Twisted History

Twisted History By Tom Lendrum

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Published and printed by.......................................

Date of first publication, 2010

Written by

Tom Lendrum.

Part One: page 6

Captain Cook returns to New Zealand in the nineteenth cen-

tury - on board the sloop “HMS Enterprise.”

The arrival of the NZ Maori - after enduing a long agonizing

sea journey - Hineparei throws his legs over the side of the

waka.

The treaty of Waitangi negotiations in 1840.

The Maori wars - The Maoris were out of the ditches;

Wallace, Morrison and Atkinson turned and ran until they

were exhausted

Part Two:page 38

England - 'Bye,

' William muttered and walked out.

India - Rose and Mark arrived in India at the start of the In-

dian rebellion - I'm sorry it had to end this way.

Part Three page 44

Fantasy, adventure - the past and the present; the future.

Gold -

‘Bugger off you bastards; leave our gear alone.’

Land, greed and love.

Part Four: page 80

New beginnings - William waits for Hine in Mangonui.

The Inheritance - Gods River (Atua Awa).

Without a sound Mr. Curtis, is dead.

Captain Simon Wallace - led his men behind the tanks as

they cross the dry and wind swept barren land.

Part Five: page 97

Kealakakua Bay - Good-bye, Captain Cook.

23 Introduction

I’ve read a preface or introduction is often an apology by the

author, who needs to explain what has been written.

Twisted History, will exercise your imagination as it takes

you through the centuries and events - some stories connect

people and periods in time - many based on actual history

with names, places and dates altered - others are the imagi-

nation of the writer and totally fictional.

Inspiration for this book came from reading The Voyages of

Captain Cook - authors Rex and Thea Rienits.

History of New Zealand - by Michael King.

The Bad old Days - by Tony Nolan.

The Birth of New Zealand - by Warren Jacobs.

I thank them for the ideas and any words, I have used with-

out asking.

Paragraphs - in italic - are references to the actual event or

an explanation to provide some history and back ground to

the stories

Numbers in brackets [ ] refer to an entry on that page.

45 Part One Captain James Cook - Circa 1800

The year; eighteen hundred and eighty-four on board the

sloop “HMS Enterprise.” Captain James Cook: explorer,

navigator and cartographer, stands on deck with the cold

winds from the Antarctic blowing into his face.

‘Christ!’ it’s cold,’ Cook scuttles back to his cabin where

the young red headed cabin boy Tom Doyle, hands him a hot

toddy.

Cook stands in front of the mirror; the image does not

reflect the figure that faces it. Tom removes Cook’s knee-

high leather boots his trousers and his under garments.

Naked; the mirror reflects a younger man, standing tall

and straight with strong legs a full chest and a flat stomach.

The gentle wind from the window causes goose pimples

on his naked skin and sends a shiver down his body. Tom

reaches for clothing to cover the captain.

‘Pour me a glass of wine,’ Cooks orders Tom, ‘leave the

decanter by my bed.’ Cook moves the compass, chronometer

and his telescope from the desk to mark their position on the

chart.

Entry

Cook lifts the lid to his laptop and writes; this is my fourth

visit to this god-forsaken place in the South Pacific Ocean. I

have been sailing around this Ocean for the last 12 years, I

am the first European to have contact with these people of

the Pacific and I know there is a relationship among them.

This voyage is down the West Coast of the North Island

of New Zealand pass False Bay, Woody Head, Albatross

Point, Sugar Loaf Point, Cape Egmont then onto Cape Fare-

well.

6In his “Facebook” profile page Cook writes; we are from the

other side of the world from a country better than where we

are now. Our country is of Kings and Queens; we are the

creators of culture of high societies and industries of great

wealth. We are the descendants of the Vikings the Romans;

we are the masters of crusades, conquests and holy wars. We

have survived fires, floods, famine and diseases. We are

great explorers, adventurers and inventors - we are the best

and worst of mankind.

Thousands of us sail the seas. We are the greatest the

most important of all gods creatures. The world is our do-

main. People of all races, creeds, cultures, religions, fear our

powers and our strengths. They strive to speak our language;

they honour and respect our Monarchs. We are the leaders of

the known world.

In an email to his wife Elizabeth; he tells her, we unlike

the natives row ourselves to shore in a dignified manner. The

officers sit in the rear of the rowboat facing forward with the

sailor’s backs to the land, and we row with oars. The natives,

their chief stands in the centre of the canoe, with the warriors

facing forward and use paddles.

He kura tangate e kore a rokohanga, he kura whenua ke

rokohanga

People die, are killed, migrate, disappear: not so the land.

That remains forever.

7 The coming of the New Zealand Maori Circa 1300

Kura the young wife of chief Hineparei snuggles her petite

naked body between his legs with her head comfortably rest-

ing in his lap. The warm morning sun is bringing new life

into their cold bodies.

This journey has taken weeks of sailing under hot sun,

strong winds, in heavy seas, with little sleep, food and water.

He has watched his people, including Kura; suffer from

starvation, their once strong and healthy bodies, becoming

only skeletons of themselves.

‘Tiitiro whenua’ – ‘Look Kura, I see land.’- Hineparei

lovingly lifts her head; her bones are stiff from the cramped

conditions after many weeks at sea.

On hearing their chief’s call, others turn and look in the

direction he is pointing. ‘Haere kia hanga a tatou rerenga hei

whenua’ – ‘Come lets make our way to land,’- his voice is

full of pride. Bursting with new inner strength and determi-

nation they paddle their waka towards land. ‘Haere mai,

haere mai’ – ‘We have arrived, we have arrived.’

Trembling with the delight and happiness in his achieve-

ment, and even after enduing a long agonizing sea journey,

Hineparei throws his legs over the side of the waka and steps

onto the sand as dignified as possible.

Hineparei* is a stout, heavy built man in his forties with

all the appropriate tattoos of his status and his high-ranking

social standing within the tribe. However now like the rest of

his people; he is tried, blistered and bruised.

*Chief Hineparei and his family members enjoy many privileges. Being a

chief of a tribe or family, you are respected and most times command

obedience. He knows that obedience comes by enforcement, and strength

plus the power to enforce it.

8 A strong wind behind Hineparei’s waka had allowed him to

arrived first. He sees this as a reward from the gods* for

bringing his people here.

A loud sharp call comes from the beach announcing that

another waka has arrived with its cargo of distraught travel-

lers. Hineparei orders the younger warriors to help with their

landing. The new arrivals drag themselves onto the sand;

many lay there exhausted near death, most, could do no

more than smile indicating their success in reaching land alive.

‘Kia tatou muru, ahi, kai wai’ – ‘Come make a fire, we

need to find food and water,’- Chief Hineparei commands -

he knows they are all hungry. The pain of an empty belly

had been forgotten while the excitement of discovering land

was uppermost in their thoughts. Hineparei organizers

groups to collect building materials – Kauta – some are sent

to gather driftwood for fires, some to fish, others to collect

berries, roots and other edible delicacies. Fires are lit using

dry grass and small branches. Bird feathers and leaves are

collected to place on the ground, and those with blankets or

cloaks –Kahu - lay them across the weakest of their number.

Of the seven canoes that left their homeland months be-

fore, only one had yet to arrive. Chief Hineparei, tells his

people. ‘Matou wira moe hei po wiro kimi hei te ata’ – ‘We

will sleep tonight, if our brothers have not arrived by morn-

ing, we will search for them.’- Concern for the others safety,

was in their thoughts as they drift off to sleep.

*Under the shade of the trees Hineparei gives thanks to the gods; Rangi,

Papa, plus the children Tane, Tu, Tangaroa.

9The search in the morning along the coastline found no sight

of the missing waka, carrying chief Hoturapa and his follow-

ers. The winds had taken them further up the island where

they had come ashore at a place, now named *Cape Reinga.

There they establish their own village.

Moa Hunters - circa 1809 [94]

Tonganui along with his brother, Mihoka and their best

friend Te Ewiata, are tracking two large Moa birds. - The

meat and feathers from these two birds will provide food and

clothing.

The trio are heading north to Golden Bay - situated at the

top of the South Island - as they follow the birds through

swamps and dense native bush towards the coast.

Each has a Mere - a club made from stone with a flat

sharp edge and a Tao, a spear about six feet long - as their

weapons. The birds are last seen running through a clearing

and then they disappear.

‘Keihea raua riro?’-‘Where have they gone?’- Mihoka

asked, with a confused look on his face.

Tonganui and Te Ewiata could only stare with amaze-

ment at the sudden disappearance of the birds.

‘Paparoa I kino t?’ - ‘Did you scare them off with your

bad breath?’

- Tonganui laughed. ‘Kakara koe haere’ - ‘May

be they smelt him coming,’ suggested Te Ewiata.

Mihoka is on his knees looking at an opening in the

ground. ‘Tiro hei tenei poka’ - ‘Look here, they have fallen

down this hole.’ Removing more of the surrounding bush,

they decide to climb down. Tonganui is first, followed by Te

Ewiata and Mihoka.

*Cape Reinga – Te Reinga or Te Rerenga Wairua in Maori – is the

Northwestern most tip of the Aupouri Peninsula.

Once at the bottom they hear water running somewhere in

the distance, and the sound of the Moa birds. ‘Wai haere ki

waha he kei hea’ - ‘The water must come out somewhere,

we will follow it.’ Mihoka tells them. Making their way

slowly through the dark Tonganui stumbles across skeletons

from animals that had previously fallen down the hole.

‘Tetahi turituri?’ - ‘Can you hear anything Mihoka?’ -

asks Tonganui. Mihoka did not answer. In silence they con-

tinue their search as the stream takes them deeper into the

cave. ‘Whai te awa’ - ‘The only way out is to follow the

stream.’ Mihoka gave his answer.

To their surprise and relief they find themselves outside

on a ledge, watching as the water, falls over and down the

rock face. Below them in a pool of fresh spring water, two

naked white skinned men are swimming.

Seal Hunters [95]

The evening mist was closing in as the brig "Active"

dropped anchor at Dusky Sounds, in Fiordland. The captain

retired to his cabin; the first mate, and the crew made the

ship safe for the night then headed below deck.

The six men to be put ashore in the morning at a place

called Woods Inlet - there to hunt and slaughter seals for the

skins - make their way to the storeroom to collect the equip-

ment. Each receives a heavy wooden club, made with a

hammerhead and a metal hock – Hakapik - used to kill seal

cubs - a rifle along with a small supply of dry rations, to help

feed them until they established a regular food source.

11Jack Watt: aged 30, and is the leader of the group.

Oliver Sawyer: aged 31, known to have little respect for

authority and a troublemaker.

Charlie Baker: aged 28, he is a quiet and well-mannered man.

Elliot Bell: aged 31, has been on other expeditions and is an

expert on *seal hunting.

Daniel Woodman only 19, the youngest member of the

group and is easily intimidated.

Last of the party is James Knight: aged 25. The best friend of

Jack, and never leaves his side or disagrees with anything he says or does.

The next morning with their equipment loaded into the

longboat they row to land; on shore they watch the "Active"

turn and sail down the coast where it will off load other seal-

ers. All these men know they can be on their own for weeks

or months, until the ship returns** to collect them.

Jack was in charge; he organized the others into groups,

Daniel and Elliot to find water and food insisting they be

back before nightfall. Oliver and Charlie to find suitable ma-

terial to build a shelter, while he and James will collect

driftwood to light the fire.

Daniel with a metal canister to collect water, Elliot, a

canvas bag made from an old sail with rope handles, suitable

for collecting fruit; set off inland. They travelled for some-

time before coming across a pool at the bottom of a water-

fall, removing their boots and clothing they jump in.

* Over this period more than 11,000 sealskins were collected and sold,

the biggest markets England and China.

**History tell us some sealers where never rescued, they were aban-

doned due to cost or the mother ship was lost at sea.

12Although they were uneasy about being so close to the rocks,

their concern was unfounded, for these rocks had been there

for centuries. Elliot covering his eyes from the sun, noticed

on a ledge above them, two dark skinned men.

The sun had almost disappeared and the air was getting

cooler, it was time to return to camp. Daniel filled the canis-

ter with water and Elliot collected a small amount of fruit

and berries.

