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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Rare Volume

Chapter V

page 37

Chapter V.

During December and January further disturbances occurred at the Bay of Islands, or in its vicinity, and it became evident that the object was to bring about a collision with the government, which might have the effect of freeing that part of New Zealand from any British interference.

The repeated refusals of government to sanction a larger force of military in the colony, all which were well known to designing men in that country, through the public newspapers, encouraged certain persons to prompt the natives to acts which, of their own accord, they would not have attempted without much more provocation. Passages in English newspapers, read to such men as Heke, with insidious comments y the translator, acted like poison, and totally overthrew all that could be urged by really truthful advisers. The natives believe so implicitly what they are shewn in print, if translated by a person whom they trust, that they are easily worked upon; and unfortunately there are those in New Zealand who have thus perverted their minds. The resolutions of a Committee of the House of Commons on the state of New Zealand, in July 1844, reached that country in December of the same year, and were soon known to most of the residents, with some of whom they did not long remain hidden from the natives.

A number of turbulent young men, encouraged by Heke, carried off horses from the settlers under vague pretences; the real object being to possess the means of rapid movement, with a view to future aggressions. Threats were held out that the obnoxious flag staff should not remain; and early in January, Heke went by night, and cut it down. A party of natives affected to oppose him, but would not fire upon their relation;* therefore of course he succeeded without difficulty. It should be noticed that the flag staff was on a hill above, and

* Heke is a Ngapuhi chief, related to many families of that large tribe.

page 38 at a distance from the town. It was not then guarded, except by those natives, who, hearing of Heke's intention, went to oppose him, but could not bring themselves to do so in earnest.* Heke departed unmolested, after sending word to the magistrate at Russell that in two months he would return to destroy the gaol and custom house, and to send away the officers of government.

From these proceedings it was clear that no measure short of actual hostilities, would prove sufficient to keep Heke and his restless followers in check; therefore Captain Fitz-Roy made urgent applications to the governor of New South Wales and to the commander of the forces, for a military force adequate to protect the settlement, and to punish the aggressors. The vessel which earned this application met with a heavy gale of wind, put back, and was delayed about a fortnight. After she arrived at Sydney delays occurred in obtaining cheap transport for the troops, and not until the 11 th of March did they sail.

Early in February the Hazard returned from Cook's Strait, and no time was lost in sending her with a small detachment of troops—all that could be spared—from Auckland, with a musket proof block-house to be erected at the flag staff. H. M. S, Hazard, and fifty men of the 96th Regiment with two officers, were then thought to be quite sufficient to prevent Heke's threatened attack; or, if he should attempt it, to beat him off easily, and perhaps capture or disable himself, The settlers were armed and drilled, though very reluctantly on their part; a strong stockade was erected, as a place of safety for the women and children; and some light guns were mounted. No anxiety as to the result of any attack was entertained; but, on the contrary, there was rather over confidence, and far too low an opinion of native enterprize and valour.

During the first days of March, armed natives collected in the neighbourhood of Russell, to the number of several hun-

* They would not be the first to shed blood on account of a piece of wood.

These proceedings drew attention to the "kara," (the colour, or flag,) throughout the country. Native chiefs well disposed to the government, asked eagerly for flags to denote their loyalty; but others shewed much doubt, of rather a superstitious kind, as to the real import and consequences of the mysterious symbol.

page 39 dred, and some audacious attempts were made by them to to carry off more horses, and destroy property.* An armed boat was sent to demand the restitution of the horses,—the boat could not overtake the plunderers, but was fired upon by the natives. These were the first shots. They were returned by the boat from her carronade, but to no purpose, as the horse-stealers were among woods overlooking the narrow space of water in which the boat was. Another attempt to take horses from a place close to Russell was prevented by a few shots from the Hazard's party. These annoyances prepared the officers to expect more trouble, but they did not give the natives credit for any well concerted and determined attack, such as they made at day-break on the 11th of March, when Kororareka was taken—sacked—and burned.

This result astounded every one. The natives were as much astonished at their own success, as the whole colony was at so unthought-of a disaster. That Heke should make a hold attack and should suffer for his temerity, was rather expected, but that the settlement should be destroyed entered no man's mind. The details of this singularly unfortunate affair have been so recently published, that it would be superfluous to repeat them here : but its effects on New Zealand are less generally known, and demand notice among these remarks.

