficulty'. The old lot with poor old Col Browne at the head would be warmly welcomed back. I see and hear inklings that in England 'tis not far otherwise as to the present estimate of Grey.

P.S. By the way an appeal in re Eyes v Baillie will be argued before your Honor in the Court of Appeal to sit here next month. As the question mainly hinges on the construction or rather meaning of certain clauses of that 'infandum dolum' the New Provinces Act, of which you were the author it will be interesting to observe your treatment of it, and satisfactory to know that having punished its opponents and puzzled, infinitely, the Crown lawyers at home ... it is now likely to do both to him who framed it! Sewell, who has a retainer on Eyes's side, rubs his hands with delight, and as, politically, he has not much to delight him now, one cannot grudge him this small nest.

1863/3

Mrs H. Gore Browne to C. W. Richmond - - - [Hobart], 5 Feb 1863

[First four pages refer to the controversy with Sir George Grey].

... Is there no chance of your being able to come over & see us? We often think of those heart stirring times (when we looked out eagerly for your earnest face to report of the events of the day) with a mixed feeling of tenderness & regret. . . .

Do you know I am trying to make spiritual things a pleasure & a natural current of thought, to my boys by carefully keeping the 'don'ts' of morality & religion out of sight, & only insisting on the 'dos'. I find that there is something especially opposed to human growth in the forbidding system . . . Wilfrid the most speculative of the boys, is always craving for more talk about God and things of the other world whereas I remember 'Sunday lessons' were generally dreary to me in my young days.

Will you tell me what with your cultivated, intellectual, scheme of religion you would say to poor uneducated people when they are dying? ... I am often called upon to try & awaken some care for the future in minds that have hardly risen beyond

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the animals, & God's love seems the only thing simple enough to speak of, but since I read your letter ... I have vainly been turning over in my own mind how what you there say could be adapted to these cases. They seem to me to require such positive, almost dogmatic teaching and the heart seems the readiest way of touching them.

It is an amazing thing to me how men & women who have lived in crime all their lives and are without any apparent comfort (physical or mental) meet death with the calmest composure and even cheerfulness ... It is a thing I see here nearly every week in the hospital & town so that there is no mistaking it. ...

v 6, p 37

A. S. Atkinson to J. C. Richmond - - - Beach Cottage, 8 Feb 1863

. . . About the Herald - I should never think of investing money in it except on the condition of having entire control of it. I should look upon it as affording me work not more distasteful than all work is naturally to a lazy rascal and as promising better wages than any other work I am likely to do. That is more as an employment than as an investment. . . . You must remember that a paper, especially a little paper, does not suffer by war as other property does. I don't know that Woon would agree . . . I have no doubt he is satisfied with me as editor and if I were to threaten to go over to the enemy (Henry of course backing me) I think he would come to terms. I had even thought of dealing with Pheney for the entire property of the News if Woon was obstinate. ... It is perhaps too much to say that every family should have its own newspaper, but ours should certainly.

As to the Examiner, I am not such a blockhead as to have anything to do with it. Once a week is as much or more than I can manage.

1863/4

C. W. Richmond to Maria Richmond - - - Christchurch, 15 Feb 1863

I fear my house [at Dunedin] is not yet even begun. The high price of labour, or rather the impossibility of keeping workmen whilst the perpetual excitement of new 'rushes' is maintained, was making contractors hang back unless tempted by extravagant prices. . . .

The court of appeal sat for the first time ... in great state in a very pretty hall - the Provincial Council Chamber. Four judges in a row must have looked very imposing. I got on very well with my brother judges . . . Several cases of very great importance have to be decided . . . Gillies is engaged in all three cases. Sewell in two out of three. Travers in do. Barton (of the Dunedin bar) in two out of three also. Hart is here from Wellington - so true it is that 'where the body is there the vultures' etc.

Ever since my appointment I have been full of work ... I have been compelled to grind up my rusty blade as promptly as possible. I have the work of years before me if I am to be only moderately qualified for my position. . . .

The worst part of the thing is that one's personal identity seems changed. I

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cannot bear being 'Judge Richmond'ed' by old friends - in the mouth of previous strangers it is tolerable. The Gressons have made it a point of duty and form and with them it already seems natural.

1863/5

C. W. Richmond to Emily Richmond - - - Christchurch, 22 Feb 1863

Brother Johnston talks a great deal on the Bench and too fast. He rather vexes me though I give no outward sign, beyond now and then hitting him in the wind with a maxim when I see a chance. He is a good fellow, a good lawyer and a most zealous worker.

I have . . . had a walk or two with FitzGerald - dined twice with the Tancreds -once I met Stafford, once FitzGerald, with whom I had a small metaphysical shindy. He read one of Hood's poems - a bit of Miss Kilmansegg and Eugene Aram ... I often go to the Gressons to see them and the books.

Oh I forgot there was an evening party - 'a few friends' at Mrs Harper's . . . and the two northern judges were there. Johnston sang of course, chiefly christy minstrels . . . Just as we were going it was announced that . . . one of the Bishop's daughters was confined. Mrs Harper, in great glee, said she must be off directly, it was number ten (of the grandchildren). I don't care if they have a dozen a piece. I'd rather they'd have a dozen than none'. This was said to Tancred and me whilst the ladies were getting on their bonnets. I remarked that they were doing a great theological service in thus affording a practical demonstration of the fallacy of Bishop Colenso's attack on the book of Exodus - which you know he criticizes on the ground, amongst others, that the Book supposes an incredibly rapid propagation of the Hebrew race. Mrs Harper . . . passed by the Exodus and rattled on . . . Tancred was infinitely amused at both of us. He snorted with laughter and said, 'Richmond talked about the Exodus - but what did she care about the Exodus.'

1863/6

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, Th 26 Feb 1863

The Airedale in at 5. Charles Brown . . . says the Govr., Domett & Bell are coming down in the Harrier (Gen. Cameron with them) as soon as the English mail is in '& Sir George can bear to be carried to Onehunga' (he is really very ill) . . . Got a letter from Creighton asking me if I would come up & edit the Southern Cross, which is not very likely . . .

W 4 Mar . . . About dinner time the flag went up . . . the Harrier did not anchor till 5 & even then we doubted Grey's being on board till we saw her 'man yards' & fire a salute. He landed about 5.30. 2 His reception was just what it should have been, not a word was said of any kind. Silence means a good deal some times. He looked not well but better than I expected. Gen. Cameron landed with him - Domett & Bell afterwards . . .

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F 6 Mar ... In the evg. Eliza, Kate, Mary, Maria & I went to hear the 'English Operatic company.' Very good music indeed. Kohler's performances especially with the rock harmonicon were wonderful. & Mr Small's 'delineations of Irish eccentricities' were admirable . . . Madame Carandini & the others were also good . . .

S 7 Mar . . . Bell & Parris were going down to Tataraimaka yesterday to see Parenga Kingi & Minarapa . . . but Komene & others at the Poutoko recommended them to turn back as they would not see the kaumatuas if they went on & there were moreover armed 'police' (pirihi) in the way set to keep any from coming up to see the Govr. & they might be stopped by them.

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J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond (New Plymouth) - - - [Nelson], 1 Mar 1863

The Superintendent has asked me to be Prov. Secy, and I have agreed. I don't know whether it is simply that he can't find any one else or whether he wishes to concede something to the party out of doors ... I expect that ... Mr Robinson will not gain any allies of mine to his side at first. ... I don't feel inclined to be a party man. I agree a good deal with both sides and if I find it impossible to get more activity out of the Govt. I shall soon get myself out again. You know the opening of the country is and always has been a passionate instinct with me and just now ... I am just following my nature in accepting the opportunity of doing something towards this work ... Mr John Rochfort [exploring the Mt Arthur Ranges] . . . finds no pass answering to Mr Hough's dream or vision at the Batten, but he has followed the most westerly branch of the Wangapeka, the tributary of the Motueka next above or southwards of the Batten R. and has passed through by a practicable saddle to a valley leading to the Buller which he considers to be the Lyell, the river on which the rich diggings are . . . The result fully justifies the part I have taken in leading the agitation out of doors to this particular practical point. We shall in all probability have at least a bridle road fifty miles shorter than the one the Superintendent was about to construct . . .

Rochfort is a capital explorer, and writes with amusing earnestness about the prospects of his journey. He reports a rich gold bearing country on the other side of Mt Arthur and 'trusts it will not be neglected'. Old Brunner 3 will be very sore if he succeeds: he is constantly throwing cold water on all attempts at improvement everywhere and though a good-hearted and honorable man is a croaking fellow and jealous of all interlopers ... It is impossible but that the Supt. should be influenced by the unenterprising spirit of a man so much in contact with him, and Brunner has said the exploration is useless.

... I have been three times to the musical people, Mme Carandini and others, who have been performing here. They are not great artists, but safe and moderately skilful and with good voices and quiet respectable manners ... I do not think it will

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pay them to stop a whole fortnight at Taranaki . . . you should . . . hear them shout bits of Trovatore and Ernani in the most approved Verdi style . . .

Monday morning ... I think we shall be in the middle of a gold madness before long. I wish our sober folks would come and pick up a few nuggets.

1863/7

C. Brown to J. C. Richmond - - - New Plymouth, 6 Mar 1863

... Sir G.G. is failing bodily and mentally, and I think feels unequal (as he probably always did) to cut the Gordian knot, so he is going to let it rot to pieces - as Domett said to me yesterday, 'the difficulty is, to do peaceably what ought to be done by fighting'. The Govr. proposed riding to Tatara this morning, Col Warre advised him to send someone else first, so Bell, Parris and Bates (N.I 4 to the Forces) went and were turned back before they reached it; young Rawson (who lives at the Poutoko to learn Maori) told me that a party of armed Ngatiruanui and Taranaki natives . . . discussed whether they should hear what the Govr. has to say or not, and that they decided in the negative. Touet and Sutton, about a twelvemonth ago occupied their farms the other side of the Waireka, by degrees the natives frightened Sutton off, and I had to provide a place in town for Mrs Touet and Miss Touet, and give Touet 1/- a day to remain on his farm, but which he left a day or two ago because the natives threatened to kill him. . . .

I wish to pitch the office I hold at this Govr. without policy, and a ministry without intentions. The difficulty is that I have no means to move with ... I asked Broadmore to go down south and pick out a place for a saw mill and we would go bodily together, but he says he is too old. I think it over and over, day and night that no stronger protest could be given than one from me embodied in my resignation. I sometimes think of turning photographer . . .

The Ministry have determined to stop the rations being issued here ... I told Domett today, 'they want to drive the people back without telling them to go'. H. Atkinson and I have had Domett between us, yesterday and today, under a severe cross fire; he bears it all very patiently and then goes and forgets all about it over the Life of Keats' 5I have lent him.

Mrs Brown wants her supper, we have been some time without a slavey, so it is the old story again, official and domestic misery. ... I cleaned an arrear of 3 doz. knives yesterday.

1863/8

- - - - - - 6 Mar 1863, New Plymouth

Under the Patronage of the Officers of the Army and Navy, the Attorney General, and Bar of the Province, and the most distinguished Gentry of New Plymouth. Highly recommended by the Faculty,

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GREY'S REVALENTA ARABICA, 6

or

Food for sinecurists.

This delicious food is prepared exclusively by Sir G. Grey and Co, by a simple and ingenious process of extraction from the colonial revenue of New Zealand . . .

W....m H....e, Agent in New Plymouth,

Confidently expects shortly to enter on a more lucrative business . . . After the experience of above two years, during which period he has lived entirely on this food, he can confidently recommend it ... He has found it not only easy of digestion, but a stimulant to appetite, rendering the manners courtier-like and the conscience supple. During the whole time he has used it he has never felt the slightest qualm, nor the least disposition to retching or throwing it up.

It is particularly worthy the notice of the guardians of the poor Province of New Plymouth, should the raising the wind to meet the coming changes cause in this windy climate too severe a draught on the provincial exchequer . . .

TESTIMONIALS
To Sir G. Grey and Co.

RESPECTED GENTLEMEN

What do not I owe you for your inestimable food. For fifty years I had suffered from a spleen daily enlarging. Doctors Philosophy and Reason could not help me . . . In a happy hour I tasted your food, and all was changed. All the unpleasant ideas about public affairs went quite out of my head; and if I feel a little bilious at times I ride down to the police court . . . and generally manage to get rid of the bile on some neighbour or another. Pray send a large canister by the first opportunity.

Your grateful humble servant,
P....r W....n,
S.....n to the H....p....l.

To Sir G. Grey

DEAR SIR GEORGE,

Many thanks for the food: it does capitally. I can hold up my head above the best of them. I ride about with the ladies, walk out with the dogs, whip my boots, and am quite happy. What a poor stick I should be without your valuable preparation! It cures emptiness of the pocket and head, and makes a man quite pleasant, as fresh as a daisy, and as jolly as a sand boy . . .

Yours at command,
G.S.C....r,
Insp....r of P....e.

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To Sir G. Grey and Co.

GENTLEMEN.

Everybody knows that I formerly disapproved of your food and thought it had a flavor of sour grapes; but for twelve months past I have changed my opinion. When in Wellington buying some spectacles, I caught sight of a large canister of the food, tasted it, and found my mistake . . .

Your Obedient Servant, J....h F....t.
Res....t Mag....e.

A testimonial has also been received from the head of the Grey Institute, in the support of which the food is largely used. The Inspectors of Private Jobs . . . recommend a large increase in the supply of the Revalenta.

1863/9

Maria Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - New Plymouth, 6 Mar 1863

. . . Nothing has transpired as to what our Governor proposes for us. He is a sadly shattered man, in very bad health and much disappointed at the difficulties which beset him - he meets with many more obstacles than he anticipated. Mr Domett . . . looks handsome and more delightful than ever. Mr Bell also paid us a visit - he is in great wrath at the man who has added a storey to your old house, a great eye sore to the Bells, and added a boot and shoe shop to the end . . . The Bells are rejoicing in the return of the Sewells to Auckland. Mr Sewell has had a piece of good luck about a land purchase I think . . . which puts them at ease in their money concerns, and is giving up practising at Canterbury and going back to his pretty house at Parnell.

1863/10

C. W. Richmond to A. S. Atkinson - - - Christchurch, 8 Mar 1863

... I have been persuading myself that it is of the last importance to distinguish correctly some legal 'tweedle-dum' from 'tweedle-dee', and that the world will come to an end if Sewell and Featherston are allowed to interfere with Brother Johnston's righteous judgments upon offenders. From this pleasing dream letters from Taranaki awaken me. . . .

I don't pretend to find the law a very easy business, and have years of study before me, before I can feel fairly qualified for my work, but I am not oppressed with the heavy sense of impotence which hung upon me in the Native ministry and made me feel I never ought again to let myself act the Humbug. . . .

How can I who have retreated advise a bull pup like the Taranaki Herald, which keeps its ground, with its caudal appendage in a state of stiff erection? As to tone, civil or recalcitrant, 'quiet or noisy'? Perhaps the deeply latent 'cheek' of the T.H. is about the best thing.

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I was dreaming two or three nights ago about the Seal of the Province of Taranaki and a motto for it. I dreamt of 'Steadfast' which is common-place, but suits the mountain. Gledhill looking over his spectacles and the Latin heading of the 40th Psalm in the Prayer Book 'Expectans expectavi' might do.

There is the very smallest possible chance that Grey may get, (or the Maoris put,) the real issue into some new shape. . . . The next thing will be peremptory orders from Home to send back the Troops ... I think it would stop the Auckland half million loan ... I don't see what roads they have got to make, which could cost such a sum and which it would be of the least use to make at present. But they are blind buzzards.

I am very glad you have refused the Southern X. You would have been expected to dabble in their Provincial puddle, which is the dirtiest mess in all N.Z., not excepting Wellington Beach. 7

The people here are all very kind and growing daily more liberal-minded. The new Super [Samuel Bealey] is a better class of man than Moorhouse, not so rowdy, but I should not think he has Moorhouse's indubitable ability. Moorhouse is, or thinks he is, going to practice as a barrister - or as he expressed it to the people at the Town Hall last Wednesday night 'is going to resume his ancient predatory habits'. I do not think he will make much of it. It is not his line.

I have been reading Rowland Williams's farewell sermon to (I suppose) his Lampeter students. It is a very curious production - full of fire and learning and the most naif self assertion. He speaks, in one passage, (merely en passant, as if it were a truth like the sun at noon) of 'the unsurpassed patience and courtesy to men of all ranks with which, for 11 years he has occupied a highly complicated position'. In another place he says that if the assumed age of the Pentateuch is to be a matter of faith imposed by law 'it may be safer for a clergyman to close his eyes, and enjoy a day's hunting. Play with the tangles of Neoera's hair'. This is speaking out. God be thanked. The nightmare life in death is coming to a close. The cracking of the breaking floe resounds on all sides. Some of us will be nipped, some of us will be sunk. Never mind, the fleet will be moving again.

