WAKEFIELD AND THE WAIRAU
Amongst the many unsatisfactory negotiations for the purchase of land
entered into between Colonel Wakefield and Te Rauparaha, few seem to
have been so ill-defined as that relating to the Wairau Plain. Whether
Wakefield really believed that he had bought it, or whether Rauparaha
was equally confident that he had not sold it, will never be known.
Certainly it is difficult to understand how such a wide difference of
impression could have arisen between them, had they both been sincere
in the transaction. It is true the Colonel might have considered that
the plain was included in the purchases made in 1839, when he
bargained for four hundred miles of country, extending from the 38th
to the 43rd degree of latitude on the west coast, and from the 41st to
the 43rd degree on the east coast. But he knew that the plain had
never been specifically named, and in his heart he must have felt that
no valid title could rest upon a purchase made as this one was, its
full purport not being clearly explained by Dicky Barrett, who acted
as interpreter, and the signatures of three chiefs only being obtained
to the deed, when thirty thousand natives had, by native law, a voice
in its disposal. That Colonel Wakefield did have some reservation,
later on, about his right to the land is almost certain, for, after
the settlement of Nelson had been in progress about a year, he
strongly opposed the suggestion of his brother, Captain Wakefield, to
include the Wairau in the district to be surveyed, partly because he
considered that its occupation might militate against the success of
the Wellington colony, but chiefly because he anticipated that the
Company's title would be disputed by other claimants and by the
natives. It would therefore seem that Captain Wakefield, the resident
agent of the Company, was the more to blame for the improper
occupation of the valley and for all the subsequent trouble, which he
expiated with his life. He was as conversant as the Colonel with the
whole circumstances of the case, perhaps more so; and, had it not been
that he had no alternative between opening up the Wairau and
acknowledging the ignominious failure of the Nelson settlement, he
would hardly, in the face of so many warnings, have persisted in his
high-handed and injudicious course.
The story of the Nelson settlement repeats the tale of undue haste,
imperfect preparations, a disposition to make florid promises and hold
out inflated inducements, that characterised all the New Zealand
Company's attempts at colonisation. One of the essential features of
this settlement was that each settler should receive 150 acres of
rural land, 50 acres of suburban land, and one town acre. But after
the most thorough exploration of the region round Blind and Massacre
Bays, it was found that, although a great deal of inferior country had
been included in the sections laid off by the surveyors, there was
still an enormous deficiency in the area required to provide for all
the settlers who had either paid for their land in advance or were
waiting to settle on it. Misled by the reports of some of his
officers, Captain Wakefield had caused it to be broadly published that
there was more than sufficient land at Port Whakatu to meet the
requirements of the settlement, and it was while looking round for
some tangible fact to justify his assertion that he bethought him of
the Wairau.
During his many excursions in search of rural land, Mr. Tuckett, the
Company's chief surveyor, had discovered a route via Top House, by
which the Wairau might be reached after a journey of 110 miles. This
fact was reported to Captain Wakefield, who ordered that a complete
examination of the district should be made by Mr. Tuckett. He,
accompanied by his assistant, Mr. Davidson, and Captain England, a
landowner in the settlement, made an extensive exploration, and
subsequently conveyed the discomfiting intelligence to the resident
agent that the Wairau Plain was the only available surface between
Cape Farewell and Cape Campbell sufficient to afford the number of
sections required to complete the settlement. The survey of the plain
was then decided upon, but intelligence had reached Kapiti that the
_pakehas_ had been down to the Wairau and that they intended to
take possession of it. Immediately upon the receipt of this news,
Rauparaha, accompanied by Hiko and Rangihaeata, crossed over to Nelson
and sought an interview with Captain Wakefield. In plain and
straightforward terms the natives told the Europeans, who had gathered
in Dr. Wilson's residence to hear the _korero_, that they had not
sold the Wairau to the principal agent of the Company, and that they
had no intention of doing so, unless (to use Rauparaha's own
expressive phrase) "the cask of gold was very great." They therefore
warned them not to go there, as they had no right to the land.
Captain Wakefield's answer was that he intended to proceed with the
survey, as he claimed the land in the name of the Company. Rangihaeata
vehemently denied the sale, and backed up his protestations by a
threat that if Captain Wakefield attempted to carry out his intentions
he would meet him and take his head. The agent was in no way disturbed
or shaken by the hostile attitude of the chiefs; and to Rangihaeata's
boisterous manner he calmly replied that, if any interference was
offered, he would come with three hundred constables and arrest the
belligerent natives. This unconciliatory attitude did not in the least
assist to clear the atmosphere, for Rangihaeata went about the
settlement during the next few days openly threatening with death
every one who, he conceived, had any authority amongst the colonists,
if they ventured to annex the Wairau, unless they could first succeed
in killing him, in which event, he said, the land would remain as the
lawful possession of the conqueror. Rauparaha, on the other hand,
assumed the air of the diplomat, and professed not to sympathise with
the policy of his lieutenant, whom he described as a "bad man." At the
same time, in his fawning fashion, he entreated the Europeans not to
go to the Wairau, and begged that the dispute might be referred to Mr.
Spain, the Government Land Commissioner, who had been appointed to
investigate the claims of the Company. But Captain Wakefield
repudiated the jurisdiction of Mr. Spain in the matter, and refused to
comply with the request. The chiefs, finding that neither threats nor
persuasion could shake Captain Wakefield in his determination to take
possession of the Wairau, indignantly left the settlement, Rauparaha
expressing his intention to lay the whole circumstances of the case
before the Queen's Commissioner and demand an immediate settlement of
the claim.
Scarcely had the angry Ngati-Toas left Nelson than the three chiefs
who were resident at the Wairau arrived. These natives were sons of
Rauparaha's elder brother, Nohorua, the oldest of whom, Rawiri Puaha,
had previously informed Mr. Tuckett, when that gentleman visited his
_pa_, that the plain was theirs and that Rauparaha had no power
to sell it. They were gratified at the idea that the Europeans looked
upon it with a favourable eye, but, at the same time, they were in no
haste to enter into any negotiations for its sale until they had
considerably extended their cultivations, in order that they might
fairly claim a larger compensation. Doubtless one of their reasons for
desiring closer intercourse with the _pakehas_ was that, in
addition to their clearings, they had a large number of pigs running
on the plain, which they used as a marketable commodity with the
settlers at Port Underwood. But as fast as they cleared and cultivated
the land and reared their pigs, Rauparaha was in the habit of coming
over and coolly helping himself, with the result that his relations
with the resident people were by this time considerably strained, and
they probably thought that the presence of the settlers would check
these depredations on the part of their high-handed relative. When
they heard that Rauparaha had been to Nelson, they, being utterly
mistrustful of his methods, at once concluded that he had gone there
for the purpose of selling the plain; and it was to counteract this
policy, as far as possible, that they went to see Captain Wakefield.