For the first time, since the establishment of the colony, our troops had been engaged with the natives—and had failed, Their imagined superiority was gone. The daring and self-

* Heke seemed to desire an undeniable cause for war, without being himself the first to shed blood. Without a sufficient "take" (root) or "casus belli," the natives are very reluctant to commence actual hostilities. Remarkable instances of forbearance have been witnessed. Among others, the following may be quoted. Previous to an engagement between the Ngapuhi and the Rarawa tribes in 1842, Mr. Clarke, the chief protector of aborigines, saw two contending parties striving to force each other into being the first to shed blood. They were drawn up on opposite sides of a small stream with their muskets loaded. The encroaching tribe endeavoured to cross the stream. Their opponents pushed them back with the butt ends of their muskets, but would not fire. At last an act of Heke himself brought a fire upon his party, which caused loss of life. He subsequently shot three men with his own gun, and gained much reputation by his conduct in this affair.

Near the Kawakawa river.

page 40 confidence of the native was raised. He now went to the other extreme, and despised the soldiers,—saying that all he had heard about British troops was false. The immediate consequence of this feeling was an imperative necessity for greatly augmenting the military, there being no doubt that without their accustomed prestige, ordinary (perhaps raw*) troops would find formidable opponents in the natives even on open ground. The company of the 96th, divided between Auckland and Russell, was composed chiefly of very young men, who had seen no service: these were not soldiers fit to cope with hardy New Zealand warriors,—strong, active, and brave,—inured to hardship,—patient under extreme privation, and tried in several fights.

Throughout the country great anxiety prevailed among the white population immediately, and for some time after the fall of Kororareku,—owing to indefinite dread of the native population uniting against the white, under the excitement of the time, and plundering indiscriminately. However not only was no such union attempted, but the conduct of the natives even of those who took Kororareka, was such as raised them much in our estimation. Nevertheless the time was naturally one of the greatest anxiety, because all the settlements were in the power of the natives, and Heke threatened soon to make a visit with his forces at Auckland, which he might have reached in four days' journey from his own pah.

The legislative council was sitting at Auckland, when three large ships supposed to be bringing troops from Sydney, or perhaps from England, were seen in the offing. But soon the joy which their appearance caused was changed into deep gloom and melancholy foreboding, when it was known the following night, that they were the Hazard, the United States frigate St. Louis, and an English whaler,—all three crowded with fugitives from the Bay of Islands: the Hazard bringing many wounded men, besides her gallant commander, whose recovery was then very doubtful.

Every exertion was made to prepare proper quarters for the wounded, and to find means of providing for the destitute refugees, about four hundred in number. Subscriptions were liberally made; and so large a quantity of clothing was collected by the ladies of Auckland that all the most necessitous

* Those at Kororareka were men who had never been under fire.

There was no hospital in Auckland.

page 41 were placed in comparative comfort before they had been two days in the town.

About this time a brisk trade in gum was beginning, and no person willing to work wanted the means of earning a livelihood. The militia also gave occupation to many who would otherwise have been idlers, so that little distress, and scarcely any lasting inconvenience, beyond the presence of some very bad characters, was caused by this sudden and unexpected influx of strangers.

At the next meeting of the council great anxiety was manifested to know what help might be expected from Sydney or England, and what preparations for defence would be made. To allay these anxieties in some measure, the Governor read extracts from various despatches earnestly soliciting efficient aid from the home government, as well as from Sydney: he showed that troops from Sydney had been expected every day for the last three weeks: that it was known they were coming: that every preparation for the defence of Auckland which could be effected would be forwarded with all haste: and that arms for the militia might be expected with the troops from Sydney. This information quieted the alarm of many persons, but others still entertained great apprehensions; among whom not a few packed up their most valuable property and hastened away from the country by the first opportunities.*

In September 1814, the legislative council had deferred the enactment of a militia ordinance because such a measure was then highly objectionable, in their opinion, on the following grounds:—

First Any general arming and training of the settlers would have roused the jealousy of the native population throughout the island, and would have caused even the most friendly tribes to be suspicious.

