STATE OF POVERTY BAY IN NOVEMBER,
1868 — DISAFFECTION — SPIES — SETTLERS CONSIDER STATE OF
AFFAIRS — MEMORIAL — REDOUBT — SCOUTS — ENEMY’S APPROACH — NIGHT
PATROLS — BIGGS NOT WARNED BY MINISTERS — RICHMOND IS
WARNED — REFLECTIONS.
By the withdrawal of all the forces, Poverty Bay was left in a
precarious state. No one could tell when the victorious enemy would
return to avenge the repeated attacks made by us upon the ex-prisoners.
Whitmore’s conduct had exasperated the friendly natives, and increased
the disaffection of the quondam Hauhaus, who very well knew that
Whitmore had been defeated, notwithstanding his assertions to the
contrary. Spies began to visit Te Kooti, and there were few arms in
the district. Moreover, a large proportion of the able-bodied European
population, alarmed at the threatening aspect of affairs, began to
leave the district. By-and-by, Ministers, influenced it is believed by
Whitmore’s asseverations, withdrew Fraser’s troop from the Wairoa, in
spite of Messrs. McLean and Ormond’s urgent repeated protests. Thus the
important East Coast settlements, by the infatuation of Ministers, were
left a prey to Te Kooti.
In October, 1868, meetings of settlers were held to consider the state
of affairs in Poverty Bay. A memorial was forwarded to Ministers,
praying that 50 men of the colonial forces might be stationed in the
district, and the settlers offered to build a redoubt and pay scouts.
Little attention was paid by Ministers to the memorial, but after
the settlers had organised a scout party, Government undertook its
management, and agreed to pay the men.
In the same month the loyal natives agreed to erect the palisades of
a strong redoubt at Matewhero, in the heart of the district, if the
Europeans would assist. This was agreed to by the settlers, but after
the natives, at great cost and labor, had built the heavy timber work,
it was put a stop to by Major Biggs, acting by Government instructions.
The non-erection of the Matewhero redoubt was a fatal mistake. If
finished, it would have proved a sure refuge for every one who resided
at Matewhero.
The scouts, twelve in all, were too few to watch the three great
avenues of approach from Puketapu, seeing they are situated many miles
apart, and divided by many precipitous and rugged ranges.
Early in November, Lieut. Gascoigne, who commanded the scouts, reported
the enemy’s approach. Their fires were seen upon the hills by many
settlers, some of whom watched nightly. Major Biggs was impressed with
the conviction that Te Kooti would come by the Arai, instead of the
Patutahi track; consequently, the scouts were detained at the former.
There is little doubt now that Te Kooti purposely evaded the scouts, of
whose movements he must have been informed by quondam Hauhau spies.
It has been said that Major Biggs received warnings from ministers of
Te Kooti’s advance. There is ample proof, that in conversation held
with settlers a few days before the massacre, Major Biggs shewed that
he had received neither message nor warning, though it is perfectly
well known that the Native Minister had received information which if
forwarded to Major Biggs, would have prevented the destruction of a
flourishing settlement, and the slaughter of its inhabitants.
A brief outline has thus far been given of causes which led to the
massacre. On the night of November 9 the residents of Poverty Bay
retired to rest, very few of them, it is true, without misgivings; but
some trusted to the scouts, others thought the enemy were not within
many miles. It was remembered, too, that as yet Te Kooti had committed
no atrocity upon Europeans since his landing, and it was generally
believed he would merely advance to the boundary of the settlement and
build a pa before taking a more decisive step. It has since transpired
that the murderers were lurking about Matewhero before its inhabitants
had gone to their beds, and belated settlers passed that place on their
way to their homes without noticing anything unusual even after the
bloody work had commenced.