The latter had always been much more considerate to resident natives
than to those whom, like Rauparaha and Rangihaeata, he described as
"travelling bullies."[154] He was therefore most anxious to make a
valid and binding bargain with Puaha, to whom he offered a small
schooner, and any reasonable quantity of goods, if he would
acknowledge that the Wairau had been purchased by his brother, the
Colonel. This Puaha refused to do, and therefore, at a subsequent
interview, the resident agent adopted another line of argument,
contending that the Company had already a legal title to the district
by virtue of its being included in the latitude and longitude
purchases made in 1839, and by right of a deed bought from Captain
Blenkinsopp's widow for £300. Puaha denied the validity of both
titles, pointing out that "the Wairau" had evidently been written into
the first deed after signature; and that, in the second case, if
Rauparaha had sold any portion of the land to Blenkinsopp, he had no
right to do so without his (Puaha's) consent, which had never been
asked and never given. For three days the conference was continued by
the agent and the chief, without either being able to convince the
other; but, at last, Puaha withdrew, still protesting in manly and
dignified language against the views of the agent as to his title to
the land.
After these animated interviews, it might have been supposed that
Captain Wakefield would, in his calmer moments, have seriously
reviewed the position, and that against the vague and shadowy rights
of the Company, as expressed in the two deeds in his possession, he
would have set the fact that the authenticity of these sales was being
stoutly contested by the resident and non-resident natives interested.
He might have been expected also to recognise that the whole question,
having been placed in the hands of Mr. Spain, was _sub judice_, and as
such should remain in abeyance until the court had pronounced its
judgment. These considerations were, however, altogether outweighed by
the desire to placate the settlers, who were clamouring for their
land, and to prevent the exposure of the Company's inability to fulfil
its engagements. The fear that, if this could not be done, he would be
open to crushing censure from all with whom they had entered into
engagements, and the desire to rescue his own and his brother's
reputation from public anger and ridicule, biased his otherwise
judicial mind against the merits of the opposing case. Accordingly, he
decided to act upon the impulse that moved him most, and on April 15,
1843, he entered into three contracts for the survey of the plain with
Messrs. Barnicoat and Thompson, Mr. Cotterell, and Mr. Parkinson. In
view of the probability of native interference, a special provision
was inserted in the tenders that the contractors were to be
indemnified in case of loss; and, on this understanding, the
surveyors, with forty assistants, arrived a few days later, and
commenced operations--Messrs. Barnicoat and Thompson at the Marshlands
side of the valley, Mr. Cotterell in the neighbourhood of Riverlands,
and Mr. Parkinson still higher up the plain, towards Grovetown.
At first, the resident natives allowed the work to proceed with but
slight resistance. Once or twice they refused to permit timber to be
sawn for pegs and ranging rods; but with the exercise of a little tact
and patience these difficulties were overcome, and the work had
proceeded with so little friction that before Rauparaha arrived Messrs.
Barnicoat and Thompson had practically completed their contract, the
others not being quite so far advanced.
Rauparaha and Rangihaeata were at Mana when the news of these
proceedings reached them, and they at once engaged with their English
friend, Joseph Toms, to convey them and a portion of their party in
his schooner, _Three Brothers_, to Port Underwood, whence they
intended to reach the Wairau in their canoes. On the 1st of June the
schooner and the canoes arrived at the port, and Rauparaha, with one
hundred armed followers, at once proceeded to the house of Mr. Cave,
who for seven or eight years had been employed there as cooper for the
whaling stations, and with whom they were on the best of terms. To him
they declared their intention of burning the surveyors' camps, and for
that purpose they left for the Wairau the same evening, in eight
canoes and a whaleboat. Next morning Rauparaha, with thirty of his
people, appeared at Mr. Cotterell's camp on the Opawa River, and,
after stripping his huts, burned the _toetoe_ grass with which
they were covered, as well as the survey pegs and ranging rods
prepared from manuka sticks. They then assisted the surveyors to carry
their belongings to the boats, and shipped them off to the _pa_
at the mouth of the river. Their next proceeding was to paddle up the
Wairau to Mr. Barnicoat's camp, which was situated on the river-bank
close to the Ferry Bridge, and there they re-enacted their settled
programme. In these proceedings Rauparaha was very firm, yet
conciliatory. There was no exhibition of temper or violence towards
persons or property. He simply gave the surveyors to understand that
he would have none of them or their surveying there, and that the
sooner they returned to Nelson the better he would like it;[155] and,
to this end, he assisted them to remove their instruments and personal
effects to a place of safety before demolishing their _whares_.
In logical fashion, he argued that the _toetoe_, having grown
upon the land, was his, that he was entitled to do what he pleased
with his own, and that so long as he did not interfere with any of the
articles brought from England, he was committing no breach of justice.
The instruments and baggage were placed in the boats and taken down to
the _pa_, where they were safely landed and their owners treated
with every consideration. But, before matters had reached this crisis,
the contractors had despatched a joint letter to Mr. Tuckett, at
Nelson, explaining the gravity of the situation, and asking him to
come down at once and certify to the work already done. On receipt of
this communication Mr. Tuckett, accompanied by Mr. Patchett, at once
set out for the Wairau; and, on his arrival at the bar, on 3rd June,
he was met by Mr. Cotterell, who briefly related all that had
transpired since the arrival of Rauparaha, and the present position of
natives and contractors respectively.
So soon as he had grasped the situation, Mr. Tuckett hastily wrote a
letter in pencil to Captain Wakefield, giving details, and intimating
his intention of remaining on the scene until the Captain should make
his pleasure known to him. This letter he entrusted to Mr. Cotterell,
who at once left with his men in the boats for Nelson. The chief
surveyor then set off up the Opawa River to the site of Mr.
Cotterell's camp, where he pitched a tent and remained all night. In
the morning he proceeded, in company with Mr. Patchett and Mr. Moline
(Mr. Cotterell's assistant), to search for Mr. Parkinson, and, when
they arrived at his hut, they found it in possession of a few natives,
who had in no way interfered with it. The surveyor and his party not
being there, Mr. Tuckett inquired for Rauparaha and Rangihaeata, who
he was informed were in the bush. He thereupon explained that he
intended to go over to the Awatere, that he would be absent about
three days, and that at the end of that time he desired to meet the
chiefs at Mr. Cotterell's camp, where he would converse with them over
the recent events. The natives gladly undertook to convey this message
to Rauparaha, who, with Rangihaeata, a number of their followers, and
Mr. Parkinson's men, were awaiting them at the appointed place of
meeting when the party returned from their explorations beyond the
Vernon Hills. Here the expected conference took place, Rauparaha
calmly but firmly explaining his reasons for interference. He claimed
the Wairau as his own, but since there was a dispute about it, he had,
on his return from Nelson, placed the matter in the hands of Mr.