While they were off collecting water, Oliver with a large

knife - Charlie an axe, had not far to go to collect material to

make a shelter. The lean-to-hut was built on the sand but

away from the rising tide. The construction was well under

way before Jack, and James returned with driftwood for the fire.

‘No sign of Daniel and Elliot?’ Jack asked James.

‘You can never rely on those two,’ he replied with hostil-

ity. James never did like either of them.

‘They will be back soon’ Oliver assured them. Before

they could come to blows Jack clipped Oliver across the

head with a piece of driftwood.

Night was settling in; those at the camp are hungry and

tired. They boil the remaining water to make a hot drink, and

to soften the dry bread and biscuits. The four men make

themselves comfortable as possible and wait. In silence they

check and clean their gear, by the dim light of the fire.

With only the light of the moon, Daniel and Elliot finally

reach the camp. ‘Where have you been, and why has it taken you so long?’ Jack asks.

‘Sorry we did not realize the distance we had gone nor

the time we had spent at the water hole.’ Daniel explained.

‘We did see three Maoris,’ cut in Elliot with a smile.

13Dusky Sounds was known as an area rich with marine life -

earlier Europeans had found great quantities of fish, seals

and whales, the higher land of the bay overlooked the migra-

tion routes of these species. Unfortunately the area was also

known for strong winds, currents and large broken seas; all

making the seal hunters work very dangerous.

The six awoke, to a warm morning with just a light

breeze coming in from the sea. All are ready to start their

first day’s hunt. Armed with rifles and picks they start off

around the beach, each in good heart and confident of a great

kill. The tide is going out making their progress around the

rocks easy. It is not long till they arrive at the bay they had

seen from the "Active. To their amazement they were con-

fronted with more than a thousand seals of all ages - busy

eating, sleeping or swimming; none notice the six men who

had arrived.

Jack again had them organized; Oliver, Daniel and Elliot

would chase the cubs and kill them with their picks, while

the other three would attack the older seals.

The chase was on and the plan worked well; the younger

seals headed inland and the older ones turn for the water.

The rifles fired; the number of killed added up quickly.

Those chasing the cubs found it a little harder, but still man-

aged to kill some twenty to thirty each. At the end of the day

they had killed three hundred and fifty: the next task was to

skin them.

The trips to the bay continued for almost a week until no

seals were left. It was time to move further south. One of the

men had to stay behind, for the brig "Active" was due back

to collect the skins.

Jack thought he would decide who was to stay, but the

others objected to that. It was decided to draw sticks; the

man with the shortest would stay behind.

14In turns each took a stick and when they were compared,

Daniel had drawn the short one - his face dropped. Tears ran

down his cheek, he did not want to be left behind.

He knew he could be there for days on his own. It all de-

pended on the winds and the time taken to collect the other sealers.

In the morning the other five packed their equipment into

the boat and rowed south. Daniel watched until they were

out of sight, all he could do now is wait.

The Return Of The "Active"

The "Active" had sailed around the coast dropping off

groups of seal hunters at seven different bays. Almost thirty

men would require picking up over the next month.

The "Active" returned to Woods Inlet and was engulfed

inside a thick belt of *fog. Men were aloft searching for any

site of land; at the bow - others were checking the depth of

the bay by dropping a measure over the side; with each min-

ute that past, a bell rang.

Captain Macabre stood behind the wheelman guiding the

“Active” slowly towards land ensuring the ship did not drift

too close and beach on the sand.

*Fog, a thick cloud of tiny water droplets suspended in the atmosphere

at or near the earth's surface that obscures or restricts visibility, to a

greater extent than mist; strictly, reducing visibility.

15No one could see further than a few yards. ‘Any sign of

land,’ Macabre enquired of his first mate. ‘No sir,’ was the

reply. ‘Any sign of land?’ the first mate yelled to the men in

the riggings.

‘No sir,’ the answers almost lost to the wind.

‘Drop sails, lower the anchor.’ Macabre gave the order he

could not risk going any further until the fog had lifted. The

ship came to a stop; just the normal sounds disturbed the

peace.

The "Active" sat in the Harbour and Daniel lay in this

shelter, both unaware of the others whereabouts; neither

knowing when, or if ever, they will make contact.

Daniel worries if a ship is there it will sail passed unable

to find the inlet, so he decides to light the fire.

‘Light to port,’ comes the cry on the "Active,"

Daniel Woodman

I am the fourth of eight born to an adoring mother and loving

wife - my father a office manager in a local shipping com-

pany with a staff of twenty-one young men, two are my

older brothers Simon and Thomas. My sister Catherine is

married to a well to do gentleman, also in the shipping in-

dustry – without my parents’ permission; I signed as a

whaler, on the brig “Active.”

My friends and fellow whalers have left me, I’m on my

own waiting to be collected - never been on my own before

missing my family specially Catherine, she always looked

after me. Our father made sure all his children could read,

write and count - he was teaching Timothy the day I left.

16Now far from home on a sandy beach, with a thousand seal-

skins - I wait. Waiting to be picked up by the “Active. Three

days ago, I watched the others row out to sea. Elliot gave me

a wave and I waved back; I stood there - until I could no

longer see them. The isolation of the place swept over me

almost instantly.

I have to keep busy.

I need to collect firewood.

More fern leaves to cover the holes in the shelter’s roof.

Some dry leaves to increase the depth of my bed.

I need to replenish my water supply.

I found some fresh fruit.

I have caught a small fish in the rocks, cooked it, and ate it

by the light of the fire.

Weeks have past with no human contact; unlike home

when someone was always about, I am here day after day

searching the horizon. I wake early every morning some-

times before the sun – at home Simon and I would leave the

house before the others were up, and watch the cargo ships

loading at the dock, imagining us taking turns as captain and

first mate - off on our voyages.

Maybe the “Active” will come today. Maybe father will

take us to the countryside to see the animals – he always said

he would, mother promised he would, when he has time.

It is afternoon, and still no sign of any ships – I remember

one Friday night when the family was waiting for Wilfred to

come home from work – he worked on the docks, the

younger children were put to bed with the promise they

would be woken when Wilfred returned. Father and mother;

Simon, Thomas, Catherine and I waited.

17 I have to keep busy

I have collected water today and had a swim.

I found some fresh fruit.

I have caught a small fish in the rocks, cooked it, and ate it

by the light of the fire.

I have used the last of the salt and the tea.

We sat at the table with most of our food uneaten and our

tea cold – no one spoke, unless it was mother asking the time

from father, as he had the only time piece – Simon was to

get a watch for his next birthday in two weeks. Catherine

had her eyes closed, with her head laying against my shoul-

der – I could not move, and I wished not to, for I enjoyed her

presents.

The knock on the door broke the silence, the sound

brought with it an urgency of distress – I opened it, to see a

friend of my father’s: without a word he went outside. We

could not hear what was said, but on his return we saw a

look, we had not seen before. He took my mother by the

shoulder and spoke to her. ‘Timothy has been taken by a

’ pressgang.

We have never seen our farther cry before.

Another day has past and still no ship.

I have to keep busy.

I need to collect firewood.

More fern leaves to cover the holes in the shelter’s roof.

Some dry leaves to increase the depth of my bed.

I need to replenish my water supply.

I have caught a small fish in the rocks, cooked it, and ate it

by the light of the fire.

18 The evenings here are so unlike at home, even before time

had healed the loss of our brother – I told Catherine, I was

going away, although she said, she would be sad to see me

go, it would be good for me. I learnt the “Active” was re-

cruiting for crew and whalers – and due to leave port the fol-

lowing week. I signed on; then told my family.

Walking the beach and imagining a ship every time I look

to sea - hours I spend wandering the countryside, returning

only to camp when it’s dark - lighting the fire, cooking the

food I had found that day.

I have to keep busy.

I need to collect firewood.

Again I collect water, today at the pool I saw three Maoris.

I tried to make contact by calling out to them.

They were sitting on a ledge above the waterfall.

They did not return my gesture of a welcome.

Returned to camp after gathering a large pile of driftwood

and leaves – if I were home my mother would be there to

welcome me with hot cup of tea and a slice of home made

bread.

It has been days since the "Active" should have returned

to collect the sealskins. I am becoming concerned, that no

one is coming - I have heard stories of this happening.

I am sleeping a lot more - there is little to be done. I have

lost a lot of weight and on many days I am so weak. With the

change of seasons, fresh fruit and berries are becoming

harder to find - I am starving to death.

It’s getting colder at night; my clothes and the leaves are

not keeping me warm – I’m missing the warm bodies of my

brothers - we would cuddle together. The shelter is not pro-

tecting me from the cold winds.

19 I am unsure of the time spent alone it could be weeks or

months – time passes without seeing any ships. Should I stay

here or move further inland away from the sea winds. I could

find a cave - there is one above the waterfall, although I’m

not sure I can climb that far, don’t have the physical strength

or energy.

Still no ship; I have decided to build a fire on the hill

above the camp - my brothers and I made lots of fires from

the old timber found at the docks, the fires were to warm the

people living there at night - we never stayed - but always

said we would one day.

Today I have woken to a thick fog and the sound of the

waves gently lashing against the rocks; through the fog I

search the horizon for a ship – it was like the days when fa-

ther and I walked the dock yards looking for Timothy, but

unlike then today I am rewarded by a light.

The light came, like the day father took Timothy and I to

the ship yard, and let us play in a dark tool shed - a light

came from a knothole in the back wall. When we ap-

proached, the light got bigger.

Rescued

Daniel can see the ship’s lantern through the fog. The fire

bursts into life; the flames shoot up into the air with the

sparks drifting out to sea - being helped to reach great

heights by the off shore wind. As fast as he can, he returns to

the beach and arrives just as the first boats reach the shore.

‘Where are the others?’ asks the sailor.

‘They went further south the other day, how long have I been here?’

20 *Treaty of Waitangi 1840 - Waters of Lamentation

Negotiations [95]

Smoke filled the room; with the little windows neither letting

enough light in, nor enough smoke out. The candles only

provided a dim light; they’re flicking, added to the atmos-

phere in the room.

At the Kauri planked table the representatives sat.

The British dressed in their best military uniforms, but-

tons and boots shining. Sitting in the largest chair at the end

of the table facing the door was William Hobson, - Lieuten-

ant-Governor - representative of the crown. Sitting opposite

him uncomfortably on his chair, Chief Hinepare; a highly

respected Maori leader. - Ngati Kahungunu - He was wear-

ing his best-feathered cloak, made from Tui feathers; around

his neck a green stone tiki.

After the introductions, the women brought in food and

drink - outside people started celebrating this significant oc-

casion with song and dance.

The drinking and eating carried on until Hobson de-

manded they got down to the treaty procedures.

Captain Nicholas Watson stood with the help of his aide,

and gave instructions.

‘Clear the table,’ then asked for the

**Monopoly board to be placed on the table.

*The Treaty of Waitangi - Maori: Te Tiriti o Waitangi - first signed on

February 6, 1840, by representatives of the British Crown, and various

Maori chiefs.

**The player or players, who won control of the monopoly board, con-

trol the sky, sea and the land.

21 The monopoly board lay out, did not suit the requirements

nor would it be of any great use to the treaty negotiations.

So a sub-committee was set up to change the names, loca-

tions and places with an auction price given for each iden-

tity. A minister appointed to over see each decision plus a

budget and a timeframe required to carry out this work.

The committee returned one hour later, with the new

board layout. It was in the shape of New Zealand - North

Island and South Island - each Island was divided into

squares; each square with a number, a name of a province,

an important landmark and a value.

Two dices would be used - the person who threw the

highest number at the start, would be first to move - there are

community and chance cards. Cook Strait was for free park-

ing. Two jails one in each Island a long with four get out of

jail cards.

Provinces, Important Places and Landmarks

People from the Land and Survey department were

given the responsibility to design the new board layout.

North Island. Auckland - New Plymouth - Hawke’s Bay

and Wellington.

South Island. Nelson, Marlborough, Westland, Canter-

bury, Otago and Southland.

Also important places and landmarks for the treaty nego-

tiators would play for, and each with an auction value.

22Items For Negotiation

Government tourist department came up with the goods that

would be traded by the British to acquire the Provinces.