Candid comments may be made on any species of public entertainment, in which class huis, certainly, and runangas and koreros with the Governor, probably, are included . . .

Lastly, more latitude is accorded to newspaper comments on men whose characters (what is left of them) are public property. Anyone may take them up, and point out the bruised side of the melon. 'You have a right to comment on the public acts of a minister, upon the public acts of a general, upon the public judgments of a judge . . . upon the public skill of an Actor, but you have no right to impute to them such conduct as disgraces and dishonors them in private life.' Whether or not this final

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limitation throws any difficulty in the way of that great historical work on the Taranaki war which I understand to be in contemplation, I must leave to your judgment to decide . . .

It is difficult to lay down any broad practical rule for guidance. You have to dance a hornpipe among eggs. Perhaps the best rule (though it makes dull articles) is to stick to generalities and abstractions, and (of course) abuse them roundly. For instance it might possibly turn out to be libellous to write at hazard of a particular clergyman of the Church of England in the North Island, that 'he had preached a seditious sermon'. It might turn out that the particular individual fell within the exception, and not within the rule. But it would be quite safe and proper, in a secular point of view, to follow Gibbon and describe the New Zealand pulpit as 'that safe and sacred organ of sedition' - et sic de similibus - one instance is as good as a hundred.

I did not contemplate when I began writing so neat and complete an essay upon libel. I have ... no doubt you will find it a useful guide. The real rule for a journalist when the facts are very ugly is to adhere strictly to what he can prove and abstain from comment. The facts are generally eloquent enough, especially when arranged in the light of a mind which fully appreciates their import.

1863/11

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, M 9 Mar 1863

. . . One day last week Grey asked Cutfield 'Who are all these people in the Town? What are they doing here?' Cutty said they were small farmers & others. 'What do they want me to do for them? Why don't they go back upon farms?' I think what we want you to do is no longer to keep a better man from fitting your place.

Tu 10 Mar . . . Harry had a long interview with Grey yesterday ... He actually told Harry that he had no power himself, his ministers alone could do any thing. He could not command even a single policeman & had not even as much power as Harry had. Harry told this to Domett in my presence & Domett went straight to Grey, who said 'Yes he had said it & it was quite true - the resolutions of the House gave the Ministry all the power.' Domett said if that was the case, if he thought so they would call the House together at once as he (Dom) thought rather differently. Upon which Grey owned he had been mistaken. A more hopeless lie was never told.

Th 12 Mar . . . About 8.30 300 of the 57th passed on their way to Omata to begin road making, or rather mending from the stockade to the Poutoko. About 11 Domett came in & I rode with him to 'the camp.' They are on Wilkinson's farm, the southern boundary of Omata. The Govr. was down there and had an interview at Poutoko with Reihana & two others from Parenga Kingi's division of Taranaki. I did not like to go near enough to hear (though Domett said 'Why don't you come? What does it matter if you do hear?') but I heard the main points from 'Bob' & others. They still claim our land as theirs by right of conquest but offer to give up Tataraimaka if all the runangas north & south agree to it & if he gives them Waitara 8 . . .

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S 14 Mar Marched to the Waiwakaiho bridge at 4 (our guns not loaded) & waited till daylight then came home. 9

M 16 Mar Rode out with Pitty to the camp at Omata, had lunch with the 57th. They have not nearly done their redoubt yet. There is a picket in the road beyond the camp to prevent people (i.e. white people) from going beyond it, but there is nothing to prevent them from going round the picket . . .

W 18 Mar . . . Harry . . . reports (on Domett's authority) that Grey is 'furious' at our memorial ... He gives Harry credit of it all & so refuses to sanction his (H's) appointment to the command of the Col. Defence Force, which Domett had offered him & pressed him to take. . . .

Th 19 Mar... The Harrier came in about 8 with 200 of the 70th from Auckland ... Cap. Bulkeley went up in [her] having lost another child. Grey said to him just before starting 'By the way Bulkeley you may as well get me a good revolver if you can see one.' What enemy is it he is providing against? Hardly the Maoris.

Su 22 Mar . . . Copied music (Im Thal & Im Fruhling) while Maria read to us. In the evg. Domett came & read Paradise Lost for about 3 hours but the lamp went out at 1/4 to 11 & then he went away.

v 34

J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Nelson, 16 Mar 1863

. . . The Provl. Secretary is more interrupted than the Commr. and the conversational talent of the Supt. is particularly unfavorable to progress. I hope we shall get on smoothly together (Mr Robinson and I). He appears to me a very sensible amiable man, and I am satisfied with lively men about would do his duty. ... I intimated that I cared more for my character than for the salary of both offices put together. I hope this will be remembered by him, for I intend to throw up if there is any hesitation about opening up the country. . . . We are to have an executive council today and he will open the question of the railroad to the Buller by Rochfort's new track . . . The very fact of his proposing the thing is a great move.

I keep on scraping on the violoncello every day and I think I get on. ... I went last Sunday, to the Baptists' Chapel and heard Mr Deck. He was very long but very sensible, quite free from the common forms of orthodoxy. ... If what I heard was Plymouth brotherhood or Baptist-ry I am a Plymouth brother or a Baptist. I had no idea that views so natural and unaffected were tolerated in any but the most heterodox sects . . .

Mr Mackley has been in town, he says his wife is very happy at the Grey. What do you think of joining? I'm sure you would like it too, such freedom, such lots of milk, noble mountains, lakes, rivers and a thousand or two acres of your own grass land with bleating, meek and fleecy sheep. I am tremendously tempted to buy.

I have got Burnett despatched to look at a coalfield nearer at hand than the Buller and I am very anxious he should find it an encouraging one . . .

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I spent yesterday afternoon at the Staffords where I dined with the Chief Justice. 10 He was much pleasanter than I have ever seen him before, but gossiped a good deal...

The wood is ordered in . . . Six cords at 35/-. I rode on Saturday eight miles up the Maitai on Solomon, a very pleasant lonely ride, nothing but Solomon and myself, two larks and ten or twelve little tittlebats, but the river and rocks in its bed are company.

1863/12

W. S. Atkinson to C. T. Batkin - - - Taranaki, 17 Mar 1863

I shouldn't be surprised at our party, or mob as it is generally called, breaking completely up. Harry is to have command of this new Colonial Force, so he may be ordered anywhere at any time. Dessy is trying to get in it too . . . C.W.R. is in the South for life I suppose, J.C.R. do. do. and Arthur and H.R.R. are talking seriously about leaving. . . . Ichabod - our glory has departed from us.

1863/14

C. W. Richmond to Colonial Secretary (Auckland) - - - Dunedin, 17 Mar 1863

I now beg to say that Mr Justice Gresson and myself . . . are of opinion that a new judicial district comprising the Provinces of Otago and Southland, with Stewart's Island, etc. should be created and assigned to me.

I am not aware within what judicial district the Chatham Is. are at present confined, but it appears that they are geographically connected rather with Wellington or Canterbury than with Otago . . .

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Maria Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - New Plymouth, 24 Mar 1863

We have occasional evening visits from Mr Domett. He is just as winning as ever, but he is disappointing in his office, and yet I don't know why he should cause disappointment seeing that his lotos eating propensities were no secret. It is grievous to see powers like his wasted for want of an earnest purpose in life. He actually never reads a newspaper from sheer idleness, and has come down here comparatively ignorant of the state of affairs. 'I call this wicked' in his position and with such great interests at stake in the country. One might naturally hope that being placed in a position of so much responsibility he would rouse himself from his inertia. I hear he is displeased with James for his article on the German immigration . . . Maria is afraid James and he will get, if not into a quarrel, cool towards each other. I wish Wm. could rouse him to a sense of his duty . . .

The Governor has requested Mr Domett to accompany him to call upon me! Of course as the mother of Judge Richmond I am rather surprised at this seeing that the judge has never bowed at his shrine and that my second son handles him so freely.

1863/15

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A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, S 28 Mar 1863

The Airedale came in early bringing the other 50 artillery men & horses . . . News from Waikato of what may prove to be the first drops of the coming storm - William King, 11 Rewi & a party of Ngatimaniapoto had been to Mr Gorst's place at Otawhao (where he was printing an opposition paper) 12 & taken away his press types &c -

A party of King Natives had also come down to Wiremu Te Wheoro's place pulled down a court house that was . . . being built on friendly Natives land for the working of the 'new institutions'.

v 34

H. R. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - 1 Apr 1863

As the Commissioners now have power to receive and decide claims for compensation ... I write to know whether you wish any claim made in respect of your clearing it Hurworth. You would probably be allowed, thistle money at 30/- per acre and rent at 20/- per acre per annum or perhaps less - which would bring the claim up to £90 . . .

There is great demonstration of mounted artillerymen etc. but the prevailing impression is that Grey will hang off from fighting as long as he possibly can. Our hope is of course that he cannot help himself. Domett makes as far as we can judge a weak premier, and Bell is nasty . . .

1863/16

J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond (at New Plymouth) - - - Nelson, 1 Apr 1863

There is every probability of a rush of gold seekers to the western gold field, which will stir up the place a good deal. We are trying to get a track through to the Buller and Karamea rivers but party spirit . . . keeps doing a great deal of mischief. The Superintendent . . . really is not a man of vigor enough for stirring times, though he would be a kind careful and conscientious overseer of a cluster of charitable institutions. We have a great many men out on road making with very scanty instructions . . . The money is running out and the work getting on imperfectly and slowly . . .

I like Robinson still very much and am convinced that a great part of his faults are to be debited to the bitterness of his opponents, particularly Monro, Greenwood, and Elliott. They ought to have had more self-respect . . . Robinson is a man to listen with fairness and respect to persons who . . . are to some degree better educated than himself.

All our party . . . will be grieved to hear of the melancholy end of poor David Jordan. ... I had several conversations with him before he went down to the Buller, and had given him strong recommendations as a rare bushman and an honorable man. ... If men are so mad as to cross a swollen stream with a fierce sea running

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into it, in a small canoe, and with heavy boots and clothes on they are really courting destruction. . . .

You will see in the Exr. how foolishly the Bishop has been writing about an affair here, the appointing of a woman who married her late husband's brother to charge of one of the schools. It grieves me to think of so much goodness and self devotion wasting itself as it seems, by alliance with such narrow indiscriminating views. ... It is natural to be full of regret and pain at having your tendencies to venerate and sympathise with a man like Bishop Hobhouse so frequently chilled, if not quenched, by his narrowness.

1863/17

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, M 6 Apr 1863

... At noon rode up to see the races. Poor affairs - the track race perhaps the best though my poney was 'no where.' Nutwith who ran in the Lady's Purse was beaten shamefully though only 3 ran . . .

W 8 Apr . . . Harry brought down a letter he had got from Domett 'asking on behalf of the Governor, as he had spoken of leaving on certain conditions, how much land he had & what he wanted an acre for it.' This is a brilliant move. Concocted an answer.

Su 12 Apr ... In the evg. Domett & his step son John George were here . . .

Tu 14 Apr ... In afn. talked with Domett about their Defence Force, for which they have not succeeded in getting a single man yet & no wonder.

W 15 Apr . . . Had some talk with Bell & then took Domett up to Decy's boxing academy to see a set to between him & Larkhorn of the Artillery, but Larkhorn hadn't much science. Put on the gloves with J. George & had a few rounds.

Th 16 Apr ... In evg. Harry came along ... to say that Domett had written officially to C. Brown asking him to get a bill passed by the Council for the Govr. to take forcible possession of Tataraimaka at a valuation.

F 17 Apr ... In afn. caught my poney & rode down to Mangaone . . . where there was said to be a great hakari (feast) going on, but it had not begun . . . The only thing worth noting was when the Govr. came on the ground. All the Natives (almost all friendly) stood up to welcome him (incited thereto by Parris, Ngarongomate, alias Bob, & others). One Mataitawa man said 13 - 'What are you standing up for? Who is it you are welcoming?' When I got home heard that Bell had had an interview with Teira & Ihaia in which incidentally they talked about the Waitara block & Teira is said to have made important admissions - that William King & the others came to live there for mutual defence against Waikato, that he (Teira) never meant to sell the sites by the pas (Hurirapa &c) and also meant to reserve 200 acres (for King?), all of which Bell has made a memorandum of - for Grey of course who there is little doubt only wants a show of reason to give up the land . . .

v 34

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A. S. Atkinson to C. W. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 7 Apr 1863

You will be glad to hear that Grey has at last got as far as Tataraimaka, and his 400 soldiers were not fired upon by the 100 or 150 hostile Taranakis . . . When Pratt's 1500 encountered Hapurona's 30 in the peach grove at Huirangi the two sides being equal a fight ensued (the equation being, 30 hands plus a head equal 1500 hands minus a head plus a tail) - but Grey, being pacifically inclined, did wisely in trusting to the forbearance of his enemy . . .

1863/18

Jane Maria Atkinson to Margaret Taylor - - - Taranaki, 7 Apr 1863

Besides writing for the Examiner James is now Commissioner of crown lands and Provincial Secretary in Nelson. His income for the 3 posts will only be about £500 or £550 but I trust that with what they have of their own they may manage now to save . . . Nelson is certainly a pretty place, the town very superior in style to New Plymouth, but ... I don't like being imprisoned by hills even if they are pretty, and our wide fresh clothed country stretching back to the mountain and the open sea view are much more to my taste. . . .

[The Governor] . . . with Messrs Domett and Bell have been here since March 5th 're-instating' Taranaki. No action of any importance, however, took place till last Saturday (the 4th). H.M.S. Harrier and our mail steamer the Airedale have been bringing down more troops openly, whilst secretly the Gov or his agents have been busy endeavouring to obtain permission of the Natives for the reoccupation of our own block of land Tataraimaka, now deserted by all Europeans for 3 years, and claimed by the southern tribes as their own by right of conquest. Whether the private coaxing or our appearance of strength has been most effectual I cannot say but on the 4th the troops boldly took possession of our own land unopposed. . . .

1863/19

Jane Maria Atkinson to Margaret Taylor - - - New Plymouth, 9 Apr 1863

. . . Unfortunately Mr Domett in spite of his fine intellect seems quite unfit to be helmsman in times of difficulty like these. He is letting Mr Bell be the head of the ministry, a man immensely his inferior, & not trusted by Mr Domett's supporters. But a limp will, love of ease & a quiet life quite overbalance Mr D's other fine qualities & his Ministry will fall to pieces when the House meets. Perhaps Taranaki may fall to pieces before. . . .

We had a gay wedding here the other day. Nora Smith (. . . her mother was Hannah Hursthouse) was married to Capt Gorton of the 57th Regiment half the female population of the place went to church to see the show & to my amusement to make it as public as possible the band of the Regiment stationed on Marsland Hill, which commands a view of the approaches to the church, struck up 'Haste to the Wedding' as soon as the bridal procession appeared in sight. There was to have been a double wedding on that day (Ap 2nd 1863) as Percy Smith & Mary Crompton had everything

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arranged for their wedding. However the unfortunate Percy who is a Govt surveyor at Auckland could not get leave of absence & so the bride in company with her mother & Kate Hursthouse went up to Auckland ... & Mary & Percy are to be married from the Macdonald's.

v 6, p 39

Crosbie Ward (Postmaster General) to C. W. Richmond - - - London, 18 Apr 1863

With a great deal of nervousness I have printed a pamphlet 14 about the case of New Zealand and its war. . . . Why did you not forgo your prospects in life and the interests of your family and come home as I asked you, to do this work as it should be done. . . . You could have written it out of your head in a day ... I took a month to coach up authorities and spin out a statement as near the truth as may be: that is not wilfully false. But no one knows better than you the horrid errors which arise from want of the whole truth. . . . And yet it had to be written and printed, for the ignorance of man is dense, becoming palpable stupidity around the Government offices and solid blockheadedness in the Colonial department. Also the pamphlet has had its effect . . .

I have not done justice to the Colony and perhaps have not done even fair play between different parties. . . . Besides I may have hurt my own friends, among whom I must reckon Colonel Browne. If I have it is against my will . . .

For all these reasons ... I, remembering Sewell's sad fate and that of Icarus, send out this printed thing with fear and trembling ... I say all this, which you will think mock modesty, in the real nervousness of my heart. The responsibility is really too great for me; and in a matter of this kind, inexperienced as I am, it makes itself felt.

