1961 - The Richmond-Atkinson Papers Vol II - Chapter 2, Stalemate and Bankruptcy, 1864, p 79-136

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Chapter 2

Stalemate and Bankruptcy

1864

In the first half of 1864 General Cameron, having made sound preparations, advanced steadily into the heart of the King country, defeating the main Maori forces at Mangapiko, Rangiaohia and Orakau and occupying the rich farm lands which were the mainstay of the hostile resistance. The people of Taranaki had hoped that the troops would then be free to turn their attention to the recalcitrant tribes on their southern frontier, but a new threat arose to keep them in the north. At the Gate Pa (near Tauranga) on 29 April the Maoris inflicted a severe defeat on the British troops, 31 soldiers being killed and 80 wounded. This disaster was only partially avenged, and then at heavy cost, in an engagement at Te Ranga on 21 June. During this period several regiments of military settlers, recruited in Australia, arrived in Waikato to garrison the conquered territory.

The Taranaki settlers now faced one of the most critical phases of their long years under arms. A new barbaric style of warfare was presaged by an incident at Te Ahuahu on 6 April, when a party of British soldiers was taken by surprise, 7 being killed and 12 wounded. A disturbing feature was the cutting off of Captain Lloyd's head, which was borne away in triumph to inflame the passions of outlying tribes. This was the first manifestation of the Hauhau, or Paimarire, cult which spread from Taranaki and soon swept to its banners most of the discontented and landless tribes on the west coast. This fanatical religion, though based on the Bible, was in fact a revolt against the Christianity of the missionaries. Thus in 1864, while General Cameron was fighting a more orthodox war in the north against Maoris of whom many were Christians, a barbaric guerrilla struggle was being waged with deadly concentration in Taranaki. For these

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events we have the excellent authority of A. S. Atkinson, who was constantly in the field either as a correspondent of the Taranaki Herald or as an active Bush Ranger. Besides recording gruesome details of the fighting, he devoted himself with singular judgment to studing the tenets and practices of Pai-marire. He gives, for instance, some of the earliest descriptions of the ceremonies around the niu and records many of the Hauhau songs and incantations.

As recently as April T. B. Gillies, who was a member of the ministry, assured his friends in Taranaki: "We have finished Waikato, now a dash for Tauranga instead of Taranaki as we had intended, and then for Taranaki and Wanganui. Cabinet is solid against Grey." When the situation at Bay of Plenty was stabilised by the victory at Te Ranga, Taranaki's hopes of assistance were again baulked, first by differences between the Governor and the ministry, and later by General Cameron's reluctance to open a fresh campaign until he received reinforcements. This stalemate exasperated the settlers, and fed the demand, which was already widespread, for the complete withdrawal of the British troops from New Zealand, leaving the colonists to finish off the war in their own way.

The impasse also provided a climate which favoured the demand of the South Island for separation from the North, and fostered in the north a call for the erection of Auckland province into a separate colony. Taranaki viewed these currents with some alarm, and public meetings were held to petition the Secretary of State against any assault on the unity of the Colony. To add to the dilemma of the general government was the danger of hostilities north of Auckland, where a large number of Maoris who had escaped from prison hulks joined tribesmen of doubtful loyalty on the mainland.

In these troublous circumstances the ministry had subsisted for just a year when its patience with the Governor was exhausted. The Premier (Whitaker), writing to C. W. Richmond on 17 October, said: "I don't see a glimmer of hope with Grey. It is now nearly two months, perhaps more, that neither Fox nor I have seen him on business." A week or two later the unseemly dispute came to a head. Whitaker's ministry resigned and the country, weary of the imbroglio, heard with relief that Frederick Aloysius Weld had agreed to take office. The new

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premier belonged to an English Roman Catholic family. He came to the Colony in the early forties mainly for the sake of his health and after two decades of colonial life he was regarded as a Bayard -chevalier sans peur et sans reproche. At this moment of crisis Weld's health forbade him to engage in warm political disputation, and he would take office only upon receiving the Governor's written adoption of his self-reliant policy.

Before Whitaker's government resigned a proclamation was published offering amnesty to all natives in arms against the kawanatanga who should come in by 10 December. The volunteers and militia in Taranaki were disbanded and thanked for their services. H. A. Atkinson (promoted Major in April) took office as minister of defence, 1 and pledged his confidence in the colonial troops by again demanding that the last British regiments should be withdrawn from New Zealand: "We shall do no good until they are all gone." This was Atkinson's first experience as a minister. When A. S. Atkinson retired from active service he described the Bush Rangers as "the most wholesome thing that has been done in Taranaki."

In October 1864 a royal commission decided upon Wellington as the spot, near Cook's strait, which should be the seat of government. The departments and ministers moved thither early in 1865. In December a proclamation was gazetted confiscating a vast area of land belonging to disaffected tribes (mainly in the Waikato).

James Richmond, now M.H.R. for Omata, became in August a member of the Nelson provincial council. Henry Richmond was acting as deputy-superintendent of Taranaki.

In the letters for 1864 are interesting exchanges between those "two equal minds", Mrs Gore Browne and Judge C. W. Richmond. There is also, in the hand of J. C. Richmond, a long satirical poem on The Loan Man, a prophetic vision. 2

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A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, F 1 Jan 1864

. . . played our return match with the Officers. This time we polished them off completely. They went in & got 67, then we & got 214. In their 2nd they got 42 so that we won single innings & 105 to spare . . . Our men fielded capitally. I bowled 5 wickets & only 3 wides & they did not get many runs off me. . . .

M 4 Jan Went up to Harrys at 7 ... we started for Hurworth to cut the thistles. There were about 60 men of our compy. & they gave the day's work to Harry. Did his & part of Bill's clearing, where they are very thick . . .

W 6 Jan . . . N.B. I tried the experiment of carrying revolver only today & find that I get home perceptibly fresher. . . .

v 35

J. C. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Nelson, 1 Jan 1864

We have bought 8 1/2 acres of land containing the finest site in Nelson. Wrey's hill the place is called . . . the northernmost spur of the Fringe Hill . . . Nelson with all its loveliness I cannot make my home. Partly because none of my old friends are near, and partly because the only occupation I can find, public service namely, is very disgusting to me in a miserable little dog kennel of snarling curs. If I were a very little richer I should join myself to a lawyer old as I am, and get ready against the revival of Taranaki . . .

1864/1

A. S. Atkinson to Mary Richmond - - - Taranaki, 8 Jan 1864

I have been negotiating hard with Woon for some time past and have at last brought things ... to some sort of an issue that will probably end in my becoming half-owner of the Herald. I am to pay £700 . . . The business already returns £700 or £800 a year nett . . . and I think it may fairly be reckoned that the increase in population will more than counteract any probable opposition we may get for some years to come. The paper . . . has increased 100 copies of weekly circulation in the last six months (i.e. since Gen. Cameron left, so that it is not the war news keeping it up to an unnatural level). The total circulation is under 500 now.

Whether C. Brown means to resign the Superintendency or not I don't know . . . It is possible, looking at the profound depth of human stupidity that the people might not elect James if they had the chance, tho' this is not certain ... I think we are likely to want a Prov. Engineer. James is more likely to get what depends on the choice of one man than on that of the many . . .

1864/2

Jane Maria Atkinson to Maria Richmond - - - Beach Cottage, 8 Jan 1864

It seems they [James and Mary Richmond] do think of building. Can nothing be done to prevent this? I call it a serious family misfortune if they do, for I then know they will become rooted to the place . . . But for the hope of getting them

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back I should not have given in to the printing business, but remained firm to the last. Ar is sanguine that openings and salaries will be as plenty as blackberries for James when the war is over. 'Echo answers' when will it be?

1864/3

Mrs Harriet Gore Browne to C. W. Richmond [Hobart] 8 Jan 1864

. . . Anent that question of a man's actions being a good test of the correctness of his principals or belief . . . are not the actions & life of every good man influenced at the present day more or less by the standard contained in The Book which has insensibly colored the state of society & belief, & if so are we not really after all judging of things by the light of that very inspired word to which your view would give only a secondary place? . . .

May I ask you to read the comments on the dispatch which I enclose . . . forgive me for adding a straw's weight to your already heavy burden . . . This Waitara question is the skeleton in my life. I know my husband is an honest man, but it chafes and stabs me to think that the ingenuity of others may make him appear in the eyes of his fellow men as the cause of an evil that might have been averted.

v 6, p 49

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, Tu 12 Jan 1864

... At 10 went up to Halse's & met Woon to settle particulars of deed of partnership . . . We could not agree to the terms of dissolution, so after three hours talking came away . . .

Th 14 Jan ... In the evg. attended a meeting of the members of the Institute. Thanks mainly to Burton's activity we have got 110 yearly members besides others. We elected Henry president vice Harry, who resigns because not able to give time enough to the work . . .

S 16 Jan . . . Had tea at Harry's where Mahau was also whom we had brought up to talk with about Sentry Hill where the Col. wants an ambush laid. Mahau says they are constantly coming there in small parties (never missing a day) & that we should be certain to catch them . . .

Tu 19 Jan Went up to Harry's, at 7 expecting to go thistling (indeed No 1 had marched off) . . . Before long we got the order to march for Bell Block, the Col. & troops following . . . Just after crossing the Waitaha we heard two shots fired ... at a bullock which was found dead as we came back . . . We saw 20 or 30 Maoris standing thick together on Sentry Hill but at last they all dispersed but 10 as I counted with a glass . . . We came on to the Ikamoana & halted for 'further orders.' When the Col. came up No 1 went on & the natives opened fire from Te Puke about 900 yards off . . . So we came back over the Mangoraka but as the last of No 1 were crossing they saw 5 natives following not very far behind, who began dancing & shaking their guns but a volley sent them to cover. Presently they fired again & kept hanging about, so Harry

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took us all out of sight except a section of No 1 ... he planted on this side of the ford . . . in a capital place, & before very long we heard a volley & it seems these same natives had crossed the river & were coolly walking up following our tracks when some young asses fired before they were half near enough & so the thing was spoilt. They wounded one or two . . . but could easily have got the whole if they had waited one minute longer . . . Our party searched about through the highest & thickest fern I was ever in & it seemed to me something like tiger hunting in the jungle - but we could not find anything. We heard No 1 firing . . . They . . . got one of the Maoris . . . McGuinness had heard him in some high fern & young Turner going in saw him reaching out his hand as he thought to get his gun & so shot him - he had been wounded before. His name was Hone te Horo - he was a great hand at cattle-lifting, & it was he who . . . wounded J. Bishop at Waiwakaiho last war. He . . . fired into Mahoetahi yesterday & had his cartridge box shot away . . . The Col. shook hands with Harry & congratulated us on our success, 'it was all our own doing' which we knew. Came on into Town where we recieved an ovation from the small boys who came out beyond the Henui to meet us. Our men also were in good spirits & a little noisy having come off again without a scratch.

v 35

J. Rogerson (agent Derwent and Consett Iron Compy. ltd.) to R. Pitcairn - - - London, 26 Jan 1864

Intercolonial Royal Mail Co. I have not joined the Board, I assisted them as much as I could to obtain the contract for the mails via Panama and having got the contract they have ordered the vessels . . . from some other builders ... I am very much annoyed as I worked very hard for them . . .

Coal Company. I think this would go down in England and the capital got here, especially if a few directors of position connected if possible to the New Zealand Bank, were to take it up. A company could easily be formed under a concession from the local government . . .

We have tendered for a vessel to Mr Morrison as follows: Tug and passenger boat - 110 feet long,
18 feet beam,
70 h.p - paddle

for New Zealand price of £5,500.

1864/5

J. C. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - 28 Jan 1864

I am just starting for the Amuri today. . . .

How is your Exhibition likely to prosper. 1 am doubtful of its success. We shall do nothing for it in Nelson I fear, except that Gully and I will send you an oil painting or two and some water color pictures. I shall stop to sketch a lake or two on my present tour.

1864/6

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A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, S 30 Jan 1864

... A pakeha Maori - a deserter from the 65th nine years ago - was captured last night hiding in a potato pit by the Henui. He has been living among the Maoris all the time - had come into Town to sell pigs . . .

Th 4 Feb . . . News came in from Manihera, a Ngatimaru 'neutral', that the war was about to begin at Whanganui ... As this agrees with the sudden departure of the Whanganuis last Friday it made me rather uneasy on account of the Whanganui people so I went to Charles Brown to get him to send down the Marchioness (brigantine) to warn them, but he did not think it would be any good. I was going to Col. Warre to see if I could induce him to do it but on consulting with Bill found that Manihera himself was to come in tomorrow, so decided to wait.

F 5 Feb . . . All the Whanganuis have gone back except about 140 3 under Wi Pakau (an old blind man), left at Kaitake . . . They expect the war to begin at Whanganui but the pakehas are going to commence! However all Ngatiruanui are gathered at Waitotara which looks ominous. Maneha & his friends came very cautiously across our land . . . Manihera says they travelled in a stooping posture 'Kei kitea' 'lest they should be seen,' which is something more than they used to do last war . . .

v 35

Colonel Gore Browne to Sir George Grey - - - Hobarton, Feb 1864

(Copy)

. . . The account of what you are reported to have said at the Cape reached me in New Zealand before I was aware that you were likely to return to that Colony: it in no way affected the position assumed by myself & my advisers & no secret was made of it at that time . . .

A controversy between men in our respective positions would be plainly wrong, but lest my silence might appear to imply assent, I must emphatically decline to admit the premises (see Par. 10 of your Desp. 19 Deer.) upon which you found your belief that a new fact had come to light.

I have thought it my duty as a servant of the Crown to abstain from interfering with the politics of New Zealand & I have maintained a silence which it is not now my intention to break.

v 6, p 48

Colonel Gore Browne to The Duke of Newcastle - - - Govt. House, Hobarton, Feb 1864

(Copy)

I have the honor to forward a copy of a letter I have received from Sir G. Grey together with my reply, by which your Grace will perceive that I have thought it unseemly to enter on a controversy with another servant of the Crown, but fearing that my silence might be construed into assent, I have protested against the fallacy on which Sir G. Grey's arguments are based. This fallacy consists in the assumption that

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I intended to seize on a piece of land the purchase of which was concluded, instead of which I merely insisted on ascertaining what Teira's party was rightfully entitled to sell. They had indubitably established a prima facie title to some land in the neighbourhood, I insisted on their right to sell that land and as a preliminary, to have it properly ascertained what land it was. In doing this I had, as your Grace has remarked, carefully preserved the rights of any or all who might be unwilling to alienate. If it were right to reopen the question at the present time I could demonstrate to your Grace that the above was the position actually assumed by myself & my advisers notwithstanding the prominence given to detached passages worded without sufficient caution but which misled no one when they were written. I believe, however, that my proper course is still to maintain that silence which no amount of misrepresentation has yet provoked me to break.

I rejoice in this opportunity of thanking your Grace for the clear manner in which you vindicated the justice of the course I pursued at Taranaki, and I venture to think that recent events will have convinced you that the view I took of the Native insurrection was correct when I asserted in my dispatch of 27 April 1860 'That the question at issue is one which affects Her Majesty's sovereignity over the Islands of New Zealand & nothing else'. Had it been otherwise Sir G. Grey's concessions must have removed all cause of irritation, but King's own followers have recently confirmed my opinion in words no less explicit than those used in the above mentioned dispatch . . .

v 6, p 48

Marion Atkinson 4 to Mary Richmond - - - New Plymouth, 2 Feb 1864

Eliza is entirely without help just now. Her soldier's wife did not stop, preferring to earn 4s. a day at washing. . . .

I seem to have got into quite a new world here - of bugles, soldiers and new Melbourne men (450), quite altering the character of the place. It is to be hoped that they will soon be better organised, at present they are very troublesome and disorderly . . .

1864/7

Jane Maria Atkinson to Mary Richmond - - - Beach Cottage, 4 Feb 1864

. . . How altered the prospects of this place are by all that was settled at the Gen Assembly and by the certainty that when peace comes it will be on a sure foundation. Living here we feel the rebound so strong that it is difficult to doubt a really prosperous future lies before this Province . . . Land could not be bought now, that might have been had for an old rug 18 months ago, I didn't go so far as [to] . . . think James might come back at once take an office and write up 'Surveyor and Land Agent' and be at once in receipt of a fair income . . . Directly I heard James was planning a house I knew he would build it, come what might, and I only hope now you will keep him down in expense for I fear you will not get fair interest for your money on the place altogether if taste is allowed much voice in the expenditure. . . .

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I am sorry to say the apples have never turned up, no doubt the crew eat them. Except where one is sure of a careful and interested 'party' to bring a box up, it is better I suppose to have it booked and pay freight here.

1864/8

Jane Maria Atkinson to Maria Richmond - - - Taranaki, 5 Feb 1864

. . . One feature I don't like, his [William's] being so busy, I hoped by giving up the greater gains of private practice, the children would have had the advantage, quite an inestimable one, of being taught by him in addition of course to any regular instruction by hirelings.