Each member of the British team had at his or her disposal.

Six. Woollen blankets

Five. Wooden handle axes

Four. En-field rifle

Three. Cardboard boxes of tobacco

Two. Leather bibles

One. Necklaces made from glass beads

*The Game Pieces -

The game pieces for the British were; one sailing ship -

made from local Kauri; a bust of Queen Victoria - standing

about three inches tall and cast in bronze; a tin model steam

train engine, and a ships circular brass barometer.

The game pieces for the Maori; would be all the land, the

sea, and everything important to them.

*A figure or token used to make moves in a board game

23 The Teams

Team members are selected from those in the room, with

equal players on each side. Each team needs advisers, secre-

taries, and assistant secretaries to record the decisions arrived at.

An independent banker is appointed - Winston Peters

gets this position; a speaker of the house is also appointed, to

read the game rules and sort out any disagreements that may

arise during the negotiations.

Eventually they are ready to proceed; there are two teams

of four players. Leading the team for the British Crown is

William Hobson - Governor; Thomas Russell - Lawyer and

Minister of Defence; Robert Fitz-Roy - Governor after Hob-

son’s death 1842, and John Owen; expert in Maori and

Pakeha cooperation and race relations.

The Maori team; Chief Hinepare of Ngati Kahungunu;

Chief Ati Awa of Te Wharepouri - with bloodshot eyes and

smelling of tobacco. Chief Nagati Toa of Te Rangihaeata -

who played a leading role in the fighting in the Wairou Val-

ley, and Hone Heke in his best black and white feathered

cloak.

Winston Peters counts out and places in front of each

British player their trading items then in turn they select a

game piece to represent them as they move around the board.

The Maori players will lay down a piece of twig next to the

items up for trading, then with a song and dance; they will

dare and encourage the British players to pick it up.

24 Cards on the Table - let the game begin.

The dice rolled from the fine porcelain beaker. The first dice

was a six the other a three. Hobson moved his piece the nine

paces and landed on the square called Bay of Island, Auckland.

Excitement was in the air; all those in the room felt good

about the outcome of this first exchange. They waited; Wil-

liam Hobson placed on the table five blankets two axes and

one box of tobacco.

Minutes past then the Bay of Islands and Auckland was

sold. The package included, all the land from Cape Brett,

Purerua Peninsula, Russell, Kerikeri, with all the horticulture

land, rivers, Rewal’s village, the beaches and Rainbow falls.

Chief Hinepare moved his trophies from the table and

stepped back. He showed to the other chiefs how proud he

was for what he had achieved from the British Governor.

The tension in the room was so intense - drinks were

called for, allowing those responsible, to record the items

paid and the items sold.

They were written once in English and once in Maori.

Thomas Russell stood next to the table, placed his playing

marker on the board and picked up the shaker. Chief Nagati

Toa rose from where he was sitting and moved closer.

He was so excited he placed his twig on the land and the

important things he was putting up for sale.

His adviser suggested he wait till the British member

threw his dice to see where the game piece landed and what

he offered for the square it landed on.

The dice rolled onto the table, first was a four the other a

five, Russell moved his piece the nine paces onto the square

called Waikato, Hawke’s Bay, Wellington.

25 They waited; Russell placed on the table four blankets three

axes, one box of tobacco, one leather bible and one En-fieldrifle.

Minutes past then the Waikato, Hawke’s Bay, and Wel-

lington were sold. The package included the Waikato River,

Lake Taupo, Coromandel gold fields, the City of Hamilton,

Waitomo caves, the Chiefs rugby team, and the Te Papa art gallery.

Chief Nagati Toa moved his trophies from the table and

stepped back. He was not all that happy but did not wish to

show his disappointment to the others. He left the table smil-

ing to show he was proud for what he had achieved.

Drinks were called for, allowing those responsible, to re-

cord the items paid and the items sold.

They were written once in English and once in Maori.

Fitz-Roy stood up to the table; placed his playing marker on

the board and picked up the shaker. Chief Ati Awa rose from

where he was sitting and moved closer to the game board.

He was so excited he just pointed to the land and the im-

portant things he was putting up for sale.

His adviser suggested he wait till the British member

threw his dice, and see where it landed, and what he offered

for the square the piece landed on.

The dice rolled onto the table, the first was a six the other

a three, Robert Fitz-Roy moved his piece the nine paces and

landed on the square called Nelson, Marlborough, Westland.

They waited; Fitz-Roy placed on the table five blankets,

four axes, two boxes of tobacco, two leather bibles, one En-

field rifle, plus a necklace made from glass beads.

Minutes past then all were sold.

26The package included, Blenheim, Lake Rotoiti, St Arnaud

range, Picton Harbour, the Inter-islander, plus all the olives,

grapes, fruit orchards and tobacco plants.

Chief Ati Awa moved his trophies from the table and

stepped back. He was not totally satisfied, yet did not wish to

show any disappointment - just said how proud he was for

what he had achieved from the British Fitz-Roy.

More drinks were called for while those responsible, re-

corded the items paid and the items sold.

They were written once in English and once in Maori.

Hone Heke marched to the table and snatched a chance card;

it read. ‘Each player will give the bearer of this card one

wooden handle axe; this person will then exercise civil unrest.’

Hone collected this bounty and sat down - the delight

shone in his eyes - on seeing this Chief Hinepare picked up a

community card; ‘The bearer of this card shall pay 10 per-

cent to each iwi once all treaty settlements have been final-

ized.’ He quickly places the card to the bottom of the stack

and sat down.

John Owen was at the table with his marker on the board and

the shaker in his hand. Hone Heke rose from where he was

sitting and moved closer - ready to make the deal.

The dice rolled onto the board, Owen moved his piece the

nine paces and landed on the square called Canterbury,

Otago and Southland.

They waited for Owen to place on the table five blankets,

two axes, one box of tobacco, two leather bibles, one En-

field rifle, plus two necklaces made from glass beads.

27Hone Heke counted and inspected each item that had been

placed on the table. Ten minutes past before he asked for more.

The British Negotiators had never been asked to increase

an offer before and were taken back by the request. They

moved to a corner to sort out what items they had as a group

to add to this offer.

The land package covered the area from Picton to Slope

Point, including Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, Haast and Ar-

thur’s Passes.

The extra items offered were five more blankets, seven

more axes, three glass bead necklaces, three more bibles,

plus eight more boxes of tobacco.

Minutes passed then all were sold.

Hone Heke moved his trophies from the table and stepped

back. He was very happy and could not help but show that

he was.

More drinks were called for while those responsible, re-

corded the items paid and the items sold.

They were written *once in English and **once in Maori.

Now the other Chiefs looked at the goods Hone Heke had

achieved from the British and tried to renegotiate - but with

no success.

The only items left to trade were eleven En-field rifles,

and there was no way the chiefs, would get those today.

*Henry Williams and his son Edward translated the English version of

the treaty into Maori over the next four days. As the document was very

confusing both parties had signed and left the table content with the re-

sult. The British had total control over all the land, water, fish and trees.

The Maori held the understanding all was still theirs.

**Maori chiefs signed a Maori-language version of the Treaty that did

not accurately reflect the English-language version.

28 The party continued into the early hours of the next day.

When the British negotiators woke, many found them-

selves in a state of undress.

So intoxicated; they had given the remaining eleven En-

field rifles away, to anyone who had asked for them.

On the request from the New Zealand government more

troops were brought from England by way of Australia to

increase the military presents.

Kaua e whakaarohia te mahinga otira te otinga

(Consider not the way it is done but the result achieved)

29 The Maori Wars - circa1861 [94]

The Warship HMS “Victoria” had sailed from England to

Australia and there collected two hundred men from the 40th

(Somerset-shire) Regiment of Foot with Lieutenant Colonel

Robert Young and Major Charles Gold.

Wallace was unaware this company of light infantry,

3000 imperial troops stationed in Australia would be trans-

ferred to New Zealand and fight in the Maori wars.

Mark joined the Regiment the year before and travelled

with it to Australia, hoping to find his father.

Mark had no brothers or sisters nor did he know who or

where his father was. His mother had never spoken of him

and once she had died, he had no reason to stay in England.

Auckland

The men stood on deck; Wallace's section would be first to

move once the orders are given. The only sound the creaking

of the masts and the lapping of the sea against the side of the ship.

The troops were in their sections each with their Sergeant

waiting for the command to disembark.

The day was cold with a strong south / west wind coming

across the deck into the their faces - causing them to turn

their backs; each man holding their kit bag and rifle at the

ready.

The men wore a dark blue forage cap and serge jumper –

trousers, leather boots, over which a great coat, cut at the

knees was worn; each trooper carried an En-field rifle, shell

case and a bayonet.

30 Wallace was tall, slow on his feet and clumsy. So when the

orders came, this proved the opportune time for things to

happen.

‘Stand at attention, right turn.’ The orders came loud and

clear from the line officers.

Right on cue Wallace’s kit bag, containing a water bottle,

pannikins, blanket, a waterproof sheet, along with some pri-

vate odds and ends fell to the ground spilling all the con-

tents. Wallace stopped just as his section started to move

forward. There was no time for the trooper behind to stop

and both fell to the deck. This brought on a great round of

cheers from those behind.

Colonel Young ordered Sergeant Ring to correct the

situation and to discipline Wallace.

It was sixteen hundred hours. The offices had moved onto

their quarters for the night and left the Sergeants and Corpo-

rals to organize the last of the equipment.

At Eighteen hundred hours - apart for two kegs of rum

that gone missing, the cannons, horses, tents, and tools were

off loaded and safely stored on to the dock.

While the offices quarters were comfortable, the troops

were bedded down in huts at the back of the wharf, made

from board and batten walls with a tin roof and a small

glassless windows to let the night air into the old smelly buildings.

Robert Young woke from his peaceful sleep by a gentle

probe and the smell of hot coffee plus the kind words from his valet.

He stood, put on his trousers and walked to the window,

there last night that he and his fellow offices, troopers and

equipment had arrived ready for this campaign.

31 ‘Morning Battersby - sleep well?’ Robert asked.

‘Sure did,’ replied Battersby.

Private Mark Wallace was woken from his sleepless night by

a boot in the backside by Sergeant Ring. ‘Out of bed and get

dressed,’ bellowed the Sergeant.

‘Get dressed,’ mumbled Wallace under his breath, ‘never

got a chance to get undressed.’

Once Wallace was on his feet he realized he was the only

one left in the building all the others were outside, picking

up his rifle he was at the door before he realized he was in

his socks.

The Attack [93]

At first light Sergeant Ring’s party, which includes privates

Mark Wallace, Thomas Morrison and Harry Atkinson -

make their way south to clear a track for the artillery to get

close enough to the Pa defences, and to gauge the strength of

the enemy.

The guns will be used to penetrate the outer stockades -

the shells to destroy the timber structures - allowing the

troops to entre the Maori stronghold.

Ring's men take the newly formed Great South Road, run-

ning from Auckland to the Kingitanga boundary - in the

Waikato district; two days before the main army of Sailors,

Marines, Colonial troops and the Forest Rangers make their

advance.

The combined number of almost twenty-eight hundred

men will take with them - five, 32 pounder siege guns, three

18-pounder guns, four mortars and two rocket tubes.

32It took five days from leaving the camp to reach the turn off

towards the Pa; then four hours from that point, establishing

a suitable path for the 32 Pounder guns to travel.

They know the artillerymen and their guns - along with

the bulk of the army; led by Lieutenant Colonel Robert

Young and Major Charles Gold, are not far behind: their or-

ders are to have the guns in place and the outer fences of the

Pa, destroyed before the army arrives.

Fifty Maori warriors waited for Ring’s men in ditches at

each side of a narrow path leading to a clearing, where the

sunrays sparkled on the buttercup leaves. Wallace, Morrison

and Atkinson were lagging at the rear. Mark was explaining

his escape plans and how he intended to return to Australia

to find his father. Sergeant Ring called for them to keep up -

just as a blast of gunfire crashed into the troops. That was the

last command the Sergeant made.

