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Tales of Banks Peninsula

The Onawe Massacre

The Onawe Massacre.

Sir,—I have read with great interest Mr Simpson's account of the massacre at Akaroa, but I think there are several statements therein that require correction. It is stated by him that Te Pahi was murdered at Kaiapoi by a chief named Tangatihira. This is altogether wrong, as he was murdered at Akaroa by a chief named Te Mai Hara Nui; and that is why his brother Rauparaha took revenge on the Maoris here. The correct version of the affair, as far as I can learn, is as follows.—About the year 1827 Te Pahi, or, as he was sometimes called, Rakakura, went on a voyage to Sydney, and from thence to England, where he was presented to King George, who took a great interest in the sable chief, and made him some handsome presents when leaving for New Zealand, Te Pahi took great interest in all he saw when in England, and on his return described the country in glowing colours to the Natives; also the immense bodies of troops he had seen, and how they were dressed, armed and drilled.

About a year after his return (this would be abont the end of the year 1829), he made up his mind to make a friendly visit to the Natives of this island, and for that purpose sailed in a large canoe, accompanied by Rauparaha and about fifty followers, all armed with guns, some ef which he had brought out, and some he had purchased at Sydney. They called at most of the pas along the coast, and were everywhere kindly received. They reached Akaroa about three weeks after their departure from the North, It is said by some that they walked overland from Cloudy Bay to Canterbury, but, from the nature of the country and the number of rivers which had to be crossed, this I don't think at all probable.

The principal chief here at the time was named Te Mai Hara Nui, but whether he lived at Onuku or Wainui, page 136where there was a larga pa, I am unable to say. However, it appears he had in his possession a large block of splendid greenstone, which Te Pahi happened to see, and, after admiring it, asked the chief for permission to take it back with him to the North This was indignantly refused by Te Mai Hara Nui, who said, "It belongs to the tribe, and we are going to make mere meres (greenstone clubs) out of it" "Well," said Te Pahi, "If you don't give it it to me I will come and take it," and with that he left for the other pa, at which he was staying. On telling Rauparaha about the greenstone being refused to him, he said, "Tell Te Mai Hara Nui that if he does not give it up to you we will make a prisoner of him instead, and take him back with us." The message was duly delivered the next day, and still the greenstone: was refused. Next morning Te Pahi and six others went across to the pa, and, as usual, sat down. Each had a loaded musket in his band. Te Mai Hara Nui and his men had had a talk, and agreed amongst themselves, if he came again to demand the greenstone, tbat they would kill him; so when they saw them come with the guns they formad a plan, and they were rushed from behind, and all of them clubbed to death, their own guns being used to finish them. The Maoris then commenced to fire them off, the sound of which was plainly heard by Rauparaha and the others Shortly afterwards a canoe came down, 'bringing word of the fate of Te Pahi and his men.

Rauparaha heard the news of the death of his brother's party, and was very "pouri," but did not attempt to be revenged at this time He said to his men, "Tenei a na kino mahi tan ka hoki ki te kianga" (this is bad work; we will return home), so, having got his men all together, he departed, vowing vengeance at some future time. On his way back he called at most of the pas where he had been well treated coming down, and laid them waste, killing great numbers of the Natives, who were not prepared for a mob of well armed men like these The pa which offered the greatest resistance was at the Kaikorai, where the Natives were well fortified on a small hill close to the sea. page 137Rauparaha, and his men attempted to take it, but were several times repulsed. He agreed to wait and starve them out, and, after doing this for a few days, he hit upon a plan worthy of a better cause. He said to two of his men, who were splendid swimmers, "I want you to go into the sea and pretend to be kekenos (seals), swim along the beach until you get opposite the pa, then come in and flounder in the surf, and they will rush out to kill you. We will watch them, and as soon as they leave the pa we will rush in "The plan succeeded only too well. The hungry Natives in the early morning seeing, as they thought, two seals sporting in the surf, ran out in a body to take them, as their provisions had been exhausted for three days. Rauparaha had his men scattered round, so that possession was gained almost at once. And now the guns began to tell, and these poor Natives, wasted by hunger and continual watching, had not the strength to resist, so, after numbers of them were shot, the rest threw down their arms and surrendered. The men who were playing the seals paid the penalty of death, as they were caught before Rauparaha had time to relieve them. From this place about forty prisoners and a lot of greenstone were taken.