Spain, who had appointed a day on which to hear the case, Rauparaha on
his part undertaking that in the meantime none of his people should
enter upon the land. The day appointed by Mr. Spain had passed, and
fearing that, if the survey was finished before he adjudicated upon
their claim, they would lose their land, they had determined to stop
the proceedings. Rauparaha expressed himself as being still willing to
abide by Mr. Spain's decision, but the survey must cease and the
Europeans must leave, until such time as that judgment should be
given. Mr. Tuckett vainly endeavoured to point out the hardship this
course would impose upon the contractors and their men, who were
dependent upon their work for their living. He also explained that he
was expecting instructions from Captain Wakefield, and asked
permission to remain until he heard from his superior.
His request for delay was met by a command to remove his tent to the
boat, and, upon his refusing to obey, Rangihaeata burst into a violent
passion, and, in a torrent of invective, reminded Mr. Tuckett of the
warning he had given him in Nelson, ironically remarking that, if he
was so fond of the Wairau, he (Rangihaeata) would bury him there. This
insulting outburst was treated with studied contempt by the chief
surveyor, who quietly rebuked Rangihaeata for his ungentlemanly
behaviour, telling him that he would not converse with him until he
mended his manners. While this brief altercation was proceeding,
Rauparaha had remained silent, although he was evidently exercising a
restraining influence upon his comrade. But he now advanced, and once
more politely requested Mr. Tuckett to have his tent removed; but
that gentleman still persisted in his right to remain, whereupon
Rauparaha, becoming impatient, ordered some of his own people to carry
out his behest, and in a few minutes the tent was struck and stowed
away in the boat. Mr. Tuckett then deemed it unwise to offer further
objection, and, together with the two chiefs, he agreed to go back to
the _pa_.
It had been Mr. Tuckett's intention to embark for Nelson next morning,
but in the night a south-easterly gale came up and blew for three
days, causing such a surf on the bar that Rauparaha advised him not to
attempt to cross it. During this compulsory stay, the chief was most
profuse in his expressions of goodwill towards the Europeans, and by
his fawning and obsequious manner created a feeling of revulsion in
the minds of the Englishmen. Rangihaeata, on the other hand, left them
severely alone, seeking neither favours nor intercourse of any kind,
and, save on one occasion, his isolation was complete. That exception
arose from the fact that one of the men reported that he had lost a
handkerchief and a billhook, which he had seen in the possession of
Rangihaeata's people. Mr. Tuckett at once approached the chief, and
asked to have the property returned. His reply was that he had some
bad men as well as good ones amongst his followers, with the sarcastic
addition that perhaps Mr. Tuckett was in the same position; but that,
as he had come to the Wairau to defend his own and not to thieve, if
the surveyor could identify the man, he would have his property back;
failing that, he could have _utu_ instead. The billhook was soon
found, and here the incident ended; but the impression it made upon
Mr. Tuckett was that, if Rangihaeata was more violent than Rauparaha,
he was up to this point certainly the more noble of the two.
As soon as the weather cleared, the chief surveyor prepared to take
his departure, but, as the boat would not carry both passengers and
baggage, it was finally decided that Messrs. Barnicoat and Parkinson
should remain, while Messrs. Tuckett, Patchett, and Moline proceeded to
Nelson, although the chiefs raised no objection to the whole party
remaining until additional boats could be brought, or until they could
be conveyed to one of the whaling stations at Port Underwood. By noon
on the following day Mr. Tuckett and his companions had got well into
Blind Bay, when they observed the Government brig _Victoria_ under
full sail. A gun was fired from the ship as a signal to board her. On
doing so, they learned that the vessel had just left Nelson, and was
proceeding to the Wairau with the police magistrate (Mr. Thompson),
Captain Wakefield (the Company's agent), Captain England, J.P., Mr.
Cotterell, and some of the would-be proprietors of the proposed
settlement, as well as the chief constable, Mr. Maling, and
twenty-four labouring men who had been sworn-in as special constables.
The agent informed the chief surveyor that, after Mr. Cotterell had
arrived at Nelson and made his report, it had been decided to proceed
as soon as possible to the scene of operations, and arrest the chiefs
on a charge of arson, a warrant having been granted by Messrs.
Thompson, P.M., Captain Wakefield, Captain England, and A. McDonald,
Esq., Justices of the Peace. Mr. Tuckett was naturally surprised and
deeply grieved at this intelligence, and, in deprecation of the rash
and impolitic step he informed Captain Wakefield of Rauparaha's
interview with Mr. Spain, and of the chief's willingness to abide by
the decision of the court. He further pointed out the great care
observed by the natives not to interfere with any of the surveyors'
property, or to injure the persons of any of their employees. He
proceeded to argue that the men on board would not number one-half the
strength of the natives then at the Wairau; and contrasted this
numerical weakness with the threat made by the Captain at Nelson,
that, if Rangihaeata interfered with the survey, he would come with
three hundred constables to arrest him. His impression, therefore, was
that the smallness of the party would inspire confidence in the minds
of the natives rather than dread, and he strongly urged that, however
satisfied the agent might feel about the result, prudence demanded
that they should appear on the plain with such a force as would
completely overawe the Maoris, and to which there would be no
humiliation in surrendering. In support of his views, he handed to
Captain Wakefield a letter which he had received from the Rev. Mr.
Ironside on the day that he had met Mr. Cotterell at the bar, in which
the missionary, ripe in experience of Maori feeling, and knowing how
tenaciously they clung to their rights in landed property, ventured
the opinion that, unless this dispute was most diplomatically handled,
the result might be extremely serious.
Mr. Ironside, taking the missionary view of the Company's scheme of
colonisation, expressed great anxiety lest a collision might arise out
of the subject of the claims to land, which would eventually terminate
in the extinction of the native tribes, as had been the case in other
countries settled by Europeans. He urged upon Mr. Tuckett not to be
precipitate in endeavouring to include the Wairau in the Nelson
survey, informing him that the resident natives and Rauparaha were at
issue about the land, to such an extent that the former, if left to
themselves, would probably withdraw from the Wairau, and treat with
the Nelson agent for the sale of it.