1864/9

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, S 6 Feb 1864

. . . about 10.45 went up to Poverty Square, & played our return match with the 57th (the Regt.) which they won after a capital match by 4 runs . . . Harry was in about an hour & only got 4, but was knocked about all over his body. It was one of the best matches we have played.

M 8 Feb The Rangatira from Manuka came in early . . . The news affecting us is that Sentry Hill is to be occupied. Debated the question with Harry in the evg. about our men going there on the chance of getting it as military settlers . . .

Tu 9 Feb . . . Maria & I went to the Masonic Hotel to go to the concert there of the 57 Band (for raising funds for a monument to the officers & men murdered on the 4th May) but it was so crowded we could not get in . . .

F 12 Feb . . . Saw young Richards who had been up to Mangorei looking for a horse & said when he was on the road over Rossiters he saw 5 or 6 natives who called to him but he was sure they were rebels ... At 2 p.m. we started to explore . . . We could see a large column of smoke 3/4 of a mile off in the bush but on which side of the Waiwakaiho it was difficult to say . . . Stapp & Mace came down after us . . . We had to wait more than an hour for Webster . . . We crossed the Mangorei bridge where they had evidently dragged some of the sheep over & went along the road . . . W. Marshall & I were the leading file . . . W. Richards who was nearest the river suddenly sang out 'here's one of them.' They gave him a small volley which seemed to stupify him ... I was in such fear that he would get away that I fired in a confounded hurry & so of course missed . . . Thinking he might only have been fishing by himself we went on to the old Maori clearing but they had not been there . . . On the other side we soon found plenty of tracks & a little way in there was their camp just abandoned, the sight of which made us rather uproarious. There were eight large umus (ovens) some of them not yet opened, & full of steaming mutton. Joints of mutton were lying about on the ground & some had been put up on little stages to get cold I suppose. There were two or three heaps of kidneys not cooked. I brought away two to try the quality, also an apple ... a pannikin of native manufacture made of totara-bark . . ,

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a large fish-hook with line attached for raking up eels . . . We went home cheerful (in spite of the bad shooting) because we had spoiled their dinner & routed them out . . . They were probably a party from Mataitawa come to get utu (payment) for the death of Hone te Horo & would in all probability have waylaid & killed some one if we had not disturbed them. Got home at 9.

S 13 Feb . . . The Gresham came in with 480 military settlers from Melbourne . . .

v 35

Jane Maria Atkinson to Maria Richmond - - - 7 Feb 1864

The new maid is Irish, the wife of a soldier of the 57th, just come out. She seems very quiet and simple minded. . . . The new arrivals of the 57th have no place to themselves and as the men are part of their time out at camp she thought it wisest to go into service. . . . She had 10/- a week, but wages seem rising. Jane gives Agnes Dunbar 12/- . . . .

I do trust we may have you back in the spring. I have 'little pleasure of my life when Lely is away'. What with editing, study, bush ranging, rifles, cricket, Institute committee meetings I hardly have a word with Arthur. Henry is generally in the shed, when not at his office . . .

1864/11

J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Mr MacRae's, Mandamus River, J Feb 1864

I am now sitting in a very excellent clean mudhouse at the most westerly run in the Amuri. I have had a pleasant journey down - only one half day of wet weather on the Upper Wairau . . . The whole of the country is singular and interesting even beyond my anticipations. Some of the purchased runs are full of great beauty. Dr Monro's land is especially so. The terrace land on the banks of the Waiau contain many exquisite sites for mansions and small tracts suited for farms. The Amuri... is mostly suited for pasture ... You would be delighted with the strangeness and picturesqueness of the place.

I spent nearly all Saturday at Saunders's house and left at 4 o'clock with his man and an old shepherd who wanted piloting, Saunders did not come. We travelled very easy stages and I arrived on the Hanmer plain where we are making a startling bridge over the Waiau. On Tuesday ... I stopped two nights at the camp of the bridge builders, entertained by Handyside. The bridge is from one rocky buttress to another, a distance of 164 feet, and the roadway will be 150 feet over the river or near it. Handyside insists on all his acquaintances and visitors crossing in a cradle which he has swung on wire ropes for the erection of the bridge; and I was obliged to go through it. The height is very giddy but the machine is well made and safe.

I went from Handyside's camp to Shrimpton's and spent two nights there, walking about the neighbourhood. I came up here today along with an old and a young gentleman called Stewart, nephew and uncle. There is a Capt Brown here too and old MacRae is down so they have plenty of company in this out of the way place ... I

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have a rough country to go through and shall hardly be back in Nelson before the end of February . . . Write to me at Carter's station Clarence River . . .

1864/12

A. S. Atkinson to Mary Richmond - - - Taranaki, 8 Feb 1864

... It seems as natural to be ill elsewhere as it is to be well here. I am beginning to be afraid that this is the only healthy province in N.Z. - or perhaps it is the life we lead which is certainly the healthiest imaginable and will make us live at least 10 years longer than our neighbours.

1864/13

Mary Richmond to A. S. Atkinson - - - The Wood, Nelson, 14 Feb 1864

There is another thing, dear Arthur, I want you seriously to consider and accomplish and that is to find a substitute for yourself and give up the bush ranging. It cannot be any pleasure to you - though you often talk as if it were in a way that I very much dislike and disapprove ... It must be of course for duty's sake alone that you can go through such work as is involved in bush ranging, and I am sure you have fulfilled your duty in doing as much as you have. Now that you have undertaken a regular business you should give yourself to it. I am sure you cannot attend to it properly without giving up the military work. But the chief reason for giving it up is on account of Maria - you ought to consider the long time of anxiety she has had and the risk you run of causing the greatest grief almost that could come to her. ... I know both you and she have looked upon your military work as a duty, and so I think it has been.

1864/14

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth M 15 Feb 1864

. . . at 5 [a.m.] fell in & marched out to Mahoetahi under command of Major Butler, the Col. was also there (100 soldiers 57th, 100 Bushrangers (both companies) 50 No 1 Militia) ... In the afn. we went down to the Mangoraka & crossed it to get timber for palisading. Lt. Ferguson (R.E.) called for '8 good axemen', then supplied them the regulation axe - shaped like a flint axe or old Maori stone toki. The rest, to wit 16, acted as cover, by which means we were able to explore the peach gardens about . . . It was a cold night . . . but I got a sweet little nap when it was my turn in, which did me all the good in the world - having taken off my boots & belts contrary to regulation.

Tu 16 Feb ... At 7 (after breakfast) went up with the force to Sentry Hill to see if any natives were about . . . The work ceasing at 5 came back to camp. After supper rural sports were held, jumping putting the stone, quoits & a sort of leap frog I never saw practised before, by the soldiers of the 57th. The man who gave the back stood at first near a line but with each jump went farther off & at last he got 20 feet from it. At this distance the one jumping might touch the ground once, that is to say he jumped (say) 14 feet then sprung 6 feet onto the back of the other & finally alighted some distance

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beyond. I saw one young fellow clear 25 feet in this way & when the man giving the back stood about 10 ft from the line he cleared him with one spring, coming along as it seemed almost horizontally, touching him with his hands & going over. It looked rather like flying & was the best thing of the kind I ever saw.

NB. The sleeping allowance is one tent to 15 or 16 but I go in with Harry & so get a little more room.

W 17 Feb . . . W. Marshall & I & 5 of No 1 went round as guides with Cap. Shortt & 10 soldiers to the ford of the Waiongana. He seems still to have the regular military dread of the bush though a very decent little fellow. I don't want to go into the bush sergeant' (to Lawson). 'Does this road lead to the bush?' &c. Saw a few tracks ... a day or two old . . . Had dinner by the river. At 2 got to work again digging away the top of the hill to make embankments. There is a good deal of stone which hinders the work, & far too many men on it which hinders it more.

NB. We were warned to stay out one night & are not home yet. I did not bring even a towel or toothbrush with me. . . .

Th 18 Feb . . . Harry took 20 of us & crossed the Waiongana . . . got sight of Manutahi about a mile off, evidently fortified . . . looked about for a road . . . leading to the right of Manutahi; at last found an old track . . . now closed over by the fern & tutu the former 6 & 7 & the latter 8 & 10 feet high. It was hard work getting along, but we had a good man in front - Edward Marshall - W. Marshall was second & I was third. Bored along for a mile & a quarter or so & at last came to the edge of the bush where was an old clearing & just in the bush an old whare, from this the two Marshalls got a paddle each & I a rake as the vulgar would call it but I call it the heru-a-Maui (Maui's comb), Hunt got a pair of bullock bows ... I was in hopes by prowling about Manutahi we might have done something but Harry did not like going on - he had only 20 men & if we had got engaged . . . the Major . . . would have had no notion how to get at us to give us help. So Jupp cut T.V.R. on a tree & I put 'Na nga waero pakeha' underneath (they call us the 'wild pakehas') & then we came back ... to Sentry Hill & found we had orders to go to Town, though Major Butler was sorry to part with us ... & he is right, for our fellows (mostly bushmen) are good at work as well as fighting & cheerful too & there is no man among the soldiers they like better than him . . .

F 19 Feb . . . Went into Town (which is now full of the Victorians, many of them drunk), got the news &c . . .

v 35

Thomas Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Stockton, England, 18 Feb 1864

... I shall attend to your Mother's request respecting her subscription to Middleton Teesdale Chapel; the Chapel is now opened and subscriptions are also commenced for a new chapel at B[arnard] Castle. Unitarianism has now taken root at Middlesbro', and there is already a respectable little Society - it . . . has established a Sunday school ...

1864/15

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C. W. Richmond to Mrs Gore Browne Dunedin, 21 Feb 1864

I send back the memo which you requested me to return, but I have kept it so long (the Demon of Procrastination still holding me in thraldom) that I fear it will be too late to do any good.

It may interest you to know that I was struck by the important discrepancy in the two reports of King's declaration about Teira's ownership, and have found out that the second report is taken from a long article contributed by Mr Whiteley to the Maori Messenger shortly after we went out of office in 1861. Arthur Atkinson saw Whiteley about it - who said - that it was a hastily penned affair, not pretending to verbal accuracy, and that he should at any time be prepared to verify the perfect correctness of Mr Parris's Reports, 'The land is theirs etc. and they shall not sell it', as his attention was pointedly directed to the matter by Parris at the time.

My criticism upon the whole paper is that I should have hardly thought it necessary to reiterate statements of which the Secretary of State's mind has got thorough possession - and should have preferred to confine the memo to the new declarations by Natives, of which Wi Thompson's, and that of the Mataitawa people (cited by Weld) are the most important. I see, however, no harm in the paper and perhaps am too much of an Athelstan the Unready.

When people say, 'if this is not refuted and that is not refuted it will go down to Posterity - and be said in History - that etc. etc., I feel inclined to reply, and do reply that if Posterity is such an ass as to think so, it may - feeling all the time internally secure that it will do nothing of the kind, and believing also, that we shall all stand before a Judgment seat in prospect of whose righteous sentence, whether of acquittal or condemnation, I very lightly esteem even the 'Bar of History' itself.

As to the private correspondence with Sir George, I say that it is ridiculous in him to pretend ignorance as to the locale of the land offered. No doubt it is new (but not true) that the pahs were bought and the occupants 'evicted'.

Bell's too impressible mind appears to have been so far wrought upon that he believes the circumstance of the occupation of the pahs by a considerable number of Natives had been kept out of sight. I at once upset him by referring to my opening speech on the Waitara question in 1860 printed in the N. Zealander Aug 8/60 and copied into the English Blue Book. In it I stated as one of the questions which the opposition might ask, 'Why did he (the Governor) bring war and confusion into that Maori paradise of peace and loyalty the Waitara Pahs? thus grappling at once with the fact, known to every man, woman and child at New Plymouth, or who had ever been there, that King's natives lived at those Pahs.

I can see no harm done by Stafford's indiscretion. The more Grey harps upon his pretended ignorance of the facts the better. I think the Duke already begins to see through him.

I don't know what kind of remarks I made to you on religious or theological matters. I am afraid from your replies they must have expressed a very coldly rationalistic spirit, I believe I only meant to recommend increased reliance on the Inward

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Witness and the Practical Test. I am sorry when I see people building on foundations which Philology is sapping. Our faith ought not to depend upon the authenticity of the Book of Daniel or the inspiration of the Canticle, or of the Book of Ecclesiastes, or even upon such higher and more subtle ground as the origin of the Christian Doctrine of the Logos. If it do so depend it will be subject (as the faith of Exeter Hall is) to perpetual alarms. Far from being disposed to rationalize I hold that the best office of Philosophy is to lead men back (as Bacon says) to simple Faith - but by simple faith I certainly do not mean any of the outworn mediaeval creeds whether of the earlier or later councils - and I as little adhere to Augsburg, Geneva or Dort as to Trent. I do not believe any of these elaborate dogmatic systems ever constituted the living faith of a single human soul. Therefore certainly I should never resort to them.

Now for the comfort of such a poor, simple dying creature as you speak of - I have I grieve to say little or no experience in ministering to the spiritual wants of any of my fellow creatures, and shd. I fear, feel quite as much at a loss at the bedside of the dying as you seem to anticipate. But I am certain that the Infinite Love of Mercy of the Eternal Father, revealed by Christ, testified to by the Spirit, and experienced in a pure and good life must furnish a sufficient, and the only sufficient theme of consolation. Our good minister Mr Stewart 5 was citing the other day with a surprise in which I heartily join, the Bishop of Oxford's astounding declaration that precise Dogmatic Teaching is above all things what this age needs. I say that it is on the contrary obvious that educated laymen are beginning to feel that the foolish taking for granted of the things to be proved - the foolish ignoring of difficulties by the clergy, is becoming insufferable. Far better to grapple with the questions which beset us than to simulate a conviction which does not exist. Better still to pass by in our practical discourses what is questionable (which includes I should say a very large part of the Bishop of Oxford's cherished Dogma) and express as we best can in the heart's language our own sincere convictions on practical Religion. Being firmly convinced myself of the essential identity of the true spirit of Religion in all ages I am satisfied that no startling novelties would be thus introduced to shock the feelings of any. Your doctrine would bear the test of catholicity - quod semper, quod ubique, quod ab omnibus.

As regards the Bible I have long held Coleridge's opinion that the true doctrine is, not that the Bible is the word of God, but that the Bible contains the word of God -a mighty difference. I suppose at the present day no scholar of any reputation would venture to uphold the theory of plenary inspiration or that of the integrity of the Canon of Scripture. Both are undoubtedly rejected by a vast majority of educated men both clergy and laymen to the great profit as I firmly hold of practical Religion.

My dear Mrs Browne, I have run on too fast this Sunday evening. I have said nothing on which I have not reflected for many years, but I have written incoherently and perhaps unintelligibly which one scarcely ought to do on such subjects. I shall send my letter however, because I know I am writing to one who will yield no lazy

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assent to crude assertion. I should think twice before I wrote in a way open to misinterpretation to anyone whom I was likely to lead (or mislead), but between equal minds there is no danger in more careless expression of thought. I know I shall do no harm.

National Achives, Gore Browne papers, v. 1/3, No 66 1864/16 (ph. stat.)

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, M 22 Feb 1864

. . . Col. Warre was talking to Harry yesterday. He talked a good deal (in a way which Harry irreverently calls childish) about not disturbing or interfering with the Mataitawa (or Manutahi) natives unless they came on our land, &c, & concluded by asking Harry whether he did not get sight of Manutahi on Thursday. Harry said 'yes', so then he said 'Why shouldn't we shell them from the place you were at?' - which Harry encouraged. The Col. is a consistent man - & persistent too - but we can get on comfortably enough till Gen. Cameron comes.

F 26 Feb Went up to Harrys at 6.30 & marched out (our company only) ... by the blockhouse up to Wills' & Greenways & there got out firewood (for the blockhouse people). We also looked about at the different peach gardens & had a small keg of beer up from the Bell Blk. Inn ... As there were a good many who knew how to handle a log we put some nice little ones into the carts that will delight the Bell Block men . . .