1863/22

C. W. Richmond to W. G. McPherson (Idaburn) - - - Dunedin, 20 Apr 1863

I received yours of the 11th yesterday reporting that you had bought 43 head of Mr Alves at 8d per lb. I cannot say I like the purchase . . . What I fear is that we have not got proper facilities for carrying on a butcher's business and that there must be waste which will leave us losers on such a purchase. However, I have no doubt that you acted for the best and shall not find fault with the transaction. ... I have seen Mr Alves and he appears willing to dispose of the remainder of his mob at £16 per head - everything under 6 months, of which he says there are 30 to 40, to be given in ... I wish you to go over the mob again and if you think that we shall do well to buy at this price you may take the whole two hundred . . .

£16 is my extreme offer, and I wish you to exercise your own judgment in the matter and not to give even that if you do not think that the cattle are worth the money . . .

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As to the preemptive right, please send me the best description you can of what we should apply for. We have a right to '80 acres at one of the stations and 10 acres at each of the other stations erected upon the run' . ... It seems, however, that there must be a station of some sort at the place where preemptive is applied for: but it would be easy to have a hut put up at any place where we wanted to take our land. . . .

I think it will be better to describe by reference to the buildings than to the creek. If the Waste Land Board see any creek laid down in the app'tion they are apt to suppose that an attempt is being made to get an undue amount of river frontage . . . On our run there is no such thing as a river and it is useless to raise any question by the mere form of our description . . .

v 42

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, Tu 21 Apr 1863

. . . The news we heard yesterday about Tapuae is quite true. The soldiers had been improving the crossing by the Tapuae (the bridge having gone) & had collected a lot of stones to macadamise it a little on each side & on Sunday night Parenga Kingi & 30 others came & threw all the stones back into the stream, where they now lie. This looks peaceful & submissive.

S 25 Apr . . . News direct from Waikato. They seem making up their minds for mischief. They still stick to their old plan of attacking all the settlements at once. . . . In evg. went with Eliza to hear Miss Emma Neville & Mr G. Loder perform 'the Old House at home' &c. Some of it good.

M 27 Apr The Airedale came in about sunrise. Among the other notables Gorst has come down - he has at last been turned out of Waikato. Fenton also has come. . . .

Tu 28 Apr . . . Rode down to Waitara to see Teira & Ihaia about the land - heard their account of . . . the arrangement under which W. King came to live there (for mutual defence against Waikato - Ngatimaru, Puketapu, Ngatirahire &c being parties to the league and living there too for a time) - but all on the understanding that they were to go each on to their own land when Waikato was 'pai' 15 . . .

Th 30 Apr . . . About sunset fell in with Parris . . . He says Grey is determined to give up Waitara (to William King) as the only way to avoid war, though at the same time he says in a minute to Ministers that even then war is inevitable! This is what he says behind the scenes, but to us all is peace & security . . . Domett & Bell resist this suicidal course about Waitara, but Parris thinks Grey will go his own way in spite of them. It will be a noble reinstatement of Taranaki if he does. Poor Parris is very down-hearted . . . He also tells me that Grey has had the offer of nearly all the land from Waitara to Mokau but will not or dare not buy it . . .

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Maria Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 23 Apr 1863

Sir G. Grey . . . seems to be making bad worse. Do you remember that when it was stated he was coming Mr Domett said, 'Grey! then we shall have much dirt, more dirt and most dirt.' We must be plunging fast into the most dirt. I feel sorry for Mr Domett and wish he had never been pressed into the service. It is not certain that he feels sorry for himself. Mr Bell I have seen but once, he evidently avoids the set; Maria says it is because I am hedged in by the Atkinsons that he does not come . . .

1863/24

C. W. Richmond to A. S. Atkinson - - - Dunedin, 24 Apr 1863

... In reference to your coming down here - I think it would be a very good thing that you should come and look about you. It is very likely something might turn up. There are various offices in connection with the gold fields for instance which might suit you if a vacancy occurred and they are in want of men. ... Do not by any means give up the Herald - I suppose you could arrange that Henry should supply copy for a time.

1863/25

Maria Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - New Plymouth, 25 Apr 1863

Nobody knows what 'that treacherous old rascal', as Major Nixon calls Sir G. Grey, is about or means to do ... If he should give up the Waitara and suffer the natives to impede the road making, most of the settlers must of necessity leave the place. Meantime people go on amusing themselves as usual, Mr Arthur Standish gave a ball on Thursday night at the old mess-room, the combined culinary art of Mrs Standish, Mrs Humphries and Mrs J. S. Smith were displayed in an elegant supper to a large assemblage of beauty and fashion . . . Dr McKinnon, 'the observed of all observers', in a Highland costume of rich materials which showed his manly form to great advantage, devoted himself the whole evening exclusively to Mrs Willie King ...

The next night Henry delivered his lecture on a candle. It went off very well Arthur says, though Henry . . . was rather nervous.

1863/26

A. S. Atkinson to C. W. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 27 Apr 1863

Just a line to say that war is imminent . . . What a case for us to be in, to be threatened with war on this day or that and not dare to strike a blow ourselves.

There is underhand work going on about Waitara. Taylor [Teira] has been asked by the Governor (through his interpreter) whether he was not bribed to offer his block of land. This will show the spirit in which he is working. But he is too late.

Gorst . . . says W. King and Rewi are on their road down. The more the merrier, if they will only not begin at other places as well. . . .

1863/27

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[George S. Whitmore] Colonial Military Force, 16 memorandum for Hon. Minister for Defence - - - [May 1863}

(unsigned)

In the following remarks I am guided by several considerations which necessarily influence what I recommend.

1. The necessity of employing men at the cheapest possible rate.

2. The necessity of avoiding as far as possible all establishments, such as commissariat, store dept. etc. etc.

3. The necessity of obtaining as soon as possible after the troops are withdrawn a properly disciplined force to replace them . . .

It is obvious that there are men to be found whose superior intelligence, smartness and activity render them at least equal to twice their number of equally well conducted, well disciplined and physically able men. But ... it could be a costly matter.

When Her Majesty's Troops are withdrawn it will be necessary also to make some numerical show of force, to deter the Natives from making any attempt to break out again. It is . . . desirable to prevent their rising at all if possible as in spite of the efficiency of a corps d'elite, it is not easy to see the end of an outbreak should it occur.

For these reasons I recommend an early application to the General to submit for consideration of the Home Govt, the following propositions:

That on the removal of H.M's Troops the Colony should be permitted to take over into its own payment and charge such men as may voluntarily accept the following terms, viz.

1. Soldiers having served 5 years to be eligible if of good character . . .

2. If accepted, the men's pay will continue at the same rate as in the Queen's Regts. all allowances of rations, spirits, etc. to be compromised when not supplied by the Govt, for an allowance of 7d. per diem . . .

3. Soldiers selected for the local Force to ... be entitled to claim their discharge on completing half the time which they would have to serve in H.M's army. But at any moment the Colonial Govt, to be empowered to discharge men . . .

4. On discharge . . . the Govt will give a grant of land according to the scale of the Milt, settlers which will be transferable at the expiration of one year . . .

5. Such Officers desirous of settling as may be required by the Govt, to be taken on pay by the Colony . . .

The advantages to be obtained by this plan are

1. in cost

Pay Ration
Waikato Militia 2/6 + say 7d. = 3/1
Col. Force 1/- + 7d. = 1/7

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2. in keeping a disciplined body of selected men in the Colony always available hereafter in the Militia.

3. By making them feed themselves the Govt, would save a good deal . . .

I think 1000 men . . . under this plan would be found to cost including their officers not more than £32,000 a year. As these men are gradually discharged and as the expense becomes reduced provision may be made for bringing a superior class of young men to the Colony from England ... I presume land could not be made available but if it could smart lads could be obtained at home for a very small rate of pay.

1863/28

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, F 1 May 1863

. . . Charles Brown . . . has been asked by the Ministry to give them a minute 'on the general question' & so has drawn up a curious scheme not altogether his own but in some parts peculiarly his own, which he submitted to us & Henry was appointed to polish it up. The main points are recognising the King, giving him a revenue & marking off Maori districts &c but it comes round to the old difficulty, how if they won't keep to their districts or their bargain? . . .

Su 3 May ... I told him [Domett] he should not allow any man to go to Tatara not on duty - asked him why they did not warn people to come in but he did not seem willing to believe in any danger.

M 4 May Another memorable day for Taranaki & New Zealand . . . went into Town rather melancholy - after a while saw people standing a little thicker than usual & soon heard that an escort going to Tatara had been stopped. After a little galloping about of orderlies Grey & his staff rode slowly through the town towards Omata, but when they got to the corner at the top of the hill by the Refuge started off sharp. In about five mins. back came Cap. Bulkeley with the news that some of our men were shot . . . Asst. Sur. Hope & Lt. Tragett were among them & four or five others. The alarm guns were fired & messengers sent out to fetch in the few people in the country... In the evg. went on picket at Fort Niger . . .

Tu 5 May . . . Knowing there was to be a coroner's inquest went to Dunn & got my name put on. At 10 went to the Military hospital & was sworn in, then viewed the bodies - a miserable sight. Sat till 2 or 3 & then adjourned till Thursday.

W 6 May . . . attended parade at 10 & Gen. Cameron addressed us & said -'Volunteers] and Mil[itia], I am very glad to have you under my command -' which was a good beginning - 'he would drill some of us which he had no doubt we should attend regularly. The duties were heavy on us just now but when he got his reinforcements he hoped they would be lighter.' This is different to the monkey's allowance we used to get from Pratt & Gold.

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Th 7 May At 10 the jury met but adjourned again till 2 so as to attend the funeral . . . The Govr was among those who followed & I did not envy him his thoughts . . .

The jury . . . began with the examination of Parris which fell to my share. I was afraid he would make a fool of himself because I knew Bell had been frightening him, but I did not expect he would have . . . evaded & prevaricated & done all he could to conceal the truth . . . We got enough to show that the Govr has been aware of the danger, but the miserable way in which he lied ... on account of orders from his superiors made me deeply melancholy ... It made me feel as if I could never speak to him again.

F 8 May ... At 10 attended meeting of jury, about 3 adjourned for want of witnesses . . . Jury met again at 7 for the last time. The Storm Bird had been down to Tataraimaka & brought up the only survivor ... - Florence Kelly . . . His statement was valuable but I think not quite true . . .

About 8 o'clock we were locked up to consider our verdict . . . 'rebellion,' &c. At last we agreed at about 2 in the morning, sent for Flight & then he refused to receive the verdict on the ground of vagueness because we had put 'massacred' instead of 'murdered'. This I was very glad of & encouraged him in ... so we were sent back & I thought we should have to starve it out, as I was determined to have it murder & Hulke & William Burton objected to the word, thinking in some way it sheltered the Govt, from the necessity of action & also because the Natives were properly rebels. However after a while I talked Burton round & Hulke agreed too, & then we sent for the coroner again; but this time (about 3) he was deaf to us & sent word back he should be there at 7, so we had to wait.

S 9 May About 7 J. Flight Esq, Coroner appeared & we delivered our verdict 17 & were delivered ourselves . . .

v 34

Mary Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - Nelson, 1 May 1863

... I went back with Maria ... to Taranaki. I was there six weeks . . . The beautiful open country, the sea and fresh air had a most invigorating effect upon me. . . . We had a good many little rides and excursions. We should have gone to the lower range and to Waitara, but just as these expeditions were planned the troops were moved to Omata and it was not considered well to go out any distance. One day we all went to Hurworth . . . the trees looked more grand and lovely than ever but when I came to the old familiar place and saw the wreck of our house that I had left so bright and pleasant looking I felt very miserable . . .

I had quite a difficulty in getting little Anneliz into the house. She was laughing and talking and asking questions about the naughty Maoris until we came in sight of

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the house, and then I suppose its grey ghostly appearance frightened her for she began to cry very piteously and to beg not to be taken in. It required some art and persuasion to overcome her dislike and fear.

1863/29

A. S. Atkinson to C. W. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 8 May 1863

I am sitting as one of a coroner's jury on eight poor fellows murdered and mutilated by the Taranaki natives . . . You will remember a long flat strip of beach just beyond the Oakura. At the far end of that two little streams cross the beach - one of these is the Wairau and here it happened. The tide was right in and so the men coming from Tatara had to pass close to the sand cliffs which are here flattened down and hollowed and there is a little flax and scrub growing, about two or three old whares where Parenga Kingi (Cucumber King) formerly lived. The natives to the number of 30 or 40 were hidden here and our men having to come close by were of course doubly defenceless. . . .

May 9 . . . There were a few who wanted to introduce 'rebellion' and leave out 'murder'. Tell me if you think the rider too strong or wrong in any way. It was mainly my doing, though a little mangled and attentuated. . . .

Waitara is given up. . . . Teira is to get £600, not for the land but for the Govr's love . . .

Ngatiruanui is coming up, and so there is still hope, thank Heaven. Waikato too I hope. Can he stop the rising tide?

1863/30

H. A. Atkinson to C. W. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 9 May 1863

We have at last come to the beginning of the end. Lying and untruth have born their fruit.

Reinforcements have come from Auckland this morning . . . but I rather doubt the wisdom of attacking the Natives in their present position with the force the General has.

Domett is quite unfit for his work he gives way to Bell and Grey on vital points, acts on what they tell him as if it were truth without an effort to see whether they are deceiving him or not and so has got his name and fair fame mixed up with some of Grey's worst acts. We all repeatedly warned Domett of what was coming in every way in our power, and yet he let things take their course. I wish I could think him clear of the blood of those poor fellows.

Young W. R. Greenwood will give you this, he is a very nice and sturdy young fellow. Old Greenwood is the largest loser by the war . . . . W.R.G. wishes to get into the Gold Escort as a private, he . . . has been in my company all through the war.

1863/31

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H. R. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Taranaki, g May 1863

I received . . . the power to act on your behalf as regards compn.[ensation] and am a little surprised at your leaving me to decide whether you should take it. I can see no good reason why you should not, as it will cost you all the money most likely to get the clearing in order, let alone rent, but if it burns your fingers, I have a little Taranaki Institute, which I can recommend to you as worthy of encouragement, and which would be glad to make itself a building . . .

Just now of course we are all upset by this new tragedy. . . .

1863/32

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, Tu 12 May 1863

... At last we know the worst or something near it I should hope. The proclamation is out declaring that the purchase of the Waitara block is abandoned & all claim on it renounced henceforth on the part of the Govt. The Maori of it is dated yesterday just a week after the murders. . . .

W 13 May Saw the Eclipse start about 7 a.m. for the Waitara. A large body of troops also went over land & brought away with them the garrison that has been holding the land . . . Waitara is abandoned ... In afn. rode to the Poutoko camp with Morrison. We were cautioned to go quick through the Waireka gully, but the negroes are not likely to be so near just yet . . . Got to the camp just as Capt. Richard Russell, Dr MacKinnon & a reconnoitring party came back. They had been through bush & fern in a very creditable way . . .

S 16 May ... I had a most important conversation with Paora (little Paul) of Mataitawa this morng. I asked him whether now that Waitara was given up the trouble was ended, as that was said to be the root of it all? He hesitated a little at first & then said 'No, it isn't over yet.' I asked him what was the cause (take, root) of the murders last week? He said 'Waitara.' 'Well' I said 'if the Govr. goes down to seek payment for his dead (from Taranaki) what shall you do? We shall go & help them (Taranaki) because we are one. He said: 'We asked the Govr. to give us Waitara & he would not . . . But when he heard of these murders he said (here he gasped once or twice to show the Govr's. state of mind) 'Ah! I must give up Waitara.' He also said . . . that he does not think the Govr. means to fight in earnest (riri tonu) or to take their lands. This is one of the leaders of the men who have had Waitara given them.

Su 17 May The Eclipse came in early, Rogan in her . . . He has just returned from Ngaruawahia . . . where he had been to carry the news of the murders. It was a dangerous enterprise - he could get no Maori to go with him - but he got away safely. He says they did not say a word to what he told them - an ominous silence . . .

Tu 19 May . . . Talking with Ihaia. They do not seem to be as much cut up at the giving up of Waitara as was to be expected, partly from the £600 they are to get &

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partly I think from Grey's telling them that he will confiscate the land of the Mataitawa people if they join in the war. He says that these people will agree to peace if the Govr. will forget his dead as well as give up the land! . . .

M 25 May Instead of being dismissed at daybreak we had to draw lots for 8 men to stay & take care of Fort Niger . . . almost every soldier is going, leaving us to take care of the Town . . . Got my guns all handy before I went to bed.

