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Tales of Banks Peninsula

No. 2.—European Account of the Massacre — in Akaroa Harbour

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No. 2.—European Account of the Massacre
in Akaroa Harbour.

The following narrative of the Maori massacre was published in the Auckland Herald. It was written by a Canterbury resident, in reply to a tale told by John Marmon, a celebrated "Pakeha Maori," whose history of the affair was published in the northern capital. The compiler of these stories gives it space here, because he wishes to place before his readers everything that is known on the subject:—

"In your weekly issue of January 20 I notice your comments on one of the most shocking stories in Maori history, as told by the late John Marmon, and which you believe to be substantially accurate. You further state that Captain Stewart, the well known discoverer of Stewart Island, New Zealand, was master of the vessel that took Te Rauparaha and his party to Banks Peninsula, and that his name will always be infamous for his connection with the atrocious massacre there. In justice to the memory of the dead, I feel it my duty to correct your statement, and not to allow the name of one of our earliest pioneers to be handed down to posterity in connection with that sad affair.

"Now, sir, Captain Stewart, the well-known discoverer of Stewart Island, and Captain Stewart, master of the brig Elizabeth, were not one and the same person, The former was for many years master of a trading and sealing vessel sailing out of the port of Sydney. In one of his sealing expeditions he discovered the island which now bears his name. In his old age he retired from the sea, and took up his abode with an old friend, a Mr Harris, of Poverty Bay, with whom he lived until the day of his death, which occurred in the year 1843 or 1844. He was a man much respected, and on his visits to Auckland could be easily recognised. No doubt there are a few old settlers still living that have seen, as well as myself, a page 51very tall man walking up Shortland street, in full dress of Stuart tartan (Scotch plaid), and who will recognise in the description Captain Stewart, the discoverer.

"Marmon states that Captain Stewart, on his arrival in Sydney, was arrested and put in prison, where he remained six months. This is not true. I may state that I arrived in Sydney in April, 1833, when everything connected with this notorious voyage was quite fresh in everybody's memory. I have heard it related over and over again. It appears Captain Stewart, after leaving New Zealand, made his way to Sydney. Soon after his arrival the news got [unclear: spend] about, and finally reached the ears of the Government, but whether from having no jurisdiction, or for want of sufficient evidence, I cannot say, no immediate action was taken in arresting Captain Stewart. In the meantime, and while the Government were deliberating, Stewart cleared out of Sydney, and sailed for a port in South America. This was the last heard of Captain Stewart or the brig Elizabeth in these colonies.

"As to Marmon's account relative to conversing with "Captain Stewart and John Cowell after their return to Kapiti, I should say it was a fabrication; for to my knowledge Marmon had been living in Hokianga, where he died, for nearly fifty years. I have never heard of his living in the South. Again, it is the first time I ever heard John Cowell's name in connection with Captain Stewart or the brig Elizabeth.

"In referring to Captain Stewart and his infamous voyage, I may relate the story as I heard it at the time I speak of, viz: —In the early days of New Zealand there was a great Maori chief named Te Pahi (head of the tribe to whom Te Rauparaha belonged), who was taken to Sydney, and from thence to England, where he was presented to King George, who was very kind to him, and made him several presents, and told him when he returned to his country to be good to the white man. On Te Pahi's return, he was full of what he had seen in England, He appears to have been a very good man, and anxious to tell of the wonderful things he had seen to other tribes

