New Zealand's pioneering story. Likeness to North American frontier history—The contact between pakeha and Maori—Test of battle arouses mutual respect—The romance and adventure of New Zealand history—The native-born and the patriotism of the soil—Difficulties of the bush campaigns—Military qualities of the Maori underestimated by early British commanders—Maori population in the "forties"
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Chapter II.—The Beach at Kororareka.
A bay of adventure—The old landmarks—The whaleships of the "forties"—Scenes on Kororareka Beach—The whalemen and the Maoris—The old trading-stores—Aboard a New Bedford whaling-barque—The days of oil and bone
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Chapter III.—Here and the Flagstaff.
"God made this country for us"—Hone Heke's character—His fears for the future of his race—Early traffic with the whaleships—British Customs dues cause a decrease in Bay of Islands trade—Heke's raid on Kororareka—The Maiki flagstaff cut down—Governor Fitzroy meets the Maoris—Heke and the American flag—Troops sent to the bay—The flagstaff cut down again
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Chapter IV.—The Fall of Kororareka.
Heke's ambush on Signal Hill—An attack at dawn—The flagstaff cut down a fourth time—Kawiti attacks the town—Encounter with a naval force—Captain Robertson's heroic fight—Sailors, soldiers, and settlers defend the town—Gallant work of Hector's gunners—The beach stockade blown up—A mismanaged defence—Evacuation of Kororareka
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Chapter V.—The First British March Inland.
Operations against the Ngapuhi—Pomare's village destroyed—The friendly Maori tribes—Tamati Waka Nene's loyalty to the British—Pene Taui, and the consequences of a pun—Lieut.-Colonel Hulme's march inland
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Chapter VI.—The Fighting at Omapere.
The Taiamai country and the plains of Omapere—Skirmishies between Heke's warriors and Tamati Waka's force—White free-lances in the fray—John Webster and F. E. Maning—Jackey Marmon, the white cannibal—Heke's stockade at Puketutu—British attack on the pa—Kawiti's desperate courage—Heavy skirmishing and bayonet fighting—British withdraw to the Bay of Islands—The Kapotai pa destroyed
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Chapter VII.—The Attack on Ohaeawai.
The campaign renewed—Maori battle at Te Ahuahu—Heke severely wounded—Colonel Despard's expedition to Ohaeawai—A mid-winter march—The heart of the Ngapuhi country—The camp before Ohaeawai—Pene Taui's strong stockade—The Maori artillery—Scenes in the stronghold—The British bombardment begins—Defects of the artillery—Failure of the "stench-balls"
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Chapter VIII.—The Storming-party at Ohaeawai.
The bombardment—Despard's fatal blunder—Orders to storm the pa—The forlorn hope—The bayonet charge on the stockade—A survivor's narrative—Repulse of the storming-parties—The pa evacuated—Return of the troops—Ohaeawai to-day
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Chapter IX.—The Capture of Rua-pekapeka.
Arrival of the new Governor, Captain George Grey—Another expedition prepared—Kawiti's mountain stronghold, "The Cave of the Bats"—Arduous march of the British troops—The camp before Ruapekapeka—A general bombardment—Accuracy of the gunnery—A Sunday-morning surprise—British forces enter the fort—The Maoris driven into the bush—Peace in the north
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Chapter X.—Wellington Settlement and the War at the Hutt.
Colonel Wakefield's purchases—Trouble in the Hutt Valley—"Dog's Ear" declines to quit—Fort-building in Wellington—Fort Arthur, at Nelson—Stockade and blockhouses at the Lower Hutt—American frontier forts the model for New Zealand stockades—Fortified posts built at Karori and Johnsonville—Troops arrive from Auckland—H.M.S. "Driver," the first steamship in Port Nicholson—Maoris evicted from Hutt settlements—Retaliatory raids on the settlers—The first skirmishes—British camp established at Porirua
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Chapter XI.—The Fight at Boulcott's Farm.
A clearing in the Hutt forest—The British post at Boulcott's Farm—An early-morning surprise attack—Maoris overwhelm the picket—The gallant bugler's death—Troops' desperate battle with the natives—A commissariat carter's plucky drive—Major Last's reinforcements to the rescue—Skirmish near Taita—A hard afternoon's fighting
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Chapter XII.—Operations at Porirua.
The British camp at Paremata—McKillop's naval patrol—Skirmish with Rangihaeata on the shore of Paua-taha-nui—A war-party from Wanganui—Despatch to Governor Grey—Surprise visit to Taupo pa—The capture of Te Rauparaha
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Chapter XIII.—Paua-taha-nui and Horokiri.