The Maoris were out of the ditches; Wallace, Morrison

and Atkinson turned and ran until they were exhausted, mak-

ing sure no one was following them they hid under an old

tree. After what Morrison thought was a safe time he asked

Wallace. ‘Should we return to the regiment?’ Wallace had

no intention of returning.

’You can, I’m not.’

The light mist was lifting with the sun making its way

through the trees warming their wet and cold bodies. Mark

Wallace, *Harry Atkinson and Thomas Morrison are now

cowards and deserters; for they had ran away from a conflict

with no attempt to help their fellow troopers.

*Harry Atkinson after the war became the Premier of New Zealand in

1864.

33 ‘I’m dying for a piss,

’ whispered Mark; crawling out from

under the tree and hitting his head as he stood - swearing un-

der his breath, made his way to relieve himself.

On Mark’s return Thomas suggested, they return to the

fighting and hope that no one has noticed their absence.

Mark thought about this for sometime. ‘I'm going to find

a ship back to Australia to find my father.

‘Do you know for sure he is there and what he is doing?’

Mark did not answer that question - just said. ‘I’m going,

are you guys coming?

Thomas and Harry decided they would return to the company.

‘No: we are not going with you - but we do wish you

good luck; we hope you find what you’re after?’

The artillery found sergeant Ring’s men. Colonel Young

with the main army also reached the spot where they had been attacked.

The British knew there would be a number of small skir mishes like this,

 before an all out attack on the Pa could take place.

Once at the Pa, the defenders will shoot from between the

poles and others from in side the ditches, more will be fur-

ther up the entrenchment in the covered over pits; safe from

the shells of the artillery fire.

34 Surrounding the Pa the British troops are ready for the ad-

vance. The Company Commanders, Captains and Sergeants,

are waiting for the first cannon shells to do their damage

against the stockades and outer fencing.

The shelling continued for almost two hours and then the

first company of troops moved forward at a slow but steady

march, through the under growth and up the small slopes to-

wards the timber posts - the first defence line of the Pa.

Sailors, Marines the Imperial and Colonial troops ad-

vance under the hissing of the bullets and the cannon balls.

With the advance towards the enemy each trooper finds

himself fighting for his life and at times having to climb over

the dead and the dying.

This first attack was repulsed; there were more warriors

than first reported and less damage to the stockades. Numer-

ous assaults were turned back; the pits behind the stockades

were deep and strong enough to neutralize the artillery.

Orders for the next advance were given. Regiments,

Companies and Sections regrouped under their Sergeants or

replacement officers.

The guns this time make a greater effect against the de-

fenders. More holes are now in the stockades and less Maori

warriors in the Pa.

Again the British troops advance towards the enemy with

bayonets fitted - each trooper concentrating on their own ef-

fort to reach the top with their life still intact.

The whistling of the cannon balls stopped. The advancing

forces are now within the main *Pa area.

*This Pa at Taranaki was a square with a fenced centre area. Around the

fence was an outer ring of posts, making a stockade. The first stockade

was about 10ft.high, constructed with whole and split tress - then a ditch,

another stockade with another ditch, followed by a pit, another stockade,

a ditch, until you can reach the centre of the Pa.

35Attempts made by the Maori defenders to break out and at-

tack the British forces were repulsed. The British troops are

now in control of the lower ground and most of the Pa.

That was the final assault and although a large number of the

defenders were massacred, some had escaped by using under

ground tunnels - taking their women, children and any

procession they could carry.

Mark’s Last Day

Thomas Morrison and Harry Atkinson make their way back

to the front lines hoping to slip back without anyone noticing

their absence.

‘They can do what they like,’ Mark was speaking to him-

self. ‘I will make my escape from here.

’

As night approached, he set off to find a place to sleep

and came across a small creek where he was able to satisfy

his thirst. He sat on the edge, unaware of the approaching

figure and only when he saw a shadow encroach his own,

did he turn; to late to avoid a large club come crashing down

against his head. He fell forward into the water - his thoughts

twisted and turned, visions of his youth tried to make them-

selves recognizable - nothing would form a visible picture,

nothing would stay long enough for him to recognize.

Just conscious, he feels an object pierce his body, blood

starts to run from his veins, his life passing before his eyes -

taking the world he knows, the memory of his mother and

his thoughts of a *father.

*William Wallace, father of Mark had found his first quartz of gold, on

this day he found himself in Coromandel, unaware of the last minutes of

his son’s life.

36Mark is dragged onto the riverbank where his clothes and

boots are removed - there will be no one to mourn his pass-

ing, there will be no celebration, no gravestone, his name

will not be on an honours board; just a note in his company’s

ledger, as missing.

The lights are off in Mark’s head - he can no-longer see,

he has no more thoughts or feelings; for he is dead.

His assassin returns his headless body to the water.

37Part Two England

William Wallace paid and collected his last drink for the

night then returned to the table where he and his mates had

been for the last two hours. He sat down and swallowed a

large mouthful of the warm ale.

‘I’d better go after this and take Rose home.

’

William slipped his hand through her open blouse and felt

her soft nipple, she did not stir, and then he placed his hand

under her dress, until his fingers were inside her; still she did

not stir - his friends gave a little laugh.

‘I would say she is out for the night,

’ Robert blurted.

William finished his ale and while standing up to place

his arm around Rose, he knocked the ale tanker to the floor.

'Bye,

' William muttered and walked out.

Leaving the tavern William carried Rose, the short distance

until they reached the boarding house - with little effort he

carried her up the stairs and placed her on the bed.

He stood and looked at the woman, she was attractive

without being beautiful.

He removed his clothes and lay beside her naked body pull-

ing up the covers.

In the morning Rose Murdoch was woken by the sounds

of wagons and the voices of men coming through the open

window that faced the dockyards. She was alone in the bed

William had gone to work.

They had been together for the past eighteen months -

although she was known to a few other men, she was re-

garded by most as William’s woman. When she became

pregnant, William seemed pleased and talked about finding

larger lodgings for them to live - weeks past without finding

a new place to live and Rose's child was due.

38William arrived home, and found Rose asleep on the bed, the

only recognition she made of his presence was a sharp kick

to his shins after he placed his cold hand on her buttocks.

He lay there looking at the swelling of her tummy; a

warm feeling of love and pride came across him. William

wondered if this was a feeling his father had.

Rose Murdoch

A young women living on the docks in England - left behind

by her lover and the father of her son, before she leaves and

travels to India, where she is killed in the Indian uprising.

Rose gave birth to a baby boy in a home for unmarried

women. There were five other babies that day, but three

died.

'Mark is a strong boy - I will look after him until his fa-

ther returns.

’ Rose assures them.

After a few days she returned to the room above the ware-

house, hoping William would be there for his child.

Two weeks later Rose found a position as a wet nurse to the

local doctors son and once he was weaned, she became the

boy's nanny.

It was not long until Rose became too friendly with the

doctor, and his wife dismissed her.

After a number of positions and opportunities, she found

a job in a well-established London men’s club.

By chance she met a well to do gentleman named, Guy

Middleton. He was an army captain and landowner - who

worked for the British East Indian Trading Company.

Rose slept her way through his household staff, and when

the time came for the Middleton family to be posted to India,

Rose and Mark went with them.

39 Passage To India

Guy Middleton and his family, along with their servants and

a number of armed soldiers - travel by camel across Egypt to

India; then by steamship down the Red Sea, stopping at the

port of Aden for coal and water.

Not a day passes without Mark, witnessing his mother

working her way through the soldiers.

He is always seasick and has an upset stomach from the

rich food - at Port Aden he goes ashore and tries to escape,

but is found and brought back to the ship.

For the last passage of the voyage, Rose spends most of

her time with the captain, Mark finds himself spending his

time with the nineteen year old maid Sarah, a maid to cap-

tain Guy’s wife - working off a debt of 50 pounds she owes

the Middleton’s for a service provided to her.

It will be three years before the debt is cleared, and she

can return to England.

India:

Rose and Mark with the Middleton household, arrived in In-

dia at the start of the Indian rebellion*

. Relations between the

British East Indian Trading Company and the local Indian

people have deteriorated into full out war. The British were

not prepared for the uprising, allowing the rebels to quickly

captured large areas of the North and West Provinces. It was

not long until the rebels reached and attacked the Middleton

estate.

*The Indian Rebellion 1857- 1858.

40 The house had not been lived in for last three years but now

with the paint and brickwork cleaned, the lawns groomed

and the garden beds alive with flowers it looked like the

family had never been away.

They have brought new furniture and new books for the li-

brary, new cooking equipment - pans and plates for the

kitchen.

Rose and Mark share a house with a handsome young

gardener named Kumar. Rose soon enjoys his company, al-

though he has to share her with Guy Middleton. Mark is en-

joying Sarah and it is not long until she is pregnant.

It was this very reason she owed money to the Middle-

tons, it was they who arrange the termination of her last un-

wanted baby; again she has embarrassed them - out of her

mind with worry she takes her life.

The next day while Guy Middleton and Mark have gone to

attend to company business, the local Indian mutineers arrive

at the house; they round up the servants and the family

members; showing no mercy they shoot and slash them to

death. One of the Indian rebels rides over to the house where

Rose is at the stove.

From the kitchen Rose hears the horses hooves on the stony

drive, although there is nothing unusual in that it’s only

when the shooting and screaming comes from the master’s

house does she look. To her horror Indian solders are attack-

ing and killing the household staff.

Rose picks up the rifle by the door and fires a shot to-

wards the Indian soldiers only for the bullet to disappear into

the distance with the sad effect of making a solder turn and

advance in her direction.

41She slams and bolts the door before running out the back but

there is no escape for her, Rose dies in India in the arms of

her son.

Rose Murdoch lay dying in the lap of her only son - a sin-

gle teardrop ran down his face and Rose wipes it from his

mouth.

‘I’m sorry it has ended this way,’ She whispered.

Rose kissed Mark and told him to go back to England and

find his father.

‘Where will I find him?’

But before she can answer, she passes away.

Lucky Escape from the Press-Gangs* - England

Sitting in their local public house, William, Robert and

friends sit drinking next to the fire. As usual it has been a

long day, moving grain, animals and general cargo from the

warehouses to the merchant’s ships.

‘This is the life,

’ Robert advises, ‘good days work, a

dozen ales - good company and a good night sleep.’

‘That may be all you wish for,

’ answered William.

‘I'm off to sea.’

*‘Press-gangs’ Took men who were going about their own business, they

were taken to man ships that were short of sailors, many where never to

see their families again.

42 William wants to go to sea as an explorer, not a sailor or a

soldier, he wants to explore the new worlds and discover far

away places.

But this now is just a dream because he is to be a father

and he wishes to take fatherhood seriously.

Later that night William and Robert leave the tavern well

intoxicated, they decide to bed down for the night at Wil-

liam's lodgings. Only minutes into their journey they hear

footsteps behind them; William turns to see, but it is too

dark; further they walked the more they become concerned

for their safety.

Robert stopped, grabbing William’s arm and dragged him

under a canvas draping over two drums. They lay quite and

very still, too scared to take a look or make a sound.

Then all hell broke. They watched as the drums beside

them were pushed over by seven large men with hands like

gorillas, crabbing the four poor souls hiding there and

marched them away.

43 Part Three Deck Hands and Servants to God

The old manuscript with its torn black leather cover had

fallen from William's grasp. The loose pages scattered over

the floor and where they lay a gentle wind from the open

window turned the pages. The single candle burned to give

enough light to read, yet only the stars in the clear summers

night read the words. William was asleep and his dreams

taking him on an adventure.

William and Robert arrive outside the office, of the British

East Indian Trading Company where they are to sign up for

their passage to India.

On approaching the office they meet a young man who

introduces himself as Cameron Mackay and asks if they are

interested in a voyage to Australia and New Zealand.

He tells them there is land up for grabs - gold to be found

and adventures to be had.

Robert asks William, ‘Shall we go?’

‘Yes - to New Zealand,’ he replies.

The Great Adventure

They sailed from Plymouth on the sailing ship "Tory" - final

destination Port Nicholson - Wellington - in New Zealand.

They reached New Zealand in record time of only ninety-

six days*

.

*The clipper route from England to Australia and New Zealand was via

Cape Horn.