Captain Wakefield expressed himself deeply thankful for the counsel
contained in Mr. Ironside's letter, and also for the advice tendered
by Mr. Tuckett, with whose whole conduct he entirely acquiesced. So
impressed was he with the force of the chief surveyor's arguments that
he at once went into the cabin where Mr. Thompson was, and requested
him to read Mr. Ironside's letter, stating that from it and other
considerations urged by Mr. Tuckett he had come to the conclusion that
it would be wiser to return to Nelson. Mr. Thompson was totally averse
to turning back. He begrudged missing the opportunity of giving the
natives what he called "a prestige for the law," and of showing the
Government the correct way to deal with such troublesome fellows. At
the same time he expressed the opinion that, if the authorities at
Wellington had dealt with these chiefs as he had dealt with Ekawa at
Massacre Bay, they would long ago have ceased to give annoyance. He
also stated that, if they returned at that stage, they would simply be
laughed at by the settlers, and he was not going to put himself in
that undignified position. In his determination to go on Mr. Thompson
was seconded by the Crown Prosecutor (Mr. Richardson), who begged that
the expedition might not be given up, as he considered it was "only a
lark"; and, in deference to the aggressive mood of the magistrate and
the jocular anticipations of the lawyer, Captain Wakefield surrendered
his better judgment. Mr. Tuckett, still apprehensive that disastrous
consequences would follow if these unwise counsels prevailed,
earnestly remonstrated with Mr. Thompson, taking up the attitude that
he was exceeding his rights in proceeding to execute his warrant with
an armed force. The magistrate admitted the correctness of Mr.
Tuckett's premises, but hotly resented the assumption that he intended
to use the force at all. He explained that he was not sure that he
would land the men. Certainly he would not give out the arms or take
the force into the presence of the natives until he had first
exhausted every plausible means of getting the chiefs to submit
themselves to trial on board the brig. Should they refuse to do so,
which he did not expect, then he would investigate the charge on the
spot, and afterwards decide whether he should call in the aid of the
armed party or not. Had this plan of operations been strictly
observed, much that afterwards happened might have been averted; but
in no single particular did the magistrate follow his promised line of
action, for as soon as the vessel arrived at Cloudy Bay, the men were
supplied with fire-arms and landed at the mouth of the Wairau River.
On seeing the Government brig enter the bay, the Maoris had abandoned
the old _pa_ at the bar and retired further up the plain. Next
morning the magistrate's band of special constables was ordered to get
ready and go in pursuit. Perceiving that his worst fears were likely
to be realised, and that the magistrate would not go without the armed
force, Mr. Tuckett made a final appeal to Captain Wakefield, and
offered to go himself and see Rauparaha, in company with the chief
constable and the interpreter, if only the men bearing arms were
allowed to remain where they were. To this suggestion the Captain
readily agreed, and at once put the proposal before Mr. Thompson, who
also consented, and ordered the chief constable to prepare himself for
the journey; but when Mr. Maling announced himself ready to go, he
presented such an armour-plated appearance that the chief surveyor
absolutely refused to be seen in his company. He wore a cutlass at his
side, a brace of pistols and a pair of handcuffs in his belt, while in
his hand he carried a pair of heavy leg-irons. How he proposed to get
Rauparaha down to the bar when he was both handcuffed and hobbled is
not very clear, nor did he have time to explain. Mr. Tuckett at once
drew attention to his accoutrements, and pointed out that the
leg-irons would have an especially exasperating effect upon the
natives; while, if he insisted upon carrying pistols, it would at
least be judicious to conceal them, and so avoid the appearance of
intimidation. The magistrate at once ordered that the irons should be
discarded, but also intimated that he had changed his mind as to the
mode of procedure, and that he had now determined that the whole force
should participate in the arrest, a decision from which no amount of
persuasion could induce him to deviate.
At the outset an attempt was made to ascend the river in boats, but as
the tide was on the ebb and the wind unfavourable, the travelling was
both slow and laborious, and before they had proceeded very far, the
boats were abandoned, and the party, except Mr. Cotterell and his men,
who remained in a whaleboat, commenced the march along a survey track
which ran parallel with the river. By this time the ardour of the men
had considerably cooled; the bitter cold night experienced at the bar
had helped to extinguish their enthusiasm, and now the keen morning
wind and bad walking through the long wet grass completely dissipated
all idea that the affair was to be regarded in the light of a pleasure
trip. During the course of the journey, which was both a slow and
irritating one, Captain Wakefield expressed the opinion that the
natives were more inclined for trade than for war, and that the
prospect of their attempting to fight in the event of a forcible
arrest being made was very small. In reply to this, Mr. Tuckett still
adhered to his former opinion that the Maoris would most certainly
offer resistance if the armed force was taken into their presence.
While this discussion was going on, the party reached the bend in the
river at the back of Grovetown, where they met a number of resident
natives, who, in consequence of their differences with Rauparaha, were
quitting the Wairau and returning to Port Underwood. Amongst them were
Puaha, a lad named Rore (who afterwards became the honoured and
respected chief of the Wairau natives), his father, and a few other
Maoris cutting timber in the bush. Of these they inquired the
whereabouts of Rauparaha, and were informed that he was a few miles
further up the valley, at the Tua Marina stream. Night coming on, they
decided to camp in the Tua Mautine wood, but took the precaution to
send Puaha forward to acquaint Rauparaha with the nature of their
visit; and he was followed by the remainder of the natives at a later
hour. Mr. Thompson was careful to explain to Puaha that he had not
come to interfere with him; but it was noticed that his countenance
bore a most anxious and concerned expression, and in the brief
interview which he had with the magistrate, he not only advised, but
earnestly entreated him not to precipitate a quarrel by taking the
armed men into the presence of Rauparaha and his followers. If he did
so, it would be impossible to convince them that he had not come for
the purpose of shedding blood. The pained look that fell upon the face
of Puaha when he realised the magistrate's intentions made a deep
impression upon Captain Wakefield, and he several times made reference
to it. Even when waking from his sleep in the night, he spoke of the
fact as though he had a gloomy presentiment that all would not be well
on the morrow. Mr. Thompson did not appear to be troubled with any
such forebodings; his concern was that he would not have the
opportunity of arresting the chiefs, who would probably make good
their escape as soon as Puaha conveyed his message to them. He
endeavoured to make light of the agent's fears by explaining that
Puaha's troubled looks were due to the conflict between the dictates
of his barbarous nature and the influence of his Christian teaching,
which, under the circumstances, would naturally burn within him--a
course of reasoning that Captain Wakefield seemed to cheerfully
accept.