Tu 26 May . . . [Stapp] was with the Governor two or three times last night being consulted about the safety of the Town, & it seems that it was not only the danger of the Town that troubled him - whatever he may have been before last night he was a personal coward - frightened for his own life - lest the devil he has raised should come to claim his own. The soldiers being all gone there were much fewer settlers (Mil & Vol) in Town than usual (being on duty) but of course all the women & children and yet he i.e. Sir George Grey ordered that on the first alarm 12 men whose proper business it was to guard the magazine on Mt Eliot should rush up to Mrs Cudlips to defend him. It was arranged that they should go into the cellar from whence they could fire into the street. Whether he was to go with them I don't know. Harry who was at the boatshed with his picket had orders to find 12 for the magazine in case of attack to free 12 soldiers - and this is the fact that if the Town were attacked though it is full of women & children & though many houses would have no man in them & most of the rest only one or two - twelve were to go up to take care of Sir George Grey. Stapp asked him if he would not have a sentry, but this would not do as he had not had one before. Should Captn. Atkinson send him up a guard? But this would not do either ... I suppose we have got now to the lowest depth in the character of this miserable sham . . .

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Jane Maria Atkinson to Emily E. Richmond - - - Taranaki, iy May 1863

. . . Till more troops arrive in N.Z., I don't suppose the Gov or General like to try anything extensive ... It is most encouraging, however, to see the different spirit that seems to actuate the troops, the 57th especially burning to avenge their comrades are ready to go anywhere thro' bush or the roughest country with alacrity...

Altogether Gov and Ministers seem to me quite demented in their proceedings. . . . It is quite melancholy to find that one has been so deeply deceived in Mr Domett. He has I suppose only really had sentiments and leanings but no steadfast principles of action. He admired William and liked that side in politics, but he is so Epicurean to the heart's core that nothing, not honour or honesty, is worth trouble and a struggle and so Grey and Bell shuffle and ... he follows in their wake rather than erect himself. I feel dreadfully disappointed; although he often privately gave vent to most pernicious views of the 'Nothing new, and nothing true and no matter' school, I fancied it a kind of banter and that his very disgust of humbug showed him true at heart. It was impossible to see him stand up like an old lion in the House, and hear his voice

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ring out so richly on the right side, and imagine that he could do otherwise when he acted, than take the upright and straightforward course. . . . Do you remember his saying 'Grey coming back, then we shall have dirt, more dirt, most dirt'. To think of his allowing himself to be head cook or cat's paw at such a feast! . . .

It won't surprise me in a year's time to find a Wairau peace concluded . . . Arthur will laugh at this as he always does at my dismal forebodings. . . . His knowledge of the 'Native mind' makes him sure that things must come to a crisis this time . . . Ar . . . has a great influence in this place and I have no doubt that Grey and compy. wish him at Jericho; he knew more of 'Coroner's Quest Law' than the coroner or anyone on the jury and managed the Inquest in a wonderful way. In fact I believe he is now about the best lawyer in the place. . . .

Chas Brown has of late behaved very sensibly that is, he almost always takes advice with our 'mob' before committing any important public act and Henry composes, or at all events revises, most of his written acts . . .

Harry, as you may guess, is the Gov's peculiar aversion. Mr Domett's pet scheme when he passed on his way to settle at Auckland was to establish a Mounted Defence Corps here with Harry for captain, but Grey would not allow of Harry's appointment and the whole affair has hung fire because I suppose they could not agree on fitting officers, and men won't enlist until they know who is to lead them. Fancy Mr D's weakness in sending for his step son, a very good-for-nothing young dog, to give him a commission in the Corps.

1863/33

Maria Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - New Plymouth, ij May 1863

I cannot tell you how it grieves me to think of Mr Domett plunged over head in this mud bath of the Governor's . . . He was to have spent the evening of that day with us on which the dreadful murders were committed. I have not seen him since. Harry says he goes nowhere, has grown much thinner and looks very miserable . . .

18 May (Monday) . . . There is the same horrible crowding commencing in the town that caused so much illness in the last war . . . We are happy in inhabiting our own pleasant dwelling with plenty of space round us . . .

Mr FitzGerald has written quite a panegyric on William in a letter to Harry. I wish he had not called Mr Domett 'an old government hack', it is not handsome of him whatever faults he may have committed seeing that he urged him to take office - it is too personal. I am surprised he should do anything so ungentlemanly and I would not mind telling him so.

1863/34

A. S. Atkinson to Mary Richmond - - - Taranaki, 25 May 1863

I am writing this under canvas, not alas in the field as you might be deluded into hoping, but on a rascally day guard up at Fort Niger. Almost every soldier has gone down Tataraimaka way, . . .

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Jun 7. - As you seemed unhappy about my going on duty at night I gave it up and have taken to skirmishing about the country in the daytime in a way the most fastidious could not object to. ... Fifty of us under Harry have got a roving commission to go where we like and enjoy ourselves. On Thursday afternoon we went up to Hurworth and sat on Henry's ridge, . . . till the shades of evening fell, when I said 'Mary won't approve of my being here so late' so we went home. The next morning we went to a small picnic at the 'meeting of the waters', where we again expected some of the Native nobility to join us, but were again disappointed. I had some scruple about joining this party as it started two hours before daybreak but I thought you would not object as it was broad moonlight. The only restriction I believe upon our wandering is that we are not allowed to visit any fortified place of the enemy - for the rest the world is all before us where to choose. It is a harmless and healthy amusement and a great promoter of cheerfulness . . .

I met with a small adventure lately which I think you will enjoy. On the day of the fight just after it was over I rode down to Omata to see if I could get on to Tataraimaka. . . . There is a picket of soldiers at the Tapuae and when we got near we saw our sentry eyeing us rather attentively and then, without saying a word, kneel down to fire. It looked so comical that I could only sing out 'You don't mean to say you are going to fire? . . . Did you take us for the enemy?' To which he answered quietly and with a smile 'Yes I was just going to fire if you had not held up your hat.' . . . The thing was so absurd - to see one of our own men kneeling down without a word in broad daylight to have a shot at us - that I could only laugh. The truth was he was a stranger (one of the 70th).

1863/35

Derwent and Consett Iron Co., (John Rogerson & Co., Agents.) to R. Pitcairn - - - London, 26 May 1863

In reference to . . . the Taranaki Steel Iron Co. Limited, this Company purchased a vessel and goods from us in 1861. The vessel was not paid for, and has been sold under the mortgage, to cover the amount due upon it. The goods have not been paid for, and remain at present upon our Works.

We have simply acted as iron-manufacturers - sold goods to the company, which have not been paid for, and hold the goods against the debt . . . We are under the impression we are the only creditors of the defunct company, and now of its late shareholders . . . Having known your family for many years, upon your information our Mr Rogerson was willing with you to assist in having experiments made... For that purpose you procured the sand ex White Star, for which we remitted . . . £220-0-0. On the arrival of the White Star . . . notice was sent to the owners ... by Mr Moreshead . . . not to deliver the sand. It now lies at the dock. Mr Moreshead will not allow us to take the sand . . . We shall have to sell all the goods of the late company, now in our possession, to partly pay the amount due to us, and may possibly lose the balance.

1863/36

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A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, F 29 May 1863

News in from Omata that Lt. Waller (of the 57th) in coming, alone, from Oakura had been fired at by seven Maoris lying hidden near Puketarata . . . his horse was killed but pulling out his revolver he shot one man & the others ran away. Afterwards heard that one of them a half caste had been captured by Col. Warre's men.

S 30 May . . . Saw the halfcaste prisoner brought into Town . . . He was the first to jump off the bank to finish Waller thinking him wounded but found his mistake when Waller fired at him. ... He fell senseless & the others supposing him dead ran away ... He had poor Tragett's watch on & a rifle of one of the soldiers. . . .

M 1 Jun . . . Cap. Brown (alias the Supert.) told us the Gen. wanted men to go into the bush & about the country, whereupon 160 volunteered each company under its own officers . . . Were told that the Gen. only wanted 50 men & as our company (No 2 Volunteers) had volunteered in the largest number we were to take it the first month. So we had the breach loading carbines served out to us but it took us till sunset to get them . . .

Th 4 Jun Soon after day break guns were heard ... in the direction of Tatara . . . Went up to Harry's to get a horse - got his & after getting breakfast started, overtook the two Baylys (W. &. T. junr.), rode down to Poutoko saw Bill [Atkinson]. The telegram from Tatara was that the Maoris had been beaten - & 'no end killed' . . . our loss 1 killed & a few wounded.

Bill thought it was safe for us to go on as far as Oakura if we went round by Bob's new pa . . . We went round to the pa & Bob (commonly so called, in full Ropata Ngarongomate Te Rangi kapuoho) then showed us the way on but said he did not think it a good way lest we should be shot by some of the sentries (soldiers) . . . Rode on to Oakura... crossed the river to meet G. Lethbridge, Jim Bayly & Harrison - they . . . had seen the bodies of 24 Maoris brought into the camp. They advised us not to go on as the tide was up & there was considerable chance of the parties of Taranakis lurking about, so we turned back with them. (It was quite as well we did -there was an ambush in the afternoon who fired at Parris, MacKinnon & others . . . I should very likely have had to come back by myself as our party was going out bushranging at 2.

Jim Bayly was in the fight . . . there were two sets of pits (called rifle pits by courtesy) the first were rushed but the Maoris ran & got all away. In the second they ... were nearly all killed. ----- ----- shot one man - & two who were wounded - not much to his credit - & the soldiers did the same - no prisoners were taken . . .

Had some dinner ... & then went up to Poverty flat & fell in with our 50 (gorillas, wild men or bush rangers) & marched out to Hurworth, leaving one party at Frenchs to watch the crossing there. Lay up on Henry's ridge till after dark but saw nothing & came back, ordered to fall in again at Fort Niger at 10 to sleep there. Got there & found it full of soldiers - came back home & turned in for three hours . . . N.B. The Govr. left for Auckland in the Eclipse.

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F. A. Weld to C. W. Richmond - - - Brackenfield, Kowai, 3 Jun 1863

... I have been breaking a lance with FitzGerald for the virgin honor of our dear old friend T.G.B. I flatter myself that I drive our friend of the Press into hard shifts to defend himself . . . Browne had given me leave to say all about the Taranaki negociations to the House in 1861, so I had no scruple about speaking out now. It always has seemed to me that it was a great mistake not to have been more outspoken and open with the people at Taranaki when we were there when the 'peace' was made but Whitaker, cautious and lawyer like, overruled me in that, and in my desire to have had a dash at the Taranakis before leaving, and Browne of course preferred his advice, for which doubtless there were weighty reasons . . .

Now about the present aspect of things. Domett and Bell seem I much fear to have made a terrible mess and to have been got over by Grey if it be true that they have advised the cession of the Waitara, grant that some admissions have been made by Teira strengthening King's claim. Yet Browne's position always was this, if King has a claim let him advance it peaceably but an appeal to arms I will not tolerate - this was always my main point when I spoke on the matter. I have always treated as quite of secondary importance the consideration of ownership.

It was the usurpation of jurisdiction or quasi-sovereignty assumed by King that I always held to . . . and Browne in his declarations always kept that point clear. Bell and Domett ought to have protested and left to Grey the sole responsibility of deviating from that policy.

I am really sick of New Zealand politics, I had almost said of New Zealand. New men mere money grubbers are outnumbering those whose ideas and dreams were at least noble ones. The natives have been ruined by their false friends. I had heart and stomach for the fight when one felt that it was [admin] istering wholesome correction to [-----] lent chiefs who richly deserved it but when it comes . . . 18 the base desire for office and vanity and by the cowardice and fear of loss of men of our own blood and race. Moreover all this has made me entertain a very different opinion of so many of the Colonists and feel that the Colony is so much less lovable than before, that really with the exception of the Taranaki men, who have behaved like Englishmen, I don't feel much interest in our brethren whose pockets are about to suffer for their refusal to stand shoulder to shoulder with Browne. I am much inclined to say serve you right. I do not feel even sure that my continuing to take an active part in politics is of any use, and should certainly retire did it not look like a desertion to do so . . .

1863/38

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, F 5 Jun 1863

Turned out about 3 a.m. went up to Fort Niger & at 4 started for the meeting of the waters with about 30 others (under Harry's commd.) - lay there till half an hour after sunrise ... It was a curious scene, going through the bush in the moonlight.

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Down by Rossiter's (T. King's) it was lovely - looking like fairy land, & not at all agreeing with our errand, but I find one lies in wait to shoot Maoris without any approach to an angry feeling - it is a sort of scientific duty.

Su 14 Jun . . . Saddled my poney &c & about 10.30 started with Henry & Pitty for Oakura to get a nearer look at Kaitake . . . Had lunch with the officers of the 57th there & then examined the pa well. Col. Logan thinks it is to be attacked tomorrow or Tuesday. The four armstrong guns are there with a hundred rounds of ammunition each. Kaitake is not quite 2 miles from the redoubt - awkward to get at . . . very awkward to catch any Maoris in it . . .

Th 18 Jun . . . Tomorrow they are going to shell Kaitake. A day or two since the women & children were warned to leave. 19 . . .

v 34

Maria Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Beach Cottage, 5 Jun 1863

I am very thankful to you for your fond care of me, but as there seems to be a general belief in the safety of the town, I feel very much disinclined to move at present. Maria seems determined for many reasons not to leave, and I object strongly to quitting her before her confinement . . .

1863/39

C. W. Richmond to A. S. Atkinson - - - Dunedin, 7 Jun 1863

People here are (all things considered) more interested in Taranaki affairs than one would have expected. Vogel of the Daily Times is a sagacious sort of fellow, and (partly perhaps because it is a good stimulating subject) keeps alive the public interest by abundant provision of news and frequent leaders . . .

I have no doubt that your articles are thought as mild as milk in Taranaki. They do not read so here. Were I an able editor I suppose I should . . . feel it my duty to give the Governor very frequently a piece of my mind. Looking at things from a distance and with my leaning in favor of constituted authorities and Imperialism, I must say that I should be very careful how I attacked the Governor at such a crisis as the present. To put it on no higher ground - do not let him, or anyone else, have it to say that his administration has been embarrassed by the Colonists. The English papers are the true media for attack, if it is desirable to attack.

I see no harm in the verdict of the coroner's jury. The notion of bringing in 'rebellion' does not seem to me so outre if it means that it was proposed that the jury should, as it were, disclaim jurisdiction by declaring that the so called murders were perpetrated by persons in open rebellion. The offence of murder might on that view be regarded as merged in the higher crime of treason, and the jury would in effect have declared that the case was one that required to be dealt with by the military and not the civil power of the state. I do not mean to say that I think the jury were technically wrong in bringing in the verdict they did, far from it. But it would, I

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assume, have expressed the view of all of you, if in some way the jury had recognized by its verdict that the murders were more than murders in as much as they were perpetrated by rebels in arms and a whole tribe accessory before the fact.

May God bless and keep you all. Don't let the women stay to be overwrought by excitements. I do not think my mother ought to be let to remain.

1863/40

Comment by A. S. Atkinson (31 March i8gy) on jury verdict:

. . . We all agreed it was rebellion in the sense of an attack on the Queen's authority - but the majority believed the coroner and the minority were trying to shield the authorities Sir G. Grey etc. from the need for action. The minority were pretty soon converted - tho' too late to get let out, but the coroner did much to spoil the verdict by requiring the essence of it to be put in to a rider . . .

1863/40

A. S. Atkinson to C. W. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 8 Jun 1863

. . . [As to studying law] ------- I don't see my way quite clearly to it yet, as there seems a sort of duty in standing by the ship till it sinks or rights again, but Grey is such an absolute rascal that even now I do not believe he is fighting in earnest, nor will do it unless the insurrection spreads all over the island.

Do you ever think politics now that you do not talk them, or do you

Of all the unhappy failures our present Ministry is one of the greatest - Domett himself is, as the poet Smith says,

I never saw such weakness - not feminine. . . .

1863/41

C. W. Richmond to A. S. Atkinson - - - Dunedin, 20 Jun 1863

I am most thankful that the General has made such a good beginning. But one thing in the news makes me feel uneasy - I mean the leave to do bushranging granted to the civilian force. It is quite right, no doubt, in a military point of view. But I can't forget the wives & children of those who are doing guerilla work. If I had none, I believe I should come at once to N.P. I do not see what better I (for one) could do with myself than get killed in helping to set the North Island to rights. It is the helpless ones left behind that make it a calamity for anyone of the set to get knocked off .. . For we had quite understood that Militia & Volunteers were to remain in the Town . . .