When we got back to Town we found good news - Gen. Cameron had got possession of Rangiaohia & the country about, whereupon the Maoris abandoned their position which was immensely strong . . . Fox 'expects peace in Waikato in 4 days'. The only bad news is that Col. Nixon has been dangerously wounded. 6 We have at last got a new commander for our Militia - Fred Baddeley once of Hawtaynes then Cap. in the 40th & now come over to command us as major. 7 He was on the beach as we came along & I was introduced to Mrs Baddeley just as I was, in fighting costume - black with dust & in my shirt sleeves - but she stood it well. He is very little altered & says we look just as we did 8 years ago (?)...

v 35

Su 28 Feb . . . Henry (who had been on his way up to Aunt Helen's place for peaches) came in & said ... Patterson had been fired at by the Maoris & was missing . .. Got my gun &c & went off with him . . . fell in with No 2 & went together . . . left in front, I was therefore in the leading file. Went up the hill & ... a little way on the other side there were 5 or 6 of the rascals quietly making off up the road . . . We made straight across the road & up through the bush on Westons (or Colesby's) hill & down the other side & when we had got fairly out (Wilson Hursthouse & I were in front for the pace had been trying & the ground rough) there below us we saw 50 or 60 more of them just going round the corner into the bush . . . about 300 yards off . . . We

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beckoned up some of the other fellows & then fired but . . . they all bolted into the bush . . . We thought of course they would turn & fight as they were nearly double our number & in the bush - but no, they were gone. Then some of us went down & skirmished into the bush - J. Ginger & I together, & we found where they had crossed the little stream & each of us in turn acted as covering party while the other drank . . . Several kits of food were found ... & some mats . . . We also found much to our satisfaction tracks of blood. Just about this time some of our fellows . . . came up with the news that poor Patterson had been shot in three places & frightfully tomahawked. Then we began to follow the tracks through the bush but they were very devious & . . . the latter part of the way was on the track they had come, not the one they had gone by. It was rather disgusting not to follow them but there seemed to be a doubt about finding them . . . Poor Patterson's loss is a great blow. He was one of our best settlers. There was not such another in the place for energy & work.

M 29 Feb . . . Wrote an account of yesterday's work for a 2nd edition - which was against my grain as it seemed to be making profit out of calamity.

v 35

Mary Richmond to Maria Richmond - - - The Wood, Nelson, 26 Feb 1864

James has not come back yet ... I am always anxious about him when away on these journeys. I have not unfortunately the trust in his prudence, care and wisdom which he unfortunately has himself so largely. He went away alone, though I extorted a promise he would not continue travelling alone, I could not help being nervous. About a week ago an old gentleman called upon me who had just arrived from the Amuri and had seen him four days before. He left him extremely well and with plenty of companions. He said there was no fear of his travelling alone for all wanted to see and talk to him as commissioner [of Crown Lands] that he always had people with him. So now I am much easier in my mind.

1864/17a

Mary Richmond to A. S. Atkinson - - - The Wood, Nelson, 1 Mar 1864

... I am always nervous about him [James] when he is away. I know if he can possibly come to harm he will. This time he has had four nights out - (two alone) without tent or blankets or any fire one of those nights. He lost his watch and chain dragging his horse through bushes. . . . He says he is much better. . . . His face and hands are mahogany colour and the skin is off his nose and lips. So at present his appearance is rather peculiar. ... I have spoken to him about the Taranaki scheme ... he would much like the office of engineer or surveyor.

Wednesday morg . . . but the difficulty is ... he would not dream of applying for it or stirring himself at all in the matter though if it were offered him he would gladly accept it. It is very tantalizing to me to think of it . . .

1864/18

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Mary Richmond to A. S. Atkinson - - - [Mar 1864]

You do not say anything in answer to my desire for you to give up the bush ranging. I am sure you ought do so now. You are so obstinate, that one has hardly the heart to go on persuading you, but I do trust you will relieve us all by doing as we wish. I do not see how you can attend to your paper properly unless you do . . . Then there is also the consideration of Maria and the children. You certainly have taken a full share of your work in defending the place. You ought to take care of yourself for their sakes . . . But seriously dear Arthur I do hope you will give up the military work at once.

1864/17

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, F 11 Mar 1864

. . . Richardson came to warn me that the Bushrangers were going out ... It seems Jim Bayly & his nephew Thomas saw 8 or 10 Maoris lying in wait for them at Dingle's. The beast they were driving fortunately turned off or they would have ridden right into the ambush. We scoured about (there were 20 of us of both compys.) but stopped at Revel's . . . then fell in by companies. No 1 went across the line to Baldwins' & we up to Newland's . . . had just finished dinner when we heard the sound of guns in the direction of Kaitake where the Col. told Harry he was going at once. Accordingly we steered for Poutoko in case we should be wanted, the sound of big guns & small acting as stimulants, on some of the higher ridges we saw the smoke of the guns ... I saw a shell pitch just at the foot of the upper pa. Went on to Poutoko & there got a message from the Col . . . that 'we might come on if we liked & if we did we were to go over the burnt fern (sic) & wait for a signall' - this was all . . . After a while we learned that 1 soldier was killed & 5 wounded including Lt. Larcom R.A. As we were coming home F. Mace overtook us & gave us some particulars. Major Butler it seems was in command, Col. Warre staying at Oakura. He had 84 men with him of the 57th & 6 of the artillery, a 241b howitzer & a cohorn. They went up to about 500 yards off & began shelling. Afterwards, the natives not firing much they went to the little rise in front of the palisading (150 or 200 yards off) & began again. The natives kept up a heavy fire & Larcom was wounded after this the gun was limbered up, upon which the natives opened a tremendous fire from the palisading & hoisted their red flag. Major Butler of course had to return he had no business ever to have got there with such a handful of men . . . nearly all the casualties were about this time. I fancy by the Col's staying at Oakura he was not acting quite fairly by Major Butler but we shall know better hereafter.

Tu 15 Mar ... at 7 a.m. and marched out (both companies) ... by Papamoa (where there were about 50 wild ducks) to look for the line the mutton eaters . . . retired on. Wilson Hursthouse was head pilot & we had no difficulty in finding the way. There were plenty of tracks both ways . . . The so called road between French's & Barriball's clearing ... is really the worst part of the line it is so thickly overgrown

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with makos &c. The tracks here were destroyed by the pigs but there were still traces - one a mako stick cut, & the others some hairs of a mat caught in a stick . . . At Foote's clearing the leading four (left in front) constituted themselves a flanking party & visited a large peach tree where we got a few dozen of the best peaches I have tasted this year. Went on across country to the left & came into groves of peach trees where we got as many as we could eat & carry . . . Came into the road just by the Waiwakaiho bridge & then home through the dust.

W 16 Mar . . . Saw the Armstrong guns (3) landed from the Storm Bird - with 30 men under Cap. Martin who looks a good soldierly man. The arrival of the guns makes the Col. feel fiery & he already is talking of taking Kaitake.

Su 20 Mar 1864 . . . Oiled some calico for ammunition wrappers - also cleaned my revolver whilst Maria read The Soul (F. W. Newman) to us. Had some music from Mary at different times.

M 21 Mar . . . At 1.30 fell in & marched down (both companies) to Oakura where we camped. Saw the Armstrong guns make one or two capital shots at Kaitake.

Tu 22 Mar Fell in about 3.30 a.m. & started for Te Tutu - the 57th in front then the guns, & we behind ... we travelled along the beach in the dim moonlight ... I was in the rear guard & just before we got to Hauranga looking round we saw some men following us. I challenged them but instead of answering they half hid themselves so, thinking they must be Maoris, I lay down & challenged again but not till I had challenged a third time did they answer. They turned out to be two soldiers who had got left behind - they were very near getting shot from their stupidity . . . On the Tataraimaka flat the troops were halted & we went to the front No 1 leading as it was their turn . . . Found the Tataraimaka chapel had been chopped down by the natives & pulled to pieces. Went on past Cutfield's (Ngamonamona) & got sight of Te Tutu which look[ed] formidable being on high ground surrounded by bush . . . We found the track through the bush then went in passing a large encampment - no doubt that of the Whanganuis when up here at Christmas, passed also some boards of the chapel . . . Found the pa not only empty but a mere sham - a single row of palisading but no trenches or earthwork at all, & therefore useless . . . There were two or three acres of potatoes & some in pits . . . Seeing that the line was continued on the other side I unshipped my revolver & went up to explore. The line was well worn & all along were the rounded holes made by naked heels in coming down the hill. When I got up to the top I was greatly gratified to see Indian corn growing . . . Harry was just giving the order to burn the whares preparatory to going. So over we went - Edward Marshall & I in front . . . The clearing was about 15 acres - maize, potatoes, taros, kumara, tobacco &c. in large quantities. We two made for a whare in the middle. I was in first & got a kit with two Maori testaments in it, one of which I gave him . . . After looking about a little we set to work seriously at the crops. I took to the taros & going up between the rows took up a plant in each hand as I went. There were about 6 acres of maize cut down - 1/2 of taros & kumara, & tobacco lines. The potatoes

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were some of the best I ever saw - Minions, Breadfruits, Derwents, Chatham Islanders &c and we spoilt a few of them. The work was perhaps a little painful - or should have been to a well constituted mind - but necessary. The taros & kumara had not a weed among them ... At the grave of the Maoris (Whanganuis) killed at Katikara on the 4th June there was a board with the inscription.

Kua Kitea e matou
Na Hori Patene

E hou e Matene ko
Nga tupapaku tenei

evidently written by Pehi & his people when they came to fetch away Hori's bones. 'It has been seen by us. Friend Matene these here are the corpses' The 'Na Hori Patene' is hardly intelligible . . . The mounted men got six fine working bullocks belonging to Big Jack (Te Meiha) & took them to camp. They are to be sold & their price divided as prize money among all that were out. When we got back to camp the Col. first told Harry he should take Kaitake tomorrow - in about half an hour he said any of us who wished to go to Town might do so & the rest might go tomorrow! I have already written a note to Maria & as we had had a hard day's work I stayed.

Th 24 Mar . . . About 5 heard a shocking piece of news - that Edward Marshall had been killed while cleaning out his well, the bucket falling on his head & cutting him frightfully ... He was one of the very best men in our company, wonderfully strong & a first rate shot - hardly knew what fear was, always good tempered & obliging. It was a terrible blow. We marched down to Poutoko, but it almost took all heart out of me. Slept in the old mess whare on a table.

v 35

Jane Maria Atkinson to Maria Richmond - - - Beach Cottage, 20 Mar 1864

'My affectionate warrior' as he signs himself, ... is now away on what sounds the most dangerous service, namely the taking of Kaitake. ... I am undecided as to whether it is reasonable to feel anxious for them. There seems a strong opinion in favour of the pas being found empty, it has been shelled by the Armstrong guns for these two days . . . and today they have been driven from another pa Ahu Ahu, so it is to be hoped they may be too depressed to show fight tomorrow. . . .

Mar 25. Altho' I tried last night to drive away my fears I was more anxious than I have yet felt about our warriors. The idea that henceforth the 25th of March might be the anniversary of the blackest day of my life kept floating back in spite of reassuring words from all sides. Happily Kaitake has been taken, and no life on our side lost. One soldier, and one Otago man have been wounded, but not seriously. . . . The Bush Rangers had to make a toilsome ascent thro' bush and scrub to come out on the range above the Maoris' position, and Capt Corbett's party and the 57th men attacking the front got into the pa before our people, which I fear will have aggravated them a good deal. However, their work was the most arduous and I believe the effect on the Natives most disheartening.

1864/19

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Mrs Harriet Gore Browne to Emily E. Richmond - - - Government House, [Hobart] 20 Mar 1864

... I daily expect the birth of my 4th son, & I always have a feeling (perhaps it is only a habit) that it is well to put the house in order, & do what it is well to do, before the time comes when it may be too late.

Why do men make such a marvel of people being cheerful & brave in the face of the guillotine when so often as a soul is born into the world we poor women meet a greater pain & almost as great a danger as the guillotine with a pleasant unconcern, and up to the last moment finish up our small affairs and wind up the several threads of our lives as methodically as if we were preparing for an expected entertainment. I sometimes wish that like Henri Quatre's mother we were offered a kingdom for our sons if we could welcome the moment of their entrance into life by chanting a national hymn. It would be cheering to feel that they gained something by our endurance. What was the immediate reward of the arctic discoverers? and what did Burke & Wills gain by their hours of agony! It is an astonishing thing to see how much suffering there is in the world with little or no result as far as we can see, & it must take great faith to bear patiently what thousands of uneducated men are now bearing in Lancashire, a cruel trial without a known object or end. . . .

v 6, p 49

T. B. Gillies to C. W. Richmond - - - Auckland, 23 Mar 1864

. . . Fox is away north and Whitaker is ill in bed with inflammation of the stomach so Russell and I are the Govt, which is rather too much of a good thing in these times. . . .

The Chief Justice has been and still is very ill with rheumatic fever. Johnston is here taking his circuit, starring it in that 'squalid den' as he terms the Sup. Crt. here. However, a new one is at last about to be erected as well as some other public buildings - the barracks to be removed and a handsome pile placed on the Crown of the hill.

The General is, I hope, today finishing his Waikato campaign by the occupation of Maungatautari . . . The Arawas are fighting the Ngatoporous etc. at Rotoiti and we have given them some arms and sent some Volunteers (without commissariat) to help them, the Arawas, who are trying to stop the others from going up to fight at Waikato. The neck of the affair is broken. The Thames natives and some others have commenced bringing in their guns, cartouche boxes, ammunition spears etc. and taking the oath of allegiance and I should not be surprised if that becomes rather fashionable . . . The military are all very sick of the war and even the General begins to talk of it as a war for the acquisition of land. Still we grind on. Fox and all of us hold steadily to our point - we must have absolute submission this time.

1864/21

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Mary Richmond to J. C. Richmond - - - Beach Cottage, Taranaki, 23 Mar 1864

I am afraid you will not get this for a long time and that you must have already started for the Buller ... I hope you have taken or will take plenty of blankets and wraps and warm clothes - your swimming belt. I shall be very anxious about you until you return for I am sorry to say I have no confidence in your powers of taking care of yourself. I hope you are going with Mr Barnicoat - an elderly companion will be a great safeguard - he will not be likely to expose himself or to rough it as much as you generally do. ...

We are anxious now about our own people. On Monday, they all went out to Kaitaki beyond Tataraimaka - on the lower range and were out two nights. They took a pah, and destroyed a fifteen acre cultivation . . . The Bush Rangers then came in, the troops remaining behind . . . Now this evening at six, the Bush Rangers have gone out again and tomorrow I believe Kaitaki is to be taken . . . We womenfolk feel very anxious and oppressed. William, however, thinks it will be all right, that the Natives are discouraged by what has been done and will retire from the pah . . .

26 Mar On Thursday evening at 6 o'clock the Bush Rangers went out again. . . . The weather was perfect - two wonderful clear moonlight nights for their going out and coming in. Good Friday the day of the attack was a still, sunny, delicious day - some of us went out for a walk and climbed one or two of the hills Omata way to watch for smoke and to try and find out what was going on. People were standing about on the hills all day long. In the middle of the day we were relieved by a messenger coming in with the news that Kaitaki had been taken without loss of life on our side . . . An immense quantity of potatoes were found, sufficient to last the troops there for the winter. The Bush Rangers came in about nine in the evening - desperately tired for they were up before dawn . . . Corbett and the Otago Volunteers took the pah by a rush from this side. Our people were vexed not to be up at the time, but Bob Hurangi, their guide led them rather a longer way than he need unwittingly, and so they were too late.

1864/20

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, 25 Mar (Good Friday) 1864

About 4.30 started for Kaitake at last in earnest Bob & Komene in front with Wilson Hursthouse & I in attendance as interpreters ... It was too fine a morning & everything was painfully visible before we got under the shelter of the bush. Here we had to wait for a doctor - Master Webber having discovered at the last moment that his ankle was sprained. We made a very good exchange by getting Dr Jones a capital little man, who went along like a bush man . . . We were in plenty of time so far . . . but Bob thought it better to go up the ridge we were on until it met the Kaitake ridge ... At last we turned to come down & soon after this we heard sound of rifles & Maori guns . . . The last part of the way was by far the worst - thick supple jacks on a steep slope which we had to take sideways - add to this the firing in front which

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made us know that we ought to be out, and there is enough to make a man uncomfortable. I was in such a state of mind that what had taken us barely ten minutes I thought was a good half hour. We got to the edge of bush at last (10.50) & peered out. We heard a shot behind us (which was Lawson shooting old Kati) & then a bullet came over our heads from in front & I thought the Maoris had seen us, but directly after we heard a shout below whereupon Harry said 'Give a cheer & rush out' & out we went & could see Corbett's men in the pa ... I was behind but I instantly set off full speed, at the same time joining in the cry to those in front not to be rash, & by these means I was the second man in, but I only got a couple of little kits, some tobacco &c. It was a little pa about 15 yards square, double fence and earthworks, & had been . . . garrisoned by 20 or 30 men . . . After rummaging this, went over to the main pas. One was a mere sham ... no earthworks in either . . . Went down into the bush & had my dinner by the Wairau a nice little stream . . . Saw an interesting sight, a chase of two mounted men (but on foot) after a Maori in the fern on the slope of the hill opposite. I could not make out which was which but I saw one fire & the other roll over & then there was a struggle but finally our men emerged dragging the Maori out by the neck ... He fired twice at Tatton - once as he lay apparently dead . . . The 57th wanted to take him away & kill him, hanging him to the flagstaff I think was the notion, but they very properly threatened to shoot any man that touched him. Some of the mounted men got the flags. The flagstaff was a rewarewa - the cap (or truck) of it I brought away . . .