At dawn next morning,[156] the camp of Te Rauparaha was easily located
by the smoke rising through the forest trees at the mouth of the
Waitohi Valley, about four miles away. The magistrate then mustered
his constables, and served out to each man eighteen rounds of ball
cartridge. All told, they numbered forty men, bearing muskets,
bayonets, and cutlasses, besides ten or twelve gentlemen who were
without arms, the chief surveyor and Mr. Cotterell being members of
the Society of Friends, and refusing, in accordance with their
religious principles, to carry them. After a short march across the
plain through the fern and _toetoe_, they arrived at the foot of
the Tua Marina hills, and there they halted, having, during the course
of the journey, been cautioned not to fire unless ordered to do so.
The constitution of the arresting party was not calculated to ensure
success in the event of resistance on the part of the Maoris. They
were untrained and without discipline. Some of them were even
unwilling participants in the expedition, for they had been coerced
into coming by the threat that they would lose their employment in the
service of the Company if they refused to assist in the arrest of the
chiefs. Their arms were old-fashioned and not in the best of repair;
there was a total lack of organisation, and apparently no common
understanding as to who was in authority. Under these circumstances,
the result could scarcely have been different, regard being had to the
character of the men with whom they had to deal.
Anyone sitting on the hill-side even now can, without the aid of a
vivid imagination, picture the animated scene which unfolded itself on
that bright June morning. What are now grass paddocks were flats, more
or less covered with native scrub. Of what was then dense bush only a
few detached fragments now remain, but otherwise the physical features
of the landscape are but little changed. The Maoris, when they first
observed the Europeans, were squatting around their camp-fires on the
western side of the Tua Marina stream. They immediately hailed them
and inquired if they intended to fight. Mr. Thompson answered in the
negative, and, after explaining the purpose for which he had come,
asked the natives to place a canoe across the stream that he might
come over and talk the more freely to them. Rauparaha consented to
this course, but stipulated that the armed men should not be allowed
to cross over; and, the magistrate agreeing to this condition, the
special constables were left in charge of Captain England and Mr.
Howard, who had instructions to act if called upon. He himself,
accompanied by Captain Wakefield, Mr. Patchett, Mr. Tuckett, Mr.
Cotterell and Mr. Brooks,[157] the interpreter, crossed over in the
canoe, which was immediately drawn back again alongside the bank by a
native nicknamed Piccawarro (big-fellow), to prevent any surprise from
the force on the other side of the stream. When the magistrate walked
into the presence of the natives, he observed that they numbered about
ninety men and thirty-five women and children; but, as an indication
of their peaceful intentions, they had placed in the midst of their
group three women, the wives of Rauparaha, Rangihaeata, and Puaha,
while the party of resident natives sat on one side, and the immediate
followers of Rauparaha on the other. The noble and dignified Puaha
stood in the centre with a Bible in his hand, reading from it select
passages, and exhorting both parties to peace, while the natives
sitting around chanted the usual welcome, _Haere-mai, Haere-mai_.
Rangihaeata lay concealed behind some bushes, but Rauparaha came
forward frankly when Mr. Thompson inquired for him, saying "Here am
I," and offered to shake hands with the strangers. But this courtesy
was declined by the magistrate, who pushed the chief's hand away, and
it was left to Mr. Tuckett and Mr. Cotterell to perform the politeness
of a friendly greeting.
In reply to Rauparaha's inquiry as to what had brought them there, Mr.
Thompson proceeded to explain to him, through Brooks, the interpreter,
that he was their prisoner. Rauparaha disdainfully replied that it
would be time enough to indulge in such talk when Mr. Spain had made
his inquiry about the land. They then strove to make him understand
that, as this case had nothing to do with the land, but was a charge
of arson, it did not come within the province of Mr. Spain to inquire
into it, but that the charge must be heard on the brig. Rauparaha
declared that he had not destroyed any European property, in proof of
which he appealed to Mr. Cotterell, who admitted the truth of his
assertion, and therefore he would not go on board the brig, but he was
quite willing that the matter should be adjudicated upon there and
then, and, provided the compensation demanded was not excessive, he
would be prepared to pay rather than there should be any ill-feeling
between the two races. Thereupon he was told that, if he would not go
voluntarily he must be taken by force, and a pair of handcuffs were
produced to impress him with the sincerity of this threat. His
chieftain blood was aroused by this insult; he indignantly dared them
to try to imprison his hands in such implements and bind him like a
slave, but begged for longer time to talk the matter over. The
magistrate, who was now rapidly losing his temper, began to stamp and
rave, and scorning the need for further argument, desired the
interpreter to finally ask Rauparaha to say whether he would go on
board the brig or not; and, upon his still firmly refusing to do so,
Mr. Thompson turned to Brooks and exclaimed, with a violent gesture in
the direction of the opposite bank, "Then tell him there are the armed
party; they will fire on them all." A native from the Bay of Islands
who was present amongst Rauparaha's people, and who understood a
smattering of English, told those of Rauparaha's party that an order
to fire had been given, and sixteen of them at once sprang to their
feet, and, presenting their muskets at the magistrate, awaited the
order from their chief to fire. The mistaken impression under which
this hostile display had been made was at once removed by the chief
surveyor and Mr. Patchett, who walked over to them and explained that
only a threat, and not an order, to fire had been given, and on this
assurance they immediately subsided to their seats on the ground.
The altercation between Mr. Thompson and Rauparaha still proceeded.
The former produced his warrant, which he told the chief was the
"book-a-book" of the Queen "to make a tie," and that he was the Queen,
again adding, in high and excited tones, stamping his foot the while,
that if Rauparaha did not consent to surrender himself, he would order
the Europeans to fire on them. This was quickly interpreted to the
armed natives by the stranger from the Bay of Islands, and they
instantly sprang to their feet and pointed their muskets at Mr.
Thompson and his companions, as before. At this point, the peace-making
Puaha[158] stepped forward with his Testament in his hand and said,
"Don't fight, don't fight! This book says it is sinful to fight. The
land has been made good by the preaching of the missionaries. Don't
make it bad again." In this way he strove to reason with Mr. Thompson,
but the latter in his frenzy and rage pushed the native aside, and
angrily called out for Rangihaeata to come forward. That chief, on
hearing his name, came from behind the bushes which concealed him,
and, leaping into the midst of the throng, began to brandish his
hatchet in dangerous proximity to the magistrate's head, meanwhile
upbraiding him in a most violent manner. "What do you want with
Rangihaeata that you come here to bind him? Do I go to Port Jackson or
to Europe to steal your lands? Have I burned your house? Have I
destroyed tents or anything belonging to you?" Such were the pertinent
inquiries made by the angry chief; and, as it was quite evident from
his flashing eyes and bitter tones that he was in no mood to be
trifled with, Mr. Patchett appealed to the chief surveyor to
interfere, "otherwise," he said, "we shall all be murdered."