There is no place in the Colony where you would learn as much law as in Dunedin. I have no doubt there is by far the best bar here, altho' individuals in other places are

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good lawyers. There is not Whitaker's match here as an advocate, but on the other hand there are several good men - Gillies, Prendergast, Barton, Wilson Gray, Cook - & a shoal of solicitors of various degrees of efficiency.

I have no doubt whatever that if you lived in a hollow rata you would in a couple of years reading know so much that you would very quickly see your way in practice. It would however be much better that you should see practice whilst reading. You could lay on the coats of your knowledge much faster - & more securely when each had dried on properly in practice . . . The objection to Dunedin is the great cost of living, whilst in the pupa state & unable to use one's mandibles upon the public.

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A. S. Atkinson to C. W. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 25 Jun 1863

. . . You have not seen him [Sir George Grey] quite so near as we have, and a pleasant sight it is. It is at least believed very commonly here and in Auckland that he is leading a grossly immoral life and with Maori women too - of the race he is to save - and we learnt for the first time on the 25th May that he was something very like a coward. The report of some of the enemy having been seen at Puketotara when Cameron and all the soldiers ran away seemed quite to unman him.

Jun 28. ... They are taking troops away from here ... It will encourage our friends here, I hope, and we shall be coming to conclusions with them before long. They have been very shy and scarce since the 'gorillas' have taken to the bush. Some spell it with a 'gue', but this is preferred.

1863/42

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, S 21 Jun 1863

. . . Harry ------ tells me that he called on Gen. Cameron yesterday to speak to him of the advisability of cutting a line to the back of Kaitake. The Gen. approved but said he did not know what the Govr. or Govt, meant. If they intended to hold the Oakura black & put Mily. settlers in it then he would take Kaitake & hold it, as an important post, but he would not waste men on taking it if it were merely to take it. He should like a good battle well enough but he must not throw away his men simply for a good battle, & he was going to Auckland to see what the plan of the Govt. was. Harry told him he believed he would find that they had no plan & never had one of any kind - to which he did not exactly assent but was far from dissenting. Harry also proposed to him his other notion of taking a force down the coast to draw the natives after him, & this also he approved of & had intended I think. He seems to have spoken like a soldier & a man.

Th 25 Jun Parade again. Just as we had done, about noon, a telegram from Bell Block was brought up to Henry (as senior officer of Militia in Brown's absence) to the effect that Hapurona had declared himself hostile & intended to begin tomorrow. Had dinner & about 2 fell in & marched to Bell Block . . . getting to the stockade about sunset, then home by the road . . .

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Parris showed me a letter from Komene, who is suffering great 'pain' because his wife & children . . . have been demanded by the Whanganuis as 'utu' for their matenga (death, misfortune) on the 4th. His people about 20 refuse to give them up but they are too few to resist long. Poor Komene proposes to give his horse for the boat lying at Moturoa that he may go down, but this would not help him much at such a season.

F 26 Jun . . . Hapurona's challenge yesterday was addressed to the Govr., Parris, Bell & the General & signed Hapurona, general of all the Maoris. It does not name any particular day for fighting but is a general invitation.

S 27 Jun . . . The Eclipse came in . . . bringing word of some move on the part of Waikato. She has come to fetch troops away.

About 10 heard from Pitty that they were going to shell Kaitake . . . About 1 the guns set out, going to the left front of the redoubt about a mile & then opened fire. There were 4 Armstrong guns (12 pdrs.) & they made excellent practice. The two first shots . . . burst right over the whares . . . Went on to where the guns were. The poney stood fire capitally. They fired 40 rounds - £200 worth - but it is very doubtful if they killed any one, because of course the Maoris took to the bush . . . Heard to my sorrow that all four of the Armstrong guns are going to Auckland.

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F. Whitaker to C. W. Richmond - - - Auckland, 25 Jun 1863

. . . Things here are coming to a crisis. I see nothing for it, but a campaign into Waikato, and I don't think, however we may try, that the Maoris will let us out of it unless we prefer fighting in Auckland Park. Nothing can exceed their insolence and the contempt they shew towards us. I am disposed to think that the Governor's patience is exhausted, and that we are on the eve of great events.

There is one thing I must admit, that in many respects we are now better prepared than ever we were. We have good metal roads to Waikato, strongly fortified posts there, an electric telegraph, . . . varying towards completion the whole of the way, a new cause of quarrel, not about land, reinforcements immediately expected etc. etc. It may be vanity - perhaps it is, but I think that if we (that is T.G.B. and his Government) had had the chance there is now we should have settled 'the New Zealand question' long before this and ready for another.

I really am at a loss to express an opinion of the present Government . . . The Governor does and says I think many foolish things, but on a great occasion no doubt he can rise to it, and may do so now. The General is no doubt up to his work and seems to inspire confidence amongst all parties; but unfortunately he is daily almost expecting his successor.

How do you like judging Israel? . . . I am making a little money and not meddling with politics. 20

1863/43

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A. S. Atkinson to C. W. Richmond - - - Taranaki, Jul 1863

I can almost agree with Emily as to the paramount claims of the law and think with her that whatever may become of the Bible in these critical days the law will still hold its own as a divine institution. But it seems to me, if Maria . . . bears me only girls that I have only half a motive for pursuing an intricate and costly study. If I could leave what I learnt as a legacy it would be more worth learning, but an old man just tottering down to the grave does not learn a new profession for the sake of wealth or glory. . . . 21

I should entirely approve of your plan of joining us in settling the Native difficulty. One company (No 2 Rifles) has already in it an M.H.R. - an editor - three 'own correspondents' 2 surveyors and if we only had a judge we should be set up as we are much stronger in the executive than in the judicial department . . .

1863/44

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, Th 2 Jul 1863

. . . the Chief Justice [Sir G. Arney] opened the (criminal) court with an address or charge to us ... a long but not very clear discourse on 'The law martial' forming a great part of it. I was a good deal disappointed that in speaking of Hori (the Maori or halfcaste prisoner's) case he did not say whether they were British subjects or not, & also how the fact of our being at war affected the charge of shooting at with intent to murder Lt. Waller ... In examining Dr Hope's servant J. Chamberlain . . . one fact came out I did not know before. On the 4th May Dr Hope left the camp at Tatara without his watch (which was afterwards found on Hori) & went back for it & his servant either then or previously (having been warned by a native) told him he had better not go in that morning & did not go himself as he had intended, but Hope merely told him he was a fool & went on . . .

F 3 Jul . . . Col. Warre will allow two gorilla parties instead of one - 45 each - volunteers I mean & picked men. The plan of selection that I recommended is to be adopted (there being more than 90 men willing to do the work pick out the best, strike out the worst & let the middle ones ballot for the remaining places).

M 6 Jul . . . Hori was tried on the charge of shooting at Lt. Waller & was convicted ... He made a statement - which I took down in Maori . . . He denies having been at the latter [Wairau] (falsely I think) & says he was at Te Ikaroa a Maui (Warea) & came up the next day when the gun, cartridge box & watch were given him, quoting an old Maori custom relative to a 'tangaika' (first man ever killed by a warrior), whose property (weapons &c) might not remain with the man who killed him or he would not prosper in war, & were therefore given to a relative. He is rather curiously sentenced to be hung for the first offence & imprisoned for life for the second.

Tu 7 Jul . . . Paraded at 9 when the men were picked out for the bush ranging. No 2 Rifles finds one party (45 men) & the other companies one party among them.

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There are 5 or 6 in our lot only moderate but the others are first rate - splendid young bushmen with a taste for the work . . . Went out to Ratapihipihi . . . Called at the stockade & had our ration of rum served out to us & then home.

S 11 Jul ... In afn. bought a breach-loading rifle for £14 (including 100 cartridges & fittings &c). The price is ruinous but I am afraid of our little ones being taken from us for some of their Auckland cavalry . . .

M 13 Jul The Storm Bird in . . . News from Auckland ... is that the troops are concentrating at Mangatawhiri said to be 2000 already there. The Avon it is reported is to enter the river tomorrow which of course will be understood as a declaration of war. The bad news is that we are to have our breach-loaders taken from us . . . It is a heavy blow.

v 34

J. C. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Nelson, 3 Jul 1863

. . . About the discretion of Land Commrs . . . will land regulations be literally interpreted or according to their intent? . . . Runs have to be stocked in 12 months but the twelve months sometimes expires about shearing time. Many up-country runs in Nelson are inaccessible . . . for drays and the sheep are driven off to some better place to shear ... I have . . . agreed in two cases to consider stock as having been on the run in time if it is there under the above circumstances immediately after shearing. . . . Do you think the licenses have been invalidated in cases where the Commr. has winked at the irregularity? . . . When two or three adjoining runs are in one man's holding he must have as many flocks and establishments as runs to fulfil the exact letter of the regulations, which require stock to be on every run during the whole term of the license. . . .

I have been buying 8| acres of land on the skirt of town, a lovely situation which you may have seen called Wrey's hill.

1863/45

W. S. Atkinson to C. W. Richmond - - - New Plymouth, 11 Jul 1863

Some ten months since I, thinking that New Zealand Bank shares would go up in the market, raised £300 on mortgage and purchased fifty shares at one pound premium. . . . There was a dividend due of ten per cent which I reed. I could sell those shares now at three pounds premium, but intend to hold until September next as I expect a bonus will be declared . . . The profits last year were £34,000. Well, this half . . . the season having been so good for the diggings, they will probably make over £50,000 - so it will be better in any case for me to hold on . . . and then sell, as by that time the Otago and other banks will have started, and so reduce our profits greatly.

What I want to know is, would you allow me to buy sheep from you, say £400 worth, and if you consent, would you keep them for me on your run, and on what terms? . . .

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I can not help fearing that the Niggers are up to some mischief as, although they are at least 700 strong, they at present take no active measures against us not even in the shape of ambushes . . .

1863/46

Emily E. Richmond to A. S. Atkinson - - - Dunedin, 11 Jul 1863

. . . We have been dreadfully shocked by the drowning in coming up from Port Chalmers, of the new master of the High School and all his family, a young wife and five children in one of those wretched little steamers. Mr Campbell himself was 32, his wife 28 . . . The body of one of the girls was brought up with the baby clasped in her arms . . .

O, dear Bird, I am so earthy, death, death, death, everywhere, and the 'Great Silent God' looking on. You are all constantly in our minds, particularly dearest Hal, whom we suppose to be in the most danger. But as old Mrs Lye used to say of him, 'Lor what does it matter? he's fit to go anywhere tomorrow'.

1863/47

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - Th 23 Jul 1863

Wrote a little. ... At 7 a.m. paraded at Harry's. Waited there 20 minutes while the men collected & then started for Poutoko by the new road. Went along at a good pace 22 the other compy. bringing up the rear. Got there at 9 - Col. Warre also arriving at the same time. Waited half an hour while the 57th & 70th fell-in & then went on to Oakura, picked up 80 more soldiers there (about 220 in all & we another 100) & crossed the river, wading it at the mouth. We were allowed in advance & Harry let the other Compy. take the lead but they did not get along very successfully. The soldiers went along the beach & we above in the fern - coming back the order was reversed. When abreast of Hauranga we halted. Some of the troops & the Colonel went on to Tatara (this end) & we went a short away inland up the road. We saw a few Maoris going . . . towards Te Ahuahu but they never came near us . . . We then came back, forded the Oakura by where Black Davis' house was & came home, singing most of the way till we got to Herekawe where we came up to the soldiers who had come from Town to occupy the redoubts & the 57th band which played us into Town. It was a beautiful day & a very pleasant walk.

F 24 Jul . . . About 12 news came in that Hapurona had burnt the Puketakauere blockhouse & was going to burn that at Mahoetahi. So Col. Warre told Harry he wanted us to start for Waitara as soon as we could, & accordingly we set out before 1 oclock. We went at a good pace till we had crossed the Waiwakaiho & then the Col. turned back & told us he had got news that the rebels had retired ... So we came back a little disgusted.

S 25 Jul . . . Talked with Tipene about his going over to the enemy in the beginning of the last war. He says it was because Richard Brown was constantly

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threatening him with hanging or death in some shape. With regard to Puketakauere he says that if the original plan had been carried out of burning Ngataiparirua as a diversion, it would have succeeded well because there were only women in it besides himself & it would have stopped the people inland from coming to surround [Major] Nelson.

M 27 Jul . . . The Airedale (from Manuka) brings news of the beginning of war in Auckland . . . The Mangatawhiri was crossed by the troops, on the 12th & two days after (14th) the first murders occurred (Meredith & his son) . . .

Tu 28 Jul . . . Col. Warre tells C. Brown that he has received a letter from two Volunteers complaining of our having been put before the soldiers in going to Tatara the other [day]. This of course will be investigated. Got a small Tacitus & Euripides from Harry. He bought them at auction. They belonged to poor Tragett.

F 31 Jul Muster parade at 9. Had that rascally letter to Col. Warre read to us (complaining on behalf of the bushrangers of having been put in advance last Thursday) & also one from the Colonel who wants to have 'the men who wrote the letter ejected from the ranks of the gallant volunteers whom they disgrace.'

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Jane Maria Atkinson to Emily E. Richmond - - - Beach Cottage, 26 Jul 1863

The high price of provisions and diminished supply of milk and butter are the only drawbacks to domestic comfort. As yet Arthur has only improved his health and spirit by his 3 or 4 expeditions a week thro' the bush with the Guerrilla band. I try not to spoil the present by evil forebodings. There is nothing now but waiting patiently till September when I hope . . . Arthur will agree to go South at anyrate to explore before settling against the law . . .

1863/48

Maria Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - New Plymouth, 27 Jul 1863

Captn. and Mrs Gorton took tea with us on Thursday. Oh, what a talker he is! Mr Stafford is nothing to him. Capt. Gorton's is not the continuous mellifluous flow of the ex-secretary's, but the rapid rushing gurgling bubbling of a mountain torrent . . . They . . . leave N.P. by the Lady Bird for Canterbury. He has sold out and proposes to invest his capital in sheep.

1863/37

Maria Richmond to Margaret Taylor - - - Taranaki, 7 Aug 1863

. . . Fighting has commenced at Auckland and we are consequently deprived of part of our troops. At present the Maoris in this province keep out of the way. About 170 of our militia and volunteers are on guerilla duty, and scour the country in parties of about 50, two or three times a week. . . . Had this kind of service been permitted during the last disturbance many valuable lives would have been spared, and much property saved. This course was strongly advocated by the civilians, but the military

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authorities spurned any advice. . . . General Cameron, our present military chief, has on the contrary, treated the colonists with the greatest consideration, requesting them to come forward with any plans which might occur to them for securing the safety of the place . . .

Harry Atkinson and Arthur are both on guerilla duty, and in consequence excused picket, which is a blessing, for though there is risk in the bushranging, it is preferable to the night duty. Henry has resigned his commission as captain in the militia, finding he cannot attend to his duties as a servant of the Provincial government and to military affairs. ... In addition to his office of provincial treasurer he is now commissioner of crown lands. ... I don't think office work suits his health, . . . but there does not seem much prospect of a return to rural life.

1863/49

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, S 9 Aug 1863

. . . About 11 the Lady Bird came in ... As we were looking at the boat running in on the line we saw it rise on the side of a wave, slew round a little & slowly turn over. There were about 20 people in it . . . The only one lost was Alexander King ... In the afternoon I was watching the 70th embarking for Auckland & I observed that the sea came in double breakers one close behind the other & it might have been so in the morning.

v 34

A. S. Atkinson to Emily E. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 9 Aug 1863

What you say with regard to Harry's danger is quite correct. . . . Though I go out whenever he goes he is more exposed to destruction than I am for three reasons - 1st because he has the look and bearing of a general and will therefore be naturally selected for the mataika, whereas they will look upon me as Private Smith of the Volunteers and therefore let me go . . . 2nd. because I am efficiently armed having a sweet little breech loading rifle and therefore have a reasonable chance of destroying my enemy while he can only wave an impotent sword . . . There is a revolver on each side of the equation . . . 3rd. and chiefly, because whenever we come near 'a dangerous looking bush' ... I always retire behind him for shelter - a process requiring some adroitness when the said bush is on all sides of us.

Aug 10. ... the Lady Bird . . . has been taking away more of our troops. . . . Oakura redoubt is to be abandoned tomorrow, which it is hoped may encourage the negroes a little. . . .

Wilson Hursthouse just came in to warn me for 1/4 to 8 tomorrow to go to Oakura to fetch the soldiers - so goodbye.