They then left for the Straits, and on their arrival found the brig Elizabeth, Captain Stewart, loading spars. A bargain was struck with him: that for fifty tons of dressed flax he was to land Rauparaha and fifty fighting men at Wangaloa, Banks Peninsula, and bring them back to the island of Te Manu, in the Straits. The captain agreed to this, but it is said, while he was down below with Rauparaha, over one hundred Natives came on board, and concealed themselves below until after the vessel was well outside. The Peninsula was made in two days, and the brig beat up and anchored abreast of the pa. All the Natives went out of sight under hatches, so that she was supposed to be a whaler, and as a good trade was generally to be done with them, some of the Natives put off to her. It happened that in the first canoe which boarded her were Te Mai Hara Nui, his wife, and a daughter, twelve years page 138of age. Rauparaha was watching from the cabin windows, and came up on deck and seized him, and, with the assistance of some others, handcuffed him, and put him, with his wife and child, below. A rush was then made for the ship's boats, and what canoes were alongside, and all made for the shore, where a terrible scene of carnage ensued. All the Natives that could be seen were butchered in cold blood. The account; of the fight on Massacre Island (Banks Peninsula) is, I believe, correct, as several of the victims were cooked and eaten ashore. At dusk the Natives came back on board, most of them bringing kits of human flesh with them, which were afterwards cooked on board;. but I do not think that it is true that any of the prisoners were killed on the brig and cooked, as stated by Mr. Simpson. Stewart, it appears, was in a terrible flight when he saw how things were turning out, as he said he had no idea that there was going to be any blood shed over the affair; but this is rather doubtful, as he must have known on what errand the Natives were bound.

On the passage up to the island of Mana, between the Straits and Kapiti, the prisoner, Te Mai Hara Nui, was tied by a rope to the main mast, so that he could walk about a little. His daughter was allowed to run about on deck, so he called her to him and said, "They are going to kill me and make a 'taurereka' (slave) of you, but that will never happen," and, picking her up, he knocked her brains out against the hatch combings. After the arrival of the brig, Te Mai Hara Nui and the other prisoners were taken ashore. He was given two days to cry, and was then te be killed. The story of red hot ramrods being run through his body is, I believe, incorrect. He met his death in the following manner: —A straight tree about fifty feet high was chosen, and to the head of this a block and haulyards were rigged up. One end was fastened to his heels, and', head downwards, he was run up and let go with a run, striking the ground with great force. Three times this was repeated; he was then hauled up clear of the ground and the veins of the neck opened, and the first to drink his blood was the widow of the murdered chief, Te page 139Pahi, He was afterwards taken down, cooked and eaten.

Shortly after this, Stewart interviewed Rauparaha about his cargo of flax, which was promised to him, but he was' very insolent, and refused to give it to him. He was afterwards given one ton, and that was all the payment he ever got for his share in the bloody transaction. He loaded up with spars and sailed for Sydney. The news of this horrible massacre had preceded him, and there was some talk of his being tried for his complicity in the affair; but, owing to the lax state of the laws in New South Wales in those days, it was allowed to blow over. Not Caring to go back to New Zealand, Stewart cleared for a South American port, and was never afterwards heard of. It is supposed by some that the discoverar of Stewart Island and the captain of the brig Elizabeth were one and the same person, but this is not so. The Captain Stewart, after whom the island was named, was a man very much respected, who gave up the sea and settled down in Poverty Bay, where he died in the year 1844—Yours, etc.,

G.J B,