Rauparaha, seeing that his companion's manner was not likely to
improve matters, ordered him to retire and leave the settlement of the
matter to Puaha and himself, at the same time leading Rangihaeata's
lame wife, Te Rongo, to him, so that she might be under his
protection. Mr. Tuckett then seized the opportunity of pointing out to
Captain Wakefield that, in the event of Rangihaeata's temper getting
the better of him, they would be completely at the mercy of the
natives, seeing that their retreat had been cut off by the removal of
the canoe. After a brief consultation with Puaha, they agreed that it
would be wiser to restore the means of communication between
themselves and their party on the other side of the stream. Captain
Wakefield, taking the initiative, jumped into the canoe, and with the
aid of a pole shoved the bow down the stream until he found a
convenient landing-place on the other side. While this movement was in
progress, Mr. Thompson[159] had made another attempt to place the
handcuffs upon Rauparaha's wrists. Just at that moment, when the chief
had indignantly wrested his hand from the magistrate's grasp, and was
bitterly protesting against the conduct of the Queen's officers,
Captain Wakefield stepped on to the opposite bank of the creek, and,
noticing a threatening movement towards Mr. Thompson on the part of
the natives, in a loud voice gave the command, "Men, forward;
Englishmen, forward!" The company at once obeyed, and four of the men
who were in the front, Morgan, Clanzey, Ratcliffe and Tyrrell, jumped
into the canoe for the purpose of crossing over to assist Mr.
Thompson. Almost simultaneously the latter turned and entered the
canoe at the other end, with the result that she was nearly capsized.
A momentary confusion ensued, during which one of the Englishmen, in
striving to get in front of his companions on the bank, tripped and
fell, and in the fall his gun was accidentally discharged. That was
the fatal crisis, for it turned what had hitherto been only stirring
drama into fearful tragedy.
The natives had now no doubt that the Europeans had come to fight, and
Te Rauparaha, believing death to be imminent, turned, and, stretching
his arms heavenward, exclaimed, "_Hei kona e te ra, hei kona e te ao
marama--haere mai e te po, haere mai e te mate_" (Farewell, O sun,
farewell, thou world of light; come on, O night, come on, O death).
This was a cry which a chief would only utter in a situation of
deepest stress, and no Maori loyal to his leader would refuse to obey
the call, even though it should cost him his life. The natives
therefore briskly returned the fire, the first volley being fatal to
Tyrrell, who was shot in the throat. Clanzey and Ratcliffe were also
shot by the first discharge of musketry, and their bodies fell into
the water and sank to the bottom. The Englishmen returned volley for
volley, and, in the midst of the general fusilade, Mr. Thompson and
his party passed safely over in the canoe. Mr. Tuckett was the last to
leave the bank on which the natives were, which he did by entering the
stream, and, with one hand on the canoe, pulling himself through the
water. At this stage of the fight the natives might easily have killed
every one of the leading Europeans; for, when the latter started to
cross the stream, the muzzles of the native guns were no more than a
few yards away from them. The fact that they were not shot must have
been due to some chivalrous sentiment on the part of the natives, who,
seeing them unarmed, honourably abstained from attacking them. For
some ten minutes after crossing the creek, Mr. Tuckett stood no more
than twenty yards away, fully exposed to the fire that was being kept
up by the natives and fourteen or fifteen of the European rank and
file. Beside him stood Messrs. Barnicoat, Cotterell, Richardson,
Patchett, and Maling. The two latter were shot almost at the same
moment. Mr. Richardson bent over Mr. Patchett and inquired if he was
hurt, to which he replied, "I am mortally wounded--I am mortally
wounded; you can do no good for me; make your escape."
[Illustration: _Photo by W. Macey._
MONUMENT ON MASSACRE HILL, WAIRAU.]
The bullets now began to rain down upon them thick and fast. As
several of the labourers had fallen in the vicinity, including
Northam, Smith, and Burton, Mr. Tuckett and his friends retired to the
foot of the ridge, whither the other officers had gone with a portion
of the men to consult as to the best course to pursue. They decided to
retreat up the hill, and called to Mr. Tuckett and the rest of the
party to follow them. This act of mistaken generalship cost them dear,
for up to that time their fire had kept the natives penned up on the
other side of the stream. But the moment they observed the Europeans
falling back, they dashed into the water, and, carrying their guns
above their heads to keep them dry, crossed over and took possession
of the trees which grew on the opposite edge. Secure within this
cover, they opened a galling fire upon the Europeans, who were now
hopelessly exposed upon the face of the fern-clad hill.
Mr. Thompson did his utmost to steady the party by exclaiming, "For
God's sake, men, keep together!" But his appeals were for the most
part disregarded, not more than a third of the men remaining with
their leaders, the rest retreating up the ridge and firing haphazard
as they went. Captain Wakefield's attempts to instil something like
discipline into the men were likewise frustrated by some panic-stricken
individual rushing up and shouting out, "Run for your lives, lads,
run!"--an injunction which they were not slow to obey. In an instant
all semblance of organisation had disappeared. Time after time a few
men were got together, but the majority were always utterly beyond
control. On the last partial rally Captain Wakefield and Warrant
Officer Howard ordered the men to fix bayonets and charge the natives;
but on one of the men (Richard Painter), who had been in the
artillery, pointing out that there was no one visible to charge at,
the idea was abandoned. The natives were still maintaining a steady
fire, and a protest on the part of the artilleryman, who declined to
remain where he was "and be shot down like a crow," led to a further
retreat up the hill-side. On the second brow of the hill they met Mr.
Cotterell, who was sitting down with a double-barrelled gun at his
side. At the commencement of the quarrel he had been unarmed, but he
had now seized this weapon in self-defence. He appeared deeply
distressed at what had occurred, and expressed his intention of
quitting the scene; but he was dissuaded from this course by Captain
Wakefield, who, addressing him in most earnest tones, said, "For God's
sake, Mr. Cotterell, don't attempt to run away; you are sure to be
shot if you do." Mr. Cotterell therefore remained with the party, only
remarking to Painter, one of his own men, "This is bad work, Dick."
