✨ Report on Wanganui River expedition
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tiraukawas in their Rangitikei land dispute. They at once admitted that such in all probability would be the result, and pledged themselves not to allow a single Ngatiapa to accompany them up the river—a pledge they most faithfully kept.
Tuesday, May 17th.—We left Wanganui about 1 p.m., in a canoe manned by a crew of some fifteen men, under the guidance of Hoani Wiremu (John Williams)—the main body under Hori Kingi, Mawai, and other Putiki chiefs, had started some two or three hours, amidst the cheers of the Wanganui settlers, who had loaded the canoes with provisions of various kinds. Few who witnessed that scene will forget the heartiness with which the Maories responded to the hip, hip, hip, hurra, hurra, hurra of the settlers. And yet while these Maories were going again to engage in a contest in which they had little or no concern—to risk their lives a second time almost solely in defence of the Europeans—there were still some few settlers who grudged them the arms and ammunition the Government had supplied them with, and deplored the infatuation of the Government in trusting them, or, as they expressed it, in arming savages against their own race. It was dusk before we reached Raorikea (Loadicea) where we found Hori Kingi and his people engaged in a tangi which lasted nearly the whole night. We pitched our tent on the opposite bank of the river.
Wednesday, the 18th.—Owing to a heavy fresh in the river, and to the necessity of having a tangi at each pa for the killed and wounded, our progress was so slow that we did not to-day make more than about twelve miles, arriving at Parikino, where we halted for the night, at 4 p.m. Ten natives belonging to the pa who had been engaged in the fight at Moutoa had just returned. Kawana Paipai (Governor Piper) one of our Putiki chiefs, after conversing with these men for a few moments, came to me in great tribulation, saying that the two chiefs Hemi Napi (a near relation of his own) and Riwai, who had fallen on the field of battle, had been buried like dogs—thrown into the ground without coffins. I at once assured him that I would have their bodies exhumed and coffins made for them, and further that a suitable monument should be erected to the memory of them and all the brave men who had sacrificed their lives for the Pakehas on the field of Moutoa. Kawana Paipai went away, with his heart, if no longer sad, at any rate greatly lightened.
Thursday, the 19th.—We left Parikino early. The fresh in the river (it having been raining nearly all yesterday) much increased. On arriving at Atene (Athens) I found it was not their intention to land; but on my declaring that it was my determination to visit every pa, whether friendly or hostile, they paddled to the landing-place. This pa really consists of two pas, distant from each other about a couple of hundred yards, the one occupied by friendly natives, the other by the rankest Kingites and scoundrels, headed by old Hamarama the brother of either Pehi or the late Hori Patene (I forgot which.) At this pa, situate midway between Tawhitinui and Wanganui, Matene and his gang, had they succeeded in forcing the river, were to have halted for a night. An ample commissariat had been provided for them, and the next morning the whole of Hamarama\'s mob would have accompanied them in their descent upon Wanganui. Our interview with Hamarama was very brief. Hamarama, after greeting us, expressed himself as much hurt at our apparent intention to pass his pa without landing. I replied I had landed to tell him that I was well aware of the designs of himself and his followers, to warn him against persisting in them, and to let him and other Kingites know that the Government were not merely arming the loyal natives, but were prepared, if necessary, to protect them with troops. His reply was to the effect that he was an old and infirm man, that he took no part in such matters, that he stood on the outside, that I must speak to Pehi, whatever Pehi said you must do, you will be able to make arrangements with Pehi. Hori Kingi, who appears to have an intense contempt and hatred of the people of this pa, then stood up and said, "Hamarama, I have only a few words to utter. I am going up the river to speak to Pehi, when I return I shall have a word or two to say to you," and off we marched to our canoes. The meaning of Hori Kingi\'s words to Hamarama is this—Hori Kingi has made up his mind that he will have no Kingites in his rear, between his advanced post and Wanganui, and that if Hamarama does not quietly and speedily accept this polite notice to quit, he will summarily eject him. We arrived, just as it was getting dark, at Otumairo, and knowing that several of the wounded men were at Koroniti (Corinth), a few miles higher up, I urged that we should push on; but they pleaded that it would be a gross breach of Maori etiquette to approach after dark a pa where there was a war party, even though that war party was a friendly one. There was no getting over this; and I had ceased to argue in the cause of the wounded, when luckily a messenger arrived with a letter from the chiefs of Koroniti, who had heard of our being on our way up, urging that I should come on at once and bring the doctor with me, as some of the wounded were very bad. After some hesitation and very manifest reluctance, the chiefs consented to my going, providing me with a most ample crew. At Koroniti we found seven wounded men, the majority of them very severely. Dr. Fletcher dressed their wounds, and extracted a ball from one of them, and I made
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✨ LLM interpretation of page content
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Report by the Superintendent of Wellington on the Battle of Moutoa and subsequent events
(continued from previous page)
🛡️ Defence & Military15 July 1864
Wanganui River, Battle of Moutoa, Māori chiefs, Wounded soldiers, Expedition
11 names identified
- Hoani Wiremu, Guide of canoe crew
- Hori Kingi, Putiki chief leading expedition
- Mawai, Putiki chief
- Kawana Paipai, Putiki chief
- Hemi Napi, Chief killed at Moutoa
- Riwai, Chief killed at Moutoa
- Hamarama, Kingite chief at Atene
- Pehi, Chief mentioned by Hamarama
- Hori Patene, Chief mentioned in relation to Hamarama
- Matene, Leader of hostile gang
- Fletcher (Dr.), Doctor treating wounded
Wellington Provincial Gazette 1864, No 30