From 1845 to 1847.
The subject of the war in New Zealand is so painful that we would
have avoided touching on it could we have done so with propriety. It
is painful, because it was unnecessary; because our opponents are now
living in amity with us, improving in civilization, and
fellow-subjects of our gracious Sovereign; and also because many
gallant officers and men fell during its continuance. Yet, as the
naval service was employed, we cannot omit it altogether. New
Zealand is divided into two large islands, with a small one to the
south. The northern island is extensively populated with a warlike,
intelligent, yet hitherto savage race. The country is very
mountainous, thickly wooded, with many rapid rivers, and the coast is
broken with deep indentations. The temperature of the air, though
hot in summer, is bracing at other times of the year. A number of
British subjects having settled there, whalers and others, with a few
missionaries, and some having purchased land from the natives,
Captain Hobson, R.N., was sent out first with the title of consul,
and afterwards with that of governor, when, in 1840, the islands were
taken possession of by the English Government. He concluded a treaty
with 512 chiefs, natives of the Bay of Islands, and others, at
Waitangi, by which the sovereignty of the islands was ceded to Queen
Victoria. He, dying, was succeeded by Captain FitzRoy. The military
force in the island consisted of a company or so of infantry, to keep
in order a lawless white population, and some 50,000 proud,
sanguinary, and suspicious natives, well armed, and conscious of
their strength. The immediate causes of the war were disputes about
land claims. As the value of lands rose, tribes, who had sold large
tracts for a few blankets and muskets to greedy white speculators,
were anxious to regain them.
In the northern part of the island existed a cunning and bold
warrior, called Heki, who had once been a servant at the missionary
station at Pahia; but though a Christian in name, the spirit of the
gospel had never entered into his heart. Having married the daughter
of a celebrated chief, called Hongi, he became a chief himself.
After maltreating the settlers in his neighbourhood, he took it into
his head to cut down the flag-staff at Russel, known by the native
name of Kororarika. A small force, accompanied by Governor FitzRoy
in person, on board H.M.S. 'Hazard,' warned the better-disposed
natives not again to commit a similar outrage.
However, Heki was not to be deterred by fear from mischief; and on
the 10th of March he again attacked and took Kororarika by surprise.
Fortified blockhouses and entrenchments were bravely defended for
some time by a small body of military stationed there, and by the
officers and crew of H.M.S. 'Hazard.' She lost six men killed and
eight wounded. Captain Robertson was so much hurt that his life was
despaired of. The detachment of the 96th lost four men killed and
five wounded. The place was then for a time abandoned.
This unexpected success of Heki emboldened him to undertake further
warlike proceedings, and to threaten even Auckland itself. Just then
H.M.S. 'North Star,' Captain Sir Everard Home, arrived on the
station. An attack on Heki, in his own pah, was resolved on; and
accordingly all the force which could be mustered was marched against
him, consisting of the small-armed seamen, marines, and military, in
all about 400 men. The pah was found to be of such immense strength,
that it seemed impossible to capture it without guns, and those the
attacking party had not. However, as Lieut. Egerton, of H.M.S.
'North Star,' had under him a rocket-party, he took up a position
from whence rockets could be thrown, and fired 12 into the fort; but
as the roofs of the huts were covered with flax-leaf, they did not
catch fire. A sortie was then made by Kawiti, a brother chieftain of
Heki's, to attack the flank of the British, and many on both sides
lost their lives. The attack being repulsed, the British force was
withdrawn, as the fort was found perfectly impregnable without a
battering-train. Fresh troops arriving in New Zealand, a second
attack was resolved on, under the command of Colonel Despard.
Owing to bad weather, the force did not begin to march till the 23rd
of June. A battery of four guns (6-pounders) was then opened, but
did little execution. On the 30th of June the seamen of H.M.S.
'Hazard' brought up from their ship a 32-lb. gun a distance of 15
miles, and soon had it posted on a hill near the pah. The next day
it was opened with considerable effect; but yet no breach was made.
The enemy on this made a sortie, but were repulsed; and then the
colonel ordered an assault. The troops and seamen rushed in, led by
their officers with their accustomed bravery; but it was impossible
to get through the stockades, Numbers fell in the vain attempt. Of
the officers, the gallant Lieut. Philpotts of H.M.S. 'Hazard,'
Captain Grant of the 56th Regiment, and Lieut. Beattie were killed,
and many other officers and men were wounded. Preparations were
accordingly made to retire, when, on the morning of the 10th, it was
found that Heki and his followers had evacuated the pah, and retired
into the woods.
Directly after this old Kawiti commenced the formation of a pah of
greater strength than any yet known, which he called Kua-peka-peka,
or the Bat's-nest. Its site was selected with great care on the
ridge of a hill, of which it occupied the whole breadth, the ground
falling perpendicularly from its two sides. Originally it had been a
rectangular parallelogram, 130 yards long by 100 yards wide; but
under the direction of one who evidently knew his business, it soon
assumed the character of a regular fortress. A large ravelin was
thrown out on the east, and bastions formed on the north and south.