Te Rangihaeata's stockade—Its size to-day—Government expedition from the Hutt—Capture of Paua-taha-nui—Te Rangihaeata's mountain camp—British expedition to Horokiri—Shelling the Maori position—British forces withdraw to Porirua—Remains of Horokiri defences—Pursuit of the fugitives
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Chapter XIV.—The War at Wanganui.
An unfortunate settlement—The New Zealand Company's defective purchase—An accident and its sequel—Massacre of the Gilfillans—Wanganui besieged by the river tribes—The Rutland Stockade and blockhouses—Natives attack the town—British reinforcements arrive—The Battle of St. John's Wood—A skirmish in the swamp—Withdrawal of the Maoris, and return of peace
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Chapter XV.—Taranaki and the Land League.
New Plymouth and early land disputes—Purchases of settlement blocks—Wiremu Kingi's return to the Waitara—Formation of the Maori Land League—Intertribal fighting
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Chapter XVI.—The Maori King.
Movement for union of the Maori tribes—The selection of a King—The Arawa decline to join the Kingite cause—Great meeting at Pukawa, Lake Taupo—Te Heuheu's picturesque symbolism—Tongariro the centre of the Maori union—Potatau te Wherowhero chosen as King—Wiremu Tamehana's patriotic argument
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Chapter XVII.—The Waitara Purchase.
Government bargain with Teira—Wiremu Kingi's protests disregarded—Maori objections to sale of the Waitara Block—The settlers' need of land
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Chapter XVIII.—The First Taranaki War.
Survey of the Waitara Block resisted—Martial law proclaimed—The Imperial and colonial troops—Defences of New Plymouth—The first shot—Capture of the L pa (Te Kohia)—Settlers build outposts for defence—The Bell Block and Omata stockades
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Chapter XIX.—The Battle of Waireka.
Southern tribes fortify Waireka—Settlers killed at Omata—Expedition despatched to Waireka—A hot afternoon's fighting—Volunteers and Militia outnumbered and surrounded—The defence of Jury's Farmhouse—The "Niger" bluejackets capture Kaipopo pa—A Victoria Cross won—Return of the civilian force—Imperial officers' mismanagement—Reinforcements reach New Plymouth
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Chapter XX.—Puke-ta-kauere and other Operations.
A winter campaign—British attack pas on the Waitara—Maori fortifications at Puke-ta-kauere and Onuku-kaitara—Kingite reinforcements from the Upper Waikato—A Ngati-Maniapoto account—Rewi Maniapoto and his war-party—Major Nelson's unfortunate expedition—Hand-to-hand fighting—Heavy losses of the 40th Regiment—The slaughter in the swamp—Skirmishes near New Plymouth—The expedition to Kaihihi—Three Maori forts captured
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Chapter XXI.—The Engagement at Mahoetahi
Ngati-Haua enter the war—Wetini Taiporutu's challenge to the British—The Battle of Mahoetahi—Imperial and colonial storming-parties—Maoris make a desperate resistance—Close-quarters fighting—Defeat of the natives and death of Wetini—Song of lamentation for the slain
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Chapter XXII.—Operations at Kairau and Huirangi.
Major-General Pratt's Waitara campaign—Maori fortifications at Kairau, Huirangi, and Te Arei—The British troops advance—Field-engineering work—Stockades and redoubts built—Skirmishing on the plain of Kairau—Sapping towards Te Arei pa
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Chapter XXIII.—The Fight at No. 3 Redoubt.
Maori surprise attack—Attempt to storm No. 3 Redoubt, Huirangi—A desperate morning's work—Native forlorn hope destroyed—A British officer's graphic story
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Chapter XXIV.—Pratt's Long Sap.
The sap towards Te Arei—Trench-digging and redoubt-building—A tedious advance—Details of the field-engineering work—Heavy skirmishing—Hapurona's stronghold heavily bombarded—Terms of peace agreed upon—End of the first Taranaki War—Heavy losses of the settlers
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Chapter XXV.—The Second Taranaki Campaign.
Governor Grey's Maori policy—Tataraimaka Block reoccupied—The Waitara purchase abandoned—An ambush at Wairau and its consequences—Hori Teira's adventure—War renewed in Taranaki—Settlers' forest-ranging corps formed—The storming of Katikara—The Maori toll-gate—Expeditions and skirmishes—The light at Allan's Hill—Maori stronghold at Kaitake attacked—Its final capture
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Chapter XXVI.—The Waikato War and its Causes.
