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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Cornwall Park

page 1023

Cornwall Park.

The history of Cornwall Park, presented in June, 1901, to the people of New Zealand by Dr. Logan Campbell, through his Royal Highness the Duke of Cornwall and York, has been given in an interesting manner by the “New Zealand Herald.” It recalls the early days of colonisation, and goes also a great way back into the times when the Maoris were the sole owners of the country. In 1840, when the pioneer settlers traversed the native footpath between Orakei Bay on the Waitemata Harbour to Onehunga on the Manukau western waters, Maungakiekie rose from the surrounding treeless plain, with one single tree on its summit, and at once became known as Onetree Hill. Maungakiekie had from the earliest times been the most important position in all the country side. The whole isthmus, from Otahuhu to the Whau, was called by the Maoris, Tamaki, and is still so called by them. The native name of the stream now called Tamaki is Whangamakau. Tamaki was a favourite place of residence with the Maori people. It had in it much warm volcanic soil, suitable for the growth of the taro and the kumara, gave easy access to the sea on both sides, and to the mataitai or fruits of the ocean, which formed so important a part of Maori food. Its inhabitants, therefore, were envied by other Maoris, who had a proverb. “Tamaki, Makarau”—Tamaki of a hundred lovers. They pictured Tamaki as a fair maiden, attracting the regard of many lovers. This was perhaps its misfortune in the long run. It was possessed by a confederacy of tribes—the Taou, Waiohua, and Ngaiwi. The same people occupied Waiheke and the islands of the Gulf, and possibly the shores of the Waitemata down to the Firth of the Thames. They were able to bid defiance to all enemies until the occurrence of a singular incident. A chief named Tarakumikumi, a Waiohua, married his own niece, who had a brother named Kapetawa. The uncle and nephew went out one day to fish near the Bean Rocks, and the uncle took the nephew, then a boy, and put him on the rock at low water, and left him. As the tide advanced his mother, from the shore, heard his screams, put off in a canoe from Kohimaramara, and rescued him. Kapetawa cherished the remembrance of this affront until he grew up, when he raised a war party of Ngatipaoa, who lived at the entrance of the Thames, and with whom he had blood connection, and attacked his uncle in the pa at Orakei. The pa was taken, and many killed. The conqueror settled at Waiheke. But this was a mere raid.

At a later period the country was fully peopled, and the chief residence of the Waiohua was at Maungakiekie. The great chief who reigned without dispute for a long period was Te Kiwi. He was living there in great strength, in a strongly fortified pa, about the year 1720. The trenches of Kiwi's pa may be seen there at this day. His people held pas at Maungakiekie (One-tree Hill), Maungarie (Mount Wellington), Mangere, Inhumatao, Onehunga, Remuera, Omahu (near Remuera), Te Umuponga, at Orakei, Kohimaramara, Taurarua (Judge's Bay), Te Tou (Freeman's Bay), Raratonga (Mount Smart), Te Tatua (Three Kings), Owairaka (Mount Albert), and other places. He held undisputed possession of the whole country from the Tamaki river to Te Whau, and from the Waitemata to the Manukau. But, as with other rulers history tells of, he became intoxicated with power and overbearing to his neighbours. About the year 1740 he surprised and treacherously murdered thirty of the tribe Te Taou, a people of Kaipara. His people also murdered some of the Ngatimaru, of the Thames. Then came the reprisals, and about 1741 an army of Te Taou descended from Kaipara to Manukau, crossed at the Heads, in the night time, in canoes made of rushes, and stormed Tarataua, a pa of Te Waiohua, to the south of Awhitu, and slaughtered the people in it. Kiwi assembled his people from One-tree Hill and other pas, and a great battle took place at Paruroa (Big Muddy Creek). The Waiohua were defeated with immense slaughter, and kiwi was killed. This was the end of the Waiohua grandeur. Maungakiekie and all the other pas were taken possession of by Te Taou. The remnants of the Waiohua assembled in their pa at Mangere, and made a final stand. But the pa was taken, and the whole of the people killed or finally dispersed.

