LOOKING BACKWARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2316, 8 October 1908, Page 1

LOOKING BACKWARD.

THE EARLY _ dAYi~OF POVERTY BAY.

THE TRUE STORY OF TE KOOTI.

“I little thought, when I slopped over tho threshold of my lather s door, over sixty years ago, that I would jiover see it again,” said Captain Thomas Fornnndoz, to a ‘‘Times” I reporter. “Yet hero I am, sixty years a colonist, or rather, sixty years heating tho coast, ploughing the sea Com one port to anotlior, around New Zealand. I havo seen Poverty Bay grow up, or rather, I should say, Turangauui, for Tunyiganui I should call it, as all tho slapping was dono on tho river in those days—from a baby settlement to the prosperous township of Gisborne. Tnranganui was differ- | out then to what it is now—that was in 1859. All tho settlement was on the flats around Makaraka and Matawhoro districts, and tho river was only used for landing supplies, which were carted out to tho settlors and tho Stores. Gisborne, or tho spot where Gisborno is now, was then inliabitatcd by Maoris, and on its busiest commercial spots and fashionable suburbs stood extensive Maori pahs. There was a big pah over on Haiti and on tho Wai'kanae, on tho exact spot where Dalgoty and stores now stand, was tho big blirini pah, with its sharp-pointed, double-pa llisaled protective works. The first pakcha house 1 remember was Mr. Harris’ house—Pene Hariti, tlio Maoris called him. Mr. Harris was tho grandfather of Mr. Frank Harris, and his house stood on that corner where tho Bank of Australasia stands, and then had a small garden around it. 1 don’t remember seeing Mr. Harris living there —I think he had a farm somewhere on the flats—but I know ho owned the house, and that when I first saw it it was deserted ,and tho garden all overgrown with briar bushes. There were no white men living on the river, and, strange to say, most of the trading craft was manned by natives. The Poverty Bay natives in those days, were

FINE PEOPLE and made good sailors, ’and I had a Maori crew on my own schooner “The Swan.” A number of Maori communities owned schooners, and three native-owned vessels that I can distinctly remember are “The Queen,” tlie “Mary Ann,” and the “Eliza.” The “Eliza” was wrecked by a Maori crew over near Muriwai, and her mast tops stood up' outi of the water until tlie vessel went to pieces. The Maori boats carried wheat- from Poverty Bay to other ports, but chiefly to Auckland. Wheat growing was a great industry then, ,but the wheat fields have long since been over-run by the pakelia’s sheep. Of course, the Maori vessels wero built by white men, and the Maoris bought them with goods and labor, and 1 can tell you THEY PAID A HIGH PRICE. “Even the captains were natives, and when the crews got to another port they usually had a good time. Arriving in Auckland the crews would go ashore, and if any of the members wanted anything lie would straightway barter cargo for tlie article. After tlie .ship had been unloaded a ballast of stones would be taken aboard and tho vessel would set out to return, to Turaiiganui, but more than likely one or two of the other native ports would be visited, and it would be months before Poverty Bay would bo-sighted. When, at last, the crew landed the community would want to know tho profits of tlie voyage. When tlie result was known there was usually a

GREAT ROW IN THE CAMP and a, korero would be lield. Tlio old chiefs would put their beads together and the sailors plead extenuating circumstances. However, it was liiore than likely tlio whole lot would get their discharge, and a new crew from the fiah told off to take their places. The new crew would quickly fall into tho tridks of their predecessors, and at last tho Maoris found out that shipowning was an unprofitable, business, and the vessels that were left were "sold for debt.

“There were many good traders on tho river' in those days. Captain Read owned a number of vessels, including “The Swan,” a .top-sail schooner of 40 tons register, of which I was captain. Then there was Mr. Ureu and a Mr. Espie, both storekeepers on, the flats. The Maoris, so long as they were left to themselves, were peaceful enough, but the

TARANAKI AVAR spread discontent- all over the island, and it was not hard to foment- trouble among tho natives of Poverty Bay. Te Kooti’s brother was fighting in Taranaki, and that fact at once threw suspicion on tlie friendliness of Te Kooti, who was then in this district. Te Kooti was not a chief, but lie was a

