Page:Report from the Select Committee of the House of Lords, appointed to inquire into the present state of the Islands of New Zealand.pdf/40

Mr. John Flatt.

small Party of Natives to go and fire into the Fortification, to approach up as near as they could with Safety, and to retreat immediately back to them. Accordingly his Men made the Attack, and fired into the Fortification; the Natives came running out immediately, not aware of the Men lying in ambush; and as soon as they came in a Line with those 200 Men they were surprised to find 200 Guns fired at them immediately; unconscious from what Quarter it had come they retreated back to the Fortification; Waharoa and the Remainder of his Party, being within a short Distance, followed the Enemy close up, and those that were wounded and could not fly they killed with their Axes; they killed Thirty Natives upon that Occasion. After eating some Parts, according to their then Custom, and feasting a Day and a Half, they returned home to Matamata; they expected then an Attack immediately at Matamata. The Missionaries, finding that something serious was likely to occur at Matamata, called a Committee, and a Resolution was passed that the Station should be given up altogether; and I received Orders to take the Cattle over to Tauranga on the Seacoast. I took the Cattle over on the 11th of October 1836 with Two Horses; I returned back the following Week to take back the young Horse, the Journey being too long for One Day, it being in fact a Two Days Journey. We took up our Abode at the Wairere (or Waterfall) for the Night. On the 19th at Daylight in the Morning some native Dogs began to bark, and the Natives were alarmed and filed into the Woods immediately, leaving me alone in the Tent. The Natives came up around me and I found I was quite in their Hands; but I felt more anxious about the Natives, considering myself quite safe except my Property, which I was well aware would go as a Payment for Mr. Tapstall's Loss. This is quite straight according to native Custom. As soon as the Natives found that the Natives connected with me had fled they took every thing I happened to have with me; they took £26 Worth of Things, which the Church Missionary Committee have paid me for.

They plundered you?

Yes.

Did they strip you naked?

I was naked in Bed; they took away all my Bedding and my Clothes; they left me the Horse to ride.

Was the Station in consequence given up altogether?

It was given up the Week before, and was not resumed when I last heard, a Twelvemonth ago, and I believe it was not likely to be from the Account I heard from the Missionaries.

Are you enabled to know at all what has become of the Land upon which the Works were going on?

It remains, as it was, the Property of the Church Missionary Society.

In what Way has it been dealt with since this Transaction?

We have simply left it as it was before, the Two Native or Rush Houses standing, having taken away all the Property that was moveable; the Doors and Windows, and so on.

It has not been occupied for the Benefit of the Missionary Society since?

No.

You remained in the Island for some Time after that?

I did, until the 7th of May.

Where were you stationed?

I staid at Tauranga on the Seacoast till the End of February 1837.

Did you, during your stay in the Island, acquire any Knowledge of the Language?

Yes; so that I could converse freely with the Natives on many Subjects.

Have you conversed with the Natives, at different Times, relative to the Arrival of Settlers there?

Frequently.