44 The two friends sign on to work their passage as deck hands,

roustabouts, explorers, surveyors, and naturalists.

On board their main duties are to attend to all the needs

and wishes of a group of twelve Anglican clergymen, who

have been sent to spread the word of God.

William supervises the loading of three crates - he has

been told contain leather bound bibles, six bags of clothing

and one large well-secured crate, containing the church sil-

ver.

Of the twelve, two are Bishops, the others are Laymen

Preachers; the demands on Robert and William make the trip

a nightmare.

Many weeks past and while Robert assisted with the passen-

gers’ needs - William was making himself familiar with the

three crates.

Having opened and inspected the bibles and the clothing,

the only crate left was the one containing the silver.

William sat on the crate with his crowbar ready to lift the

lid - this had to be done before he reached New Zealand.

William reached in to pick up a chalice - before he could

lift it, a puff of smoke rose from inside the cup, not a dragon

or a genie, out came an army of *chessmen.

The pawns moved two places forward and fired their

muskets - the shots flew over William's head. The Bishops

moved diagonally, cursing the gods of sin and calling on the

supernatural to do their best against William - followed by

the Knights on horseback - taking one step to the left and

two steps forward. As the castles stood by the King and

Queen the archers let their arrows fly from behind the tur-

rets.

* 64 eight-by-eight squares – with sixteen pieces. One king one queen,

two rooks, two knights, two bishops, and eight pawns.

45 Unaware of William’s battle against the chessboard pieces,

the crew carries out their daily duties, while the “Tory” sails

closer to their destination.

Below deck William reached for his sword to defend himself

from the flying missiles, but before he could bring it to bear

on his enemy the ship lurched downward. The sudden

movement caused the chessmen to fall and a porthole to

open.

William turned to find twelve clergymen dressed in black

with a crucifix* held in front of them.

A beam of light caught each cross reflecting its ray di-

rectly into William’s eyes, causing him to move back and

away; unable to find sanctuary nor a hiding place from the

on coming men of the cloth, his best defence is attack, so

with his sword and a lid from a water barrel, William ad-

vances.

William yells, ‘Whose side is God on today?’

‘Ours;’ the clergymen call back.

With his strength William cuts a path by swinging his

sword and yelling insults while decapitating heads - before

he can reach the stairs to the upper deck he finds his way

blocked by a wall of hammocks.

To his surprise Robert is organizing the hammocks to

hinder his way out.

‘Help me Robert, the ship is haunted with demons, we

have to get out of here now.’

*The cross is a Christian symbol.

46 Before William finished speaking - the hammocks are block-

ing his escape; when he advances they swing out of his way

only to swing back, wrapping themselves around his legs.

Shouting and calling out Roberts name - William wakes

from his nightmare, covered in sweat and with a blanket

around his legs with Robert tugging on his arm.

In truth the clergymen had very little to do with William or

Robert. They only spoke to them a couple of times through-

out the trip.

William never found the silver nor did he open any large

crates belonging to the *church.

*First Christian service was in 1814

47Robert Young - March 1864: The truth is out there. [94]

While William is fighting the Pawns, the Bishops and the

Knights; Robert is taking part in the New Zealand Maori

Wars*

.

The Maori defenders easily repulse the first attack - the Brit-

ish find the bunkers deeper and stronger than expected.

The afternoon of the second day, a large number of Maori

warriors broke through the cordon of troops and escaped into

the bush.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Young on seeing this gathers

fifty men and follows the escaping Maoris. Armed only with

his small firearm - a pistol he purchased once becoming an

officer and a borrowed cavalry soldiers sword; he pursued

the Maori for five miles south until they meet other warriors

and established a new defensive line.

Robert Young leads the charge as the British soldiers set off

down the valley - it is not long before they come under fire

and he realizes he has led his men into a much larger group

then he was anticipating.

Fearlessly he rushes across in front of his men, turning

them away from the line of warriors, only to encounter a

group to his left flank.

Several soldiers drop to the ground and fire a volley of

shot at the advancing Maoris; Robert turns and rushes ahead

killing three warriors with a swing of his sword.

Twenty of his men follow him as he runs towards another

group, trying to cut off their line of retreat - Robert fires his

pistol hitting the Maori warrior between the eyes; but the

warrior has time to fire his musket.

*The wars fought in the North Island from 1863 to 1864 between the

Colonial Government and a federation of Maori tribes

48The bullet passed Robert hitting the soldier to his left - more

warriors are advancing upon them.

‘Take cover in those trees.' In the dash to safety many sol-

diers are killed or wounded.

A childhood poem comes to Robert as he runs; unfortunately

he could only remember the first verse. *“The Charge of the

Light Brigade.

”

Half a league, half a league,

Half a league onward,

All in the valley of Death

Rode the six hundred.

'Forward, the Light Brigade!

Charge for the guns' he said:

Into the valley of Death

Rode the six hundred.

Robert led his men to the safety of the trees; a second verse

came into his head.

Half a company, half a company,

half a company onward,

ran the fifty strong.

Forward to the trees,

fix your bayonets on.

Forward to the trees,

ran the fifty strong.

* Written in 1844 by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

49Robert returned to the soldier who was shot earlier, lifting

the injured man over his shoulder he ran back to the trees, a

musket shot whizzed over his head and a club thrown by a

chasing warrior hit him behind his knee, causing him to

stumble but not to lose his balance.

Between the trees the British soldiers stood their ground -

the front six fired their rifles at the advancing warriors, then

the second line fired, again the first, again the second, once

the warriors were within striking distance - hand to hand

fighting began.

The British were out numbered but to their advantage the

trees and the wet soft ground made it difficult for the warri-

ors to come in force, giving time for Robert to organize his

troops allowed them to kill large numbers of warriors who

found themselves stuck in the ground and unable to escape

the onslaught.

That day in March 1864, Robert became a hero - he pre-

vented the Maori from escaping, his company had killed

over fifty warriors, and he alone, saved the lives of three of

his own men.

For this outstanding achievement and gallantry; Robert

Young was awarded the Victoria Cross*

.

*The Victoria Cross: was extended to colonial troops in 1867. The exten-

sion was made following a recommendation for gallantry regarding co-

lonial soldier for action in the New Zealand land wars in 1864.

50 Past, Present and before...

The "HMS Victoria*" off loaded the troops from Australia

including Mark Wallace - one of the two hundred men from

the 40th

, Regiment.

At eighteen Mark joined the 40th so he could be stationed in

Australia - hoping to find his father.

Unfortunately the Regiment was posted to New Zealand

to fight in the Maori wars - unknown to Mark his father Wil-

liam in search of his fortune, had arrived in New Zealand the

year before.

Cook sails the**“Endeavour” into Golden Bay; standing on

the deck with the morning sun rising behind him, he sees

two figures standing on the beach waving.

He wonders how long they have been there and where

they have come from.

The ship comes to a stop and he orders a boat a shore.

*580-ton combined steam/sail sloop-of-war built in England in the 1850s

for the colony of Victoria, Australia.

**length 106 feet, 368 tons, sail - 3,321 square yards

51Fantasy

‘James, come up on deck and sit with me in the sun,’ Cook

hears the voice of this wife Elizabeth.

Her perfume - Chanel number 5, is circling through his

nostrils.

‘One moment, I'm talking to “King George on twitter,

’ he

replies humming to John Lennon’s “Imagine” while it’s

down loading onto his ipod.

*“Imagine”

imagine there’s no heaven

it’s easy if you try

no hell below us

above us only sky

imagine all the people living for today

imagine there’s no countries

it isn't hard to do

nothing to kill or die for

no religion too

imagine all the people living life in peace

imagine no possessions

i wonder if you can

no need for greed or hunger

a brotherhood of man

imagine all the people sharing all the world

you may say

i’m a dreamer, but i’m not the only one

i hope some day you’ll join us

and the world will live as one

*John Lennon – released 1971.

52Dressed in his best uniform,

*Cook leaves his cabin -

Wallace - the sentry at the door, stands to attention.

’Good Morning, Sir.’

‘Morning,' Cook replies

With a spring in his step he climbs the stairs and is met by

Joseph Banks. **

‘Have you seen***Elizabeth?’ she called me, a moment

ago.’

‘No I have not.' Joseph takes Cook’s arm and leads him

away from the other officers and crew.

‘You are off the coast of Australia and your wife is in

England.

Entry; Cook's "Facebook" page

To celebrate the year 1770: I will create another great British

empire; to achieve this - I will continue to circumnavigate

the islands and chart the coast of New South Wales.

I will ignore the dizziness, confusion and bewilderment

I’m suffering. I maybe acting a little strange yet still have all

my wits about me - I will discover new lands for England -

even if it kills me.

*Cook was born in Yorkshire. He was the second of eight children to a

Scottish farm labourer

** Joseph Banks. Naturalist, botanist and patron of the natural sciences

***Cook married Elizabeth Batts – 1742. They had six children: James -

Nathaniel - Elizabeth – Joseph – George and Hugh.

53 The “Endeavour” sails westward to the East coast of New

Zealand – Aotearoa. Cook found the voyage a challenge, yet

showed his strength and his self-confidence by working him-

self and the crew relentlessly - day and night.

They sailed in heavy and dangerous seas with the condi-

tions at times trying their patience and their skills, looking

for water and food they sail close to land - on some occa-

sions almost becoming stranded.

All are alerted by the sudden halt. Cook is woken, by the

knocking on his cabin door - before he can rise from the bed,

an officer is by his side.

‘Captain we have struck a reef,’

Cook makes his way on to deck - the officers are assess-

ing the damage. Orders have been given to start the water

pumps and jettison ballast* - to improve the ship’s stability

and to reduce its weight.

Seven long weeks and many a high tide past before the “En-

deavour” is free from the clutches of the reef.**

* Heavy material, guns and expendable stores.

** Was beached for seven weeks in 1770

54 Isn’t Technology Wonderful

The laptop and Jacob are in sleep mode. Cook slaps Jacob on

his naked backside and taps the space bar of the computer

bringing them both back to life.

Waiting for him on his Twitter's home page - four mes-

sages.

Captain James Cook. Please contact your Monarch

- http:// KingGeorge.co.uk 8:37 am 1770

Captain James Cook. Please contact your Monarch

- http:// KingGeorge.co.uk 8:39am 1770

Captain James Cook. Please contact your Monarch

- http:// KingGeorge.co.uk 8:40 am 1770

Darling Husband. Contact home (Hugh has just been born)

- http:// Elizabeth_love.co.uk 9.05 pm 1770

‘Jacob; how do I reply to these messages again?

‘Shit! How often do you need to be told - I've shown you

a thousand times; just click on the reply button and write

your message; then click on send, what don’t you understand

about that?' Jacob, hoping the captain is in a good frame of

mind and does not send him to get flogged.

Cook is busy looking for his ipod - he finds it under the

pillow where Jacob has been sleeping.

‘You been listening to my songs and now the battery is

flat,' Cook tells him.

55*Otago Gold Fields [95]

The South Island of New Zealand is a whole new world to

William. It is free from the dirt and grime of the docks of

England and here he was free to do as he wishes.

William sat with his legs over the back of the wagon as he

and others made their way to the gold fields of Otago.

The day before he bought two picks, two shovels, a bully

and pan**, boots, a coat, a tent - flour, tea, grog.

Some of the men leaving with William are working for

companies and will be paid a wage - they have better equip-

ment than the individual miners or diggers.

William has made friends with Paddy an Irish seaman,

who has been in the country for six months and Christopher

Reilly, a resident in New Zealand for the last 18 months.

With them a local Maori, named Maunga.

After four days the three friends have fallen out with the rest

of the men and decide to make their own way to the gold-

fields; this proves more difficult without the wagon to carry

their belongings - still in good spirit's they make steady pro-

gress; each night they pitch their tent, make a fire and share

the small amount of food they have.

*The gold rush began in Central Otago 1861. Many European prospec-

tors employed local Maori to help find gold and greenstone.

**Gold could be obtained with a shovel and pan, simple machines known

as cradles, made from wooden liquor boxes often were used in larger

operation.

56Eventually they meet up with other prospectors working the

river and valleys of the Clutha. William and his friends find

an area down river from a large group of prospectors. Keep-

ing their distance they set up camp under trees, ten feet back

form the river.