Su 27 Mar . . . Went out with Maria & Mary onto our Sunday hill & read a little In Mem [oriam] & talked of death . . .

Tu 29 Mar . . . We brought in about a dozen horses & 20 head of cattle some of them poor Patterson's which we had gone for. Got back about 1.30 & found that No 1 had been sent out to Puketotara because some Otago or Victoria men had heard Grayling blasting logs at Kescel's. Heard a man had been killed at Kaitake .. . Stewart an artillery man & two Otago men went down from the redoubt (near the upper pas) through the bush to the Wairau . . . Some Natives who were lying close by fired on them. Stewart was shot through the thigh breaking the bone. Bilton was hit . . . but got away far enough to be safe . . . The stream is only about 150 yards from the redoubt so men were soon down but they found Stewart frightfully tomahawked though not quite dead . . .

W 30 Mar . . . Saw Mahau & others & got particulars of the 'peace-making' yesterday. Parris & a lot of friendly natives went to Kopuataitu. Three pairs of envoys were sent up to try to induce some of the Manutahi people to come down & talk about peace. William King himself was there & Tamihana. The substance of their answer was 'Has peace been made with Waikato & Taranaki? If all the tribes were here we could talk of peace but we cannot.' I hear Parris himself wanted to go, but it is quite as well he did not. The last envoys (Ngata & some other) found the trenches manned, the people in fighting costume & some Ngatiruanuis among them. The Col. was waiting

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at Sentry Hill to receive the suppliants but they never appeared & upon the whole the supplication seems to have been rather on the other side . . . Harry, Bill & I had an interview with the prisoner Ihau in the gaol. He is not a bad looking man & talks willingly ... He says the clearing where we destroyed the food was called Te Tauanui 8 & belonged to Hoani Wharekawa. Two or three miles farther on there is another large one (maize, potatoes, kumara &c) called Te Tauahine raukura, farther on there is another Te Rdhia, & then where the line comes down to the beach another one Kopua, this side of the Hangatahua. There are a great many crops also at Mokotunu (his own place). I asked if they had any pa there? He said 'Kahore, kei te noho noa iho' 'No, they are simply living there' . . .

v 35

Jane Maria Atkinson to Maria Richmond - - - 25 Mar 1864

Great gloom was thrown over the departure of Harry's Company by a most melancholy accident. . . . The young Marshalls . . . were both bush rangers and very gallant, honest, steady young men much esteemed by . . . all who knew them . . . Ar was deeply affected . . . Wm Marshall ... is his front rank man in the corps. . . . The two Marshalls . . . had been at the taking of the Tutu on Monday, came into town together on Tuesday . . . because Wm's wife had given birth to a son in his absence. ... Edward leaves one little boy and his poor young wife is on the eve of her confinement.

Saturday March 26. The bush company did return at 9 o'clock last night . . . The pa was cut to pieces by the shells the fragments of which were strewed all about. Both W.S.A. and Decie rode up to Kaitake and the latter kindly lent Ar his horse and walked home. Half the town seems to have been on the battle field before night.

Of course Col Warre is in a state of immense glorification. Won't he write a flaming despatch! Capt Carthew and his company are to occupy the position. It is unlikely we shall hear of more murders now for by holding Kaitake we keep the Maoris off our land; hitherto they came down thro' the bush from there and retreated before our men could catch them.

1864/22

J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond (at Taranaki) - - - Nelson, 27 Mar 1864

I have delayed setting out for the Buller to get over the annual meeting of the Harmonic Society which is to be on Tuesday . . .

Annie has had several short attacks of head ache, but I believe the domestic dramas going on have rather done her good than otherwise ... I consider the three young girls here to be innocent good girls. . . .

We have had this subject of domestic servitude constantly forced on us since you left ... I was trying to make it clear to them that the free and frequent entertainment of young men by girls so young was a mischief for them not for me. ... I remarked on their want of protection, their want of any experienced and sober friend to give a

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proper tone to the talk. But at the same time I said we did not want to make the house a prison. You see the position of the servant girls in the house is totally different from sisters or daughters. Young men can come to our house to see the family because there is the protection of the elder members. . . . The servants are only nominally of the family, there ought to be some provision made that human relations should be possible with people outside without the mischief and danger which certainly attend much reception of nondescript young men by young girls alone. It is a poor sort of protection merely to drive away the society they will surely have one way or another, from our own doors. . . . Annie and I cannot talk together on the subject with patience. She tells me I am absurd and morbid. . . . The good servants at Charterhouse and Holloway were happy exceptional cases of women of tastes and habits superior not only to their class but in some respects to the class called above them. . . .

Friday morning. I. . . start this afternoon for Foxhill tonight. The Superintendent is going and we shall have one man to help us and several hangers on, so the cavalcade will be very extensive. Mr Barnicoat and I propose to go down to the mouth of the river and Mr Burnett has appointed to meet us at the Lyell, about two thirds way down the Buller and guide us over the coal field on Mount Rochfort . . . You may make your mind quite easy about me. The worst that will happen to me is to get a good wetting with rain and to spend a chilly night and that you know does me no harm. . ..

I am again Secretary of the Harmonic Society. I was very unwilling but thought the existence of the Society at stake. ... So my easiness makes me again an offering for the public welfare . . . We have reduced our debt by a third in the year just ended, and I hope to persuade the members to clear themselves entirely this year. . . .

I have received a very high compliment from Judge Johnston, upon my articles upon Gorst's letter. He wrote to Elliott to forward 12 copies of the Summary 9 containing them that he might transmit them to friends at home. The same articles furnished the Colonist with subject for an article headed 'conscious literary feebleness' ha ha!

1864/23

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, W 6 Apr 1864

... At 12.30 I was going down to attend the funeral of Sergt. Appleby (who died of wounds received at Kaitake) ... & at the boatsheds I met Richie & others running back. They told me I was to get my gun as we were going out somewhere . . . Some of our men had been killed at Ahuahu & others wounded had been left behind, including Cap. Lloyd of the 57th. Started about 1.15 got to Oakura . . . turning up inland just beyond Wairau. Here there were some pickets stationed to give the stragglers a chance of getting in. Hemi who was here went on with us to take us the way they had retreated by . . . Col. Warre . . . fired two shells to see if the Maoris were still about. Just after this we heard a cooey close by & then saw a man put his head up out of the fern about 80 yards off - he was one of the Melbourne men who had escaped &

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hidden. Two or three minutes afterwards another showed himself, also close by, & we could see another (chiefly by the sun on his bayonet) . . . Col. Warre's party . . . found six bodies lying on or close by . . . where the rifle pits are. Five of them had had their heads cut off & taken away, including Cap. Lloyd whose body was in the rifle pits. The bodies were in the carts when I came up but there were the pools of blood & their heads must have been fearfully hacked for near most of the pools there were bits of brain too, & a little farther on . . . there were portions of one poor fellow's bowels ... I found also a little thing . . . made of two small squares leather on one side & silk on the other, connected with black ribbon. On the silk on one square was I.H.S. & on the other M. It is worn round the neck (one square in front & one behind) - by strict Catholics, Free says, - as a sort of symbol I suppose. I gave it to him to find who the owner was & restore it to his friends. By this time the sun had set & we came away but with vengeance in our hearts ... It is difficult to imagine how the thing could have happened because our men had decidedly the advantage of position - but they must have been struck with panic. Got home at 1/4 to 12 & was glad to find Maria & Mary sitting up for me.

Th 7 Apr . . . Went into Town to get more particulars of yesterday's work & if possible some rational explanation of it. Some men who had been there say the 57th were 250 yards down the Hauranga road the rear guard was half way up the ridge & they were standing by the riflepits. The natives came up the hollow . . . firing & yelling, & there is no doubt a panic seized our men (that is all but two or three) & they fairly ran - the 57th by all accounts taking the lead but it should be said that they had no officer or sergeant with them. One man (Milne of No 12) says he shot a sandy or reddish haired Maori who rushed on him with a tomahawk whilst he was fixing his bayonet & before he could lock it & it fell off as he fired. The story sounds probable - a newcomer would not invent reddish (rusty) hair for a Maori (like Parenga King's for example) because it is only a rare exception. . . .

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Jane Maria Atkinson to Maria Richmond - - - Beach Cottage, 6 Apr 1864

It has been a trying day here, and I feel too much out of sorts to write to anyone but you. At 1/2 past 12 o'clock Arthur went out to join the Volunteers who had to attend the funeral of an Otago Volunteer ... in 10 minutes he came rushing in for arms and ammunition having met Richie who told him . . . that a party of 57th Regt and Melbourne men under Capt Lloyd had been surprised getting in firewood . . . Later in the afternoon we learnt that the party consisted of 90 men, of whom 21 it is said are killed wounded or missing . . . Capt Lloyd who also was seen last badly wounded, is one of the missing. His poor wife who lives next door to Aunt Helen has been miserable since he was posted at the Camp, for they had never before been separated during the 7 or 8 years of their married life, and seemed strongly attached. He had seen little if any active service, having spent some 9 years at the Cork depot training raw levies.

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We all feel that Col Warre's want of judgment is the real cause of this dreadful reverse, which quite undoes the good work of the last week of March. Fancy having two of the least experienced officers that are under him placed in the most dangerous position. Capt Lloyd . . . was ... a brave man but he has not been 3 months in N.Z. . . . Half the men under him were also novices, and, probably unacquainted with Maori tactics, might dread being surrounded and be seized with panic. Capt Carthew, who seems so scatterbrained and conceited as to be next door to mad, is in command at Kaitake! I do wish the General might be stirred up by this misfortune to place someone better fitted to command in Col Warre's place. If things are allowed to go on in this way the war must be indefinitely protracted.

All our people have been lamenting that the fine weather we have still was not used for destroying more native cultivations known to exist beyond Tataraimaka and driving the Maoris further south for the winter . . .

It is now 9 o'clock and the Rangers have not returned. ... I am not very uneasy about them because after any feat like today's the Maoris generally retreat in double quick time for fear the avengers should overtake them. Still I have a restless longing for news and a desire to move about the house all night rather than go to bed. . . .

Thursday Apr 7. About 10 o'clock last night, dearest Lely, Mr Pitcairn kindly called in to tell me that the Bush Rangers were on their way back and would probably reach town about midnight so Mary and I sat up till Arthur appeared, very grim and travel stained, poor creature, but not materially the worse for the hurried march. . . . Poor Capt Lloyd has paid the forfeit of his life for his inexperience and want of circumspection. . . . Ar says . . . the Volunteers would have given anything for such a chance - a fair encounter in open land and the advantage in point of position with our men. But it seems no proper watch was kept, the men were dispersed irregularly, some even sitting and smoking. Neither Capt Lloyd, who was shot in the first volley, nor any of the officers had the men in hand ... so that, feeling no guiding hand, they commenced a pell mell retreat, disgracing themselves by leaving the dead and wounded to be barbarously mutilated. . . . They have so far concealed from poor Mrs Lloyd that her husband's body was headless, admitting he had been tomahawked and getting her to consent not to see him. I cannot tell how she was answered this morning when she begged Dr Young to cut off some of his hair for her. Poor thing, she will go back to Ireland with her two orphans as soon as she has seen the spot where her husband is buried . . .

Friday 9 April. The Colonel has sent a little sailing vessel to Auckland to ask for more troops. This disaster has upset all his self-complacency about Kaitake.

1864/24

Mary Richmond to J. C. Richmond - - - New Plymouth, 6 Apr 1864

It is close upon 12 o'clock, dearest James, I am sitting up with Maria waiting for the Bush Rangers to come in. It is said they will be in at 12 . . . About nine the

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ambulance carts with dead and wounded came in . . . Amongst the dead was poor Captain Lloyd. The wounded that could not walk had been left. The savages mutilated and stripped the poor dead bodies and cut off their heads and took them away.

Thursday morning. Arthur came in at 12 looking very exhausted and upset. They had been five and twenty miles - they picked up many stragglers and brought in the dead bodies. No natives seen. It is an incomprehensible and miserable affair. The men must have been seized by a panic . . . The Maoris must have perceived their fear or they would never have come up and attacked them. They were not surprised, they saw the Maoris in time enough to have fired upon them.

Col. Warre is very much blamed for putting an inexperienced man like Capt Lloyd in the most dangerous and responsible place in the settlement. (The Melbourne Volunteers seemingly were very undisciplined and unused to the natives and country,) but still more for not having at once followed up the Kaitake success - let the Bush Rangers scour the country, destroy all the cultivations, drive the natives down to Warea. It is confidently believed this could have been easily done. ... It is miserable to think of all the lives that have been needlessly sacrificed.

1864/25

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, F 8 Apr 1864

The Rangatira came in from Auckland . . . brings important news - 121 Maoris killed at Orakaru & 33 taken . . . Gillies has come to settle our affairs . . . He says they (the Ministry) pull together very well, Fox being quite staunch. At one time Grey was going to change his Ministers as he did not find the present ones suit him, only there were difficulties in the way, the leaders of the opposition were in the south, &c. They offered him the use of a steamer to go & call upon them but upon the whole he declined. On a recent occasion when Gillies went to see about some business he said 'his life was a burden to him & that he should not be sorry if Providence (or the Duke of Newcastle) should remove him.' Very few others would be sorry either . . .

S 9 Apr . . . The paper sold well today (for the mail) - 1250 instead of 500. We tried the experiment of sending out to the camps & got rid of 60 that way . . .

Su 10 Apr . . . Began to read a pamphlet of Richard Hutton's on the Incarnation, with Maria & Mary. On Friday Gillies told me he 'expected to find Mataitawa taken - Col. Warre he knew had free leave to attack it.' This morng. the Col. showed him the General's letter authorising him to attack which had been approved of by the Ministers, but Grey had subsequently without speaking to his advisers minuted it 'not yet.' Gillies was in a great rage at this discovery, very naturally too. With regard to going down the coast . . . the Col. said he was very anxious to do it but thought it prudent to wait till some more men he was expecting had arrived. He evidently mistrusts his own men after Wednesday's affair, indeed he said that if the 57th had behaved as well as the Militia the thing would not have happened. It pained him greatly to have to say it but there seemed no doubt the 57th had fairly run away.

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M 11 Apr Went up to Harry's at 5.30 & marched out to Oakura & then on to Wairau where we turned inland & went across country to the foot of the Ahuahu spur . . . The soldiers . . . went round the foot of the spur on the right & destroyed some maize on the flat, & we went up the pathway on the left to where the pa had stood . . . When we got up there was nothing but Mace's dead horse & the remains of the pa which had been a very strong one much stronger than Kaitake because compact & not a tenth part as extensive ... I forgot to mention the line of rifle pits on the spur we went up - about half way up to the top. The spur is only a few feet across where they are & so they command both sides & being deep could only be commanded from above by good shooting & yet it was close by these that the rear guard was (with Cox) when the attack began, their empty cartridges were lying close by, and there must have been beautiful shooting at the wretches below . . .

Tu 12 Apr Went up to the race-course to see the mounted corps races. There were some very good runs not fast but well contested. Saw Frank Standish who is just up from Whanganui. He says the people there have bought & are buying many Taranaki cattle sent in by the Ngatiruanuis. He saw a bullock of Cap. King's killed & knows of about 20 others in the hands of settlers. He was the means of stopping the sale & seizing a horse of Henwood's taken by the Kaitake natives during the present war & by them passed on to Whanganui for sale. I spoke to Gillies about it in the evg. but he pretended (?) to think that it was more the settlers' business than the Govt's. . . .

Th 14 Apr Ought to have gone to parade but forgot it. Went in to Town & was surprised to hear that Harry had been appointed major & almost sorry on account of the company - feeling inclined to say 'The sequel of today unsolders all &c. This goodliest fellowship &c . . . '

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Jane Maria Atkinson to Maria Richmond - - - Beach Cottage, 10 Apr 1864

. . . An expedition, including of course the Bush companies, goes south at day break tomorrow, ostensibly in search of the 7th missing body. It is curious how my desire that our people should have an encounter with the Natives and inflict a severe loss on them is always at war with my dread that I may be called on to pay a price for it which would make life of little value. . . .

Mr Gillies says we must be prepared for the public and press in England going quite round in opinion and feeling about the war here because most of the military are so sick of it and so savage at being in N.Z. that they abuse the Colonists and call it a war of aggression etc. Of course now there are 10,000 troops out here the opinions sent home by the officers must have a wide influence.

1864/26

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Mary Richmond to Jane Maria Atkinson - - - 17 Apr 1864

I have tried at a great many shops for hats for . . . my children. All the fashion now is curious little brown sailor hats for children and grown up people. I do not know whether I should dislike them for children, but thay are expensive 10/6 each . . .