The Maori sentiment of nationalism—Growing friction with the Administration—Native demand for self-government—The Government institution at Te Awamutu—The Hokioi and the Pikoihoi Mokemoke—Ngati Maniapoto evict Mr. Gorst—The Maori plan of campaign—Proposed attack on frontier settlements—Maori ammunition supplies—Invitations to the southern tribes—Wiremu Tamehana's warning
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Chapter XXVII.—Military Forces and Frontier Defences.
The Government's war resources—Strength of the British and colonial forces—Universal military service—The Auckland Militia—Fort Britomart—Military posts south of Auckland—Redoubts and stockades in frontier settlements—Posts along the Great South Road—Churches fortified for defence—The road to the Waikato
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Chapter XXVIII.—The First Engagements.
Maoris required to take the oath of allegiance—Government Proclamation to the Kingites—Eviction of natives on the Auckland frontier—A settler and his son tomahawked—General Cameron crosses the Manga-tawhiri River—The gathering of the Waikato clans—Te Huirama's trenches at Koheroa—British attack the position—Defeat of the Kingites—An ambush at Martin's Farm, Great South Road—Forest skirmish at Kirikiri—War-parties in the Wairoa and Hunua Ranges—Attacks on settlers—The Koheriki raiders—A Wairoa scouting expedition—Felling the forest, Great South Road—British party surprised at Williamson's Clearing, Pukewhau—Skirmishes at Pokeno and Razorback—Kingites kill Mr. Armitage at Camerontown—British expedition from Tuakau
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Chapter XXIX.—The Forest Rangers.
A special corps necessary for guerilla fighting in the bush—Formation of the Forest Rangers—Jackson's first company—Arms and equipment for forest fighting—The bowie-knife—Varied character of the Rangers—Settlers, bushmen, gold-diggers, and sailors—Arduous work in the roadless bush—Von Tempsky joins the Rangers—A daring reconnaissance—The two scouts at Paparata
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Chapter XXX.—The Defence of Pukekohe Church Stockade.
Presbyterian church at Pukekohe East fortified by the settlers—Description of the stockade—The post attacked by a Kingite war-party—Gallant defence by seventeen men—Maori charge repulsed—Heavy fighting at close range—Arrival of reinforcements—A British bayonet charge—Maoris driven off with heavy loss—An attack on a farmhouse (Burtt's Farm)
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Chapter XXXI.—Operations at the Wairoa.
Kingites in the Wairoa Ranges—Auckland reinforcements for the settlement—Engagements with the Maoris at Otau—An early-morning surprise attack—Native raids on the settlers—Homestead attacked at Mangemangeroa—Two boys killed—The Forest Rangers' expeditions—Jackson's company surprises a Koheriki camp—Seven Maoris killed
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Chapter XXXII.—Mauku and Patumahoe.
Mauku Settlement in 1863—The village church fortified—Lusk's Forest Rifle Volunteers—Skirmish at the "Big Clearing," Patumahoe—Mauku Rifles and Forest Rangers in bush warfare—The Titi Hill Farm, Mauku—Invasion by a Kingite war-party—A desperate fight at close-quarters—Skirmishing from log to log—Lieutenants Perceval and Norman killed—Lieutenant Lusk withdraws to the stockade—Arrival of British reinforcements
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Chapter XXXIII.—The River War Fleet.
Colonial gunboats for the Waikato River—Arrival of the "Avon," the first steamboat on the Waikato—Reconnaissances under fire—Gunboat "Pioneer" built at Sydney for the river campaign—Four small armoured gunboats placed on the Waikato—The "Koheroa" and "Rangiriri"—The Waikato a strategic highway into the Maori country—The Royal Navy ships—The coast and harbour patrols
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Chapter XXXIV.—The Trenches at Meremere.
Kingite entrenchments on the Meremere ridge—The Maori artillery—River reconnaissances in the gunboats—The "Avon" and "Pioneer" under fire—General Cameroon reconnoitres the stronghold—Meremere outflanked and evacuated—The Miranda expedition—A chain of redoubts built—Operations of the Auckland Naval Volunteers
308
Chapter XXXV.—The Battle of Rangiriri.