Maunga collected dry wood for the fire; Paddy with his

gun went looking for something to kill, Christopher and Wil-

liam gather stones to build a fire surround.

That night they finished their last bottle of whisky.

First Day

‘Bugger off you bastards - leave our gear alone.’

William and Paddy picked up their rifles, running and

hurling insults at the group of *Chinese men who had made a

start to pan the river.

‘Christ; these bastards will take all the gold before we

have had breakfast; you take those three over there Paddy,

I'll shoot over their heads to scare them off - don’t shoot

anyone, he was concerned Paddy will get carried away with

rage.

They took turns at shovelling loads of stones and gravel

from the riverbed into**wooden sluice boxes and watched as

the water washed away the waste rubble - no one trusted the

other and kept a watchful eye as they went about the work,

each hoping of find that big nugget to make them rich.

*Chinese miners came mainly from the Guangdong province in southern

China

**Sluice boxes were the main methods of recovering gold.

57Dawn to dusk they worked the sluice boxes finding only

small amounts of gold - not enough to make it worth while,

with their money and rations running out, it was agreed to

move camp up river. Finding a new area to search was not

easy for other prospectors had already made claims and

pegged off large areas of riverbank.

One night they take a walk up the river and run into the fam-

ily of Chinese prospectors from the week before. The meet-

ing was a hostile one with a small dog attaching itself to

William’s right leg - with some choice words and a hard kick

he dislodges it and sends the dog scampering off.

He notices the Chinese people work a lot harder on their

claim than they do - turning over every pile of stone, and

having a woman's look at every shovel load.

The next day, after William suggest they work harder and

take more care when screening - they are rewarded with a

large gold nugget along with another the next day. Pleased

with the change in fortune, they decide to stay longer.

Over the winter many of the prospectors moved to the gold-

fields in the Coromandels, leaving their claims un-worked.

Having access to these sites, Maunga and Christopher

have more gold then they need and spend more time in town

than working the claims.

With out them, William and Paddy become more secre-

tive, keeping the gold they find to themselves.

58 Sunday, Maunga and Christopher left camp for town leaving

William and Paddy to work the claim - having worked until

dark they return to camp, eat and retire to bed.

Later that night Maunga returned to the camp on his own,

he entered the tent making his way to where Paddy was

sleeping.

With the light from the moon, William caught the move-

ment of Maunga’s arm, as he raised a wooden club above

Paddy’s head.

The explosion wakes Paddy; he looks up and sees Maunga’s

head blown apart by the shell from William’s gun.

‘Shit’

, what the fuck happen?' why did you shoot him?’

‘He was going to kill you.’

They decide to take the body up river to the sand hills and

bury it there, wrapping it in a blanket, Paddy at one end and

William the other.

In the morning they were woken by the sound of horses -

two local constables had the body of Christopher Reilly.

‘You know this chap?’ The older policeman asked.

William took a look and said ‘Yes - what happened to

him?'

‘The Maori, Maunga killed him, over a gambling debt,

the police told him and asked, 'did you see him last night or

this morning?"

William and Paddy looked at each other and said ‘no,

they both left yesterday morning.’

William looked away trying to spot anything that would

show Maunga was here last night.

The younger policemen looked into the tent, he could see

only two beds had been slept in and only two cups on the

table.

59‘Was there any trouble or bad blood between those two yes-

terday?’ the policeman asked.

‘Not that we could tell’ volunteered Paddy.

‘There was more dislike between them and us,

’ William

told the policeman.

‘Why was that?’

‘Because they were not doing their share of the work.’

William and Paddy answered at once.

'If he returns or you hear from him, you let us know.

The policeman cut the body free from the horse and told

William and Paddy to bury it. No way are they going to

carry Maunga to the sand hills, so they just took the body

down the river and threw it in.

The Trip North

William and Paddy collect only the gear they can carry, leav-

ing the water races, troughs and dams, they to are moving

north.

Once washed and dressed in their best shirt, trousers,

jacket and boots they make their way to town, hoping to

spend up large on women and alcohol.

With enough money to spend and the balance sown into

the linings of their saddlebags and blankets, the leave their

horses at the stables for the night.

The Tavern is full of miners and prostitutes; the alcohol is

flowing faster than the Clutha River - the piano keys are rip-

ping through all the old favourite tunes, with the fiddlers

working their fingers to the bone.

William and Paddy push their way towards the bar, order

drinks and find a table by the stairs - sharing it with three

men and two women.

60 ‘May we join you? William asks - putting his glass on the

table and sitting down.

‘Sure thing,

’ the man without a partner replies and asks,

'Are you going north?’

‘Yes we are’

.

‘I’m William this is Paddy.’

The miner introduced himself as James and pointing to

the others. ‘That’s Trevor, with Isobel, and Samuel with

Mary.’

Trevor and Samuel make no attempt at conversation for

they are totally occupied with Isobel and Mary. Mary is

younger with long un-brushed red hair, Isobel, a little older

and larger, with short black hair - wearing a dress covering

little of her body and exposing her ample breasts.

Mary moves and sits on William’s knee after Samuel

leaves the table.

Paddy goes off to play cards, re-placing a player who has

lost his money and is being taken out side to make good on

his IOU.

The night passes with the drink taking its toll and with

fights over the prostitutes.

William and Paddy although drunk, still have a sense of

reality and accountability for their actions - William has had

his way with Mary, Paddy, although had not doubled his

money, had not lost it all either.

In the morning William and Paddy collect their horses;

checked for the gold and left town.

61Take the Train - Wellington to Auckland - *Circa 2000

William and Paddy hire a camper van and start the trip North

on State Highway One from Balclutha to Milton. Travelling

to the West Coast of the South Island, staying at Cromwell,

and Queenstown; then to Wanaka and over Haast Pass to the

coast, stopping at Lake Paringa, Heretaniwha Point, through

Westland National Park onto Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers -

as we are in the twenty-first century they take a Helicopter

trip over the Glaciers and land on Franz Josef.

Before arriving in Westport they pass through Hokitika -

a shantytown in **1866; to Gladstone and to Greymouth -

then Barry-town, Paparoa; following State highway six to

Nelson, William and Paddy turned towards Farewell Spit -

seeing a sign advertising Moa caves they decide to take a

guided tour.

They follow the guide down into the cave, soon coming

across bones of sheep, dogs, cows and Moa birds.

From the shop they purchase souvenirs to send home.

Back in their van they continue north - via Cook Strait.

*The story jumps a generation or two and becomes more like a twenty-

first century holiday trip.

**In 1866 prospecting for gold took place in the rivers and in the black

sand. In Westport more than forty thousand miners worked in this area.

Back then as is today local police and government appointed wardens

are on hand to keep the peace

62William and Paddy are picked up by the “Endeavour” - they

are given dry clothing and food, before being dropped off at

Wellington.

There they board the Over-Lander for the trip from Wel-

lington to Auckland; sitting in the third carriage from the

engine along with people on holiday - school children on a

days outing, and daily commuters.

* Raurimu Spiral. [96]

William goes to get a coffee from the cafeteria; the young

girl behind the counter asks, 'Have you been on the train be-

fore?

William answered "No."

‘Make sure you go to the observation carriage - it's the

best place to be, as the train makes its way up and around the

spiral.

William returns to Paddy with the coffee and finds two

men talking to him, but they leave when he sits down.

‘Who were they?’

Paddy’s eyes are very red and his words slurred, William

could not make out what he was saying.

*The train line crosses the steep slopes between the North Island Vol-

canic Plateau to the east and the valleys and gorges of the Whanganui

River to the west.

63The train is approaching the spiral so William insists that

Paddy comes with him to the observation carriage to see the

viaduct.

The carriage is full of people, as the train coils its way up

and round the steep slopes; crossing the valleys, gorges and

over the bridges - from here you see the front of the train and

then the other way you see the end.

Paddy with William and a young boy are alone, taking in the

last of the view; William is on one side of the carriage,

Paddy and the boy on the other. The weather is turning for

the worse with the wind increasing in strength; causing the

rain to come through the open windows.

William turns to where Paddy was, but he has gone.

‘Have you seen my friend?’ Williams asks the young boy.

The boy points to the steps. ‘He removed the safety chain,

climbed down the steps and jumped off - diving like a bird

over.’ The boy was excited with his answer.

William was in shock; the boy repeated what he had seen

with more enthusiasm.

‘Tell no one about this you hear, tell no one.’ It was

agreed and they both when back to their seats.

In silence William travelled the rest of the trip North. In his

head he tried to make sense of the things he'd done, the peo-

ple he knew, and those he had never met.

He thought about things he should have never done,

coming to this country - leaving Rose and his child.

He closed his eyes for a short nap before making his escape

from the train.

64 The storm brought strong and violent winds making the train

slow down to a crawl, William took this opportunity to es-

cape - with his belongings he climbed down the stairs of the

last carriage.

The rain was at a forty-five degree angle blowing straight

into his face, he stopped and turned - but the train had gone.

Shading his eyes he saw faces from his past, they were

staring at him, each face moving back and forwards, getting

closer and closer.

The first was Robert his friend, who had travelled to New

Zealand from England, next Rose - his lover and mother of

his un-seen baby - he left her without saying good-bye.

The faces kept coming; next, Cameron Mackay the young

man who had organized his and Robert’s trip to New Zea-

land.

William stood there unable to hear what they are saying,

for their words were lost to the wind, then from above came

the face of Christopher Reilly and the blood stained head of

Maunga.

The next face was Paddy, his best friend, the other he did

not recognize, although there was a liking to his own.

This made him nervous and uncomfortable.

Clearing his head of the faces, William moved on taking the

road to Coromandel - he desperately needed somewhere to

stay the night, hoping to find a farmhouse or out building

where he could sleep.

Then from the dark he saw a building with a light and a

figure at the window; William made his way slowly to the

door.

65Hearing a sound from outside, trooper Thomas puts down

his book and opens the door.

'Welcome visitor.' William was ushered inside.

The two men are in army uniforms. ‘Come and sit by the

fire.’

William is offered hot soup and a slice of bread. ‘Not a

pleasant night to be out,’ mumbled the other trooper.

William finished eating, placed the bowl on the table and

introduced himself. Without telling his whole life’s story,

only that he was off to find gold in the hills of the Coroman-

dels.

In turn the troopers tell William their names and the cir-

cumstances that brought them here, along with their inten-

tions for tomorrow.

The troopers introduced themselves as Harry Atkinson

and Thomas Morrison.

They tell William that they are part of the 40th Regiment

of Foot, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Robert

Young and Major Charles Gold; in the morning they will

join the Regiment - that is attacking a Maori pa north of

here.

The three men bed down for the night. The two troopers in

the single bed - with a mattress made from feathers, while

William without a mattress, on the floor under the table.

The floor is made from timber planks and like the walls

the wind comes through the gaps.

William finds it impossible to sleep; apart from the cold,

it's the snoring of his roommates that keeps him awake.

In the morning William woke to find the trooper’s gone.

He collected his belongings and made his way to State

Highway 25 - all day he can hear the sounds of the guns.

66*Coromandel Gold

Little is known about the activities of William Wallace at

this time, it is thought he lived in the town of Wahi.

Local people say he made his money from gold, he

owned a hotel and a number of shops.

Over time he became wealthy and a respected gentleman,

also well regarded with those in the government.

The New Zealand Company [95]

The New Zealand Company was established in the late Nine-

teen Century by Edward Gibbon Wakefield. The company

was to operate as an organized colonization scheme for New

Zealand society.

Many European settlers arrived in New Zealand hoping to

purchase land of their own, but the Treaty of Waitangi de-

clared land belonged to the Maori and could only be sold to

the government or agents of the day.

The New Zealand Company’s job was to purchase land

from willing Maori Chiefs and then on sell to wealthy Brit-

ish capitalist. They in their turn were to support other classes

of emigrants, like labourers, artisans and farm workers.

First the land had to be purchased - this proved to be dif-

ficult at times, settlers arriving in the thousands and hungry

for land could see millions of acres not being used by the

Maori people.