The angles on the western face were protected by bastions of smaller
size. The outer fortifications consisted of a palisade, formed of
trees from 15 to 18 feet high, and from 14 inches to 3 feet in
diameter, bound together with withes, a tree at intervals rising
slightly above the ground, so as to form a loop-hole for those
within. Across these upright timbers ran two horizontal beams, one 3
feet and the other 9 feet from the ground. They were lashed to each
limb of the stockade, and gave strength and continuity to the whole.
Further back, and at the distance of 3 feet, was another palisade, of
the same character. Beyond this was a ditch, which answered, when
the heavy guns began to play, as a covered way for the besieged. The
earth had been thrown up on the inside, and, in addition to the other
defences, formed a rampart 8 feet high. Within, the huts were placed
irregularly, many of them being also surrounded with palisades, but
nearly all were undermined. Over the pit dug below were laid two
layers of trees, and these were carefully covered with earth. Upon
this substratum was placed the floor of the hut, so that the
inhabitants had, in case of necessity, a bomb-proof retreat. There
were two guns at the pah, a 12-pounder and a 3-pounder. Several
wells had been dug inside, and one within 10 yards of the outer
defences. The place was scantily supplied with potatoes and
fern-root. Altogether, standing on the verge of a precipitous
ravine, amid forest and mountain, where nature assumed her wildest
aspect, with its bastions and sallyports, and the constant coming and
going of its rude soldiery, the scene presented was worthy the pencil
of Salvator Rosa.
When Kawiti's proceedings were known, the commandant, with a superior
force to any yet employed, advanced from Kororarika to attack the
fort. He had with him detachments of the 58th and 99th Regiments,
amounting to 27 officers and 750 men; of marines, 3 officers and 79
men; and of small-armed seamen, 10 officers and 211 seamen, besides
artillery officers and men, and two 32-pounders and other guns.
After a long march, and considerable difficulty in getting up the
guns, the place was regularly approached by trenches. While they
were in progress, small parties of Maories might be seen daily going
out to reconnoitre. Plunging singly into the forest, they glided
from tree to tree with noiseless steps, carefully peeping round the
stems before they moved forward, and listening with bent head to
every sound. Skirmishes would occasionally take place, and be
carried on with great vivacity for about an hour. The advanced
batteries of the British being completed, notice was brought that
some of the Christian natives were performing the church service at
the rear of the fort. This was on the 11th of January 1846. The
assault was instantly ordered; and, with comparatively small loss of
life, the place was taken. The naval branch of the service lost 9
men killed and 1 midshipman, and 17 men wounded. Old Kawiti made his
escape, and was received afterwards on board H.M.S. 'Driver,' when he
gave in his allegiance to the Queen of England.
During the storming of the pah, one of the 'Castor's' sailors, named
Sargeant, climbed to the top of the stockade, and commenced loading
away and firing at every one of the enemy that he could see; and when
ordered by Colonel Wynyard to come down, he coolly replied, "Oh, no,
your honour; here's the place to see 'em. Come up here!" It was
afterwards found that his cap had been shot off, his coat shot
through in four places, and the palisade on which he sat was riddled
through and through; but the man himself was never touched.
The northern part of the island being quieted, the Governor was able
to turn his attention to the south, where two powerful chiefs, Te
Rauperaha and Rangehaieta, were committing havoc in every direction.
After some fighting, a combined naval and military force was put on
board H.M.S. 'Driver,' for the purpose of attacking the rebels as she
moved down the coast, and taking the veteran chief in his lair. The
latter object was at length accomplished. On the 23rd July, 1846,
Major Lurt, of the 29th, with Captain Stanley, of H.M.S. 'Calliope,'
and a party of about 130 seamen and marines, landed before daylight,
with such perfection and order, that the stockade of Taupo was
surrounded and entered before the inmates caught the alarm. A party
of seamen seized the chief, Te Rauperaha in his bed, and in spite of
all opposition, carried him off to the 'Calliope' without any
casualty.
Rangihaieta was soon afterwards attacked in his stronghold; but,
driven from it, he retreated from post to post, closely followed by
the British force, and watched by the 'Calliope' whenever he
approached the coast. After this he remained quiet, and never again
appeared in arms. Several chiefs in the Wanganui district, however,
were still disposed to try the fortune of war, and several skirmishes
with them took place; but as, however, the British military and naval
forces were now rapidly increasing, the elder chieftains began to
perceive that the war was a losing game with them. Accordingly they
were glad to accept of peace, and by the consummate tact of Sir
George Grey, they have all since given in their allegiance to the
British Government.
ACTION BETWEEN H.M.S. 'NEMESIS,' 'COLUMBINE'S'
BOAT, AND BORNEO PIRATES,
30th May, 1847.
A severe, though brilliant action, took place on the 30th May, 1847,
between the H.E.I.C. steamer 'Nemesis' and a number of piratical
prahus. Early in the morning the steamer, with Mr. Brooke and
Captain Grey on board, and having in tow a cutter of H.M.S.