Second. Such a measure would have been most inconvenient to the widely scattered settlers, who would not only have had to go to a distance from their houses and helpless families for the purpose of being trained to arms, at times when their bread depended on their day's labour; but, in the event of an alarm, must have chosen between the protection of their own wives and children, or obedience to orders which might have directed them to repair forthwith to some distant rendezvous.

Third. Such a militia torce as could have been raised, under any circumstances, could not have done more than assist in

* Most of these people returned to Auckland in the course of a few months.

page 42 defending a town, as a last resource, and under such an exigency their slight drill practice would have availed but little.

Fourth. All the force that could have been raised would not have equalled one quarter of the force of natives that might probably be brought against them:—therefore it was thought prudent to abstain from any measure likely to rouse jealousy, or provoke any trial of strength.

Fifth. There were not four hundred stand of serviceable arms in the whole colony, (at Auckland there were not fifty) and there was very little ammunition.*

Sixth. The local government had not the means of buying arms, or ammunition, or clothes, or accoutrements, or even of paying adjutants, or drill-sergeants.

These and other considerations had made the council unanimous in postponing the militia bill laid before them in 1844:—but in March of the following year, when one settlement had been destroyed, and the attack of others was threatened, there was ample reason for making every practicable preparation for defence, and there was no longer the risk of arousing any suspicion of our intentions being aggressive. The case was totally changed, and the urgency of the occasion made additional expenditure (even in debentures) imperative. Yet—be it fully remarked—that so objectionable to the community, and so very expensive to the colony was the arming and training of even a fourth part of the enrolled militia found to be, that in only a few months they were entirely disbanded.

The presence of increased military force was certainly one reason for disbanding the militia; but the principal cause was the heavy expence, which could not then be borne by the colony.

The American frigate "St. Louis," was in the Bay of Islands during the attack on Kororareka, and sent her boats, unarmed, to bring off the women and children. Her captain (in this instance, as well as in carrying them to Auckland) thus behaved with kindness and humanity. The frigate sailed in two days for her previous destination, South America, visiting the Bay of Islands again by the way.

The sudden demand for Kauri gum, in which the northern

* There was no artillery; neither were there any ordnance stores in the colony.

Heke had been led to expect that the Americans would assist him, and appeared to be much disappointed when the captain of this ship obliged him to haul down the United States' ensign, then flying in his canoe. This ensign had been given to him by a person who was acting as vice-consul of the United States, At the same time, the consul who had left this deputy, was on his way to New Zealand with a large cargo of arms and ammunition. He was wrecked near the East Cape, where much of the cargo was totally lost with the vessel—"The Falco."

page 43 part of this island abounds,* happened providentially at the particular time when the attention of the natives was most required to be drawn off from thoughts of Heke's valour, and the plunder that he had acquired; while it also gave immediate and profitable employment to numbers of suffering settlers, who must otherwise have been dependent on their compassionate neighbours. (This trade was afterwards checked by an over-supply having been sent to market). Yet this good was not unmixed with evil. The natives obtained large supplies of ammunition and guns in exchange for their gum: and although loyal natives were usually the direct traders, no doubt much found its way, through their relatives, to the rebels.

The propriety of prohibiting the sale of arms and ammunition to the natives has often been urged; and it has been repeatedly asked why the local government did not put a stop to the traffic. Neither the governments of Captain Hobson, nor of his immediate successors, interfered with the sale of arms; and it may be presumed that their inducements for so acting were not very dissimilar. The reasons why Captain Fitz-Roy, while governor, did not interfere, were these:—

Since the earliest intercourse of traders with New Zealand, the objects most desired by the natives, have been the white man's weapons. By trade, and as presents, the New Zealanders have been gradually acquiring fire-arms and ammunition in such quantities as to have made many tribes independent of further supply for two or three years.

No native freeman who knows the use Honghi made of King George's present of fire-arms (and what New Zea-lander is ignorant of it!) will consent to be without a gun.—Indeed many have several guns. They most prize double barrelled percussion pieces, and they take great care of them.§ The consequence of this general adoption of fire-arms is, as it has been everywhere, that their battles are now, each side being armed alike, less bloody and less savage than they were

* It is found near the surface of the ground; particularly in swamps.

