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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 80a

"A Visit to Rewi

"A Visit to Rewi.

"We drove out beyond Kihikihi on Saturday morning on a visit to Rewi, the celebrated Ngatimaniapoto chief. The old man was stretched out on a mattrass in front of the fire, his wife seated by his side. One glance sufficed to apprise us that he is not far from his end. He could only hear imperfectly, and could not articulate above a whisper, but all his mental faculties are apparently unimpaired.

"The Premier spoke to him through Mr. Carroll, expressing his pleasure at meeting Rewi. He said he wanted to impress on his mind the fact that all the unpleasantness of the past was long forgotten. Mr. Seddon inquired if it was Rewi's wish that the house and land given him by the Government should pass after his death to his stepson, as, if so, it might be necessary to vary the trust.

"Rewi signified that this was his wish.

"Mr. Seddon promised that it should be done.

"The visit came to an end after Rewi requested that the Premier's remarks should be sent him in writing, so that he might read what he had not heard, and communicate it to his people.

"At Cambridge and Hamilton deputations were received.

"A special messenger was sent by Tawhiao to the Premier to explain that he would not be at Ruahanu meeting, as a relative was dying, but that he would see Mr. Seddon at Ngaruawahia.

À propos of the Premier's interview with Rewi, some reference to the celebrated affray at Orakau may not be without interest. The following poem is from the pen of Thomas Bracken, and the description given of the fight tends to illustrate that the Maoris are behind no other race in resolute valour and endurance:—

Three hundred swarthy braves at Orakau—
Savage warriors from Urewera,
And from the hills and gorges of Taupo—
Gathered together to defend the land
From the encroachments of the pakeha.
The Ngatimaniapoto were there.
Led on by Rewi Manga the fearless.
Te Paerata, famed in many fights.
Commanded the Ngatiraukawa tribe.
He was the warrior who cried aloud—
"Me mate au ki konei!" which means,
"Let us make the pa here; let us die here."
page 11 The dauntless chief Te Whenuanui,
And Hapurona of Urewera,
Headed their wild and savage warriors.
Te Waru was there with his East Coast braves,
And other chiefs famed in song and story,
Met on the spot to resist the spoilers
Who had taken the land from the Maori
In the name of the Queen of the far land.
Only three hundred warriors were there
Entrenched within the weak, unfinished pa,
Only three hundred brave men and women
To meet the pakeha who surrounded
The sod-built fortress, with his well-drilled troops.
Nearly two thousand hardy Britons—
The Royal Irish and Forest Rangers,
And Fortieth Fighters under Leslie.
It was the second morning of April,
When the colours in Nature's dress wore changing
From brown and russet hues of autumn
To the dark and sadder shades of winter.
Three hundred lion-hearted warriors
Assembled with Rewi to fan the flame
Of deadly hatred to the pakeha
Into a vengeful blaze at Orakau,
Chanting the deeds of their ancestors,
They cried aloud, "Me mate te tangata,
Me mate te whenua!" which means,
"The warrior's death is to die for the land!"

Roaring for blood, our early gun
Rent the clouds like a thunder-clap;
Carey cried, "There's work to be done."
Close to the walls we pushed the sap.

"Ready, lads, with your hand-grenades,
Ready, lads, with your rifles true;
Ready, lads, with your trusty blades;
Ready, lads, with your bayonets, too."

"Now for the Armstrongs, let them roar:
Death unto those that laugh at peace"—
Into their nest our volleys pour—
"Steady, there! Lot the firing cease."

'Tis Cameron's voice. "Tell the foe
To leave the pa—their lives we'll spare.
Tell them Britons can mercy show;
Nothing but death awaits them there."

Then Major Mair, with flag of truce, before the Maoris stood.
And said, "O friends, be warned in time; we do not seek your blood.
Surrender, and your lives are safe." Then, through the whole redoubt,
The swarthy rebels answered with a fierce, defiant shout,
"Ka whawhai tomi! Ake! ake! ake!"*

Again spake gallant Mair: "O friends, you wish for blood and strife,
With blind and stubborn bravery preferring death to life;
But send your women and your children forth—they shall be free."
They answered back, "Our women brave will fight as well as we:
Ka whawhai tome! Ake! ake! ake!"

Up rose brave Ahumai then, a chieftainess, and said:
"O! what have we to live for if our dearest ones be dead?
If fathers, husbands, brothers, too, as mangled corses lie,
Why should we stay behind them here? Beside them let us die!
Ka whawhai tonu! Ake! ake! ake!"

Again the fiery-throated cannon roared aloud for blood;
Again the hungry eagle swooped and shrieked for human food;
Again wild spirits soaring, saw their shattered shells beneath
In pools of gore, and still was heard defiance to the death—
"Ka whawhai tonu! Ake! ake! ake!"

Now, now the bold defenders in a solid body break
Right through the sod-built barricade, o'er palisade and stake;
And leaping o'er the trenches, 'mid a storm of shot and shell,
They rushed to liberty or death, still shouting as they fell—
"Ka whawkai tonu! Ake! ake! ake!"

With wild untutuored chivalry the rebels scorn'd disgrace.
O, never in the annals of the most heroic race
Was bravery recorded more noble or more high
Than that displayed at Orakau in Rewi's fierce reply—
"Ka whawhai tonu! Ake! ake! ake!"

* "We will fight for ever, and ever, and ever."