Being now out of range of the native fire, a council of war was held
of such of the party as could be got together, and finally it was
decided that Captain England and Mr. Howard should bear a flag of
truce to the natives, and endeavour to settle the dispute by
negotiation. A white handkerchief was accordingly fixed on a stick,
and, with this fluttering in the breeze, the two officers started
towards the wood. As an indication of their sincerity in desiring to
relinquish fighting, Captain Wakefield ordered all those who were with
him to lay their arms on the ground, and the natives, seeming fully to
appreciate the nature of the advances that were being made to them,
ceased firing, and a number of them left their muskets behind the
trees and came out to meet the bearers of the flag. Captain England
and his comrade had almost reached the wood, when some of the
Englishmen who had halted much higher up the hill than Captain
Wakefield, seeing the Maoris emerging from the bush, commenced to fire
upon them, notwithstanding that they had seen the flag of truce, as
well as their companions laying down their arms. Regarding this as a
dastardly act of treachery, the Maoris beat a hasty retreat into the
bush, and reopened a rapid fire upon the Englishmen, whereupon Captain
England and Mr. Howard ran back to the hill, and reached the spot from
which they had started, uninjured by the native bullets.
This attempt at conciliation having failed through the folly of their
own people, the magistrate and Captain Wakefield decided to go further
up the hill and meet those who were in advance of them, to induce
them, if possible, to act in concert with the rest. In this they were
no more successful than before, for no sooner did the one section
begin to advance than the other began to retreat. Seeing that this
must go on indefinitely, Mr. Tuckett endeavoured to persuade Captain
Wakefield that their best hope of reaching the beach and getting back
to the brig was to abandon the ridge which they were climbing, and
strike down into the plain. Although this advice was twice pressed on
Wakefield, he took no notice of it, and Mr. Tuckett thereupon, calling
to Mr. Barnicoat and a labourer named Gay to follow him, descended in
an oblique direction on to the plain below. For a moment Mr. Cotterell
hesitated which course to take, but finally decided to go up the spur
with the rest, and this decision cost him his life. When Captain
Wakefield and his party began their last retreat, most of them left
their muskets lying on the brow of the hill, and were therefore quite
defenceless; but the Maoris kept up a running fire as they gradually
crept up the side of the range. As they approached the summit of the
first knoll, Mr. Cotterell stopped and surrendered himself when the
natives reached him, calling out, "Enough, enough! that will do the
fight," in the hope of assuring them that the Europeans wanted peace.
But he was immediately struck down and his body thrown into a manuka
bush. Captain Wakefield followed his example by surrendering a few
minutes later, as did also Captain England, Messrs. Richardson,
Howard, Brooks, Cropper, McGregor, and the magistrate. A few of the
younger natives were in the van of the pursuit, and these held the
prisoners in hand until the arrival of Rauparaha, whom they had
outstripped. At first gold was offered as ransom, and it seemed as if
the feud would end without more bloodshed, for the chief had accepted
the assurances of Captain Wakefield that the shooting had been a
mistake, and had shaken hands with them all. But Rangihaeata, who had
killed the wounded as he found them lying on the hillside, panting
with haste and anger, rushed up and called out to Rauparaha, "What are
you doing? Your daughter Te Rongo[160] is dead. What are you doing, I
say?"
Scorning the acceptance of gold, he then fiercely demanded the lives
of the principal Europeans as the only _utu_ that would compensate him
for the loss of his wife, exclaiming in impassioned tones, "We are
sure to be killed for this some day. The white people will take _utu_;
let us then have some better blood than that of these _tutua_ (common
men). We are chiefs; let us kill the chiefs, and take _utu_ for
ourselves beforehand." To this Rauparaha was at first reluctant to
agree, and his objections were well supported by Puaha and the other
Christian natives; but he felt that, in view of Te Ronga's death, the
demand was a reasonable one, and he at length yielded to the powerful
appeal of his lieutenant, and delivered the unfortunate colonists over
to their fate.
At this juncture Mr. Thompson seemed, for the first time, to be
apprehensive of serious consequences attending his conduct, and he
implored Rauparaha to save their lives. But that chief haughtily
answered, "Did I not warn you how it would be? A little while ago I
wished to talk with you in a friendly manner, and you would not; now
you say 'Save me.' I will not save you." The whole party then retired
a little lower down the hill, and there the massacre commenced.
Captain Wakefield and Mr. Thompson were killed by Te Oru,[161] a son
of Te Ahuta, the first native who fell in the fight, as a retribution
for the death of his father. Brooks, the interpreter, was struck down
by Rangihaeata and despatched by the slaves, which would account for
the mangled condition in which his body was found by the burial party
from Port Underwood. The rest of the slaughter, according to native
accounts, was conducted mainly by Rangihaeata. His method of procedure
was to glide silently behind the victims while they were standing
amongst the crowd of natives and brain them with a single blow of his
tomahawk. The peculiar part of the tragedy was that none of the
Englishmen, except Captain Wakefield, made the slightest resistance,
and even he was checked by Mr. Howard exclaiming, "For God's sake,
sir, do nothing rash!" Perhaps their ignorance of the native language
prevented them from understanding all that was passing around them
until they received the fatal blow. But there was no struggle, no
cries, except from the native women, led by Puaha's wife, who pleaded
with the men to "save some of the _rangatiras_, if only to say they
had saved some." No Englishman who survived actually saw the massacre,
and therefore it is impossible to describe the exact method of its
execution; but the colonists to all appearances met their fate with
the greatest equanimity. George Bampton, who had concealed himself
amongst the fern only a few yards from the spot where the tragedy was
enacted, in giving evidence at Nelson a few days after the event,
deposed that "he heard neither cries nor screaming, but merely the
sound of beating or chopping, which he supposed at the time to be
natives tomahawking the white people."
In accordance with Rauparaha's express orders, none of the dead bodies
were mutilated or stripped, although Captain Wakefield's watch was
taken by Rangihaeata and buried with Te Rongo, while one native
furnished himself with a pair of white gloves and another with a pair
of silver-mounted pistols. After burying their own dead in the Waitohi
Valley, the two chiefs, with their followers, came down to the mouth
of the Wairau River, bringing with them their own canoes and the
whaleboat which had been taken up by Mr. Cotterell and his men. In
these they went first to Robin Hood Bay, and then to Te Awaiti, in
Tory Channel, where they remained a few days, finally crossing the
Strait to Mana and Otaki, there to await developments.