Tell Miss King please I have enquired about the Nelson cloth. Mrs Blackett says it is only fit for gentlemen's clothes. . . .

Poor James has been almost overwhelmed with business. Fancy his undertaking the secretaryship of the Harmonic besides his other secretaryship, commissionership and editorship. The whole week before the concert every moment of spare time was taken up with arrangements for it . . . The concert . . . was a very good one. . . .Jas sang a solo from Samson, 'Great Dagon has subdued a foe' a very spirited song suiting his voice exactly. He sang it very satisfactorily.

1864/27

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, Tu 19 Apr 1864

Started soon after midnight about 500 of us in all including soldiers - Major Butler in command, Harry second . . . There were so many carts that they made the pace wretchedly slow. However I had Tamati Keweora with me who gave me the names of the streams & places as we passed ... He also gave me a back over the rivers & so I kept my feet dry for the first day ... It was a magnificent morning, the sun rose as we came to Wareatea . . . Komene had gone on ahead to his own place over the river (Puketawa) & found it deserted, his wife & children having been taken away by the others ... He hoisted a bit of a white flag at the pa & came back. I did not know he had done this but thought the place was occupied & the people of it had put up the flag . . . We crossed the river, the mounted men bringing with them 10 or 11 horses - some fine ones among them . . . While still among the sandhills we saw a strange sight. Suddenly on the top of the ridge of sandhills inland of us there appeared a Maori woman waving a white flag. It was Komene's wife. He rode up to within two or three yards of her, dismounted & stood leaning on the neck of his horse. She sat down, began tangi-ing, waving her arm occasionally, & so they remained for some minutes & then he sat down by her. It was one of the oddest sights I ever saw but not without a touch of pathos in it . . . When we got back to camp we found 13 or 14 of the bullocks had got the 'toot' - i.e. had eaten tutu & so poisoned themselves. Two died of it & the rest were hardly fit for anything . . .

W 20 Apr Got under way about 8, came this side of Wareatea where the carts & one gun were left with 100 or so men, & with one gun & about 250 men we turned inland. After about a mile we came to one of the little 'molehills' ... we could see Paiakamahoe, the headquarters of Parenga King & Minarapa until lately. It was a big place but looked deserted. They fired a few shells into it from the Armstrong gun the range being 1300 or 1400 yards ... as no signs of life were visible we went on leaving it on our right . . . Came on till we got opposite Paiakamahoe here we (No 2) crossed the river rummaged all the whares, destroyed the remaining crops . . . &

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finally burnt the whares, of which there were a good many, the place had not been fortified. ... In the evg. amused myself & friends with looking over a file of Maori letters 10 Harry had got at Paiakamahoe. One from William King was specially interesting . . .

Th 21 Apr Struck tents & loaded the carts & about 8.30 moved off. At Hauranga the carts were halted & left with half the men & about 250 of us went up the road to Ahuahu . . . After a long climb we came out into the clearing & made a rush for a whare we saw . . . Beside this whare we found 3 others in the bush ... In these there were a great number of boxes, red pine chiefly with locks & hinges. There was one, an iron one painted yellow & marked - Mr Broughton No 4 - no doubt Miss Briggs's taken from the Lord Worsley. There was also a scrap book with pictures in it & some photographs & I got a little bottle apparently out of a dressing case. I found a large kit full of Bibles & prayer books (Maori) including one with Hoani Wiremu Hipango's name in it no doubt taken from him when he tried to go overland to Whanganui . . . Some of them brought away 3 of the boxes, the rest were burnt in the whares . . . While we were up the hill some of Hirst's men found parts of the body of the missing man (killed with Cap. Lloyd on the 6th April). The upper part of the body was found the head cut off & the body below the breast-bone. One leg was also found with part of the flesh of the thigh & calf cut off . . . With regard to destroying maize we came through a field of it which Cap. Woodall & the 57th had destroyed & there it was nearly every plant cut off just above the cobs, which were thus left to ripen undisturbed.

S 23 Apr Fell in at 4 a.m. & marched out (both companies) to Martins clearing . . . got there about day break but could find nothing. After a while . . . tracks were found & we got a sniff of wood smoke . . . When we got to a little fern patch there were tracks all about us as if they had been pig hunting . . . We came out into Rossiter's just where the Mangorei runs into the Waiwakaiho. The sticks were lying in the grass that they had used in crossing, there was the skin of a sheep killed apparently yesterday. They had gone over the Mangorei bridge & on the other side of it the ground where at all soft was trodden completely down so that there must have been a great number of them who passed along. They turned into the bush again on this side of Papamoa & crossed into the 'mutton track.' We did not go any farther as Harry thought they must have gone yesterday ...

M 25 Apr Went down to Komene's with Bill & had a long talk with him & his wife . . . about the crops still left between it [Te Kopua] & Te Tutu. She says there is a large quantity of maize still standing not yet ripe at Tauahineraukura she does not know how much but it is 'a very large piece.' The potatoes are all dug she says & hidden away . . . She gave us some news about the attack on Capt. Lloyd's party at Ahuahu & the cause of it. They were at Te Kopua & their chief prophet Hepanaia told them that if they went up some pakehas should be given into their hands (me te hau e kawe mai) & they should cut off their heads. We asked her whether they had

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eaten any of the flesh, she said no, but after the heads had been cut off Hepanaia & Hoani Arawhititaua licked the blood off the tomahawks. She did not like owning this & I think it is quite possible that they may have eaten some of the flesh. . . .

Tu 26 Apr The Col. had a long talk with Harry today chiefly about 'the press' (i.e. the Herald) which he says is doing a great deal of harm by 'its unfair strictures' or 'unjust severity'. . . 'sowing discord between the soldiers & civilians' - which sounds curious after being charged lately by Chilman T. King & Devenish with being little better than a military organ. Harry told him of this which made him open his eyes. In fact my main object in all accounts of military affairs was to give the plain facts in the way least likely to create discord. The truth is that he & his men are ashamed of Ahuahu & are therefore inclined to be quarrelsome over it, just as the 65th over Waireka. While we were talking together at the gate Bill came up & told us that he had been 'suspended' by Parris for going to Komene with me, which is styled 'giving information to editors of newspapers' . . .

S 30 Apr Went into Town about 10, heard there had been heavy firing at Sentry Hill, presently got warned ... to fall in and march. When we got to Waiwakaiho we met George Lethbridge who told us the Maoris 300 or 400 of them had come up to attack . . . Sentry Hill & had been of course driven back & a great many of them killed . . . When we got to Sentry Hill they had collected as many bodies as they could find & had laid them in three rows 31 in all - besides three taken wounded Big Joe (Hoera Pirere), Wi Patene his brother & Te Meihana. . . . Col. Warre first of all was going straight up to Mataitawa . . . Finally he would not go at all. After we had pottered about for an hour or more he sent Henare Matena up to Manutahi with a white flag to offer them their dead if they liked to fetch them, but they declined. . . . When it was nearly sunset we were sent out to look through the fern, Hare te Hokai being reported missing. All down the road & in the fern near it there were pools of blood, & cooked potatoes & corn strewed about (as each man apparently had carried a day's rations with him) & kits marked with blood & scraps of clothing. Harry found a flint musket of American make & Hunt a rifle & two or three tomahawks were also found. Among the bodies was that of old Parenga Kingi, Cucumber King or Ajax as James used to call him. His well known top-knot was cut off bit by bit by the men as a remembrance of the old gentleman. Manahi was also there, so that of three brothers two were killed (he & Wi Patene) & one (Big Joe) wounded. It was an ugly sight especially those killed by the shells . . . They marched straight up the road & seem to have thought the redoubt empty as Cap. Shortt kept all hid but the sentry. They halted about 150 yards off doubtful, & then fire was opened on them but they stood it well . . . One of them was shot less than 20 yards from the redoubt. . . . Parenga King had a handkerchief round his neck taken from Dooley, one of the 57th killed at Ahuahu.

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Hon T. B. Gillies, Secretary for Crown Lands, to C. W. Richmond - - -Auckland, 23 Apr 1864

You mustn't suppose that I have taken the registrarship permanently - only as a makeshift to polish off some half dozen titles here that were in limbo for want of a registrar. Two causes operate to prevent my taking it permanently - first I'm bound to stick by my colleagues and see them through with this war business, especially as we all work heartily and fully together to the great annoyance of G.G. who tries on all occasions to sow dissension between us but can't succeed. We are having constant rows with him - we determinately and deliberately taking our own views and acting on them as being responsible, and he thwarting and nagging, threatening and whining. At present he threatens to get a new ministry which we coolly tell him he is at liberty to do as soon as he likes or can. Fox and Whitaker work together admirably. There has never been the slightest difference of opinion between them nor I may say between any of us. Fox is, if anything, the most belligerent especially when G.G. shows fight while Whitaker exercises his wonderful ingenuity in writing minutes that say neither too little nor too much and stop every gap against a thrust.

My other cause is that whether it be the climate or whatever it is I feel to be growing decidedly lazy and averse to work more than I can help and would rather sit down quietly than go knocking about the Colony as I would have to do in organising the new system. Besides I confess to dislike being a govt official and would gladly go out of the whole thing now if I could honorably, but I must now see it through.

I was down at Taranaki the other day for 8 days - rode all over the country from Waitara to Tatara with Col. Warre and as luck would have it on a pony which once belonged to your friend Wi Kingi. I was much delighted with the country and am not surprised at the tenacious affection shewn for it by its settlers. I saw all your friends, Atkinsons and Richmonds, who all were well. . . .

P.S. We have finished the Waikato campaign and have now had to go in for a dash at Tauranga instead of Taranaki as we intended. Tauranga won't take long to polish off I think and then for Taranaki and Wanganui.

1864/28

Jane Maria Atkinson to Emily E. Richmond - - - New Plymouth, 10 May 1864

I feel now too that unless I can get Arthur out of the Bush Rangers I should be miserable away from home. He said he must quit the service when he became Mr Woon's partner, now he professes to be remaining in as reporter for the paper. He is at once full private and a sort of Russell or Kinglake.

1864/29

J. C. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Nelson, 12 May 1864

... I have never known a climate on the whole equal to that of Blind Bay. . . . You will not be quite out of the rattle of the shovel, long torn and sluice box, for we

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are very golden just now, but though we live in the town there is even now a profound quiet compared to Dunedin or even Auckland. . . .

I have spent a good deal of my summer in inspecting the Nelson country, a most strange country it is, such a boiling pot of mountains is not to be seen in many places I should think, and it is very hard work humping your blankets and tucker . . . On the tramp along the Buller and its tributaries you must reckon on being wet through half your time ... I find the country more capable than I had thought it. ... There are some lovely oases of level amidst the desert of mountains, but they require patient following out of a plan to make them open . . .

I hope to send an oil picture or two to the Exhibition. I have a great many sketches of one sort or another.

If one could get out of the way of the N.Z. political world, general and provincial, without leaving one's home it would be a great blessing to make these tours. I am dreadfully sick of the feebleness and littleness of our public men. Whit[aker] is a fine able man but he is one who 'makes it his boast that he never went up in a balloon'. Or if indeed he takes broad views and conceives ideas and purposes, he makes it a religion to keep very safe within the immediate present and 'practical' so called . . . Russell is a pettifogger; Gillies, one of a higher and more generous tone; Fox is in an absurd position and Wood is a blockhead. . . .

I am in high glee at the judgments of Lushington and the Privy Council in the Williams cases. I am half inclined to become a churchman when I see the church clothes stretching so. By the bye I was elected to Synod the other day, which gave me the occasion to make a profession of faith. The dearth of men to fill the multitude of our offices here makes great fun at times. Some Nelson Volunteers also want me for a captain, but as I declined military dignities in New Plymouth where there was a chance of death and glory I don't think of offering for carpet knighthood at my time of life. Oh come and laugh and pick up crumbs of comfort in this strange heroless, leaderless world, or let me at least find 'St Paul is at my side'.

1864/30

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, F13 May 1864

. . . The news from Whanganui is important. The Pipiriki natives are threating to kill the settlers. They have got Cap. Lloyd's head & either drink out of it or steep it in water & drink that as a pledge of hostility to us . . .

M 16 May Went up to Harry's at 8 as No 4 section was to have gone up to Smart's to hold a post mortem examination on some sheep killed there, but the Col. did not think it was safe for less than the whole company to go & so as the weather look[ed] very bad we went home again . . .

S 21 May . . . Col. Warre has come into collision with the Prov. Govt, by refusing to allow a stockyard to be erected at Oakura. As it is, settlers' & friendly natives' cattle are killed by the contractors & no redress can be had & the Supt. was going to

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put up a stockyard to have the cattle inspected before killing but the Col. forbids it under martial law - probably only because his vanity is touched at his leave not being asked . . .

M 23 May . . . Went up to the Office, saw F. Rawson there. He is just back from Waikato where he has been 'own correspondent' to the New Zealander. He says the Waikato country is very poor till you get to near Rangiaohia. At Koheroa hilly & broken, at Rangiriri swampy, and about Ngaruawahia the soil is composed chiefly of pumice sand - hopeful that for military settlers. He says the affair at Tauranga was a disgraceful rout. The troops (43rd & sailors) actually had taken the pa, the natives as usual having run out as they ran in & had put down their guns to plunder when the natives, being driven back by the 68th, came back again & then the soldiers ran away 'howling'. This is Creighton's (private) account of it who was present. He told Rawson they came away 'howling' & passed him saying 'they would all be killed, they would all be killed' . . .

Th 26 May Last night we elected Jonas captain of No 2 & therefore had to elect a lieutenant in his place. Free & Carrick were the candidates & they got respectively 40 & 42 of those in the room but there were a good many at outposts &c, so this morng. I got my poney (instead of going on escort) & rode down to Omata, Oakura & Kaitake (where I had dinner) to get the votes of the men there, then came back. 11

v 35

A. S. Atkinson to Mary Richmond - - - Taranaki, 15 May 1864

By the way, James's name is objected to as a voter. Is it possible he was qualified as a householder? . . . Ask James what I am to do for him.

1864/32

A. S. Atkinson to J. C. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 2g May 1864

. . . The melancholy end of our hopes - Fox has been here ... he has of course appointed Carrington to (mis) conduct the road work ... It seems to me too absurd to suppose that there is no suitable work for you here by which you might get 'the grain by which a man may live'. If Henry were to give up his commissionership you would be ready for that though I would rather not see you a govt underling again. Then within a year there is the superintendent election . . . There must be plenty else to be done - for instance as an importer, as an accountant (if you do not think that too mean) and probably as a surveyor when the military come to be put upon their land, and then there is newspaper work - not only correspondence, which is worth a trifle, but I think I could get you a £100 a year for an article a week. . . . When the war is over you will be able to make something out of your land or perhaps even before. ... I do not want you to do anything rash in the first place, but merely to come and look and consider. . . . You will see my notion is this - that life is short . . .

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and we shall too soon find ourselves on opposite shores of the gulf when we shall perforce live separate, but in the meantime it is only rational to cultivate the arts together and

which you can translate suitably to Mary who would not understand its meaning if given literally.

1864/33

Jane Maria Atkinson to Maria Richmond - - - Beach Cottage, 29 May 1864

Rather than allow us a little quiet the whole regiment must move. The greatest part of the 57th are under orders for Wanganui. Two companies left with Mr Fox on the 25th, and the steamer returned from Wanganui yesterday for more . . .

Mr Fox has reinstated Fred Carrington, so our hopes for James are knocked on the head. When asked why he had put a man so ill qualified into the place, he said, 'the income was too poor to induce a properly qualified man to take it, that one could not be had under £1500 per annum. . . .

The Gen. Govt, seems in universal disfavour here now. There seems a general suspicion that they are not single minded men . . . Mr Whitaker has on such a very large pair of wheels constantly impelling him on the road to ruin if he does not make money by all ways that one can imagine unless he has a higher standard of morality than is common in the world, that he must be tempted to use office to help No 1. . . .

1864/34

Maria Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Dunedin, 29 May 1864

What a dreadful shock was the news of the elopement of Dr D! It seems to me perfectly incredible and I cannot yet divest myself of the idea that there is some delusion in it - to leave his wife without the means of support and to bring desolation and misery into another family - a man who could look you so straight in the face as he could! He must have gone mad. . . .

You say we seem to like Mr [H. S.] Chapman. Well, he was not at all a troublesome guest, he seemed rather too contented in the midst of chaos ... He is a man of extensive information, has seen, read and written a great deal and abounds in amusing anecdotes and stories, but he is very egotistical, thinks everybody belonging to him paragons, his children talked at eight months, one of his sons writes most elegant Latin verses, etc, etc, and he has always a story to match and overmatch any other person's story and can scarcely wait to hear anyone else out. Evidently takes little interest in what is said from desire to narrate his own tale.