'Columbine,' left the town of Brunè to cross over to the new British
port of Labuan. Information was received on the way down the river
that some fishermen had been chased at daylight, and on rounding the
point of the island of Moarra, the look-out of the 'Nemesis' descried
a fleet of Balanini or Sulo pirates in full chase of a trading prahu
in the offing. Immediately the steamer appeared, the pirates,
quitting the chase, pulled in shore to the westward, and at the same
time cut away the small boats they had in tow, whilst the steamer,
pursuing at full power, lost much ground by having to round the
extensive shoal which stretches from Moarra Point (Ujong Sapo) to the
islet of Pilong Pilongau. The Balinini were first descried at
half-past 9 o'clock A.M., and about mid-day, finding the steamer
gaining upon them, came to an anchor. At 1 o'clock P.M., the pirate
fleet was plainly made out from the 'Nemesis.' Eleven large prahus,
anchored in line, at a distance of 10 yards one from another, along a
sandy beach, with their heads to sea, their sterns (fast by
stern-warps ashore) in the surf, with a hawser passing along from
boat to boat. The bows of the prahus were protected by ampilans,
formed of musket-proof planks; they appeared well armed, crowded with
men, and in this formidable position awaited the approach of the
steamer.
At 1.30, the pirates opened fire on the steamer, and the action
commenced in earnest, at a distance of about 200 yards, the steamer
being in two fathoms' water, and rolling heavily in a ground-swell.
For two hours a heavy fire was kept up from the 'Nemesis,' and the
fire from the pirates being nearly silenced, and their prahus
evidently greatly damaged, Captain Grey, with three cutters (one
belonging to H.M.S. 'Columbine,' and two to the 'Nemesis'), resolved
to make a dash at the left of the pirates' position, whilst the
steamer poured in grape and canister upon the centre and right, to
prevent their rendering aid to their comrades. On the advance of the
boats, the pirates, casting loose the hawser which attached the
prahus together, pulled away to the eastward in a crippled state,
leaving two prahus in possession of the boats, and numbers of men on
the beach or jungle. The 'Nemesis' pursued to the eastward, and one
after another, drove six of the flying enemy ashore, all of which
were for the time abandoned by their crews, but could not be taken
possession of, owing to the small number of British boats in the
action. In the meantime, whilst Captain Grey was securing the two
prizes already mentioned to the westward, and the 'Nemesis' in full
pursuit of the last three prahus to the eastward, five out of the six
deserted boats were remanned, and, with a resolution praiseworthy in
a better cause, bore down to the attack of the three small cutters.
Captain Wallage, commander of the 'Nemesis,' perceiving this
manœuvre, and convinced that these prahus must at all events
escape to the westward, returned in that direction, while the sixth
deserted prahu being remanned, and favoured by a breeze, crowded all
sail to the eastward after her three consorts, and thus the four
escaped. The five pirate prahus, now advancing boldly towards the
three cutters, perceiving the retrograde movement of the 'Nemesis,'
made every effort to escape to the westward, and a severe action took
place between the sternmost prahu and the boats, the enemy defending
himself with the utmost resolution, and inflicting a severe loss on
the British. Whilst Captain Grey was engaged in the capture of this
large prahu, the 'Nemesis' pursued the four to the westward, two of
which were captured, while the remaining two escaped in the darkness
in a completely shattered state, after having been several times
deserted and as often remanned. Thus concluded this successful
action with a pirate force consisting of 11 prahus, two of the
largest size, four somewhat smaller, with crews of fully 50 men each,
and five with a complement of 35 to 40 hands. The force of the
pirates, at a moderate computation, must be reckoned at 500 men,
exclusive of captives, and these, on the testimony of some rescued
Chinese, were above 100 persons. The loss on the side of the pirates
was estimated at 80 or 100 killed, and about double that number
wounded. One man was killed in the British force, and seven wounded;
two mortally and the rest severely. Ten brass guns, varying in size
from nine-pounders to "lelas," and five iron guns (three to
six-pounders) were captured. Between 200 and 300 of the pirates took
refuge in the jungle, whence they were hunted out by the Sultan's
people. Five prahus were taken, and the escape of the rest is to be
attributed to the small number of British boats engaged, as at one
time eight prahus were lying on the beach abandoned by their crews;
and had the British boats been sufficient to have secured them, the
other three would have been overtaken by the 'Nemesis.' From the
statement of some of the liberated captives, it appears that the
pirates had visited the southern coasts of Borneo, the Straits of
Banka, Sinkess, the Anambas, the Natunas, and the north-west coast of
Borneo, ransacking trading-boats and villages, and taking prisoners
men, women, and children. One Chinese, who was too ill to work, was
hung up and cut to pieces. During the action with the 'Nemesis,' the
captives were compelled to sit on the decks of the prahus, by which
some lost their lives; others swam ashore with the pirates, and were
attacked at first by the Kadyan Dyaks, who, however, on ascertaining
which were the captives, conducted them to Brunè to the Sultan, by
whom they were kindly treated. About 40 pirates were brought in
alive, and the captives were desired by the Sultan to take their
revenge. This they declined, saying, "God is great, and will punish
the wicked."