1863/50

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A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, Tu 11 Aug 1863

Fell in at 8 & started for Oakura, as they were going to abandon the redoubt there . . . The last tent in the redoubt was struck about noon & it was shortly after evacuated . . . We could see the Maoris coming down from Kaitake & soon after the redoubt was empty they began to fire at it & at last actually came into it. We pricked up our ears at the sound of firing, & soon got the order originating with the men but embodied by Harry, to right about, & we set off at the double ... At the Tapuae we were met by Cap. Shortt (in charge of rear guard) . . . We doubled up to the redoubt, the wily negroes very soon disappearing to the other side of Oakura where they turned & fired again . . . The soldiers then went back a little way out of sight & we lay up in the redoubt ... to see if they would come near again; but they knew better. So we came home, refreshing ourselves at the Poutoko canteen with sardines & drinks & new bread . ..

F 14 Aug . . . Poutoko is not to be abandoned tomorrow but an ambush is to be laid at Oakura with some friendly natives for bait (Some of Bob's people - they were fired at yesterday & nearly caught in looking for some horses beyond Oakura).

S 15 Aug . . . N.B. The ambush failed - the fish would not take the bait.

W 19 Aug Translated a little of some 'Maori ritenga' written by Teira & Ihaia. Rumours . . . that a redoubt at Papakura has been taken by the Maoris. The occultation of Venus last night is interpreted by Teira to indicate a fight in which both sides lost about equally (in taharua) as the star only passed behind the edge of the moon (the star represents the attacking party & the moon the pa). If it had (apparently) passed through the centre of it that would have meant the pa was taken . . .

F 21 Aug . . . Col. Warre . . . came up to the Herald office to ask us to warn people not to go carelessly about & then began to talk about the rifle practice that is to begin shortly & asked me 'What it was for?' I said to teach the men the use of their weapons. 'But you dont mean to say you aim at a Maori when you shoot.' I told him that I had not often shot at a Maori but I had never shot at one without aiming & aiming well too: & I should not think myself fit to go out if I did not. 'He thought smooth bores were the proper things for most men. If they could shoot at long ranges it made them timid' &c &c &c The force of contrast has made us think this man almost one of ability.

S 22 Aug . . . Ihaia showed me letters to him & Tamati from Ngatimaru, (Upper Waitara) & Te Waka Kuramate asking them to join the 'wild men' 23

Tu 25 Aug . . . The Maoris . . . fired at a party of about 70 men under Capn. Russell (57th) who were fetching sheep from Moyles & MacKellars clearing . . . When they got back to the Tapuae with the sheep the natives fired into them . . . wounded Piquot (ensign 57th) ... & a private. The sheep were left; also two horses (with saddles) belonging to Bob (Ngarongomate). As the enemy got these & kept possession

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of the field it looks rather as if they had the victory. The misfortune was that Russell was not with the advance as of course they should have gone straight into the bush at the natives . . .

Tu 1 Sep ... At 2 p.m. went up to Harry's & marched out beyond the Waiwakaiho . . . Our company of Bushrangers (which is the company being the pick of No 2 Rifles, the other compy. (Webster's, being a somewhat ragged lot . . . having no cohesion) is composed of 40 men ... & non com officers & three officers Harry (captain), Mat. Jonas 1st Lt, H. Brown 2d Lt, some capital sergeants & corporals W. & H. Newland, G. Jupp, Wilson Hursthouse, E. Marshall, M. Carrick &c. The present editor . . . full private having for his front rank man W. Marshall . . . We roam about generally by ourselves but sometimes in concert with Webster's party. We are on the whole a dangerous lot but the men are careless because the Maoris have been frightened away . . .

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A. S. Atkinson to C. W. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 12 Aug 1863

Will you look through this and say whether you think an action for libel, 'Teira v. FitzGerald' would lie with a reasonable chance of success. Some of the Taranaki worthies are thinking of subscribing if the case is good. It would be a great thing to have all the facts out in a court of justice. We should have some illustrious witnesses - if we could get them. Would Whitaker conduct the prosecution? What were his sentiments and opinions about Waitara? I am afraid FitzGerald loves his own side better than truth. It is Bell, of course, who supplied the falsehoods (for they are nothing less) in the first place, but they don't run off FitzGerald like water from a duck's back . . 24

1863/51

Jane Maria Atkinson to Emily E. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 26 Aug 1863

The Geelong came in yesterday with the 120 Military Settlers for the confiscated Oakura Block. The men are placed in some of the block houses, but there were doubts at first as to there being enough arms for them so that it was supposed they would need armed guards to protect them . . .

We have been in a state of horrible perplexity as to what to settle on for the future. It seems cruel to rout out Lely now she has bought this house. . . . William keeps writing that this is not a fit place for her to live in. ... But at present we feel so differently about our dangers from what we did during the former war that she does not choose to understand that this can be his reason. . . .

There has been a great move in the family in favour of Arthur's either becoming a partner in the Herald or proprietor of the News. It seems hard he should leave the place when there is such good ground for hope that it must shortly revive. At the same time I hold to the belief that the law is the right thing for him, and that if the war, . . . takes 3 years to bring to a satisfactory conclusion, he . . . can come back and commence practice by the time the Phoenix springs from her ashes . . .

1863/52

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A. S. Atkinson to C. W. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 27 Aug 1863

We have, I think, determined that a five year's absence from our post would be too much, but that three years might be endured - looking upon it as going to the rear to fetch ammunition. The 'points' therefore which I wish to submit are . . .

2. Whether . . . you think I would learn enough in the time to pass the required examination? In considering this you must deduct 10 or 20 p. cent from my normal astuteness as, like a pear that has been kept too long, I have become 'sleepy' through age. The first crispness of my intellect is becoming a trifle woolly.

... As to my keep while I am in the pupil state I should look upon that as part of my expenses of education and therefore a fair charge upon capital. . . .

Harry wants me to buy the News and become permanently 'blatant'. Pheney wants to give it up. I look upon this as the other alternative. . . .

1863/53

C. W. Richmond to A. S Atkinson - - - Dunedin, 6 Sep 1863

Teira v. FitzGerald. The jury are judges of law as well as fact in libel. A Taranaki, a Nelson, or a Canterbury jury, would no doubt give the plaintiff punishing damages. If Deft, got the venue changed to Wellington, and a special jury comprising Old Bags, Derrydown Triangles and the Doctor, the issue might be different. This is the only practical view of the subject.

We entered our new house on the 2nd . . . We are in luck with our chimnies. Not one of those which we have yet tried smokes.

1863/54

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, Tu 8 Sep 1863

The Storm Bird in early from Manukau . . . brought 10 tons of flour! 25 At 9 started with our bushrangers . . . Went up to Greenways & found the Maoris had upset his bee boxes & taken most of the honey . . . We found the remains of the sheep - three skins & one carcass . . . there had been five fires, 2 or 3 still alight . . . Harry applied for leave to cross the line & in his answer Col. Warre says . . . 'The Govr. having given up Waitara, the natives have as much right on their land as we have on ours' but we may drive them off our land if we find them there. A wise thing wisely put. 50 of the Otago men were out with us for the first time . . . Some of them we walked off their legs. No 1 abandoned some of theirs . . .

Th 10 Sep . . . Harry has got a letter from Whitaker saying that FitzGerald's article about Waitara 26 was clearly a libel, also from T. Russell offering what help he can though of course being in the ministry he cannot move in the matter openly. . . .

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Su 13 Sep . . . About 12.15 Wilson Hursthouse came in to warn me that Tom Langman had been shot by the Maoris & that Jim Sole was missing . . . Harry immediately started with about a dozen men & ordered the rest to follow . . . Webster & Jonas had collected a lot of their men & were proceeding to join Harry when Col. Warre stopped them, abused them like pickpockets, 'they were a rabble,' 'he could see very well now how it was they were not trusted in any post of honour last war,' He had heard a great deal of what they could do 'he hoped he might see it tested, &c' and actually kept them 40 minutes before he would let them start. In the mean time Harry . . . followed up the Maori tracks to Burton's clearing & . . . they got sight of one of the rascals going quietly along, his gun across his two arms, not suspecting mischief. Four of them had a shot at him about 300 yds. but only made him run like a deer . . .

Tu 15 Sep. . . . Before day break Cap. Russell went down from the Poutoko redoubt to Wairau & there laid an ambush & succeeded in shooting several of a party coming down from Kaitake. The first of them was an old man with a handsome taiaha, he came upon their tracks & shouting 'He pakeha - he pakeha' was immediately shot . . . Capn. Russell says he is sure of 7 killed & 2 wounded - including some shot from the Oakura redoubt . . . which the natives, thinking empty, attempted to occupy. No loss on our side . . .

W 16 Sep . . . Col. Warre sent for Harry & Webster - in reality & very nearly in form - to apologise for the unprovoked language he used on Sunday. 'Nothing that he had said was meant for the Bush parties' (a great part of it had been addressed to Webster) & 'they were to explain to their men that what had been said was in the heat of the moment.' . . . He is neither very wise nor very generous, but he is happily very thinskinned, most sensitive & fearful of public criticism . . .

Th 17 Sep . . . Went . . . through Merton to (lower) Mangorei. Went into W. Allen's house which was used by the natives during the last war as a sleeping place & one of them was shot there by accident - as several inscriptions on the wall testify. One begins [in Maori] 'Mangorei - Hemi was hit here. He was shot by Hirara but the gun went off by itself (lit - started') & thence he was hit . . . 'by his own people he was shot & not by the pakehas'. Another says; 'Friends, cease coming back to this house lest evil befal you' (owing to the dead man's blood making the house tapu . . .

v 34

F. A. Weld to C. W. Richmond - - - Brackenfield, 14 Sep 1863

I was very much obliged to you for your letter, in every word of which I coincide -except that it is my duty in present circumstances to take office. I should quarrel at once with Grey, whom I distrust, and should do no good. I am not strong enough for such heavy work, though stronger than when we were in - and having laid out more than I can well afford in settling here I could not give that up without throwing myself and family on our beam ends for years.

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One minor point too I disagree with you in. We must in future put the Governor in the background with the natives. The only way now is to be quite open with them, let the immediate consequences be what they may. It will be best in the long run . . .

I am going up to Auckland though at great inconvenience and with no very hopeful spirits. Mrs Weld on the 28th presented me with another little girl No 3. She is named Mary. . . .

How would you like to try a libel case Teira v. FitzGerald? They talk of such a case in Taranaki. It would be a capital beginning for N.Z. causes celebres. I have just subscribed for Miss Rye's 'Home'. 27 She does not seem to have much tact in her letter last week to the Lytt Times, but still I hope she may do good and at all events she deserves support and a fair trial.

1863/55

C. W. Richmond to Maria Richmond - - - Dunedin, 20 Sep 1863

You may suppose that we greatly enjoy our new house ... It is properly describable as a roomy house. The drawing room is, for New Zealand, a fine room, though not quite attaining the ambitious dimensions of Henry's Hurworth sitting room. . . . The crimson blossoms of the peach and the nectarine are but now appearing. The gooseberries, however, are quite in green leaf. The lower part of my ground was a scrub of manuka and ribes . . .

I have spent a fearful sum of money on the place. The land cost £1,200, of which I owe £1,000. For the house I have already paid £2,000 ... it will absorb little short of £4,000 before I am housed. . . .

We are looking with anxiety for news from the North. The result of the attack on the Maori position at Mere Mere must affect your state at N.P. very powerfully for good or evil. If the General does not succeed in driving out the Waikatos it will give such heart to the Natives everywhere that an old lady like you should not be allowed to stop at New Plymouth. . . .

The only thing that would reconcile me to your stopping in Taranaki would be if the General should succeed ... in inflicting a loss of some hundreds on the enemy without suffering seriously himself. It is not that I fancy you are likely to be tomahawked, but . . . when you have children living remote from the scene of war who are anxious to receive you . . . you ought not to stop and run the risk of being a witness to such scenes as may occur in a warfare of the kind now going on.

1863/56

Jane Maria Atkinson to Emily E. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 26 Sep 1863

After all our talk and scheming Arthur thinks it necessary to give up the idea of becoming a lawyer. It is a very great disappointment to me . . . and if I had had my

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own way 3 years ago he would now have been nearly ready to begin practice . . .

I feel that Arthur gives up a settled, useful, and honorable career, in which he would have been sure of a livelihood, and in all probability would have become more generally respected and appreciated, because his abilities would have been more serviceable to his fellow colonists than he is ever likely to be now. . . .

How much love of bush-ranging and of his breech-loading carbine, and a strong and natural interest in closely watching the course of the struggle now going on in this Island, may have to do with his decision it would probably be hard for him, and is hard for me, to say. All I can do is to try and reconcile myself and believe it may eventually prove the best course for us all. ... If I could hope that the war would come to a really speedy end and that James and Mary might rejoin us here, it would be easier to give up my ambitions and worldly schemes. . . .

1863/57

Mary Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - Nelson, 26 Sep 1863

Mr Stafford was here this afternoon and gave us a gentle flow of three hours talk. It is quite curious to see what good friends he and Jas. have become in their exile here - curious to anyone who watched them in the first days of their acquaintance. Of course there are occasional explosions on James's part but they remain good friends.

1863/58

A. S. Atkinson to C. W. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 27 Sep 1863

Though you expressed confidence in my powers I am afraid I could not enter the 'high gate' in the time allowed, the amount of general knowledge being much more than I expected. ... I must therefore I suppose say farewell to the law. . . .

The natives are gathering round us again though timidly . . . Being a volunteer I cannot go quite the length of Horace and say Militia est potior, but he is right in spirit.

Quid enim? Concurritur: horae Momento aut citamors venit aut victoria lata. I think the Taranaki people were never on the whole more cheerful than now. We shall have our work to do but we shall do it, with God's help and may he shield not us but ours.

1863/59

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, Tu 29 Sep 1863

Got up at 2 a.m. Went to see if Wilson and Flinny Hursthouse were stirring, then called on Rassman and went on to Harry's where got my breakfast. At about 3.15 we started with Webster's Company - we in front . . . till we came on to the 'run' on the other side of Bell Block, then lay up in the fern beside the road leading from Kaipakopako. It was a gray morning with a moderate northerly wind, not cold and in the intervals of watching I lay on my back looking at the sky and listening dreamily to the birds, just waked up. The korimakos in full chorus in the bush and the larks and

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matatas in the open land about us. After staying there I suppose till 9 we gave up the ambush part of the business and went straight inland to go home by way of Greenways and I thought we should only have a quiet stroll there, but when we had crossed . . . through a bit of bush - just as the rear of our company (where I was - it being right in front) emerged the men in front held up their hands and 'down' was whispered and down we went. Immediately after the advance guard fired a volley and shouted and we all took cover and went down the slope and up the other ridge cheered with the news that one at least was hit . . . The natives were . . . 300 yards off I suppose and fired at us for some time . . . much steadier than Maoris generally do, the balls coming pretty close. One pitched ... in a very good line for me but stuck in a puriri log . . . After they had stopped firing a little some of us went down . . . Just on the flat we found a sou-wester, a mat stained with blood, a good deal of blood . . . but could not find anybody - though there were the marks he had made in falling on his knees. Nobody touched on our side ... I was just making myself a small breastwork of clods and fern on the top of the hill, as we were expecting an attack all round, when we got the order to retire. We went along towards Greenways, Webster's party in front. Just before we . . . got out into Greenway's clearing there was a volley fired by another party of natives on Webster's advance which they returned and the negroes disappeared down the bank . . . leaving several mats and shawls - some of them bloody. We also here got a bag of bullets (24), a box of caps and a kit of provisions ready cooked, potatoes and kaanga pirau (putrid corn made into a kind of pudding) . . . One of [the bullets] was a shape which I have had none. It had been hammered not moulded . . . After this second brush ... we came down to the Blockhouse very well contented with our morning's work . . . They did not know of it there and Woon had gone out with a small escort to Greenway's clearing for firewood . . . After getting a little cider at the inn we . . . came on into town, putting our mats and other trophies in front and were well received by the people, for as the poet says -

F 2 Oct After breakfast cleaned my revolver . . . The natives had come down in force and were firing into the Poutoko redoubt and we were to go out to relieve it. ... Passing the stockade ... we began to hear shots fired . . . We had seen the soldiers on Allen's hill and . . . Maoris running from right to left on Rev. Brown's farm - the very ground we afterwards took up. At the Omata village Harry debated a moment whether to go up the new road or not but his orders from the Col. were to go straight to Poutoko . . . the other was the shorter road into the fight as we saw. We met several orderlies . . . and finally F. Mace who galloped up . . . and told us 'if we didn't be quick the soldiers would have to bolt 'and leave their wounded.' We . . . got to the front in another minute, passing a poor fellow . . . leaning on his elbow with his shirt off one shoulder, shot through the chest. We extended along the little ridge overlooking Gilbert's

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garden (which was full of Maoris, about 200 to 250 yards off) . . . running in and out of the garden and from stump to stump in the clearing beyond ... I of course was on the extreme left of our company that is on the road. Soon after getting there Antonio 28 came by carrying another poor fellow mortally wounded on his horse before him . . . Of course he could only come slowly and there was one or two others with him making a target and in the thick of the fire. One native thinking to get a near shot left the garden and coming down the furze hedge parallel with our position . . . walking slowly but not erect. Fire was opened on him and ... as he disappeared behind the hedge he received a tremendous volley ... if he escaped he deserved to live. Soon after this Cap. Shortt's party was withdrawn from Allen's hill leaving us in the front. I had just constructed a breastwork for myself of furze clippings, roots of furze and rails . . . when we got the order to retire behind the next rise. Here we lay for about an hour getting some good whistling volleys and a few decent shots from rifles that went 'whish' just by us . . . some of the natives having come up to where we had been. It was a lovely day and . . . during the intervals of business I lay basking in the sun thinking what a curious state of things it was, getting up to have a shot when I heard of anything attractive . . .