1864/35

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Mary Richmond to A. S. Atkinson - - - Nelson, 2 Jun 1864

The thought of death for myself and others always, as you know, presses heavily upon me and lately it has been very oppressive to me. I have been made to realize it by having to visit a poor suffering woman who is dying by a slow dreadful disease. If you have any thoughts to suggest to help me to look forward to death calmly and trustfully I wish you would - outward suggestions do sometimes help - they often give confidence and strength to our own thoughts. Two passages from Shakespeare and Bacon come often to my mind and help me: 'Death 'tis a fearful thing, but shamed life a hateful', and 'He that dies in an earnest pursuit is like one wounded in hot blood who scarce feels his hurt. A mind fixed and bent upon somewhat that is good doth avert the dolours of death.' These thoughts really help me.

1864/36

A. S. Atkinson to J. C. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 9 Jun 1864

Last week Woon was talking to me about the necessity of increasing our 'staff', and said he wanted an accountant. I said we had not got work enough for an accountant unless he could do something else besides bookkeeping, to which he agreed. . . . I therefore proposed to him that you should be appointed editor (that is, write an article a week), keep the accounts and that I should do the rest. This he heartily approved of. ...

I am commissioned by him (i.e. by the firm) to offer you £150 a year for the above services ... If you come you will be doing a very great public good . . . You will make life much better to us your friends. You will greatly improve the character of our paper and enable us to keep the lead we have got. ... If you take the heavy part of the work, the leader . . . you will set me free to attend to the reporting, subediting, summarising and 'local matter' . . . You could do the work in a day or at most a day and a half a week and leave the rest of your time for other work . . . The Revd. Brown will guarantee 20 day pupils at £20 a year each to any competent teacher. . . .

I don't see why you are bound to stay at Nelson till you have accomplished all you have undertaken. . . . What claim has Nelson on you over this place?

1864/37

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, S 12 Jun 1864

Read & did a little shorthand. In the afn. Dr Mackinnon called - I was asking him about the Alma . . . We also got talking about the affair at the Gate Pa at Tauranga ... he then gave me an account of it. He was present & went up with the assaulting party (as surgeon) & got within 80 yards of the pa. They got into the pa without difficulty, only 21 being hit in going up, then the panic arose & they rushed out & after that the men were in such abject terror that he believes if half a dozen Maoris had charged then the whole force would have run. After the assaulting party had been driven out of the pa, as he was attending to the wounded who were lying

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about one Maori (afterwards known to be Reweti) came outside the pa with a gun in one hand & a tomahawk in the other to within 50 yards of where he was. He called to the men of the covering party who were lying near 'Will none of you shoot him?' & actually beat them with his cane & could not get one of them to get up & shoot. At last he seized one man's rifle & took a shot & missed, he called for another but no one would give it him & he went & took & missed again & with the third he shot him through the right leg. The Dr afterwards dressed his wounds but he died of them.

M 13 Jun Letters from Mary and James. They do not accept our offer but James wants to keep it open till the summer and Mary wants to consider it a little. James thinks his present expenses are £500 a year and of course £150 would not go far towards that.

W 15 Jun Went up to Harry's at 9.30. On my way there met Porikapa. He is a near relation of Te Hira who came over from 'the enemy' on Friday last . . . He says they have moved their women & children away from Te Kopua to some place inland of Warea, but there are large quantities of potatoes at Te Kopua, Te Ahipuku & Tauahineraukura. I reported this to Harry that he might incite the Col. to go down, or rather to let us go . . .

S 18 Jun . . . Went up to Halse's with Woon and signed the deed of partnership ... It takes effect from the 1st January last. I paid him the £700, or rather £675 as he owed me a quarter's salary . . .

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A. S. Atkinson to J. C. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 19 Jun 1864

In urging you to come back here it was not because I thought £150 would be enough for you to live on but I felt no doubt that with that certain you could make what more was necessary . . . When I came here it was on a certainty of £50 a year and my family then was almost as large as yours is now and I had not several things necessary for life such as a piano and a classical library, which you have in perfection - but I certainly never regretted it . . .

1864/38

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, Tu 21 Jun 1864

. . . About 11 the friendly Maoris came by in procession on their way to the Col's . . . A good many of them were half naked & some even of the women were stripped to the waist. One man Watene who played the leading part of 'hitere' or 'taki', had for his whole dress a sugar bag (or matting) round his middle. They danced the 'putu' -a sort of mild triumph for the defeat at Sentry Hill. It would have been ill omened to have danced the puha or regular war dance . . .

Th 23 Jun Dr Mackinnon came to tea, also Bill, Eliza & Decy & Harry & Jane came in afterwards . . . The Dr says this country is remarkable for the rapidity &

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ease with which wounds heal. He gave us some good anecdotes - among others how he has made old Cap. King bring out his old port, much to the disgust of Mrs King who is a most perfect miser . . .

W 29 Jun ... In the evg. attended general meeting of Volunteers to consider what should be done with the back allowance for uniform amounting for the two companies to about £500. We decided with very few dissentients to invest it as a permanent fund for the good of the corps, to provide a yearly sum for prizes &c.

F 1 Jul ... In the evg. attended special meeting of Council called to pass an ordinance to relieve Antonio, who did not pay for his license yesterday as he should & so the 'Taranaki' was shut up today. The ordinance extends the time of payment 7 days on payment of £10 extra. . . .

Su 3 Jul . . . James Macky [MacKay] came ashore & I talked a little with him about Native affairs. He, as many others, thinks the Ngapuhis in a doubtful state - that is they would side with the stronger party, which happily is ours. He says also that the Ministry had great difficulty in getting Grey's consent to confiscating land enough even for the 4 Waikato Regiments . . .

W 13 Jul . . . Went with Gillies to Henry's ... He says that Ministers have strongly recommended that the troops should be brought down here & to Whanganui & operations commenced at once & they have threatened to resign if the Govr. does not adopt their advice, so we may expect a move before long. He gave me a good anecdote . . . Grey at one time wished to liberate the Maori prisoners taken at Rangiriri: 'there was no case on record in any British colony where such a thing had been done as to keep natives prisoners' &c. Fox replied very neatly 'that such cases had occurred even in New Zealand - he might remind His Excellency of Te Rauparaha!' This Grey thought 'very ungenerous.' 12

v 35

Jane Maria Atkinson to Mary Richmond - - - New Plymouth, 18 Jul 1864

Did I tell you that Arthur is struck off duty, pay and rations temporarily, this is satisfactory in a way of course. . . . He found it dull work to form covering parties for men building block houses, in places where the Maoris are sure not to molest our men. He makes a great moan at the loss of 35/- a week, but as his share of the Herald profits seem to be quite a clear £400 per annum we can afford the sacrifice.

I can't tell whether the prosperity of this place is merely spasmodic; but I fancy even Grey and Cardwell will not hinder the confiscation of Ngatiruanui and Taranaki lands, so there will be something solid to work upon when peace comes, more likely to lead to real lasting wealth than any gold fields . . .

Rents are very high and houses . . . not to be had . . . There are new shops and merchants without end, and most of them are said to be doing well.

1864/39

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A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, M 1 Aug 1864

... In afn. saw Tipene who told me that Penetana had just come in from Mimi with the news that 200 of Waikato had arrived at Mokau & that W. King with another 100 was behind. Saw Harry. He says the Col. is going to take out a grand army tomorrow to dispute the passage of the Urenui with them, in fact put some salt on their tails.

Being still off duty, discussed with Maria the propriety of going but find she is decidedly averse to it, which is bad.

Tu 2 Aug . . . saw the great expedition start, about 500 all told - 70th, 57th & Bushrangers . . . Felt very uneasy when I saw them going & found I was staying at home myself. Got a little consolation from Matiu te Huia, who declares that the supposed taua (or war party) is really a heke (or migration) of women & children, but he is not altogether to be trusted . . .

F 5 Aug . . . Heard the great expedition was coming in without having encountered the enemy except that the friendly natives had fallen in with three of them (including Wetere Takerei owner of the Parininihi) & shot one, Hone Pukoru.

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Jane Maria Atkinson to Maria Richmond - - - Beach Cottage, Taranaki, 5 Aug 1864

We have been looking about for a temporary help . . . but the place is worse off than ever since the removal of so many of the women of the 57th. A good many of the wives of the Melbourne Military Settlers have arrived but these are chiefly young married people with small families whom they cannot leave . . .

The Wonga Wonga has just touched and left the mail ... I should not dread the withdrawal of the troops, but anything more treacherous than the conduct of the Home Govt, in luring on the Colony to such efforts and expenditure for the final settlement of this Maori question, and then placing in the hands of such a man as Grey the power to make all the sacrifice useless, and much worse than useless, I never heard of ... I try to hope there is mistake somewhere, tho' James distinctly says that the Governor is told to make peace somehow, without the consent of the Ministry if he cannot obtain it . . .

It is said that when the General was all ready with troops to come here to finish the summer with a campaign against the Southern Natives, that the Auckland interest in the Ministry diverted him to Tauranga where there was nothing demanding troops, no lives or property of Europeans endangered and that it was done that the land there might be taken, as it was wanted for Auckland Prov. . . .

7 Aug ... I had a skirmish with Arthur, who tho' off duty for a time of course wished to go as he scented fighting. ... I do wish he would agree to remain quiet till Xmas. It seems to me only a reasonable request of mine that he should, and I consider no wife was ever more unrequiring than I have been. I have let him bush range for months uncomplainingly when I believe all the other wives of our set would have stood out against their husbands' indulgence in such pursuits or amusements,

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but Ar seems to deem me the most unreasonable of women if ever I endeavour to interfere with his violent propensity for fighting (NB Strong sense of duty he calls it, but I say humbug to this). I don't mean to say I would have him keep out of all the fighting in this cause, but just now it would be particularly trying to have his life endangered for private and public reasons.

1864/41

A. S. Atkinson, - - - Appendix to 5 Aug 1864 (J. M. Atkinson to Maria Richmond.)

The remarks in the text are false and injurious. It is true my sphere of duty is a humble one but not the less real I suppose on that account. Fighting is now pretty generally admitted to be the first law of nature but I should be quite willing to do as Maria and other kind hearted girls advise and leave my share of it to the others whose wives and sisters as is well known do not care about them. The author in common fairness should moreover have stated that I have agreed to keep out of danger for the next four months, taking only a course of slight skirmishes which the doctors recommend as an excellent tonic for bracing nerves and fibres relaxed by distilling sixpenny wisdom for the multitude.

1864/40

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, S 6 Aug 1864

Went up to Harry's & got an account of the expedition. On Wednesday the Bushrangers went up to within 400 or 500 yards of Te Arei & saw them walking about on sentry inside ... On Thursday they crossed the Waitara by Matarikoriko & camped on the other side, about 700 in all waiting for the enemy 'to come & be killed' . . . The Col's orders were to start at 3.30 next morning & Harry got his men ready & went to report it to Col. Warre, who then told him that he had changed his mind & did not mean to start till daylight - 'he thought it imprudent to go earlier as they might fall into an ambush'. As . . . usual Col. Warre's heart failed him when the time came for acting. So they started at daylight, went on about 5 miles & then, rain having set in, turned down to the beach & came home. There is a cause pending between Militia & regulars. Cap. Ralston of the 70th refused to obey an order of Harry's though Col. Warre had told him to take Cap. R's company as a support. Harry thereupon told him he was under arrest, & the Col. subsequently backed him. It is to be referred to the General.

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Robert Pitcairn to C. W. Richmond - - - Omata Stockade, 7 Aug 1864

When at Otago I promised to let you know if I heard of young Eyton. About three weeks since I was much surprised to hear he had turned up here and soon after met him in the street. He had been at Auckland for some time in the Volunteer Cavalry, and getting tired of that he had come here and joined the Bushrangers. . . .

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Now I am at Outpost I don't see much of any of them, for when I do go to town I am generally detained a long time at the orderly room and so have not much time to look people up. We (Military Settlers) 13 are now quite separate from the old Militia, and in many ways are under much stricter discipline . . .

We all expect that this coming season will see the end of the war, unless the Governor and Messrs. Mills, Buxton and Co persuade the Natives not to give in. ... By the time we get well into debt the English people will begin to have some ideas on New Zealand matters and not be looking to Exeter Hall for guidance.

1864/42

A. S. Atkinson to C. W. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 18 Aug 1864

We have been considering the Hurworth 'land question', and have indeed engaged to buy Frank Ronald's land (170 acres). [He] was going to sell to a stranger (the Rev H. H. Brown) and to prevent this we have undertaken to buy it - the price being £3 an acre. . . . You will perhaps think I am rather rash to be buying land now . . . but upon the whole I think it is right. In the first place 125 acres is not enough for a decent farm when it comes to be cleared. 2nd. Timber at Hurworth will be valuable before long as being the most come-at-able of almost any about, and 3rd. I look upon investments in land as a sort of life insurance . . . there is something substantial to fall back upon. . . .

1864/43

E. W. Stafford to F. D. Bell - - - Christchurch, 24 Aug 1864

... I don't understand why we should be brought in amongst McPherson's general creditors . . . His proposal to surrender as assets the stables built on our land, without having any lease for them or the land ... is preposterous! He might as well assign the station.

Unless you can convince yourself that the . . . partnership will gain materially by keeping an hotel it is much better to close it and let the run revert to its normal condition of a stock breeding or wool producing run pure and simple. If ... a decided gain can be made out which would, as is probable, be increased by Cobb's coaches calling en route to the Dunstan, it might be worth while for us other stock owners . . . to offer that Coy. (e.g. Hoyte and Co.) some inducement to pass our station - at least in the summer months. . . .

1864/44

T. B. Gillies to H. A. Atkinson - - - Auckland, 27 Aug 1864

. . . We are hard at work trying to get the Genl. to move to Taranaki, but a winter campaign in N.Z. seems to carry with it an idea of all the horrors of a march to Moscow. In other things we go screwing along trying to make a fair wind out of a

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foul one and get ahead little by little but it is most harassing work to be always fighting against the obstructiveness and guarding against the stupidity and slipperyness of certain quarters. . . .

P.S. Why does not Warre go in at Mataitawa and bag the lot there at present? A glorious opportunity to distinguish himself.

1864/46

Jane Maria Atkinson to Maria Richmond - - - Beach Cottage, 28 Aug 1864

I see that tho' you have hitherto believed you were very safe, and known you you were as comfortable as you have ever been in N.Z. since living in this house you have now your doubts as to whether you were not living under a delusion. . . .

I wish you to consider the matter under two heads; the first, physical, I would divide into the two heads of safety and comfort. . . . From Col Warre downwards in rank and from Major Atkinson downwards in courage no one could find a person in the province who would consider that your life was in more danger from the Maoris here than at Dunedin or Nelson. Then as to comfort . . . how many deprivations [did] 'the state of siege' inflict on you last year? . . . Since you left 50 men traverse the country in all directions within a 10 mile radius of town and cannot find even an enemy's track. ... As far as your walks and rides go you will have room enough; then the sea is not at present blockaded and our supplies are very excellent and prices not higher than in other gold mining provinces . . .

As to the sentimental or psychological side each individual must vary, and if I thought you had suffered from over excitement or over anxiety whilst the times were much more exciting and dangerous for our men folk than now, ... I should beg you to remain away at any rate till the end of summer. . . . Had you and I moved to Nelson ... we might have learnt to consider Arthur, Henry and the rest as living over a brimstone pit, which would hardly have tended to soothe our feelings and keep our minds at ease. I believe Arthur won't go out often, if at all now, with the Bush Rangers. Harry has refused to take him back for duty. He says it is all nonsence Ar's going out now he has a business to attend to, that he Harry should not dream of doing it now if he had any regular profession by which to earn his bread. Arthur is driven away from the patriotic plea by this and says that ... he requires to be present at any engagement with the enemy as his 'Own Correspondent' having no other competent person to report proceedings for the Herald. . . .

1864/47

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, Th 8 Sep 1864

The Alexandra came in from Auckland with bullocks and horses of the Land Transport Corps and military stores and returns tomorrow for troops, so we shall see the beginning of the end before long.

S 10 Sep In the afternoon had my first game of cricket this season. Sergt Bentley

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was there and played with one arm and capitally too, showing what he had been. He was shot through the arm at Ahuahu when Cap Lloyd was killed, it will never be any use to him again.

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Jane Maria Atkinson to Mary Richmond - - - Beach Cottage, New Plymouth, 9 Sep 1864

I quite agree with Annie on the importance of securing such a man as Mr Maclean for schoolmaster here, but I fear the place is not yet ripe for it... I shall do my best to make Arthur keep up an education agitation, and he is willing enough to do it. He fears there are not men enough with means and will to establish a proprietary school. I think Government ought 'to step in', as Em used to say, because it is important for the good of the Colony that the rising generation should be well and solidly educated, and yet there are so many ignorant parents, who tho' they could afford good pay think one school as good as another, and so choose the cheapest, that we shall have always a number of wretched schools where the children learn nothing well, until Govt, establishes a good one, to be either free or for as low a payment as the poorest private school. . . .