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He went with a small party in a canoe to Akaroa (Banks Peninsula) to pay a friendly visit to the chief, Te Mairanui. On his arrival, he and his party were treated very kindly. Not having any suspicion of the treachery in store for them, they all went into the pa, when Te Mairanui and his men fell on them and killed every man. When the news reached Kapiti, there was great excitement amongst Te Pahi's tribe, of whom Te Rauparaha (after Te Pahi's death) was head. Of course, as was the custom then, the tribe were bound to have their revenge on the first opportunity. This opportunity offered when Captain Stewart made his appearance. Whether Captain Stewart was aware of the real intention of the Natives is a mystery, but for certain he was promised a large quantity of flax. On the arrival of the vessel in Akaroa, the Natives, as was the custom, soon came on board to trade, among them the chief Te Mairanui and his daughter, a girl from ten to twelve years of age. During this time Te Rauparaha and his party were in the ship's hold, keeping out of sight. As soon as the decks were full of men from the shore, Te Rauparaha's party rushed up from below, and killed all they could, with the exception of Te Mairanui and his daughter, whom they took alive. Te Rauparaha and his men then went on shore, took the pa, and killed all they came across. It was rumoured that human flesh was cooked in the ship's coppers, but this appears to be doubtful. The brig then sailed for the Island of Mana, in Cook Straits. On the passage Te Mairanui was lashed to the mainmast, and his little daughter allowed to walk about the deck. The story goes that one day Te Mairanui called his daughter to him, and, using these words, said, 'They are going to kill me, but they shall not kill or make a slave of you.' With that he took hold of her and dashed her brains out against the combing of the main hatchway. On the arrival of the brig Mana, Te Mairanui was taken ashore, and killed in this way: He was hung up by the heels, a vein cut in his throat, and, as he bled to death, they caught the blood in a bowl and drank it. I have never heard (as Mr Travers asserts) that a red hot ramrod page 53was pushed through his neck, or that Te Mairanui's wife was taken by the party of Te Rauparaha. 1 have not read Mr Travers' work on 'The Life and Times of Te Rauparaha,' but I question very much whether he was better informed than myself.

"Marmon says that Te Rauparaha and his party went overland from Cloudy Bay to Banks Peninsula. Now, this of itself is sufficient to throw a doubt over his whole version. And, again, he must have been quite ignorant of the geography of the Middle Island of New Zealand, or he must have known that it was impossible in those days to travel the distance without canoes. Then for Te Rauparaha to bring away fifty slaves was another impossibility. How could he cross the many rapid rivers? where could he get food from for them (there was little or no fern root, as in the North Island)? are all questions to be asked. Then, again, Rauparaha's settlement or pa was on the North Island. He had no settlement or pa in those days on the Middle Island, being always in fear of Bloody Jack and his tribe, from whom he had several narrow escapes. At one time they had a desperate fight in Fighting Bay, close to Port Underwood, in Cloudy Bay, which is called to this day Fighting Bay in memory of the fight referred to, so that it is very clear that Te Rauparaha would have to take his departure for his own settlement on the North Island, and this could not be done without canoes. Then, again, Natives in those days never travelled any distance by land when they could go by water in their fine large war canoes, carrying from fifty to a hundred men. If Marmon's version is true, Rauparaha had full satisfaction or revenge for his brother being killed, in killing the unfortunate natives and taking away the fifty slaves. He would not have gone a second time. It is the first time that I have ever heard John Cowell's name ia connection with Captain Stewart.

"I may state that I arrived in New Zealand in May, 1836, in the whaling ship Louisa, of Sydney, Captain Haywood. We anchored under Mana Island, in Cook Straits, where the ship remained during the bay whaling page 54season, from May to October. Te Rauparaha was our chief, or we were under his protection, for which he was well paid in blankets, etc. Although he was a terror among the natives, he was always very good to the whites: in fact, in one instance, I have to thank him for saving my life It happened in this way: I was ashore with a boat's crew, filling water casks, when Te Rauparaha's son, a lad of about sixteen to seventeen years of age, was very troublesome to our men, and annoyed them so much that one of our crew, in a hasty moment, struck young Te Rauparaha in the face, and made his nose bleed. Now, to draw blood from a chief was one of the greatest crimes that could be committed, and his transgressor very seldom escaped with his life. When the Natives saw the blood, they were very much excited, and came rushing upon the crew, flourishing their tomahawks. We all thought our last hour had come. Old Te Rauparaha, hearing the noise, came out of his hut to see what was up. On hearing the particulars, he told the Natives not to touch the white men, for his son was in the wrong. He must take his own part, and fight the Pakeha - very good, one Maori, one Pakeha. It ended in a stand-up fight, in which, to our delight, young Rauparaha got a good thrashing, and we were thankful to get off with our lives. However, young Rauparaha soon forgot it, and we were ever afterwards the best of friends. Had not old Rauparaha been at hand, I am afraid it would have been rather a serious matter for us."