Maori fortifications on Rangiriri Hill—Trenches from lake to river—Position attacked by General Cameron—Land forces and river flotilla—Artillery preparation and assaulting-parties—The outer trenches carried—Maori central redoubt remains impregnable—Royal Artillery and Royal Navy storming-parties repulsed—Heavy British losses—Surrender of the pa—Prisoners sent to Auckland—The escape from Kawau Island
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Chapter XXXVI.—The Advance on the Waipa.
The Upper Waikato invaded—Advance of Cameron's army—Scenes on the Waikato River—The Water Transport Corps flotilla—Ngaruawahia occupied—Strong fortifications at Paterangi, Pikopiko, and Rangiatea—Native genius in military engineering—The approaches to Rangiaowhia blocked—Maori artillery at Paterangi—Te Rotimana the gunner—The bathing-party at Waiari—A skirmish on the Mangapiko banks—Forest Rangers' sharp fighting—How Captain Heaphy won the V.C.—Heavy losses of the Maoris
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Chapter XXXVII.—The Invasion of Rangiaowhia.
A night march from Te Rore—Paterangi and Rangiatea outflanked—British column invades Rangiaowhia—An early-morning surprise visit—Skirmishing in the Kingite village—Colonel Nixon shot—Huts burned and defenders killed—Dramatic death of a Maori warrior—"Spare him, spare him!"—Skirmishing at the Catholic church—Paterangi garrison hasten to defend Rangiaowhia—Hairini Hill entrenched—Position attacked by British force—Trenches stormed at the point of the bayonet—A cavalry charge—Defeat of the Kingites—British advance up the Horotiu River—Field force enters Kihikihi, Rewi's headquarters—Maoris retreat across the Puniu River
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Chapter XXXVIII.—The Siege of Orakau.
The peach-groves and wheat-fields of Orakau—War-council of the Kingites—Decision to continue the war—Site for a fort selected at Orakau—Rewi's pessimism and the Urewera's insistence—Unsuitable position of the pa—Brigadier-General Carey's advance—The pa surrounded—British assaults repulsed—A sap commenced—Maori reinforcements appear—Scenes and war-councils in the redoubt—The heroic three hundred—Proposal to abandon the pa rejected—Short of water and ammunition—Firing wooden bullets—End of second day's siege
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Chapter XXXIX.—The Siege of Orakau (continued).
Dawn of the third day—"Let us charge out before it is light"—Tupotahi's advice rejected—Heavy fire concentrated on the redoubt—Sufferings of the defenders—The sap approaching the outworks—Shell-fire and hand-grenades—General Cameron's summons to surrender—Mair's interview with the Maoris—Rewi's council of war—The Maoris defiant ultimatum, "Peace shall never be made—never, never, never!"—The fighting renewed—Hand-grenades thrown into the pa—The defenders retreat fighting—The flight through the swamp—Pursuit by infantry and cavalry—Incidents of the chase—Splendid heroism of the Kingites—Half the garrison killed—The bayoneting of Hine-i-turama
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Chapter XL.—The End of the Waikato War.
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Ngati-Maniapoto entrenchments south of the Puniu—Fortified positions at Haurua, Te Roto-marama, and Paratui—British advance terminates at the Puniu—Army headquarters at Te Awamutu—Ngati-Haua fortifications at Te Tiki-o-te-Ihingarangi—The position evacuated—The last shots in the Waikato War: A skirmish at Ara-titaha—Settlement of the conquered country
398
Chapter XLI.—The Arawa Defeat of the East Coast Tribes.
Tai-Rawhiti tribes organize an expedition to Waikato—The loyal Arawa's resistance—East Coast Kingites march for Rotorua—Arawa block the way at Rotoiti—Skirmishing on the lake-side—Invaders compelled to return to the coast—An advance on Maketu—Kingite trenches at Te Whare-o-te-Rangi-marere—The invaders driven back—Shelled by the warships—A running fight along the beach—The Battle of Kaokaoroa—Repulse of the East Coast tribes
404
Chapter XLII.—The Gate Pa and Te Ranga.
British expedition to Tauranga—Redoubts built at Te Papa—Ngai-te-Rangi erect fortifications—Rawiri Puhirake's challenge—The forts at Waoku and Tawhiti-nui—Construction of the Gate Pa—The British attack—A heavy cannonade—General Cameron orders an assault—Panic-stricken troops—Chivalry of the pa garrison—A half-caste heroine—Relieving the wounded under fire—Heavy losses of the British—The trenches at Te Ranga—Attack by Colonel Greer's column—British charge with the bayonet—The Maori works carried with heavy slaughter—Desperate hand-to-hand fighting—End of the Tauranga campaign