The Alexandra with stores and transport corps is in. I suppose the General will follow shortly. We have lovely weather for a campaign - I hope it will be a short and decisive one.

1864/47 a

J. C. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Nelson, 11 Sep 1864

I am of an acquiescent spirit but never reconciled to the constant separation of our late years and it would be an unspeakable pleasure to me to meet you . . . again. Life is so terribly swift and fragile, and for all that poets and preachers say the bodily presence of one's friends is oh how far beyond the silent images our imaginations conjure up. ...

We have been having a wonderful round of seasons here. The greatest grumbler can say nothing evil of the weather in Nelson for twelve months past. I think it has been perfectly adapted to the constitution of the Anglo Saxon race, which if it wants skating can have it by going into Tarn dale or some other mountain residence. If the seat of government is to be Cook's Strait I have a very decided opinion that Nelson should be the spot on account of its climate and pleasantness to live in. It wants Society, which headquarters and time may bring, but it has all the physical requisites sufficiently, and some of them in super abundance. . . .

1864/48

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, S 24 Sep 1864

. . . The Revd. H. H. Brown told me that in a conversation with Mrs Warre she had asked him (as the Colonel had previously asked the Supt.) why the settlers did not go back upon their farms - the natives were evidently well disposed! ! She got quite

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excited over it when he tried to show her her views were unreasonable. 'She should like the settlers to be left to face the Maoris' and 'they (the settlers) will never get the Waitara as long as they live' she means as long as Grey lives supreme . . . The truth is that Grey corresponds with the Col. & has hood-winked him as was inevitable.

F 30 Sep ... At 5 went to hear the Returning Officer (Willcocks) declare the result of the poll in the Omata Prov Council election. I was the whole of the audience. For Brooking 9 for St George 7 - out of 111 on the roll.

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Jane Maria Atkinson to Maria Richmond - - - Beach Cottage, New Plymouth, 27 Sep 1864

There is again talk of the Assembly meeting, it seems really necessary the Colony should do something for there must be a dead lock before long. Harry and Arthur only wish all the troops with Sir G.G. were going next week, the men here in the civilian force are more than enough to finish the war at once in this settlement, but whilst Governors, Generals and Ministers wrangle or hesitate, the natives plant crops, collect ammunition and make ready at their ease for a fresh campaign . . .

The Kings have Renan's Life of Christ. . . . M. Taylor has expressed a desire to send [it to] me. ... in the original, the French is described as so beautiful and eloquent. . . .

As to Harry's descent into Free-Masonry, I have not heard much about it. There was a little quizzing when he entered and Jane said he had joined for fear he might have an evening at home; he was so busy before he seldom had time. I never thought there was any harm in it, tho' in ordinary circumstances little good either, except to spend a little more money. I fancy Harry as a public character accepted the offer to be made one of the order to keep himself in close relations with the worthies of N.P . . .

1864/49

Maria Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Dunedin, 28 Sep 1864

The performance last night was Don Giovanni. Wm did not expect a success owing to an insufficient orchestra. It was too late last night to hear particulars, but the harmony had been disturbed owing to a row in the theatre which ended in the ejection of an individual who edits a publication styling itself The Saturday Review 14 who has lately made personal remarks of a scurrilous nature on many of the inhabitants of the place, mentioning them by name. Wm quieted the disturbance at first by representing the poor man as practically insane and a mere cat's paw of others, but it broke out again and did not end till the man was carried off ... He writes in poor Charlie's grandiloquent style and seems to be much in his state. He has sent several of his effusions to William . . .

1864/50

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Mary Richmond to Jane Maria Atkinson - - - [Nelson,] [Oct 1864]

... Mr Stafford came in today to talk to James but the latter was out. Mr S. agrees with James and Arthur that the only way to deal with Sir George Grey is to strive to get rid of him - soldiers and all. He thinks the House will agree in this -that it will be driven to it. He feels gloomy about the future and does not know what to expect. The end of the war seems painfully dubious and distant. I wish we had never separated - it is easier to separate than to come together again . . .We should not have come here but for my Mother I believe - I mean on her account . . .

The night before I left there was a little party - Mr Cotter giving us his entertainment ... I think Annie has described Mr C's acting to you - it is wonderfully clever . . . James is as much delighted with it as I am . . .

Dorothy wore Mrs Gore Browne's elegant pink and white embroidered cachmere - the first time it has been worn and looked, we all thought, very pretty in it.

Last night there was a grand dinner and evening party at Dr Monro's for the Commissioner. 15 I was introduced to Mr Gunn, the friend of Col. and Mrs Browne - a very pleasant intelligent man and I had a long talk with him about the Brownes etc. James likes him the best. He is a scientific man. The three profess themselves delighted with the beauty and pleasantness of Nelson. Of course, however, they give no clue as to their decision. James has been about with them most of the week . . .

James is very tired tonight ... He has ridden forty miles in the Waimea country.

1864/51

Jane Maria Atkinson to Maria Richmond - - - Beach Cottage, New Plymouth, 4 Oct 1864

Let us hope that a new leaf in public affairs will soon be turned over ... it is a comfort to hear the Ministers have resigned ... Sir G. Grey won't do anything that he ought to do for the safety and welfare of the Colony. He must be sent packing if we are to hope for lasting peace and all the troops with him. If only the people had a little courage and determination the war could be ended more quickly and cheaply without the regulars, I feel sure. My only objection to the plan is a purely private one that Ar. must of course resume his military career, but the path of duty would then be plain. . . .

8 Oct . . . Arthur is out today with the Volunteers. The Colonel is determined to do something wonderful before the General comes down to supercede him, so having reliable information that Mataitawa is empty at present, he is gone today with 450 men to take it! Such a nice safe expedition Arthur thought would just suit him . . . and he has gone as T[aranaki] H[erald] correspondent ... In one way it is spirited of the Col, he knows the Governor has tried all means to have his Mataitawa pets left untouched . . . but as I believe he means to occupy Mataitawa he is doing the settlers good service, for which he may be snubbed by his superiors when they hear of it. I am

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almost sure that the military from the General downwards mean no more fighting. If we keep a few soldiers for the look of the thing merely it need not cost the Colony £50 a man per annum. Wooden dummies such as tailors use might serve as well. You may drive a General to the wars but you can't make him fight! . . . Mrs Warre said the other day that 'it was expected that the military would walk thro' to Wanganui and not see a Native.' I felt inclined to say I thought there was no doubt of it, as they did not mean to look for them . . .

1864/52

Maria Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Dunedin, 4 Oct 1864

Mr and Mrs Sewell arrived on Sunday by the Albion . . . bound for Australia . . . He thinks the climate of Canterbury does not suit her, she has had repeated colds since she went there. ... Mr Sewell has sold his newly built house at Canterbury ... It is now doubtful when they return to England, if at all.

The performances of the opera company are over. Last night they sang at a concert for the benefit of the Benevolent Institution. They have been a great boon to this place, and met with more encouragement than could have been reckoned upon, considering the religious scruples of many of the people here. . . .

What did you think of Mr Gorst's book? It is very agreeably written, but one sided I think. William knows of no such hidings of the truth and crooked devices as he attributed to the Colonial Govt, in the latter part of the book, during his term of office.

1864/53

Mary Richmond to Maria Richmond - - - Nelson, 6 Oct 1864

All this week and part of last James' time has been taken up with the Commissioners ... Mr Gunn, Col Browne's friend, James likes very much. He is a scientific man interested in geology and botany and is genial and pleasant . . . They are delighted with Nelson for its beauty and pleasantness. They have cruised around the harbour, been up the Dun Mountain and twenty miles up the Waimea country which they admire very much. I suppose we shall hear their decision before they go - though not officially . . .

1864/54

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, S 8 Oct 1864

Got up at 4. At 5 went up to Harry's. Found Parris & Lt. Clarke there consulting whether it would do to go as it had just begun to rain again & the rivers were likely to be high. I advised going because ... I wanted to see the job done. However they decided to wait an hour or so & see. Accordingly went home & read a little Horace. About 6.45 went out again & found they were starting - the two compys. of Bushrangers & 200 of the 70th ... At Sentry Hill we were halted while the Col. sent some

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messengers to Manutahi, when they returned we were ordered to the front & the Col. told us 'as we had often been disappointed he was going to give us the post of honor today but he did not think it would be one of much danger as he expected to get the place without firing a shot' . . . Forded the Waiongana which took us to our middles & went on to within sight of Manutahi, the friendly natives in front. When they got up pretty close we saw the well known blue puffs of smoke again from the pa & heard one bullet come over our heads which did not seem as if the place were to be evacuated . . . Found out from the friendlies that there was a good way up to it through the bush on the left . . . Carrick & the left of No 2 went & I went with them. Harry went into the bush on the other side. We got opposite to the end of the pa but having had no orders were rather doubtful what to do. Just . . . after this we heard a cheer & a great deal of firing on the other side so out we went. The first thing I saw was a wounded Maori lying on his front with his face turned towards us . . . One man lifted his gun to shoot him but I said 'Don't fire he's wounded' & he put down his gun, but then others came up I tried to stop them but I could not though I called them cowards to their faces. They fired a volley at him ... he was wounded past hope of recovery. A little farther on there was another who had been shot & afterwards Mahau had tomahawked him . . . 16 The Col. set the Bushrangers to pull down the pa & then . . . went on to Mataitawa with the 70th & friendly natives . . . After catching the fowls & burning the whares we came back . . .

Tu 11 Oct Got up at 3.30 went to Harry's to breakfast & at 5 started for the scene of action with him. Found a picket at No 6 Redoubt & a large force of 70th & friendly natives & Col. Warre himself before Te Arei about 400 yards off some of the men were hardly 100 yards off it . . . Making a flank movement they took the place, the friendly natives being the first in & when I heard them shout (or yell) I thought it was the people of the pa striking up the war dance . . . Went up and examined the pa ... it was intended only for an attack in front . . . The defences in front consist of first a fence of uprights pretty close together, then a trench & on the left a high bank part of the old Pukerangiora pa, & then another trench & finally the fence of a square enclosure in which the whares are ... In the flat open space behind the pa there was a pole (or niu) standing used in their new Pai Marire religion. 17 It was about 10 feet high, square for 2 or 3 feet at top & bottom & rounded in the middle. There was a circle round it 30 or 40 feet across worn in the ground by their feet in running round at their devotions; & a smaller circle inside apparently where the tohunga circulated, & it seemed as if he were in the habit of holding on to the niu with one hand as he went round, for about 5 feet from the ground it was rubbed comparatively bright. The friendly natives as they approached heard them at their karakias . . . There were several natives with us who had been in the pa when it was taken by Waikato & who had actually gone over the cliff, Mahau among the number. It was about 30 years ago . . . [At Te Pekatu] I got one valuable piece of plunder. I saw a

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70th officer standing with some Maori documents in his hand . . . When I saw he had done I put out my hand & he gave them to me . . . They proved to be two of their new 'Pai Marire' prayers written out - very valuable . . .

S 15 Oct . . . Did very little all day thinking of the country behind Mataitawa that I wanted to see. As I was having my tea by myself . . . Harry came with a haversack full of Maori letters. They had been to Kairoa & elsewhere behind Mataitawa, & had found very large clearings & many acres of young potatoes, whares every here & there & one absolutely full of plunder & from which Sam Wright got a beautiful taiaha. In going through the bush they saw one man & John Ginger had a shot at him but missed. Harry thinks there is a good deal more to be explored yet ... In the evg. looked through the letters with Bill. Found several interesting ones including some from our old friend the Revd. Riwai te Ahu.

v 35

H. R. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - New Plymouth, 8 Oct 1864

... I am therefore entertaining with a great wish to accept it, a proposition of Dessy's that I should join him in his business and that we should add to his present establishment a sawmill adapted amongst other things for cutting the curved timbers required for casks. I have already gone so far in the matter as to find £250 towards the purchase of a piece of land on the Great South Road near the Grey Institute, where we propose putting up the mill on the Mangotuku. . . . His reasons for wishing me to join him are his ignorance of book keeping and that he believes the business of wheelwrights could be made much more profitable by combining it with a sawmill. . . . He also expects that if we start such a mill we shall supply all the wheelwrights in the place with the timber they require. The instincts of my nature tend as strongly as ever towards dealing with the matter, but as a married man I hesitate to exchange anything so nearly certain as the income of my present situation for anything having in it a considerable element of speculation . . .

What steps ought the Colony to take to get rid of him [Grey] and to establish better relations with the Mother Country? Nothing occurs to me as likely to be so effectual as a deputation of our best men being sent home. . . . The best hope remaining to us seems to me to be that something might be done by the direct personal influence of such men as Mr Weld and others of his stamp - to whom I would add our good brother James.

1864/55

Warrant of appointment of Major H. A. Atkinson as president of a general court martial. - - - 15 Oct 1864, (W.O. Form 669)

BY Lieut. General Sir Duncan Alexander Cameron K.C.B. Commanding the Forces in New Zealand To Major H. A. Atkinson of the Taranaki Militia

By virtue of the power and authority in me vested by Her Majesty, I do

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hereby appoint you the said Major H. A. Atkinson of the Taranaki Militia to be President of a General Court Martial to be holden at New Plymouth, N.Z. on a date to be named by the Officer Commg. the Troops Taranaki for the Trial of such Prisoner or Prisoners as shall be brought before it, in which Trial or Trials you are to proceed according to the Rules and Articles of War, and for which this shall be to you and all concerned a sufficient Warrant and Authority.

Given under my Hand and Seal, at Auckland, N.Z. this 15th day of October

1864.

D. A. Cameron
Lt. Genl.
By Command
Geo. Dean Pitt Major
Assistant Military Secretary.

1864/57

F. Whitaker to C.W. Richmond - - - Auckland, 17 Oct 1864

... As to politics I never was in such a mess in my life, and when I get out of it I will take care that I don't get into such another. No doubt there were great difficulties, but we did not bargain on the greatest of all, viz. to deal with Sir George Grey, - with us it is impossible, and I feel satisfied that no mortal man can. I want to see someone try, but I don't know who the happy man will be, unless it falls to FitzGerald's lot. He wants it, at all events he did very badly want it, during the last session. I think Stafford might try, though as I have political regards for Stafford I should be sorry to see him in such a predicament.

Matters stand thus at present. We resigned long ago, . . . and up to this hour Grey has given us no answer. We have advised him to call the Assembly, and he makes difficulties about this . . . We advised calling the Assembly at Wellington . . . There is a hitch as Grey says he cannot leave Auckland while the difficulty about the escape of prisoners remains unsettled. No doubt this is a very nasty affair and gets worse every day. It may yet create a blaze in the north of which no man can guess the consequences. Grey has tried for more than a month on his own account to get the matter settled, but it is ten times worse now than when he began. He now asks our advice, and ... it is impossible to omit any effort to avert so great a danger as now threatens. I am afraid that we shall have to submit to allowing the escaped prisoners to go to Waikato as the only alternative to a war in the north. Will this not be humiliating - degrading?, but it is better than the alternative. I much fear they won't go . . .

Last autumn I looked upon the war in Auckland as virtually over. I cannot now see the end of it . . . The weak miserable vaccilation of Grey has ruined our prospects, and that, coupled with our financial difficulties, makes a bad business of it. With either one or the other I am sure we could have coped successfully, but the two combined are very formidable.

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We hope for better news as to the loan by the next mail, but I don't see a glimmer of hope with Grey. It is now nearly two months, perhaps more, that neither Fox nor I have seen him on business. It is all done by memoranda and you will well know how tedious and unsatisfactory such a mode of doing business is . . .

I much wish you were in the House again, though I don't wish you were a Minister for I must be very angry to wish that to even my worst enemy - that is, with Grey Governor. I never was in such an unpleasant position before, and I don't think he has made a bed of roses for himself . . .

1864/58

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, W 19 Oct 1864

Spent nearly the whole day in making arrangements for little Janet's funeral. 18 I asked the Revd. H. H. Brown if he would bury her? He asked Is she baptised? & when I said 'no' he answered 'that he had no choice in the matter as the rubric of his church strictly forbade such a thing.' And this is the most liberal representative of our national church. Afterwards I went to Mr Whiteley at the Institution who readily undertook it. I went up with Decy & chose a family burying ground among the Independents, as the Churchmen will not have us . . .

v 35

Jane Maria Atkinson to Emily E. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 20 Oct 1864

The victorious expeditions lately were happily bloodless but not unimportant. . . the Natives lose large cultivations and large stores of food have fallen into our hands.

Arthur went on two of the expeditions, and was much disgusted with me because I could not give a cheerful consent to his going on the third, which he considered the most interesting. . . . Harry is now stationed with the Bush Rangers in camp for a while near Mataitawa cutting under brush. . . .

