WELD MINISTRY — VOLKNER’S MURDER — WELD APPLIES TO
M‘LEAN — HUNGAHUNGATOROA — MR. WELD RESIGNS — FALSE
PRETENCES — WAERENGA-AHIKA — TE KOOTI — WAIROA —
WAIKARE-MOANA — OMARANUI — REMARKS — PEACE — DEPORTATION.
In November, 1864, the Weld Ministry assumed office. At this time the
war, being waged for Imperial objects, continued with varying success.
It was at first viewed with alarm by the natives of Poverty Bay; at a
later date they were imbued with the belief that their countrymen were
victorious.
At the latter end of 1864, the Hauhau superstition had reached Poverty
Bay. On the 1st of March, 1865, the Rev. Mr. Volkner was murdered
at Opotiki, 100 miles from Turanga. On the 15th of the same month,
the murderers came to Taureka, in Poverty Bay, carrying with them a
European head. They were led by Kereopa, who had swallowed Volkner’s
eyes. The object of the party was to win over Hirini te Kani, the
principal chief of Turanga, to their side. By the end of March, most of
the Poverty Bay natives had become Hauhaus, and the Bishop of Waiapu
was obliged to fly the district; a sad commentary upon their presumed
conversion to Christianity.
About this time, Mr. M‘Lean, then suffering from severe illness, was
urgently requested by Mr. Weld to undertake the pacification of the
East Coast; no light task. The Hauhaus were already in arms at Waiapu,
and avowed their intention to exterminate loyal subjects of both races.
The Hauhaus were daily gaining adherents. Assistance would not or could
not be obtained from the officer commanding the Imperial troops; and,
but for the unexpected stand made by Mokena, a chief of the Ngatiporou
tribe, the East Coast settlements must have fallen; as it was, they
were in great peril. Mokena, after defeating the enemy on several
occasions, was compelled to act on the defensive, and barely held
his pa, against overwhelming numbers. One pa of his, in which he had
placed his women and children, had fallen, and a young chief of high
rank, nephew to Mokena, had been literally cut to pieces. This occurred
in June, 1865. On the 1st July, Lieut. Biggs, with a few volunteers,
were ordered by Mr. M‘Lean to proceed to Mokena’s assistance, who was
thus enabled to resume the offensive. His relief by Biggs was the
commencement of that long train of brilliant successes which brought
the war on the East Coast to a glorious conclusion—a war which would
have proved final if its fruits had not been frittered away by a
Government without principle, a Government that has sacrificed every
vestige of self-respect, and is guided principally by an unflinching
resolve to retain office at whatever cost to the colony.
By the 11th October, the first stage of the victorious East Coast
campaign had been reached, by the capture at Hunga-hunga-toroa of 500
Hauhaus, the greatest triumph ever achieved in New Zealand. It was
won by Lieut. (afterwards Major) Biggs, who fell in the Poverty Bay
massacre, and Rapata, a Ngatiporou chief, who avenged that massacre.
The force that accomplished so much was mainly composed of loyal
natives, and was assisted by a handful of Europeans (120), who were
enthusiastic in the cause whilst directed by Mr. M‘Lean. Between July
and October, 1865, that force had routed the enemy in every encounter;
had stormed and captured Pukemaire Kairomiomi and other strong
pas—had followed the enemy into what had been deemed inaccessible
districts—had killed several hundreds of the enemy, captured many
hundred more, and had compelled the remainder to swear allegiance to
the Queen. Fraser, Biggs, Westrup, and other officers distinguished
themselves in this campaign.
The second stage of the East Coast campaign commenced with the
accession of the Stafford Ministry. On the 12th October Mr. Weld
resigned, on the ground that his Ministry was not adequately
supported by public opinion. He was the author of what is termed the
“Self-Reliance Policy,” which might have issued differently to what
it has hitherto done if a regiment or two had been left in the colony
for a year or two, and the mother country had granted that pecuniary
assistance to which New Zealand was fairly entitled when she undertook
to establish the Queen’s supremacy, and to end an Imperial war after
the British forces had failed, and for which the colonists have been
heavily taxed.
It may be truly said that Mr. Stafford obtained office under false
pretences. Whilst accepting the “Self-Reliance Policy” he promised to
effect a reduction of £240,000 upon the Estimates, which (and no one
could have known it better than himself) it was impossible for him
to do. This was proved at an after date, when it was found that by
a cheese-paring economy, calculated to impair the efficiency of the
public service, his boasted savings amounted to about eight thousand
pounds.
Mr. Stafford became Premier on the 17th October, 1865. During that
month the Hauhaus in Poverty Bay were busy erecting three formidable
pas, of which one named Waerenga-ahika was the strongest. On the 9th
November Mr. M‘Lean arrived at Poverty Bay with the victorious forces
from Waiapu. On the 10th he sent an ultimatum to the rebels, of which
no notice was taken. Fighting ensued on the 17th, and continued five
days, during which about sixty of the enemy were killed. On the 22nd
Waerenga-ahika was surrendered, 180 men and 200 women and children
being made prisoners; 160 guns and a vast amount of plunder stolen from
settlers were likewise captured. Shortly after a spy named Te Kooti was
taken. He was afterwards better known as the author of the Poverty Bay
and other massacres.
Upon the fall of Waerenga-ahika a profound dread fell upon the
remaining Hauhaus; the other fighting pas were precipitately abandoned,
and their garrisons fled to Wairoa, there to stir up sedition; the
remnant came in and submitted to European rule.
The last stage of the East Coast campaign of 1865-6, was marked by the
severe defeats sustained by the Hauhaus at the Upper Wairoa and the
Waikare-moana. Upon the borders of that lake, the Hauhaus suffered a
heavy loss; the survivors escaped in their canoes, but were mostly
killed or captured at Petane and Omaranui, on the 12th October, 1866.
Thus ended a campaign unmarked, as far as the author is aware, by a
solitary reverse on our side. There has never been a campaign like
it in New Zealand, before or since. It was won for us by friendly
natives and a handful of Europeans, who numbered about 120 whites. The
force was led by brave officers, and chiefs who secured the goodwill,
respect, and confidence of their men, European and native. By uniform
courtesy and a gentlemanly demeanour towards those over whom they were
placed, such men as Biggs, Wilson, and the chiefs Mokena and Rapata,
found that the men would follow them wherever those officers and
chiefs were pleased to lead the way. Hunger and hardships were endured
without complaint by all alike; districts unknown, and hitherto deemed
inaccessible, were penetrated, no matter how savage or remote; and the
murderous rebel was taught, for the first time, that no place could
shelter him from the consequences of his crimes. In various ways, not
less than 400 natives are believed to have been killed or to have died
of their wounds. From first to last the prisoners were not far short
of a thousand, all ages. Of these the ringleaders were afterwards
deported to the Chatham Islands. The grand result was perfect safety
for life and property in the lately disturbed districts; that result
was obtained for the colony in the wise selection made of brave and
intelligent instruments to carry out his skilful combinations, by
Donald M‘Lean.