CLOSE OF THE WAR.

367

earlier war passages in New Zealand, where large bodies of natives fought on the English side, the consummate tact of Governor Grey in the management of the Maoris was of good service in securing the cooperation of the friendly chiefs and their followers, as well as in deterring from active hostilities against the British the doubtful and wavering.

With the skirmishes at Wanganui terminated the New Zealand War,-the first, and the last, I verily believe. The Maori is shrewd enough to know when he is over-matched. When Honi Heki first cut down the British standard and unfurled that of revolt in the country, there was no vessel of war on its seas, and only one company of soldiers on its soil. At the close of the Wanganui campaign in August 1847, there were two splendid regiments, full 900 strong each, a powerful naval force, including a steam-ship of 1,200 tons, and a strong band of Pensioner Fencibles, gradually increasing in numbers. The elder chieftains, who are not ignorant of English tenacity of purpose, well know that from whence these came, more "hippas" and "hoias"-ships and soldiers would be forthcoming if necessary. With soldiers-would such odds against him, the Maori, who takes up fighting as a stimulating pastime, not as the business of life, discovered that macadamizing on commissariat pay, pigand-potato dealing at the settlements, and even psalmsinging with the missionaries, were more profitable than warfare-the hardest of all fare. The happy result of this conviction is, that he is gradually sacrificing his

innate love of laziness and blood for the arts and customs of civilized life. The least to be expected of the white usurpers of his country is, that they will heartily assist in the amelioration, moral and material, of the natural owner of the soil.

CHAPTER XIII.

[1848.]

WANGANUI-INTERVIEW WITH THE REBEL DELEGATES-BED AND BOARD AT WANGANUI-RELEASE OF TE RAUPERAHA AT OTAKI-HIS RECEPTIONHIS DEATH-A PHANTOM SHIP-NO MORE FIGHTING-ANNIVERSARY OF WELLINGTON-A CANOE RACE-MAORI AND BRITISH FIGURE-HEADSOLD AND YOUNG NEW ZEALAND-TATTOOING-MAORI TRIAL OF CRIM. CON. -THE HAKA.

Januany 15th. WANGANUI.-The afternoon of this day had been fixed for the meeting of the Governor-inChief with the leaders of the Taua from the river districts, who had demanded an audience of his Excellency. Mamaku, the friend of Rangihaieta, and the head chief of the rebels, together with the main body of the tribes implicated in the late outbreak, stayed away, -perhaps because they were not permitted to treat with arms in their hands. But about midday a fleet of fine large canoes was seen gliding with prodigious speed down the stream, and was quickly moored under Shakspeare's Cliff. A few of the chiefs then came across, and were admitted to the Governor's presence in a small room of one of the deserted houses, now an officer's quarter. The Christian native, Dawson, who was dressed in European costume, came forward boldly, though his loyalty of late was by no means beyond

doubt, and spoke up in behalf of his rebel brother Te Pehe, a most ferocious-looking and crapulous savage. This man and Ngopera, another "robustious and periwig-pated fellow," scarcely less unwashed in appearance, were, at first, extremely nervous, striving vainly for many minutes to recover their self-command.

At length, however, each spoke, and, as far as I could gather through the interpreter, spoke to the purpose of the conference, both acknowledging that they had joined in the war party against Wanganui, but averring that Mamaku had originated and was at the head of it. The koriro ended by these dirty notables promising that certain cattle, sheep, &c., the property of settlers, which had been "lifted" during the rebellion, should be restored; and that a murderer who had taken refuge up the river, should be delivered up to British justice if he could be found. The Governor's pardon was guaranteed to them on the performance of their promise.

After inspecting the stockades and admiring the ingenuity, cleanliness and comfort of the reed and rush-built barracks of both officers and men within the palisades, our party dined at the mess, and did not the less enjoy the repast because the mess-room was in a wretched hovel-two or three apartments without reference to angles being knocked into one; the festive board formed of a chain of small tables of various width and altitude --a peculiarity extending also to the surface of the line of benches around it; nor because decanters and candelabras were personated by one and the same class of

BED AND BOARD AT WANGANNI.

371

utensil the empty black bottle-that well-known "marine," who, as the late Duke of York neatly observed, "had done his duty, and was ready to do again!"—and who was here performing the double and genial duty of shedding light and liquor.

We found Wanganui beef, pork, poultry, and potatoes excellent. The wines, too, although perhaps not of the first vintage, seemed delicious to a traveller as thirsty as I happened to be, and to one who for so many years of mess life had become constitutionally acclimated to the "good strong military port, and extra heavy dragoon ditto," advertised by a waggish wine merchant, in Dublin, (I believe,) who knew his market, and supplied it accordingly. Nor should I have had a word to say against the blanket and plank that formed my bed for the night,-for it was the best and softest that could be offered me,—but that its lowliness cost me a bite on the face by a venomous spider, called by the natives Katipo, which not only caused me much pain, but very particularly compromised my exterior economy.

Both officers and soldiers appeared satisfied with their wild and far-away quarters. They have "made themselves comfortable"-as the troops during the Peninsular war were often enjoined to do by orders from headquarters, when, after a long day's march in heavy rain, the ground to be occupied by them for the night was marked out in a deep and wet ploughed field! The garrison of Wanganui have shaken down into a perfect state of amity with the natives. Some of the officers