1864/59

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, F 21 Oct 1864

. . . Orders have been received from Auckland to strike the whole of the Militia & Volunteers off pay, but Col. Warre will not sanction the change as regards the garrisons of the blockhouses, the Bushrangers (now felling the bush behind Manutahi) & 25 (half) of the mounted men . . .

S 29 Oct . . . The Govr. has issued his proclamation 19 giving a free pardon to all natives who shall swear allegiance before the 10th Dec & cede such land as he & the Gen. shall demand . . . Col. Warre has issued a gen. order announcing the discharge of the Militia & Volunteers & thanking them warmly for the help they have always given him - 'especially Major Atkinson & the Bushrangers & Cap. Mace & the mounted men.' It is very handsomely expressed.

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M 31 Oct ... At 8 started rode by Sentry Hill & Manutahi . . . Then with Harry went on to Mataitawa (where the 70th have got a fine redoubt) & Te Kahikatea 20 . . . Had dinner at the camp after which the tents were struck & everything got ready, but the carts did not come till nearly 3 . . . when we started for Town, cheering the 70th at leaving, & the different garrisons on the road & getting the same return . . . As it was the last march in the band met us at the Henui, & the admiring citizens. The Queen, Col. Warre & 57th & Harry were cheered, & also W. Humphries, who had the medal given him as the second best shot in N.Z. for the year, & the Bushrangers dispersed to their homes, Bushrangers no longer - but as men will have to go about the bush now at work some of us have agreed to be ready for a rush if needed.

v 35

Maria Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - Nelson, 21 Oct 1864

Mary and Annie are looking poorly - the death of Mrs Hobhouse has affected them much. They have seen a great deal of her lately and the more they saw the more they admired and valued her, she seems indeed to have been one of the excellent of the earth, ready to every good work. She is universally lamented . . . Strange to say James the heretic was the man to stand by and aid the Bishop at the funeral. He is a sad lonely man from his shy and reserved habits. He suffers from some disorder of the head which sometimes takes the power of thinking from him. His good wife was his right hand . . .

Tuesday 8th. James and Mary came home last night much pleased with Dr Patterson's address on the subject of the Melanesian Isles 21 . . . The Bishop is totally free from the sanctimoniousness so general and so distasteful in most missionaries - without a patch of parade or boasting, it is evident from the plain simple tale he relates that he is a man of decided courage.

1864/30

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, W 2 Nov 1864

. . . Harry came along twice to consult about a report of a select committee of the Council ... It is about the £5000 the Gen. Govt, have authorised to be spent on roads &c to keep discharged militia men from starving. The main point agreed to is to spend £1000 in keeping on a company of Bushrangers to keep the country clear until the Assembly meets ... The Council's opinion of the value of bushranging is very high, but not higher that it should be - it is the wholesomest thing that has been done in Taranaki. . . .

M 7 Nov . . . The Col. is angry with the Supt. for not having got the bush on the Mataitawa road felled as he naturally feels a little nervous about his escorts ... He

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threatens if Brown does [not] get the bush felled soon to advise the general to call in the out-posts & send all the troops down to Wanganui but 400. . . .

W 9 Nov ... saw James Mackay. He says .. . that the Tauranga peace making was a mere sham brought about chiefly through the urgency of Col. Greer. Mackay was there at the time (as civil commr. of the Thames) & was put under arrest by Col. Greer for speaking plainly.

F 11 Nov In evg. attended Council. An ominous message down from the Supt. - he has received a requisition from the Town electors to stand for the House of Representatives & though he thinks it 'wrong in theory & inconvenient in practice' for superintendents to be members of the Gen. Assembly he is willing 'to waive his personal objections' if the Council recommend it & so of course he will go. 22

v 35

Jane Maria Atkinson to Emily E. Richmond - - - Beach Cottage, Taranaki, 5 Nov 1864

My brothers never seem public servants, but public slaves, and tho' noble devotion to public duty etc etc reads beautifully in history I find that 'distance lends enchantment to the view' and that I should prefer a little 'private interest' in my own near relations.

1864/61

Jane Maria Atkinson to Maria Richmond - - - Beach Cottage, 18 Nov 1864

It is greatly to be regretted James did not feel it a duty to come here last Sunday. ... It seems to me the grand mistake of most of our N.Z. politicians that they give no time or thought to the populace, all speeches and writings are directed to the educated public of N.Z. and to defend our cause and explain our case at home. Meanwhile the vulgar herd, not understanding half that goes on, will drift away, so that by the time the Native question is settled I expect a very inferior class of men will form the House of Representatives.

1864/62

A. S. Atkinson, journal Auckland, M 21 Nov 1864

. . . Came up to Parnell in search of lodgings . . . James & I were taken in at little J. White's house kept by Mrs Blandford, comfortable but enormously dear £3.3 each a week though not enormously as many others charge the same. . . . Reader Wood told us the Govr. had sent for Weld to form a Ministry, subsequently saw Weld who says Grey will concede everything as to the terms of future Government, and will give it in writing. But then what form of words will bind him? They got . . . the Govr's & the Ministry's memoranda on the 'escape of the prisoners.' 23 'native affairs'

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&c. & if any one doubted that Grey was an inveterate liar and ... a lover of untruth his doubts would be now removed . . .

Tu 22 Nov . . . Saw Henry Halse . . . the only bit of news he has got is that Sir George Grey has received warning letters that certain natives Ngapuhis & Waikatos are plotting to assassinate him. Halse thinks there are men who would come into Town & do it, but I don't, unless they are excited by this new Pai Marire fanaticism.

W 23 Nov . . . Harry came in about 2 to say that Weld had asked him to join them as Col. Defence Minister. Of course the objections are Sewell & Fitzherbert especially the former, but we thought on the whole he ought to take it & so he did he will do well for it. They propose to send away the troops . . . They will confiscate land definitely & something will be done at last towards setting Taranaki on its legs. . . . Crosbie Ward was going in as Treasurer but after some vacillation 'thought it was no time for second rate politicians (i.e. Weld & all of them) to meddle with affairs' & so he declined . . . 24

Th 24 Nov ... At 2 went down to the Legislative Council & saw Sir George Grey open the proceedings by reading the speech Weld wrote for him yesterday. He read it in rather a cracked voice . . .

W 30 Nov Wrote out propositions before breakfast as to what the Ministers should do - recommending the resolutions should be deferred until the Govr's sincerity had been practically tested, as by requiring him to sign proclamations confiscating so much land &c. This was approved by Harry & James . . . Heard the Ministry had determined to go on with their own resolutions. This they did in the evg . . .

F 2 Dec . . . Dr MacKinnon ... in talking about defeat at the Gate Pa says that there were 90 men of the 43rd missing after the retreat & they were supposed to be dead in the pa but they all appeared again next morning. This he heard the adjutant report to Cameron himself. There is no doubt the whole force except some of the officers was completely cowed. Mackinnon showed us the letters from the Horse Guards announcing that [he] is to be made a C.B. on Cameron's recommendation for his conduct there & he well deserves it.

v 35

J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Auckland, 28 Nov 1864

. . . Everybody seems to get deranged in the liver and to suffer from languor on arriving at Auckland ... I hope Weld's Ministry will stand . . . They are resolved to prove Grey's sincerity before letting the Houses disperse. After the 10th, when the amnesty proclamation ceases, they will call on him to confiscate land for settlement in Waikato and Taranaki . . .

1864/66

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W. S. Atkinson to H. A. Atkinson - - - New Plymouth, 3 Dec 1864

. . . An expedition went out under Warre the other day some distance north of Waitara and from what I can hear destroyed a pa but left comparatively untouched large potato cultivations. Had they destroyed the latter they might have left the former for it would have been useless without the crops handy. The crops at Mataitawa ought to be destroyed or taken up at once unless we wish to feed our enemy and lose other of our men, for it is impossible to prevent fellows from straggling and Maoris are sure to hang about both for the sake of kai and utu. If the potatoes were pulled at once they would rot in the ground whereas if they are left much longer you will have to dig or you cannot destroy them. Take or destroy an acre of potatoes and it will tend more towards finishing the war than killing a Native would. Simply make roads and squat upon their cultivations wherever discoverable for the next three months and the natives must give in between this and Wanganui unless of course the soldiers won't move without metalled roads . . .

(Atkinson papers in Turnbull Library)

Mary Richmond to J. C. Richmond - - - The Wood, Nelson, 11 Dec 1864

The Macleans were much pleased with the house. It is certainly progressing, and looks very well ... I have been looking up Cawthron too - your studio has been at a standstill for some time. He said he did not know you wanted it before the house. However I told him I was sure you wanted it as soon as possible, and that you would be much disappointed if it were not finished when you came back. He promises to be brisk about it. ...

1864/68

A. S. Atkinson to H. A. Atkinson - - - Taranaki, 13 Dec 1864

. . . However, I saw Stapp and talked to him about the bushranging. My views are - 1st that we ought to have Bushrangers of some kind. Our people seem to be scattered all over the bush and are of course practically defencelses against any decent sized body of the enemy. Indeed it is probable if the latter came they would find a good many of our men without or away from their arms. 2. Of course Warre, if he had been fit for his place, would have seen that men of some kind were sent about the country to keep it clear - but he does not do it first, perhaps, because he has been illtreated by the Govt in having his Bushrangers, mounted men and £400 a year cut off - and secondly, and chiefly probably, because he does not like the job.

3. The choice therefore lies between our own men and the Military Settlers. It is desirable on several counts to use the latter - it will be teaching them something of their business and will cost you no more than you are paying now, but Stapp thinks when the General makes a move southward he will want all the Military Settlers he can get to hold posts by the way. You are the best judge whether this is likely to be

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the case or not ... If a company of our own men were raised they should be only for use about the settled districts and as far as possible have independent action . . .

(Atkinson papers in Turnbull Library)

A. S. Atkinson to Emily E. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 18 Dec 1864

. . . You will agree that they have done well in picking out Weld, Harry and Major Richardson to do the work, but what do you think of the crablike old Sewellus and the denouncer of the unholy war of 1860 as allies? . . .

If Weld cannot work with Grey we shall be in a mess. What William would call the centrifugal forces are getting too strong, and we may soon be flying off in helpless fragments. Indeed your friend Gillies (who is a pig in politics) seems to think this extremely desirable. However we are not dead yet.

I noticed a good deal of change in the composition of House especially that part of it which used to frequent the Speaker's room. The only one of the old members I saw there was Mrs Fox, but in that hole in the wall formerly the reporters' gallery but now devoted to ladies Sewella occasionally appeared and Miss Bartley. The reporters' gallery is now across the end of the House over the Speaker's chair. The ministers sit in the corner just to the left of the Speaker . . .

19th . . . Grey seems inclined to suspend his treacherous practices. ... It is . something like poetical justice on him to have Harry for a Minister, whom he cordially hates - indeed I think very few Taranaki men are favourites.

1864/69

H. A. Atkinson to A. S. Atkinson Auckland, 18 Dec 1864

The General has decided that Wanganui is the end for him to begin and that Warre is to be left to do what he can from our end ... I think it will do, although not what I should have chosen. We have agreed with Grey upon a draft proclamation which I expect he signed last night. The whole of Waikato is to be kept by us, roads are to be made wherever the Governor may choose. Such land will be taken in Taranaki as the Govr. sees fit . . . We have not defined the lands at Taranaki until we have been over them with the troops . . .

I think there is now no fear of a rising in the north: One great difficulty in the Waikato is the Waikato militia. I fear they will not stop when struck off pay . . .

v 6, p 50

J. C. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Nelson, 22 Dec 1864

I write to ask you to give an eye to some water color pictures sent up by J. Gully, formerly of Omata, for the Exhibition. Get them a good light if possible and have them hung sloping forward.

I wonder what you will say of our politics now: ... I own Weld a little disappointed by haste and fortiter in modo. He is, I believe, perfectly right in his general

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design. In the present temper of English public I believe we shall do better to take an independent tone and to prepare for the legitimate consequences . . . Weld was not prepared with the needful statements and held his position only through the personal confidence felt in him and the determination of the majority of the Assembly not to peril our last chance of escape by dissension. Weld was rash in taking in Sewell, and now he has added Mantell who is as crochetty as Sewell is slippery, and has no great amount of work in him . . .

I have seen the Lyster [Opera] Company a good many times and think very highly of them. Squiers is the most delightful vocalist, Mrs Escott the best actor . . .

1864/70

W. S. Atkinson to H. A. Atkinson - - - New Plymouth, 23 Dec 1864

. . . Moore of the Commissariat here has asked me to mention the following case to you. A man of the commissariat named Ibbetson has two sons whom he wishes to get into the Transport Corp. but they must have commissions . . . (unattached or attached) in the N.Z. Militia before they can be appointed . . . Ibbetson is to be left in charge in N.Z. after the War. Understand / am not asking you to do this but merely mentioning the case to you as requested . . .

In conclusion let me congratulate you on the great accession of weakness to your Cabinet by the appointment of Mantell! He is widely celebrated for his laziness, and generally considered ... a great political humbug.

P.S. Why are the Southern Maoris allowed to come in so long after the 10th inst?

1864/71

C. Brown to H. A. Atkinson - - - New Plymouth, 23 Dec 1864

Mr Doyne 25 gives it as an offhand opinion, that ... an expenditure of under £250,000 will give us a harbor with 60 acres of water with from 3 to 5 fathoms of water at low water, and about 100 acres under 3 fathoms for coasting vessels, with wharves, jetties and a tramway to town. His idea is to connect the northermost Sugar Loaf, Moturoa with Mikotai (dry at low water) . . . from Moturoa to carry a mole in a north-easterly direction . . .

Talk of the seat of Govt! Why, Sydney will be a fool to this place when the harbor is made. I hope you and Co. will see the propriety in a Col'l. point of view of helping us get it done as a harbor of refuge, where there is not one in 700 miles of coast. Of course I mean that we should bear the entire cost of it, but probably without a guarantee in an Act of Assembly, we should never ... do it.

1864/72

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Louis von Rotter to H. A. Atkinson - - - New Plymouth, 23 Dec 1864

Eighteen months ago I presented to Mr Brown, the superintendent here, a letter of introduction in my behalf from Mr Wemyss of Nelson to Mr Domett. The latter gentleman being in Taranaki at the time, Mr B. handed it to him and thereupon [I?] was appointed overseer of roadworks but with the promise of Mr B. that, German military settlers being expected, I should hold a superior appointment and likewise be entitled to similar claims as these immigrants. War having broken out in the interim on the Continent, they were prevented from leaving and my expectations in consequence frustrated. Mr Brown then appointed me his clerk . . . the miserable salary . . . necessitated my using my own resources ... to maintain a respectable standing. Don't you think I have some claim on the General Government? . . .

Mr Brown spoke of trying to get me a commission in the Military Settlers, and then in the Col. Transport Corps, but now states that no new commissions are going to be given away.

Having heard that the Ministers are coming to here, I would wish ... to get your advice . . .

1864/73

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - Th 29 Dec 1864

. . . Two men-of-war with troops have already gone there [to Whanganui] & the road is to be begun to Taranaki.

A proclamation is out signed by G. Grey & countersigned F. A. Weld declaring all the district of Waikato from which the natives have been driven crown land. The Govr. intends to made roads wherever he likes ... - if they let him alone he will let them alone - otherwise they must look out. If they like to work on the roads they will be paid, if they obstruct it they will be cleared out of the way.

v 35

H. A. Atkinson to A. S. Atkinson - - - Auckland, 30 Dec 1864

We have determined to pay the compensation with the 8 per cent debenture money we have now, and it will be at least four months before we could say when we could pay the compensation in cash. What may happen in four months no one can tell so pray by all means take the debenture; in fact it is a most liberal offer considering our financial position. I really don't know what the last Government deserve for the state in which they left everything. We have had all but to stop payment. The Bank of N.Z. under Auckland influence tried it on with us most shamefully so we threw them over and went to the Union B. of A. who have behaved well in the matter. In two days the N.Z. Bank came back to us willing and anxious to come to terms. This is private.

Cardwell is very anxious for some of the troops to be sent Home. Grey says it is impossible. We say they had better go. We shall do no good until they are all gone. We are awfully hard up for money . . .

v 6, p 50

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A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, S 31 Dec 1864

. . . The Phoebe came in early & brought Weld, Fitzherbert & Major Richardson . . . The English Govt, want some of the troops sent home at once. Grey objects but the Ministers say 'let them go.' Weld says he thinks Grey will go with them if they go. They are in a great fix for want of ready money . . . This has evidently got a great hold on old Fitzherbert's mind & his great cry is 'cash' . . . Harry says Cameron is no good for our work - too slow and cumbrous - & Weld does not think we shall do any good as long as the troops are here.

At 6 attended public meeting & got 3 resolutions carried ... to consider the propriety of memorialising the Queen against the Auckland movement for separation & the surrender of our constitution in this island ... I surprised myself by talking for ten consecutive minutes without stumbling.

v 35