When we first got up Harry wanted the Colonel to let us clear them out of Gilbert's garden with the bayonet but the Col. thought this was not prudent, 'he had not men enough'. If we had done this we should have won because this was the centre of the enemy's position . . .

We halted some time on the top of Waireka hill before we finally retired whilst Webster's men were left behind a hedge to draw them on but they would not come and so we all came on . . .

Th 8 Oct . . . Wound up my affairs . . . and at 2.30 went on board [the Lady Bird] for Nelson ... As we went down the coast we counted about a dozen pas mostly new between Tataraimaka & the Cape, & fires were lighted all the way along . . . to show they were there I suppose or to let each other know a steamer was coming . . .

S 10 Oct . . . Went to the Examiner office to consult C. Elliott about the newspaper business. He estimated a half share of the Herald as worth (plant & goodwill) about £200 or £250 ... In 1847 he wrote for the Examiner & he & a boy set it all up & did all the work, even carrying it about. In one week he showed me he had 2/- worth of advertisements & often not more than 5/- . ...

Su 11 Oct . . . Walked with James to Stafford's place at the Port. Had dinner there & a good deal of talk not with but from Stafford, but a good deal of it was interesting about Col. 29 & E. G. Wakefield, the war in the Hutt &c . . . He says he will not take office except with Weld & talks of putting Harry in instead of Bell, but if he is anything it must be war minister . . .

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W 14 Oct . . . We went along the Waimea road to the Wakefield Arms where had dinner (that is to say bread & cheese & salted mutton) & then back. . . . My object in going was to consult (Gillies) about the law . . . says he is making as much money now without the conveyancing as the firm did when C.W.R. was with him . . .

v 34

F. A. Weld to C. W. Richmond - - - Brackenfield, 19 Oct 1863

. . . The new 'Waitara' papers have reached me. I should like to know whether you were aware of any promise of a larger reserve for Teira, . . . not that I think any of these points of any real importance, nor indeed are any of the 'new disclosures' of any importance to the real question at issue, which has always simply seemed to me to be - Is a chief to be allowed to seek redress for supposed (or real) injuries by arms or is he to do it in a peaceable manner? The only thing that strikes me in reading the papers is Grey's immeasureable baseness - does the precept of 'Honor the King' apply to the representatives of Majesty? I suppose one ought to frame excuses for Grey in one's own mind, by hoping that his object is not to damage Browne and malign the Colonists and make a loophole to escape from the consequences of his failures, but that he has a nasty and unfortunate way of setting about reconciling those who fall out, but I fear he will not do much to increase the mutual good relations of the races.

1863/61

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, Tu 20 Oct 1863

. . . Parris told me of an interview with Grey at Tataraimaka . . . He asked Parris to give him a list of those who had claims on the Waitara land (i.e. holders of scrip, land claims &c). Parris told him a great many. 'Yes, but there are some more.' Parris told him every one he could recollect. 'Can't you remember any more, I am sure there are some more.' 'No he could not remember another one,' & then it came out 'Had not Richmond (meaning C.W.R.) claims there?' He is such a grovelling reptile himself that he cannot understand how any creature can go upright through the world. He will have to develope a good deal before he can take C.W.R's measure . . .

F 23 Oct ... In the morng. Teira came along. He had been down to Waitara to get the Memorial signed. When Tamati Tiraurau got hold of it he was obliged to start afresh & add a lot more, so that it is a singular affair now. They had put down all their names & so I had to make Teira mark those who were owners of the land. Being an historical character & a very decent fellow I introduced him to Lely & Maria . . .

F 30 Oct . . . Dr Spence (now Surgeon to the Col. Def. Force) mentions a very curious thing. He was over the ground (near Mauku) where Lieuts. Norman & Percival & the others were shot & found a Maori cartridge made of a bit of Illustrated News directed to C. W. Richmond Esq. New Plymouth. The date was 1855 - taken no doubt from Hurworth in 1860. . . .

v 34

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J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Parnell, 23 Oct 1863

The day I left you all we crossed the Bay and came to an anchor behind Tonga Id. where we lay till the wind dropped ... A good many of us went on shore, . . . Mrs Stafford and I among the number . . .

The Phoebe is a comfortable ship . . . After we entered Manukau we met the gunboat Pioneer, a curious craft with one paddle wheel over the stern and iron cupolas and steering box on deck. She was bound for Waikato but unluckily burst some furnace tubes soon after passing us, and has not yet been able to proceed. We slept three nights at Norman's Hotel, Onehunga, as lodgings are not easily found at Auckland. . . . We have at last got a lodging near Colonel Sillery's . . .

Politics are very unsatisfactory. Domett and his colleagues are quite disunited and ready to fall at a touch. Dom has not worked properly they say, and resents the interference of anyone to repair his neglects ... A man of 50 ought to be passed that sort of thing and too sensible of his weaknesses to be jealous or suspicious.

... I think it almost hopeless to hoop up the present Ministry, they find so much fault with each other. I wish Stafford, Weld and Whitaker could be got in, with Major Richardson and Harry.

There is a good despatch from the Duke of Newcastle on the abandonment of Waitara, which unless Grey is very tough skinned must be a great punishment to him. It defends the justice of the purchase . . . but approves of the abandonment as a matter of policy.

Auckland looks filthily dirty and squalid. The new buildings growing up in Queen St make the old ones more abject, and paint seems out of fashion . . .

1863/62

C. W. Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - Wellington, 25 Oct 1863

On arriving here I saw Sir George Grey's despatch about Waitara sent in April last to the Duke of Newcastle. It is a very shameful production intended to cover his own failure - so at least it seems to me. The imputations it makes are such that I am thinking of writing to Sir George challenging further inquiry into my part in the transaction. I know that this is not at all necessary for the vindication of . . . my character in the Colony. No one believes Sir George's insinuations except perhaps a few who wish to believe them . . . But the imputations will be credited at home, and do us harm for a time. The Chief Justice and Johnstone are very much disgusted, especially Johnstone . . . They don't disapprove of my suggesting an inquiry to the Government. I shall turn it well over before I do anything.

I am not afraid that I am yielding to any Quixotic sense of honour, or undue sensitiveness, because my inclination is very strong indeed to let the thing alone. It is a disagreeable controversy to which I hate to return.

Wednesday 28th. I have just finished a letter to Stafford and one to Sir George Grey anent Waitara . . .

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I hear that the Duke of Newcastle whilst he approves the relinquishment of Waitara as a mere act of policy will not endorse the reasons preferred to him by Sir George. Well done, Duke! ! This has made me very glad.

1863/63

Mary Richmond to A. S. Atkinson - - - Nelson, 1 Nov 1863

... It is refreshing to have Sir George Grey publicly told that some of his statements at all events are unworthy of credit. That despatch of his ... is a most inflated unreal production. No man of the right sort would talk of duty and appeal to the bar of History, as he does there. I think if you read it, without knowing its author, you would feel pretty sure he was a quack.

1863/65

J. E. FitzGerald to J.C. Richmond - - - Press (Chch), 3 Nov 1863

I cannot avoid the pleasure of writing to congratulate you on having made the best speech which has almost ever been made in the Colony. I have read nothing for a long time which gave me such pleasure ... It would do immense good if you could turn Stafford out of his seat. Let me know what are the chances ... I think you should get up a Committee to get members to stand for all your seats. I think we shall get out Ward but the difficulty is to get men to stand ... I have attacked Ward on his dunghill at Lyttelton and had an enormous meeting at Christchurch with an immense popular feeling for us . . .

1863/66

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, W 4 Nov 1863

At 6 fell in (both companies) & went out up Newlands road as far as Patterson's . . . to see if the Col. & the friendly negroes were coming out to cut their line . . . Went on across Hempton's (Mesopotamia) to Hurworth, where I recited these sayings of the poet: O rus, quando ego te aspiciam . . . Went over to my place & soon afterwards we came home driving in a cow (Jonas's) & carrying three little pigs. The spoils I brought were some green gooseberries . . .

Tu 10 Nov A little Latin . . .

Meremere [Waikato] taken by getting behind it up the river in the Pioneer, but the Maoris when they saw the case hopeless . . . paddled off eastward, the swamps &c being flooded. The prizes were the three old ships guns & a musket. . . .

v 34

C. W. Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - Wellington, 4 Nov 1863

On Saturday I went to Ludlam's at the Hutt. There was a large party to luncheon, including all four judges. I was in my old thick coat and had to sneak about, with my shoulders up, for fear of a paroxysm. I managed just to sit out the luncheon and then I went into the garden and had some pipes.

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Ludlam's pines are glorious. The azalias this year have been masses of gorgeous blossom . . . The rhododendrons also are very good. . . . But what I worship is the Diodare pine (a Californian). It resembles but exceeds in gracefulness the larch and is a lovely object. All the pines grow in Ludlam's garden quite close to the ground - their lower branches touching it and then sweeping upwards in magnificent curves hung with tasselled foliage. These grand creatures filled me with delight all Sunday. Ludlam and I sat watching them, Ludlam pouring out reminiscences of 1854 and 1856 and modern examples - of Provincial tyranny and corruption. He drove me up to town again on Monday. . . .

Do not trouble yourself about Waitara. It is all right. The Duke is not caught by Sir George's plausibilities . . . Probably the appeal to 'the Bar of History' turned His Grace's stomach. I have thought it right to write to Stafford asking him to let it be intimated to both Houses that I am ready and desirous to afford any explanations which the so called new facts may seem to anybody to require. Of course my explanations would have to be limited to the vindication of my own good faith, and I could not ask to be allowed to defend the policy or abstract justice, even, of the transaction. I have also written to the Governor . . . asking that His Excellency will forward a copy of my letter to the Duke of Newcastle. . . .

My only occupation (except scribbling on cartridge paper) is reading Godley's letters to Adderley. Godley was a good, true man - educated in the impossible faith of the modern High Church. In all essentials I feel in intellectual harmony with him - would to God that I was as true as he to the light that is in me. I have been thinking of giving them a lecture at Dunedin suggested by Godley's life ... if illness had not taken all energy out of me.

1863/67

H. A. Atkinson to A. S. Atkinson Auckland, 8 Nov 1863

... I think you will be satisfied with the strength of will of the present ministry and it is really a pleasure to see how completely master Whitaker is of his team 30 . . . They seem quite determined to settle the whole of the Province both north and south ...

The House is in a most curious state. Nobody likes to speak upon any of the important subjects which would be made matters for the fiercest struggles if either side of the House was in. I think Whitaker has done right in taking Fox. Fox . . . was sent for, he immediately after leaving the Governor went and saw Whitaker and asked him to join him, Whitaker refused point blank. Fox then went to Wood. Wood refused to have anything to do with any ministry of which Whitaker and Russell did not approve, but suggested that the plan would be for Fox to offer the place of first minister to Whitaker and that Mr Fox should be Col Sec and lead the House. Fox at once made the offer to Whitaker and after due consultation with Stafford and his friends it was agreed that Whitaker should accept Fox's offer on the condition that

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he, Whitaker, should name the other members of the ministry. Much to our astonishment Fox agreed to this without a moment's hesitation. We thought he would not have consented to the arrangement, but I think he is all right with Whit and the others. He also has a great down on Grey as he considers he treated him very badly last year. In fact he seems to consider it was Grey's double dealing that turned him out of office.

. . . With regard to Teira petition . . . our present idea is to move an address to the Government requesting them to appoint a proper tribunal to investigate the title.

v 6, p 47

C. W. Richmond to Mrs Harriett Gore Browne (Hobart) - - - Wellington, 8 Nov 1863

. . . The Duke of Newcastle's reply makes it needless to say much about Sir George's shameless misrepresentations and solemn appeal to the 'Bar of History.' . . . I also wrote to Sir George informing him of my request to Stafford . . . Weld, I may mention, has been detained by the serious illness of his wife, but is now, I believe, on his way up to Auckland . . .

I have done what I properly could to keep people to the true question whether or not Governor Browne was right in asserting his jurisdiction. We have been a little embarrassed by Smith's article in the Maori Messenger to the effect that 'Teira's title is proved,' 'the land is the Queen's' and so forth. These, which were never the true grounds of our action, have been picked out by Grey to controvert. The fact is Teira's title never was proved, nor could be until survey . . . The troops went, not to take possession of a completed purchase but to protect the survey, which was a necessary part of the investigation of title ... If W. Kingi had remained at his pah, like a peaceable subject and had come out when the chain reached his kainga and protested against its being included, the Governor was in no wise pledged to include it. On the contrary, if any fair shew of title had been made he was pledged to exclude it; and (as the Duke sensibly observes) doubtless would have done so . . . The fallacy throughout is that we intended to seize a piece of land which we had bought, instead of which we merely insisted on ascertaining what Teira's party were rightfully entitled to sell . . .

... But really it is needless that we should trouble ourselves about the matter. It is quite plain that Sir George's sophistry and misrepresentation (Weld talks of his 'immeasurable baseness') have been seen through in Downing Street, and depend upon it they will not prevail in ye Colony.

I hope Fox will not succeed in forming a ministry. After the part he has taken it is most unfit that he should be placed in the position of 'Fly on the chariot wheel,' i.e. N.Z. Premier. But such is the dearth of men that the thing is possible. Bell in these transactions has behaved just like himself. He is incapable of distinguishing the relative magnitude of objects, and his desire to please and to shine constantly betrays him. The stress he affected to lay upon such trumpery circumstances as the

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formal acknowledgment ... of the payment of the £600 . . . and the alleged reserve shew the inaptitude of his mind to seize the essential facts of the case . . .

Tell the Governor that the supreme court continues very much with him. Even Gresson says that he had much rather be Governor Browne than Sir George Grey. A few people here affect to treat me as a delinquent. Mr Dudley Ward does not consider me fit company for himself - a conclusion I agree in. The Spectator quotes some hacknied lines from Juvenal against me and refers to my judgeship (in Latin) as the reward of my rascality (pretium sceleris). It says (in Latin) that instead of sentencing others I ought to be hung myself. This was before the publication of the Duke of Newcastle's despatch, which must have disconcerted the crew. It is not explained how my conduct anent Waitara made me a judge.

I am mopy and uncomfortable and homesick - vexed at having lost my time here puffing and blowing and doing good to no mortal. I have this afternoon been having a long talk with Carkeek and am glad to find that he is much more positive in his religious views that our old friend Domett, whose dreary Pantheism has, I feel sure, reacted unfavorably upon his life. Carkeek and I agree (if you care to hear what two heretics think) that the promise holds good: He that doeth the will shall know of the doctrine. Faith is the reward of obedience. Be true to the light you have and you shall have more light. I am more and more convinced that the best evidences of religion are to be found, not in the history of external occurrences in the past . . . but in the practical effects of religion upon ourselves and upon those about us. One man is plainly moving upwards, another as plainly sinking downwards. The one, therefore, is obeying (to some extent), the other disobeying the spiritual law of the Universe. Inquire what are their respective principles of action and you ascertain (approximately) what is that spiritual law which you are seeking for. This is scientific induction applied to matters spiritual . . .

I do not wish to exclude the authentic outward history of the past . . . The unchangeable One has not acted otherwise in the past than he is doing in the present. If this seems to you too abstract, recollect that such a foundation has the advantage of being unassailable. The discovery of a new fossil or a new M.S. cannot touch it. The creed of Exeter Hall is exposed to perpetual buffets from geology, philology and all the ologies, and what seemed solid masonry is showing, to the terror of the soi disant religious world, sundry ugly cracks . . .