Most settlers believed they could just take possession of

the vacant land, unaware that the Maori owned the land -

with each tribe having extensive hunting and fishing rites.

*The first gold came from the Coromandel Peninsula in the 1820s. The

first big strike was near Thames in August 1867- in the rock face of a

waterfall in Kuranui Stream.

67 By chance William found himself purchasing land for the

New Zealand Company after getting to know Edward Wake-

field.

William became critical and uneasy with the New Zea-

land companies policies, regarding the exploitative treatment

of the Maori; he worked for the company until it closed - due

to serious financial trouble and then he went to work for the

*New Zealand government.

William had no intention of spending the rest of his life in

the colonial civil service, but to his surprise the next year he

found himself appointed as**Consul to the British Govern-

ment.

The British Government was concerned about the welfare of

the Maori and the increasing lawlessness among the British

subjects. William was instructed to travel around the country

and help with land sales by securing a better deal for, or in

some cases freeze any sales that were not in the best interest

of the local Maori.

Wallace with Colonel William Wakefield, Captain W.

Mein Smith and Daniel Woodman; were given the task to

establish an effective and profitable land purchase scheme

for the benefit of the crown.

The office was established in the Bay of Islands - the

name given to the area by Captain James Cook in 1769 and

the first area to be settled by Europeans.

*New Zealand government over time purchased most of the South Island

and a large area of the North –Wairarapa, Hawkes Bay.

**Title Consul is used for the official representatives of the government -

state – territory also to protect the citizens and to facilitate trade and

friendship between the people.

68These men quickly became very powerful citizens with

whom local people tried to obtain and secure their trust with

the intention to influencing them to act kindly towards their

land purchases.

Wakefield and Smith acted properly and would not enter-

tain any such approaches. Daniel and Wallace found the

temptation too great and soon were to be found an easy

touch by the people on both sides. They took bribes and sex-

ual favours from all those who offered them.

Both men purchased land for themselves at prices well

below the going rate and made deals outside the govern-

ments guide lines.

Guns for a Favour

Alone in his office William was disturbed by a young Maori

girl at the door, she stood there for a time before entering.

‘Can I help you?’

She answered. ‘Whai au” - ‘Come with me.’

‘Can we not talk here?’ William asked, looking at her

fine young figure.

‘Haere matua hiahia koe hei haere” - ‘I have been sent

here by my father, he wishes to talk to you. He needs to ne-

gotiate some land sales.'

Nothing William could say would change her mind.

‘You come now,’ she said in English.

William was sure it was for his benefit that she moved the

small-feathered cloak, exposing her fine slim neck and

smooth pointed breasts.

‘What is your name?’ he asked.

‘Hine, she replied,’ with a smile and a twitch of her lips

and flick of her hair.

69Hinenuitepo is the daughter of Chief Hineparei from the far

north; he has ambitions to fight his most hated neighbours

and for this he needs guns and the help of the British Army.

Hinenuitepo believes William will help by providing the

guns, and he in return will sell some of his new conquered

land.

It is Hine’s job to get the governments representative to

her father by using her womanly ways of persuasion, to

flaunt her youth in a sexually provocative way.

William left a note for Daniel before leaving - he flung his

coat and a bag over his shoulder and followed the girl out-

side.

‘Hurry,’ orders Hine.

William watches as her naked buttocks are exposed when

she jumps and swings her legs over the horse's back. ‘Come

on,’ she insists.

William jumps up behind; slips his arms inside the cloak

and around her waist. Her body gives a little flinch – caused

he is sure, by his cold hands.

‘How long will this trip take?’ he asks.

‘About four days, ’ was her reply.

Already late in the day it was not long till it was dark. Wil-

liam had not eaten since breakfast and his stomach began

making noises, Hine hearing this stopped to find food and

water.

William jumped to the ground and helped the girl down

by placing his hands under her armpits and against her

breasts; being so close to him she felt his male organ stiffen

and press against her skin. Neither of them moved.

70They were almost the same height and for a split second

their eyes met before their lips touched. William ran his fin-

gers down the small of her back, till they found their way

around to her tummy and between her thighs.

The grass was warm and supported their bodies, as they

moved in unison until they collapsed - exhausted.

The next day neither spoke for long periods. Hine had the

horse maintain a steady pace; by afternoon both are hot and

sticky - desperately in need of shelter and water.

William believes he is going to purchase land; unknown to

him he will be made to provide guns and ammunition for

chief Hineparei wars, against his neighbours. Hineparei

wants to be the great landowner and chief of the north - he is

sure his daughter will bring the man who will help him

achieve his ambitions.

It was now three days since William had left his office in the

Bay of Islands, he told Daniel in his note he was unsure

where he was going or how long he would be away.

William had asked Daniel to let the others know that he

was working on a large land deal and would return once it

was sorted.

Wakefield and Smith were not impressed with his sudden

departure and demanded of Daniel more information. Daniel

told them he knew no more and showed them the letter.

71The third night after a dinner of berries and a fresh water

lobster, Hine told William why she had been sent to get him.

She lay in is arms with her head tucked close to his chest

and explained how her father and the people from Cape Re-

inga,

*Aupouri Peninsula, wanted to conquer all the land

from there down to Waitangi - Russell.

‘What does he require of me?

‘He requires guns and British help to defeat his enemies,

he needs to prove to his warriors he has the backing and

friendship of the British Government, he knows you can

make special deals.'

‘We will need to start off early in the morning to arrive at

my village before nightfall.’

With that Hine lays next to the fire alone. it is the first

time since their meeting.

William sat deep in thought concerned about his safety.

What will happen if he cannot purchase the guns, what if the

chief finds out he has been sleeping with his daughter.

They both have a restless night tossing and turning, each

wondering if the other is a sleep, neither brave enough to

look or move closer.

William finds himself stuck in the middle of nowhere and

only hours from a powerful Maori chief with ambitions.

*Aupouri Peninsula North Island’s northernmost point.

72They woke late that morning and after a little silent period

what happened yesterday was forgotten, William knew it

was not Hines’ fault - she was just doing what her father told

her.

William would like to purchase land here at Taipa - Man-

gonui.

He loved the riverside shops, the hotels, the camping

grounds, most of all the fish and chip shop built out over the

river; while eating you can watch the fishing boats come and go.

The people are so friendly - William could stay here with Hine.

His thoughts were shattered by a tapping on his shoulder,

he turned in surprise and saw Hine, he almost made her fall

into the river, but grabbed her by her cloak - unfortunately it

came away in his grasp, he immediately stood and covered

her; for a moment they stood and held each other.

*Taipa, Cable Bay, Cooper’s Beach, and Mangonui, lie along the coast

of Doubtless Bay.

73 Chief Hineparei

Meeting them at the village gates are two Maori carvings -

one depicting a woman and the other a man. Hine explains

they represent the gods - sky father and earth mother; a carv-

ing William recognizes is Tumatauenga - god of war; Hine

points out Tawhirimatea - the god of weather and Tangaroa -

god of the sea.

Moving further into the village, people come from their

houses to see them; about twenty yards in front, chief Hi-

neparei and his party of warriors are waiting for them - Wil-

liam decides to remove his arms from around Hine's waist.

She brings the horse to a stop and dismounts - beckoning

William to do the same.

Waking of the Gods

From the ground the fine particles of earth begin to swill; a

light wind is lifting the small leaves and twigs up into the air,

a strong wind is bending tree branches; the animals that were

asleep, woke and move with the people to safety.

The gods were awake and seemed not to be pleased.

Behind Hineparei a storm cloud appears - carrying a mass

of condensed water.

Hineparei was again one of the first people of this land -

he is stepping from his waka, onto the hot sands as he had

done centuries ago.

Following him are five great chiefs - Hoturapa; Tawhaki;

Rata; Whakatua; Akuhata and Tamati, together they have

reached this land to establish the reign of Maoridom.

74 The Deal

William was led into the meetinghouse to face a large num-

ber of semi-dressed Maori of all shapes and sizes - he was

instructed to sit cross-legged on a flax mat.

He wondered where Hine was and what she was doing -

would he see her again.

He waited as more men entered, each knowing exactly

where to sit; once all were in the building chief Hineparei

appeared; he was wearing the most colourfull cloak, made

from the finest bird feathers William had ever seen.

Hineparei strutted across the room to the centre and stood

until all were silent - speaking in Maori for almost two hours

William could only speculate what he was saying.

From time to time others agreed of what was said and oth-

ers seemed to disagree - on one occasion a group of men

rose and left, only to return and reply in length to the ques-

tion.

With his little understanding of the language William

knew the words guns and weapons have been mentioned, he

knew this is the purpose of his visit.

With his contacts in government and with the right

amount of money, he was sure he could get the weapons.

The room went silent; an interpreter related to William

what was required of him - he is to leave, taking the list of

weapons, he is to have the weapons within ten weeks and

brought to a place - yet to be decided; where Hineparei and

his warriors would collect them.

As an incentive and to insure the instructions are carried out,

William can take Hine - daughter of chief Hineparei, - as his woman.

75Within hours William is on a horse, chaperoned by two war-

riors escorting him to Kerikeri; they left the village through

the gates he'd come hours before - although, this time he

does not have the warm body of Hine to cling to.

He had asked if he could say goodbye to her, but was told

no - although he can leave her a note.

They head south with William following the two warriors

until they reach Pukenui - Big Hill or Plenty of Hills – sixty-

nine miles from Kerikeri; here the warriors tire of this chap-

eron duty, leaving William to find his own way.

Hine reads the note; she is to make her way after dark and

meet him at Mangonui.

Place To Meet

William arrived three days later in Mangonui, booked into

the local hotel and ordered dinner.

At the bar he over heard about a small battle between to

local tribes up north, and that one of the chiefs was killed.

William asked the barkeeper if he knew which chief, and

when it took place.

‘I believe it was two days ago, near Te Kae between

Chief Hineparei and Chief Hoturapa.'

William thought the attack must have taken place, the day

after he'd left - had Hine left the village, was she killed, or

taken prisoner; he decided to wait till Friday for her, before

returning to Kerikeri.

76 Aggressive Action

Chiefs Hoturapa, Tawhaki and Rata had leant of Hineparei's

intentions and decided to attack his village before he could

receive any help from the British. Although their combined

forces were less then Hineparei’s - they will have the advan-

tage of surprise.

The conditions could not have been better, the enemy still

sleeping from last night’s celebrations - even the sentries

were a sleep.

The battle lasted only an hour with most of Hineparei’s

warriors slaughtered, where they were found; the women and

children were gathered together and taken away.

During the attack Hineparei emerged from his hiding place

to be confronted by Hoturapa - it took only seconds to rec-

ognize each other.

Hineparei pushed out with his*mere, striking Hoturapa on

the right wrist and breaking it; with his mere, Hoturapa

slashed out - hitting Hineparei on the right shoulder causing

him to turn side-wards; Hoturapa drew the knife from under

his cloak and forcefully drove it into Hineparei’s midriff, as

he was falling, Hoturapa again struck him on the back of his

head - Hineparei was dead before reaching the ground.

*A mere is a short club normally made of a heavy hardwood or stone,

such as jade.

77 Hinenuitepo - great women of the night

Hinenuitepo is now the oldest sibling of five from a family

of seven; Pita at three drowned - no one noticed him missing

and when discovered dead, the family were devastated; when

Mihoka – chief Hineparei’s oldest son was accidentally

killed by a spear thrown by his best friend, while attacking a

large Moa; the whole village went into mourning.

Alone she reads William’s letter; he beckons her to leave

tonight - to abandon her village, her mother, father, brothers,

and sisters; her friends, her first love, Wiremu.

Torn between being an obedient, loving, adoring, loyal,

grateful child to her parents, specially to her father; and her

desire to be a young rebelling teenager; she wishes to be able

to come and go as she wishes, to see people she likes, to stay

out all hours of the night - sometimes not to come home at

all - to have friends come and stay the night at her house -

play music as loud as they like.

In his letter William writes, there is no guarantee I will re-

turn with the guns for your father. Please leave tonight and

meet me in Mangonui - I love you; you will want for noth-

ing.