FAMOUS MAORI AVARRIOR. and being a man who did not know fear, suspicion grew around him, and he was suddenly a Nested—common talk said it was at the instance ot Captain Road—by the agents of the Grey Government, and without trial of any sort was TRANSPORTED TO CHATHAM ISLANDS. “This fired vengeance in more than one native breast, and many native warriors went inland to assist their countrymen to oust the invaders. These men were called rebels, but they were real patriots, and were fighting to save their country from the greed of the white man. Mr. Fredrick Moss, a member of Parliament, interviewed Sir Gqbrge Grey on behalf ot Te Kooti, and pointed out the unfairness of. his treatment, but the Government ■would not take the aclvice of the people who lived in the district and knew the true position, but bungled tho whole aftair, and their bungling

COST HUNDREDS OF LIVES. “After a time the Maori troubles began to quieten, and I was then m command of the “Poineer,” a sternheel steamer, on the "Waikato River, and carried supplies to the garrisons at Ngarnawahia and Cambridge. There were a large number of captured native warriors, prisoners of war, an ICawau Island. These were allowed to escape, or if not allowed no attempt was made to recapture them, and when they got back to the "Waikato they did a good deal to induce the tribes to live at peace. Rut Te Kooti was still KEPT A PRISONER war, at Hawaii Island. These were Chathams. The guard had been reduced from 100 men to about 14, and suddonly, one night, while the nchooner St. Ivikla was lying at the island the natives overpowered the guard, captured' the guns and ammunition, and without shedding a drop of blood compelled the mate of the schooner to sail for Poverty Bay, where le Kooti and his band landed at Whareonga-

onga. Tho schooner was then allowed to sail whoreover the crow desired, and To Koobi and his followers settled dowii in tlio hope that, like the escaped Waikato prisoners, he would be allowed to live peaceful among bis people. However, that was not to tic, and the Government again bungled. Envoys wei;o sent to To Kooti demanding that he and his one hun-dred-.followers should submit as Government-. prisoners, and again be transported. To Ivooti loiiisod to give up his arms, said lie. was peaceful and that he wished to return to his people as other prisoners had done. Then came the trouble as I remember it. There havo been many accounts fold ot the To Koobi rising and many pnltohas have tried to stand out as heroes in the affair, but I took no active part, being a sea-captain, and I think l can fairly judge tho whole position. Many of tho settlors demanded TE KOOTI’S ARREST and word was sent to Wellington that the warrior was on- the, war-patli and tlio eottlcrs were afraid of their lives. A garrison was ordered to Poverty Bay, and a Government force was got together to capture the escaped prisoner. Tlio -Maoris at onco gathered aroung their countrymen’, and one or two cracks of t-lio rifle wore heard, but I don’t remember if anybody was killed. To Kooti took to the fastnesses, but the soldiers hunted him out-. There was an attack by whites and tlio Government forces were repulsed and some of the soldiers killed.- To Kooti saw every pakelia had risen against him and again, went into hiding. He was continually hunted, but kept quiet in his 'hiding place in tlio busll. Resentment for the Pakelia treatment still remained in his heart and -m tho hearts of his followers, and m the stillness of the night of November 9tli 1868, ho and liis band swooped down on the settlers on the flats of ; Makaraka and Matawhero, and in tlie morning, where formerly stood smiling homesteads lay heaps of smoking ashes stained with blood. It is said that Te Ivooti’s band chose their victims and that they wrought their vengeance- only upon their active enemies, and from what I was told at the tamo, there scented to bo a good deal or truth in tho statement, for Te Kooti passed the homes of many peaceful settlers an his rush, and left them untouched.

AFTER THE MASSACRE Tc Kooti then took to the bush. A force was raised to hunt liim out, and soldiers were brought from Napier and other places. To Kooti got clear away, and after a time was heard ot in the Waikato where he was continually hunted, but, being protected by 'Waikato natives, lie was never caught, and many years afterwards GRANTED A PARDON

by the Atkinson Government. Te Kooti always had a great love for, and a great loyalty to Ins own people, and when tho news of the pardon reached him he made up his mind to visit the Maoris of Gisborne. When the news of Tc Kooti’s visit reached Poverty Bay the whites made a great stir and vowed vengeance upon him. Colonel Porter was ordered to arrest the warrior, and with a policinaii lvent to meet liim at Opotiki. Te Kooti was indignant at tlio attempt to arrest him, and said lie was a free man, but when he was assured that he was not to bo imprisoned lie submitted quitely, and was brought to town, .After a time ho was allowed to go lree. Te ’Kooti never denied his Tesjionsibility for the Poverty Bay Massacre, but always stated, and those who knew him well said truthfully that his own hands shed no blood.”