I have been reading with great interest Godley's letters to Adderley. Godley was a noble fellow, but a little too much of a doctrinaire. Like many vigorous logicians of the Oxford breed he was too apt to forget that there might be a flaw in his premises . . . The way in which, without regard to circumstances, he applied his Theory of Colonial Independence is an example of this. Godley, like Gladstone, was a specimen of that curious modern mixture of Oxford and Manchester - John Stuart Mill and John Henry Newman - of which England now shews so many examples amongst her leading men in and out of Parliament. Many of the writers in the Times and Saturday belong to this class. They appear to me to be exhibiting more and more of

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what may be called an ethnic vein - to be approximating to Mr Carlyle and taking leave of Orthodoxy, but without surrendering the rigid utilitarianism of their Political Economy.

... As one grows older one comes to realize the force of the commonplace observation that Death is a merciful appointment. What should we be if this world were the be all and the end all? I do not recur to Swift's ugly but forcible picture of the Struldbrugs with their immortal senility; because if our bodies were immortal they might be exempted . . . from the decay of age. Age is a phenomenon of mortality. But suppose us endowed with immortal youth, like the gods of the Ancients, is it not certain that our spiritual Natures would run great risk (to say the least) of being extinguished altogether, if we could feel secure in settling down upon this world's enjoyments without fear of interruption or cessation? Who could trust himself with such a perilous gift? . . .

I passed Archdeacon Hadfield in the street to-day. We stared hard at one another (for we did not make each other out with complete certainty) and passed on opposite sides of the street without speaking or moving. Our old friend Ludlam has frequent sets-to with Hadfield on native affairs. After pounding each other and butting each other for an hour or two entirely without result, like a couple of invulnerable steam rams, they suspend hostilities and sheer off.

... At Dunedin I am in a whirl of business which leaves me no time for a real talk with my friends upon paper, and when I do begin I preach. It is a comfort to think that people can treat letters as they please. You can read or skim. It is not like being talked to by an untiring talker when one has to sit 'like a passive bucket and be pumped into.' You can take away your bucket and let the stream flow happily into the gutter without unpoliteness.

(National Archives, Gore Browne Papers, 1/3 no 27)

J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Auckland, 8 Nov 1863

Do not fidget about me. We have had a very easy session so far and it is not likely to be worse. . . . Hal and I have a lodging close to Colonel Sillery's house ... in the same street as Mr Domett lodged in when we were living in Athol house. We look out on Rangitoto and the North head. The rooms are high and airy, and I have not so much as dreamed of low fever.

The state of Auckland is one of continual Military bustle and confusion, but they have long got over any tendency to fear. I think the place is as safe from attack as London although a party of natives had the impudence to cut down the signal staff at the Manakau heads . . .

. . . FitzGerald gave us a good speech on the confiscation bill a few days ago, but not an oration. Fox is always poor except in attack, and being a minister he does not shine. Staff is dignified and reserved. Weld is not up. Vogel, the Melbourne man who owns the Otago Daily Times, is a clever speaker and gave us a little partizan business on a motion to separate the Native office from the Col. Secretary's. He took

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a sort of Disraeli position and hit about smartly on all sides, but there was nothing in it. He is a Jew and was sworn in with hat on and upon the Old Testament . . .

I was over at Graham's beautiful island, Motu-tapu, where Hy. Brown and party were wrecked two years ago.

1863/68

T. B. Gillies to C. W. Richmond - - - Auckland, 9 Nov 1863

On the voyage up ... I found that the feeling of the numerous members whom we had on board pretty much accorded with my own, which was to have it out as to the surrender of the Waitara . . . On our arrival here we soon found that our intended general support of Ministers was insufficient to prevent them falling to pieces through internal dissension and that our Waitara opinions had been anticipated by the despatch of the Duke of Newcastle, which, in the most emphatic manner told Sir Geo., that ... he entirely disagreed with him as to the question of right and justice . . .

This despatch of course simplified matters as we thought, saving us the trouble of abusing the Govr. and Govt. But we found Wood, Russell and Bell utterly dissatisfied with Domett. They could not put up with his habitual laziness coupled with spasmodic energy without consultation and often in opposition to his colleagues, and Wood, Russell and Domett were equally dissatisfied with Bell's vacillation when firmness was necessary, and besides they had and could obtain no hearty supporter in the Upper House . . . Wood, Russell and Bell wanted to get Whitaker to join as head of the Govt., but Domett, while willing to take him as a member declined to come down from his perch and, though urged by myself and others to do so, he refused. Domett tried to interest Stafford but the old bird was not to be caught. At last, finding they could not go on they on the 26th sent in their resignations. H.E. gave them a locus penitentiae, but it was no use, so on the 27th Fox was sent for . . .

On the morning of the 29th Whitaker told me Fox had asked him to join but that he had positively refused when about 9 p.m. on the same day Whitaker sent for me . . . Whitaker's views and my own as to what was to be done for the Middle Island quite coincided and on the war policy we were perfectly agreed, so I consented to go in, Wood and Russell holding their old places.

On Friday the 30th we met and announced our cast of characters, whereupon Stafford in one of his patronisingly paternal speeches declared his adhesion, complimented Fox and buried all past grievances like a man swallowing a nasty dose and saying 'how nice it is'. Featherston followed performing the same operation to Whitaker and Stafford till, as Domett sotto voce described it, 'the House was one vast urinary -every fellow piddling down another fellow's back!'

On the following Tuesday we set to work in the House . . . We have already got our two leading bills through their second reading viz. one to try all rebels and their abettors by court martial and the other to take the rebel lands. The others we don't

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mean to make vital questions of but hope to carry them, though the Major [Richardson] and his Otago tail of three are moving heaven and earth against us.

Report says the Major was disappointed at not being asked to join the new Ministry as Colonial Defence Minister instead of Russell. Fox pulls most harmoniously, like a wild elephant between four tame ones, or perhaps the simile might be better reversed as to the character of the animals. So we are a very strong Ministry and the House of course feels dissatisfied especially as it has quite broken up the old parties, half of Wellington voting one side and half on the other, and so also with Stafford's ordinary tail. Sir G. I think does not above half like us, especially as he sees that the Colony having accepted the responsibility (which we have definitely done) we mean to manage things in our way, not in his - although he professes to be very warlike - for the present.

Sewell, Swainson and Pollen have joined forces in the Upper House and mean mischief, but I think Whit is more than a match for the lot. Sewell . . . has actually sent in his resignation of the registrar generalship of land - which we mean to accept. Can you recommend a competent man for the work at £900 p an ... we want to work it and to get the best man possible for the post . . .

I fear Mrs Richmond will be shocked at this coalition but you may assure her that Fox is in the most excellent hands and is becoming a most exemplary individual. Domett and Bell, but especially the former, are sore at being dropt by everybody . . . We propose to . . . get done about the 24th unless our Otago men (some of whom are giving tongue amazingly) keep us talking more than is desirable . . .

1863/69

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, S 14 Nov 1863

. . . Saw C. Brown. The Government (Genl.) do not like his holding the two offices of Supert. & commander of Militia - He therefore thinks of resigning the superintendency & asking them to make him colonel. He proposes if this arrangement is carried out that J.C.R. should stand for Supert. 'Harry would not do because he is a military man as well as I am; (speaking to me) your wife might do, but you wouldn't because you say such nasty things to people' . . . He is quite right that I should not do for Supert. not because I say nasty things but because I am in no way a leader of men as witness the fact that after 8 or 9 years service I do not hold even a corporal's commission. . . .

Su 15 Nov . . . Read a little Virgil. Cleaned the time piece while Maria read Tom Brown at Oxford to me. In the evg. marked children's clothes while Henry read Bacon.

v 35

C. W. Richmond to A. S. Atkinson Lyttelton, 15 Nov 1863

No examinations in Latin and Greek have yet taken place. Nothing more will be required than is enough to shew that the candidate has received a liberal education . . . You really must not teaze yourself with thinking so precisely on the event. You ought

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to rest satisfied with the assurance of your friends that you are perfectly well able to give yourself the needful amount of preparation. The programme of examinations is always much more formidable than the reality.

I am said to be the most strict examiner in N.Z. But I have passed several very shallow persons, and it is not intended to make the examinations such as to place an entrance into the profession beyond the reach of men of average capacity.

Have you any reason to think your capacity is below the average? If I might judge from the tone of the editorials in the T.H. [Taranaki Herald] I should say the writer . . . does not so judge of himself, nor has any reason so to judge. . . .

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A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, W 25 Nov 1863

. . . Phoebe from Auckland . . . signalled 'very important news' which turned out to be the taking of Rangiriri by Gen. Cameron with 183 prisoners ... It is the greatest victory we have yet seen, though the cost is great . . .

Th 26 Nov . . . Found they (21 friendly natives & 7 pakehas) had done my thistles ... In their dinner hour told the natives about the capture of Rangiriri. I would not tell them before or they would have spent half an hour in work time talking over the news. Got a large bunch of red & white foxgloves & came home - all together . . .

F 27 Nov At 4 a.m. fell in & marched out to Bell Block, both companies. . . . We saw fresh tracks by Kaipakopako but no negroes. Came home disreputably, some of the men getting too much beer at Bell Block & Jonas & Brown having no command over them. . . . N.B. Marching quick for even 6 or 8 hours on such a day with rifle, bayonet, revolver & 60 rounds & a coat on is what logicians call an 'exhaustive process.'

Su 29 Nov ... In afn. walked Henry & Decy to the Sugar-loaves to examine the 'petroleum springs' there. Henry took down some bottles & got them filled with the gas. We also got a little of the oil which came up a drop or two at a time. (These little gas springs have been known of for many [years] but little or no notice has been taken of them).

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C. W. Richmond to W. G. McPherson (Idaburn) Dunedin, 26 Nov 1863

I have arranged to send the wool down to Messrs Cargill & Co. ... I take it for granted that it is useless to think of using our own teams now. ... Mr Stafford and Capt. Steward are much disgusted at last half year, and no wonder . . . [They] both think that the number of persons employed is greatly in excess of what sho'd be the requirements of the station . . .

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A. S. Atkinson to C. W. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 7 Dec 1863

I enclose you a Maori Messenger with Mr Whiteley's article in it. You will see it was published before Grey came. I remember the publication of it very well because there was a great 'row in the house', that is, in the Native office about it. Turton was editor at the time and Fox threatened to turn him out if such another article appeared .. . because of the uncompromising way in which W. King's conduct was reprobated - war (i.e. justice and civilisation) as you may remember not being then quite so popular nor the advocacy of it so safe.

I have spoken to Mr Whiteley on the subject. He acknowledges the difference in the two accounts of what W. King said when Teira received the money but he should not hesitate to assert that whenever necessary that the first one, published by Parris (or with Parris's) was the true one ... He says the article was written in a hurry and he wrote looking at the whole subject and not at every small part . . .

The House, you see, is for an investigation but not for a controversy with His Ex which is 'happily unnecessary'. Weld handled him nicely. What is your notion of the constitution of the High Court, if it ever comes to that? . . . The only man I have thought of who might do as one is Gorst, and perhaps Tamati Waka. What do you think of your Chief Justice or Judge Johnston? . . .

It is only in a comical sense that my education can be called a liberal one. However, I am endeavouring to get a glimmering of Latin. . . .

Perhaps you have heard that C. Brown is likely to resign the Superintendency, in which case we shall try (with a good hope of success) to get James in - and if we succeed I shall stay and buy a share of the Herald.

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H. R. Richmond to C.W. Richmond - - - New Plymouth, 8 Dec 1863

I am getting on pretty comfortably in the Land Office, since I got rid of the Treasury . . .

Blanche and I are both rather sickly, dispirited beings, and pine for the bush, or at least green fields, a sheltered garden and orchard, and the inland murmur of little fresh streams, instead of the roar of the salt old sea. I need more exercise than I can prevail upon myself to take along dusty roads and beaches, and should be twice the man I am, if I had to ride in and out to my work . . .

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Jane Maria Atkinson to Emily E. Richmond - - - Beach Cottage, 11 Dec 1863

The session is not yet over . . . The rest of the compensation money is to be paid at once, which will rejoice the hearts of the settlers here and make Harry very popular, or more popular still. I might say he is already very popular except with a clique who dislike all the mob. . . .

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A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, Tu 15 Dec 1863

... At noon went up to Poverty Square & . . . began a match with the officers (of the Regulars 57th - 70th &c) . . . Had excellent luck, getting them out for 56. Went in & got 72. They went in again & we took all their wickets for 44 & so only had 29 to get to win ... It only wanted 2 1/2 minutes of the time & we had still one run to get when Duncan bowled Hammond the last ball . . . (Cap. Wright) happily missed it & the game was ours . . .

F 18 Dec . . . Col. Warre talked to him [Harry] a long time about taking Kaitake . . . He thinks that Lt. Clarke has found a Maori line that goes from Moyle's clearing to the back of Kaitake but ... no such line exists. He evidently wished Harry to volunteer to go & explore it but Harry of course wanted something definite to go on, knowing the man. 'If the Col. would say he wished it he would get as many men for the service as he liked.' But 'Oh, no - he did not wish to risk men's lives &c.' What he wants is for men to risk their lives without his knowing anything of it (officially) till afterwards . . .

S 19 Dec ... At 1.30 attended meeting of Town ratepayers to elect first Town Board, Henry in the chair, but a poll was demanded which comes off on Monday. . . . About 5 attended another meeting to hear Harry explain what had been done at the Session; & matter as well as manner being satisfactory he got three cheers when he had done.

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Sir George Grey to Colonel T. Gore Browne (Hobart) - - - Auckland, 19 Dec 1863

{Copy)

I am very sorry to be obliged to trouble you regarding certain statements made to me by Mr Stafford as coming from you: the enclosed copy of a despatch which I have addressed to the Duke of Newcastle will more fully explain what I mean; but in order that I may in the fullest manner exculpate myself from the accusation which has been made against me, I trust you will be kind enough to furnish me with copies of any letters which yourself or your private secretary may have addressed to Mr Stafford in relation to the Waitara.

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A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, S 26 Dec 1863

... In afn. read a little Virgil & about 5 went to the office again & offered Woon £450 for a half of the business & plant. He is to give an answer on Monday. . . .

Su 27 Dec . . . Soon after Rangiriri Grey was going up Waikato, whereupon it was arranged that Whitaker & Fox should go with him, but this did not suit him. 'He had no objection to their going when they liked but if he could not go by himself he would not go at all' - & he did not. He told them he should say to Wharepu 31 'You are

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a brave man - here is your gun - you are free,' but as Gillies very properly says 'we have responsibility now in native affairs' . . .

M 28 Dec ... In afn. went into Town saw Teira, asked him what W. King said at the meeting of March 1859 & learnt something new. He mixed up another meeting with it at first but afterwards he said & stuck to it that King's only words were these: 'He whenua toku he pihi iti-iti nei. E kore e makere atu ki a koe, e kawana. Whakatika e te iwi' I have some land a very little bit. It shall not be given to you Governor. (Then turning to his people) 'Get up' (and let us go), and they went as we know. This is quite new to me & to Parris who of course was at the meeting & who never heard . . . of it before today. If it was really said (& I can't doubt Teira) it was a claim on the land probably & seems to have come to light to justify an egregious liar ... It is marvellous how it could have escaped Parris & MacLean, & Woon too who . . . published in the Herald ... a totally different version.

Th 31 Dec ... In afn. went up to see Hulke's fuchsias - he has 40 varieties some of them splendid. . . .

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Jane Maria Atkinson to Emily E. Richmond - - - Beach Cottage, 27 Dec 1863

... I am sure office work is very unsuited to Henry's constitution . . . Now with his chemistry as only recreation, he takes no regular exercise in the open air. . . .

You can see in the Herald an account of a foolish expedition Col Warre made last week. Our people had a hard day's work, (from 3 a.m. to 7 p.m.) but would not have minded that if there had been anything to show for it, but feeling sure there were only a dozen men or so in the pa they were much provoked at returning without going into it and getting some potatoes if no glory 32 . . .

There is no school here now that I should like to send her [Edith] to; Mrs Crompton's is the only one and she only takes a limited number who are advanced in learning. . . .

I suppose we shall hear that a Stafford Ministry is formed, . . . and that Harry is made War Minister won't astonish us, but I do not think James will be in the Cabinet. His views and writings I imagine are rather too mystical for the Staffordian mind to trust him in practical affairs. I . . . should be sorry to see James in the harassing position of a Minister in these times unless he had a much finer constitution and stronger digestion; besides, constant contact with Grey would permanently depress his spirits, not at any time too high. . . .

You must not be so anxious about Harry and A's going out. It is only now and then there is really any risk and we on the spot suffer less than you imagine because we are not alarmed except when there is just cause, whereas you at a distance may be fancying them much oftener exposed to danger than they really are.

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