Their casks of gunpowder are deposited in dry caves, or in the forks of trees.

In 1822.

§ As yet they have not used the bayonet.

page 44 formerly; and that the native weapons, the lance, the hani, the patupatu or mere, and the tomahawk, are reserved for close quarters,* and are gradually falling into disuse.

As the New Zealanders will arm themselves, either with their own native weapons, or with others; and as the employ ment of fire-arms has certainly tended to render warfare less destructive, it appeared at least questionable whether an endeavour to prevent the supply would be advisable.

But, even if advisable, the attempt to do so by a weak government might have caused an effectual resistance to its authority. Traders would smuggle and sell in a manner that might prevent the government from acting against them, without also acting against their customers, the natives,—which would tend to bring on hostilities; while the general feeling caused among the natives would be, that the object of the government was to disarm them gradually, so that they might become mere slaves, incapable of opposition.

Any attempt even thus indirectly to disarm a warlike and high spirited nation, composed of tribes always jealous of their neighbours, and hitherto accustomed to exterminating feuds, must be attended with great hazard, if unsupported by adequate power; therefore Captain Fitz-Roy would not risk bringing the possible consequences on the colony.

But, it may be urged, would not the lives of our brave soldiers and seamen have been spared, had the New Zealanders been destitute of fire-arms? Would they not then have refrained from attacking Kororareka. No doubt they would. But the natives were as well supplied with fire-arms and ammunition in 1840 as they were in 1844 or 1845, We must deal with the actual, not an imaginary state of things.

Had Governor Hobson intimated the probability of firearms and ammunition being prohibited by the government, he might have sent the treaty of Waitangi about the islands in vain. That very treaty guaranteed to the natives, their rights, their freedom, and their accustomed privileges. How could these be maintained between numerous rival tribes in such a country without arms, unless indeed the local government could deal by force with all of them—and protect the weak or quiet against the strong or turbulent,—a matter hitherto physically impossible.

At the sitting of the legislative council in March 1845, the

* To which they now seldom come till the contest is nearly decided.

About the Bay of Islands.

page 45 governor proposed farther reductions in the estimated annual expenditure, which were adopted. The estimated expenditure for 1845-6 was £26,000. The estimate for 1844-5 had been £36,000; that for 1842, in Governor Hobson's time, was no less than £56,000.

These reductions were partly consequent on the termination of an expensive land claims commission: partly effected by reducing salaries:, and partly by a much altered establishment for the collection of customs. Very painfully and hardly these reductions bore upon officers who had been induced, by promises and flattering prospects, to leave permanent official situations in Sydney, or other colonies; and now found themselves either much reduced or entirely out of employment; and this after having been persuaded to buy land, in the town, at a high price, and having laid out more than they could well afford in building dwellings for their families.

The destruction of Kororareka, and consequent stoppage of trade in the Bay of Islands by the natives' own act, gave a different aspect to the question of raising a revenue by direct taxation, or by a custom house establishment. It then became more than probable that the other small settlements, such as Hokianga, Wanganui (or Petre), Akaroa, and perhaps Taranaki, (New Plymouth) would diminish rapidly, owing to their extreme insecurity, and that the white population would become concentrated about Auckland and Wellington; in which case the collection of customs duties would become easy, and there could not be so much evasion. In consequence of additional military and naval force being expected, it would be desirable to check the sale of spirits; and the presence of ships of war would be an efficient hindrance to wholesale smuggling. In addition to which, the attempt to raise a revenue by direct taxation had failed in the southern settlements, where an evasion was almost general on the plea that until the settlers obtained legal titles to their lands, they could not be considered to have either property or income. To enforce the payment of their just rates or taxes, it would have been necessary lor the government to enter into legal proceedings against half the landholders at New Plymouth, and against nearly all those at Wellington and Nelson.

Taking then into consideration the altered state of the colony with respect to the facility with which customs duties might be levied, and the failure of the attempt to raise a revenue by direct taxation, the governor and legislative council decided to re-establish the custom houses and their officers, but on a much reduced scale of expenditure, not exceeding one half of their expense in 1843. This change took place in April, throughout the colony.