Some time afterwards the Ngatiwhatua, another Kaipara tribe, who considered that they were bound to avenge the murder of several of their chiefs who had been slain by the Waiohua, passed over to Papatoitoi, and sailing down the Waitemata assemblea and took in one day the pas of Kohimarama and Taurarua, held by the Waiohua.

The Waiohua were extirpated as a tribe, and individuals only existed in a subject state, or as wives amongst the conquering tribe. Tuperiri rebuilt the pa at Maungakiekie, and entered into occupation of the desolated and vacant country that had once been so populous.

All this piece of history was brought out at the great trial of the Orakei case before Judge Fenton. A large number of witnesses were then examined. At that time many old men were alive who have now passed away. In their youth they had heard the story from the actors in it. For instance, Apihai Te Kawau would no doubt hear from his grandfather, Tuperiri, the story of the night attack on the pa at Mangere, and the details of the bloody campaign. The evidence taken then seemed to show that Mount Eden had been abandoned before Kiwi's time.

Then after these wars there was a period of peace for about half a century. Te Taou and the returned refugees of Waiohua maintained Maungakiekie as their principal pa, and had outlying pas at Ohewa (Kauri Point), Te Tou (Freeman's Bay), and other places.

About 1790 hostilities took place between Te Taou and Ngatiwhatua and Ngatipaoa. Tuperiri still reigned at Maungakiekie, and his territory was not seriously threatened. In 1815 Apihai's people were living both at Manukau and at Waitemata.

Maungakiekie, One Tree Hill, Cornwall Park.

Maungakiekie, One Tree Hill, Cornwall Park.

page 1024

But a great change was to come over the scene. Europeans had come to the Bay of Islands, and the Maoris were getting that terrible weapon, the musket. Still for a time all was quiet in the district of Tamaki. Hongi Ika, the great Ngapuhi chief, went up the Thames and stormed the pa at Totara with great slaughter. Afterwards Hongi attacked the pa at Manimaina (Panmure), and captured it from the Ngatipaoa. No tribe could stand before the Ngapuhi, armed as they were, and Te Taou and Ngatiwhatua had to abandon their pas, and gather at Te Rehu (near the present water works). Wars and fighting took place till about 1825, when they made their headquarters at Okahu (Orakei). In 1826 Hongi invaded Kaipara, and Apihai and all his people fled up Waikato. At the close of the year the whole isthmus was without an inhabitant. Then the tide of war turned against the Ngapuhi, and the people began to settle at their former homes. In 1835 Te Wherowhero (afterwards known as King Potatau) brought down the people of the district, and settled them in their old places. Then in 1836 Te Taou came to the shores of the Waitemata, and began to cultivate the land about what is now the botton of Queen Street, then known as Horotiu.

In 1840 the sovereignty of Queen Victoria was proclaimed over New Zealand, and thereafter purchases of land were made from the native owners. In 1843 many sales of land were made by Apihai and his people. Onetree Hill was sold to an Auckland merchant named Mr. Thomas Henry, who had a place of business in Queen Street. In 1853 Mr. Henry sold to Dr. Campbell, and was delighted when he found the land was not to be cut up into small pieces. Dr. Campbell ever afterwards held the land, and had for many years entertained the idea of bestowing it upon the people of Auckland. The remnant of the Waiohua tribe, the people who held it as far as tradition can take us, signed the deed to Mr. Henry, along with the chiefs of the conquering tribe. There were only these two—Mr. Henry and Dr. Campbell—between the native owners and the people of Auckland. And now this spot, perhaps the most beautiful in a large and exceptionally lovely district, the scene of many battles, of capture and defence, of savage cannibal feasts, when hundreds were roasted in the ovens, becomes, says the writer in “The New Zealand Herald,” a place of pleasant resort for the people of Auckland, a place of recreation for the citizen for all time, where he can see the Manukau and the Waitemata, and all the idylic country which lies around, where he can be surrounded by everything that can gratify the eye. It is for him and for his children, and their children's children; and for untold ages, the people of Auckland, when enjoying all these delights, will not forget to think of the life and to bless the memory of the donor.

Cornwall Park, from One Tree Hill.

Cornwall Park, from One Tree Hill.