Shortly after the skirmishing began, a Sydney merchant named Ferguson,
who had been a passenger in the brig to Nelson, and had accompanied
her to the Wairau under the impression that he would have a pleasant
outing, had taken one of the wounded men, Gapper, down to the river
where the boats had been left that morning, and, with him and the
boatman who had been stationed in charge, had paddled down the river
to the bar, and reached the brig that afternoon. A number of the men
had also gone down the Waitohi Valley, which was then densely bushed,
and by this means had evaded pursuit until they could return to Nelson
by the overland route. Others, again, who had broken away from the
main body had made for the sea, so that before Mr. Tuckett and his two
companions had proceeded very far they were joined by eight of the
original party, one of whom, John Bumforth, was badly wounded in the
shoulder. Mr. Tuckett first proposed that they should divide into two
parties, the one to proceed to the bar and the other to the vicinity
of Port Underwood, thinking that by this means the chances of some of
them reaching the brig would be increased. But the men stoutly refused
to separate, and the chief surveyor then decided to proceed to the
corner of Cloudy Bay nearest the port, where luckily they found one of
Mr. Dougherty's fully equipped whaleboats riding in the bay a few
chains off. They hailed the boatmen, and explained that they wished to
be taken to the brig, which was anchored some seven or eight miles
away; but owing to the heavy swell that was rolling into the bay at
the time, and the large number of the party, there was the greatest
difficulty in persuading the whalers to comply with the request. Even
after the danger of embarking had been overcome, the headsman had
almost made up his mind not to risk the voyage to the brig, but to
land the party at Port Underwood. But fortune still favoured the
fugitives, for at this moment another boat's crew, who had been
watching their movements, imagining that they had sighted a whale,
came out in pursuit, and the two boats raced for the brig, which was
almost reached before the pursuing crew discovered the true position
of affairs. Up to this point the whalers had not been informed why Mr.
Tuckett and his friends desired to get on board the brig, but they
were now told that a _fracas_ had occurred between the Europeans and
the natives, that the leaders of the party were Rauparaha's prisoners;
and a promise (that was never fulfilled) was extracted from the
boatmen that they would convey the intelligence to the other settlers
at the port, and prepare them to act as they might think best under
the circumstances. The captain of the brig then sent his boats to
search the shore, in the hope that other fugitives might have reached
the beach; but no one was seen, and no unusual circumstance was noted
except the burning of a large fire at the mouth of the river, which
had been lit for some purpose by the natives. The brig then weighed
anchor and sailed for Wellington, the captain, whose inclination was
to enter Port Underwood, adopting this course at the earnest
solicitation of Mr. Tuckett, who believed that, if assistance was
necessary, it could be more easily obtained from the larger centre of
population.
When the news of what had happened spread through the infant
settlement early next morning, the excitement ran wild and high, and
the settlers, believing that at the worst Captain Wakefield and his
friends were only prisoners in the hands of the natives, immediately
organised a band of volunteers to effect their forcible rescue. Their
departure was, however, delayed by a gale, which had the effect of
making most of the volunteers seasick; and, by the time the storm had
abated, wiser counsels prevailed, and it was decided that only a
quorum of magistrates and Dr. Dorset, the surgeon of the settlement,
should proceed to the scene, the impression having gained ground that
intercession was more likely to prevail with the Maoris than the
presence of an armed force. The brig left Wellington for Cloudy Bay
that night, and it was when she arrived at Port Underwood that Colonel
Wakefield and Mr. Tuckett learned for the first time the appalling
nature of the tragedy which had been enacted. They also learned that
the natives, both resident and visiting, had hurriedly left the
Wairau, believing that retaliatory measures would speedily be taken
against them.
Altogether about twenty-seven of the arresting party had managed to
elude the pursuit of Rangihaeata's warriors. After undergoing intense
privations, some wandered back to Nelson, but most of them went to
Port Underwood, a few suffering from wounds, and all from protracted
hunger and exposure. The first to arrive were Morgan and Morrison, who
reached Ocean Bay with their trousers worn to their knees, and they
were shortly followed by others who were in no better plight. Their
wants and wounds were attended to by Mrs. Dougherty, who ministered to
them with the kindest of care, and it was by these few survivors that
the whalers were first apprised of the catastrophe. The Rev. Mr.
Ironside had heard vague rumours about impending trouble between the
chiefs and the Government; but, as he had not seen the arrival of the
brig, he paid no heed to them until the following Sunday, when, in the
midst of a heavy rain-storm, he noticed a Maori swiftly paddling his
canoe up the bay. Knowing that a native would only be out on such a
day under exceptional circumstances, Mr. Ironside sent one of his
mission-boys to inquire. The boy did not return, which only increased
the anxiety, and later on, when a few particulars did reach the
station, they were only sufficient to indicate that a collision had
taken place, without any details. That night the missionary and his
wife retired to rest a prey to harrowing suspense.
Next morning the storm had increased to a perfect hurricane, and as it
was impossible to launch a boat, they could do nothing but wait. By
Tuesday the weather had moderated, and a boat's crew of whalers took
Mr. Ironside down to Ocean Bay, where the two chiefs and their
exultant followers had arrived. From them the whole story was gleaned,
and by them the tragedy was justified; "for," said Te Rangihaeata,
"they killed my wife, Te Rongo, and they did not punish the murderer
of Kuika."[162]
Mr. Ironside at once asked permission to go and bury the dead,
whereupon the fiery Rangihaeata ejaculated, "What do you want to go
for? Better leave them to the wild pigs. But you can go if you like."
Still the gale was too severe to admit of venturing across the twelve
miles of open sea; but so anxious had they all become, that next
morning a start was once more made from Ngakuta, and at the imminent
risk of their lives the brave crew pulled their boat across the stormy
bar into the river. On arriving at Tua Marina, Mr. Ironside and his
party found that all the bodies had been left as Rauparaha had
directed--unmutilated. The watch of Captain Wakefield was gone, one of
the pistols, which he had evidently attempted to fire, had been laid
across his throat in compliance with Maori custom, and a piece of
"damper," in savage derision, had been placed under his head. The body
of Brooks, the interpreter, was found to be in the most mangled
condition, the others apparently only having received the one final
and decisive blow, when they were struck down by the enraged
Rangihaeata. Five bodies were discovered in the bush close to the
creek, and were there interred with the benefits of Christian burial,
while those who were slain on the brow of the hill, thirteen in
number, were buried close by with similar rites. This fatiguing work
had been almost completed by the devoted missionary and his band of
native helpers when Colonel Wakefield, with the party from the brig,
arrived to assist. On an extended search being made by the combined
parties, one more body was found at the point where the road turns
into the Waitohi Valley, and it was buried where it lay. Probably it
was that of Isaac Smith, who had either sought to escape after being
mortally wounded, and had died in the attempt, or had been overtaken
in his flight and killed where he was found. Mr. Patchett was buried
in a single grave on the spot where he fell, and Tyrrell and Northam
were interred together close beside him.
In recognition of the kindly and humane service rendered by Mr.
Ironside during this critical and anxious period, the Nelson settlers
presented him with a testimonial in the shape of a handsome edition of
the Bible, bound in three volumes. The gift was gracefully
acknowledged by the reverend gentleman in a letter to Mr. Domett,
dated from Wellington on February 20, 1845.