Her instructions are to wait until dark and when the others

are sleeping, leave the village

In bed next to Ruihi - her sister she will miss most; Hine

waits for the moon to disappear. She has called this place

home for the past eighteen-years. Here she first learnt to love

the birds and the flowers - where her mother taught her to cook and sow.

78Now she is going to leave all this behind; because her father

through his greed and need to be number one, sent his baby

out into the world of espionage, taking advantage of her sex-

ual powers to persuade a man she did not know.

She kisses Ruihi on her cheek, collects her belongings and is

gone from her village.

At the outskirts she observes a group of Chief Hoturopa’s

warriors engrossed in their attack.

79 Part Four New Beginnings

William waits for Hine in Mangonui - as she makes her way

south to meet him, together they will travel to Kerikeri – he

will finalise a land purchase that will provide them with

eight hundred and thirty hectares – from the Waikato River

to the coast. There they will be able to begin a new life and

have children of their own.

Hine had reached the outskirts of the village, but then de-

cided she could not leave her sister, to be captured by Ho-

turopa’s warriors.

‘Ruihi wake up,’ Hine gently shook her by the shoulders

and placed her hand over her mouth.’

‘Don’t make a sound, we have to leave now.’

Ruihi, quickly did as she was asked without further ques-

tions, grabbing her cloak and shoes - followed Hine out into

the night, and away from the village.

William sat in a chair on the porch of the Beach Front Hotel,

reading the local newspaper - he looked up to see two young

Maori girls dismount from their horse outside the four square

store across the road.

They had their backs to him, but he instantly recognized

Hine, dropping the paper and ran to greet her; ‘Hine,’ she

turned - he stopped - she took a step forward – her face cov-

ered with the biggest smile he had ever seen - they embraced

and kissed.

‘This is my sister Ruihi; I could not leave her behind.

‘That’s fine,’ William said with a smile - noticing the

similarity.

80In Kerikeri they meet Daniel at the office of the New Zea-

land Company - Colonel Wakefield and Captain Smith are in

Wellington on government business.

William collects the papers relating to the land purchase,

plus all his belongings and writes a resignation letter.

Daniel is entertaining Ruihi and is engrossed with her

charms and taken by her beauty.

Hine takes William’s arm as he comes from the office.

‘Come we must leave.’

‘Are you coming with us Daniel?’ Asks Ruihi.

‘Where are we going?' Daniel asks William - confused

and concerned.

‘I have land; Hine and I are going to build a new life, you

can come if you like. I think Ruihi will be pleased if you do.’

William and Daniel walk the horses, while the girls drive the

wagon - following the grass covered riverside bank as it

takes them further inland, away from the low lying natural

grasslands; away from the established farms of the first set-

tlers - towards the wind swept mountains, covered with vir-

gin native forests and streams with gullies and valleys spout-

ing rough tussock, scrub and flaxes.

As most settlers, turned farmers – William wishes to im-

prove his life style, to own his own land, have control over

his own destiny – to marry, have children, build wealth and

maybe recognition in the community.

81With evening approaching, they find a flat grass area and

pitch the tents – the horses are watered, fed and secured for

the night.

Daniel and Ruihi take a swim; William and Hine sit on

the bank and watch them enjoy being together.

Love and contentment is growing in each couples rela-

tionship - this will be tested once the hard work of clearing

the land, building a house, fences and stockyards.

As William did in Otago and in the Coromandels’ gold

fields, made claim to this land with the first survey pegs.

In the morning with the wagon packed, they set off along

a dry valley, slowly climbing; following a natural cutting in

the hillside taking them higher and away from the river to-

wards the snow cap mountains. The trees and undergrowth

become denser and the terrain steeper – the wagon cannot go

any further.

About midday they reached the top and another peg is

hammered into the ground. William claims. ‘This is the fur-

thermost point of our land.’

Having nothing to base that statement on - nor nothing to

dispute it - they all agreed it was.

The compass shows they are facing north. To the west over

the mountain ridge, they see the perfect building site. It will

take sometime to reach, so they decide to stay the night un-

der the stars.

In the morning they set off across the ridge, - slowly mak-

ing their way down towards the clearing they had seen yes-

terday.

They had to walk most of the time for it was to dangerous

on horse back - if a horse lost its footing, both it, and the

rider would fall to their death.

82 It was dark when they reached the clearing - this is where

they will eventually build their house.

The next day, William and Hine returned to retrieve the

wagon, bringing it back - via an easier route, along the river-

bank – this route will become the main to the station.

Back at the site Daniel and Ruihi had marked out, a rough

shape and size of the new house.

‘What do you think about this layout you too?’

Laughing Hine asks, ‘Where is the kitchen?’

‘Your standing in it.’

Ruihi began running around in a large circle, this is the

kitchen; over there the washhouse; up the hallway; two bed-

rooms and the nursery - then she stopped and looked at Dan-

iel.

The new parents to be, volunteered to make the first trip into

town; the sisters made a list of items required for the kitchen

- flour and salt; a house cow, chickens; and the men, for the

farm - building materials, iron for the roof, wire for fencing.

The return trip should take about five days, so enough

rations were loaded into the wagon – Ruihi gave her sister a

kiss and she hugged William.

William took Daniel’s hand. ‘Take care, and look after that girl.’

‘I will. Don’t you worry about that,’ Daniel climbed onto

the wagon next to Ruihi.

83 Ruihi slipped her arm around Daniel's, he tugged on the reins

- the two horses took the strain, and the wagon slowly

moved forward, Hine waved, and with William she followed

the wagon towards the river, watching it till it was out of

site.

Earnest, Daniel and Ruihi reach the township of "Earnest," consisting

of a bank, library, hotel and a general store; a school, a

blacksmith and a timber yard - they find only a small number

of the shops are open, due to the economical decline causing

the closure of the regions largest employer - "Frankton" meat

works and milk plant, with two thirds of its work force laid

off. [88]

The recession also caused family members - who had left

for work in the major cities, return after losing their jobs.

They stop out side "Mac's Bakery," opposite the general

store - where they hope to purchase most of their requirements.

From the cafe's window they see a line of people outside the bank.

'What's happing over there?' Daniel asks, when the coffee arrives.

'People want their money out, they fear the bank will

close; there has been twenty-four house mortgage sales after

the local finance company closed - taking half a million dol-

lars of our elderly retirement savings, and the bank stopped

lending to small business - *causing them to lay off staff.'

103.300 people lose their jobs. The government has to borrow $250 mil-

lion per week to stimulate the economy.

84Daniel and Ruihi cross to the general store - Ruihi has the

list of things she and her sister need, Daniel with the list he

and William came up with for the farm.

As they entre the store the storekeeper and his wife ap-

proached them. 'Welcome, so nice to see you, how can we

help?' 'I'm Owen, owner operator, and this is my wife, Amanda.'

Amanda takes Ruihi by the arm and grabs the shopping

list. 'Good; I can help you with all these things,' it's said

with a look of satisfaction, placing items into a shopping

trolley; flour, salt, sugar, cereals, cooking oils, cheese, eggs,

spices, milk-powder, women's things, deodorants, canned

beans and peas; silk tights, underwear, tops, a dress, trousers a hat.

'And you sir; what is on your list - are you new to the area? Owen asks.

'Yes, we have purchased land north of here.

'Is the recession affecting you?' Daniel asks.

'Sure it has; last year we were going great guns, could not

keep up with the demand than everything stopped - fuck

America and it's sub-lending, fuck the banks, fuck the share-

market and those good for nothing fucking *finance compa-

nies. They take our money - invest it in their pipe dream

schemes, lent it to people who can't afford to pay it back,

right off millions to bad debt - then they turn up at share-

holders meetings, and don't take any responsibility for their

corrupt dealings.'

*21 Finance companies fail, between 2006-2009: combined losses be-

tween $700 million and $1.18 billion; a further $1.5 billion at risk.

85Daniel hands over his list. 'Wire, nails, staples, gudgeons,

grass seed, potatoes, wheat, grain; you will need to take your

wagon around to the back.' Owen instructs Daniel, while to-

taling up the cost on the sales docket.

Ruihi books into the hotel for the night, while Daniel parks

the wagon.

Before dinner they take a bath - Hine would like her hair

and nails done and Daniel a shave, for dinner they order fish

of the day with chips. After coffee they retire to bed - tomor-

row they will head home.

Gods River - Atua Awa [94]

Ruihi sleeps in the arms of her lover, on a bed with springs

and white linen sheets; the room has a mirror and a table -

from the window you can see the shops and people going

about their business. Hine is in her tent - laying on a bed of

feathers, her back to William, and wishing she is pregnant -

after all the time they have been together you would think a

child would be on its way - nothing for it but to wake up

William.

'Not tonight honey,' William gets up and closes the tent

flap.

'Have you got a headache?' 'No; I'm concerned about our

dwindling bank account balances and our poor superfund

returns.'

86 Over the next six months many trips are made to "Earnest,"

with each couple taking a turn.

Both girls are now pregnant - Ruihi six months and Hine

three; in town they treat themselves to a night of luxury, a

shampoo and a haircut. They buy make up and clothing; the

men purchase drink, tobacco and building materials - cattle,

sheep, chickens and horses.

William and Daniel need to finish building the house before

winter sets in, and the babies arrive, also to complete the

fence around the house, gate to the stockyard and a door on

the barn.

The native bush has to be cleared and the swamps drained

- the land needs to be turned into grazing pasture, before

their first five hundred Merino sheep - selected for their

wool, including seven of the best available rams, arrive from Australia.

The Inheritance

Paul inherited his share of the farm when he was 20 in 1890,

after his parents William and Hine retired - he married

Wendy, the daughter of Owen and Amanda - shop owners of

the general store in Earnest. Wendy gave birth to Simon - a

boy with white skin and European looks in 1900.

Charles inherited his share of the farm three years later, after

his parents Daniel and Ruihi were killed, when the boat they

were in sank, returning from celebrations in Meremere.

Charles married his long time lover Gabrielle - a local

teacher. She gave birth to a son six months before Wendy;

they called him John - a boy with brown skin and Maori fea-

tures.

87 Simon Wallace

The New Zealand airborne invasion - began the 20th of May,

with an aerial bombardment - similar to the shelling of the

Taranaki Pa - 89 years before; there the troops marched on

foot and attacked the Maori, who were waiting behind the

timber stockades and in ditches; and there for his outstanding

achievement and gallantry, Robert Young was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Today the troops were dropped from the sky - dancing

between the bullets from the enemy below.

Captain Simon Wallace with his men had discharged

themselves from their gliders - their mission to capture the

airport on Crete's northern coast, near Suds Bay; and it is

here, that Captain Charles Upham - won his first Victoria Cross.

Simon led his men behind the tanks as they cross the dry and

wind swept barren land - chasing the retiring German army.

With General Freyberg wounded, Simon was now the

senior officer and was thriving with the power. In charge of

fourteen hundred New Zealand soldiers, three hundred Aus-

tralian diggers and five British tanks, he was confident the

airport would be taken by the 22nd.

This will be his finest contribution to the war effort and a

turning point - the enemy will be driven to the sea; so it was

a disappointment when his advance was slowed by heavy

resistance coming from an army he thought was in retreat.

88Simon was out numbered - the Germans had two tanks to his

one and three armoured vehicles.

In his command, Simon had thirty-two men from the 28th

Maori Battalion, the best soldiers any commander could

wish for; as their ancestors had done before them - they

showed no fear against a greater army; they alone destroyed

the tanks, allowing Simon and the others to concentrate on the men.

The bombardment starts, the first shells from the German

Panzers - 50 millimetre cannons; fly over the heads of

Simon's men, then the British tanks fire.

Sergeant John Manahi with his Maori warriors, climb from

the ditch and dash the fifty metres to the first German tank,

within two metres, bullets from the tank's machine gun cut

down three - before any more loss if life they have the hatch

open and two grenades inside. To their right another tank

turns towards them, a shell from a British Cruiser mark 1,

crashes into the tracks - bring it to a halt; as the German

crew, emerge from the tank - they are shot.

In full flight Manahi, encourages his wariors.

'Puta kei hei te panuku,' on to their next victim.

The battle for the next tank was not so forgiving, ten warri-

ors were cut down before they could reach cover or disable

the tank; German infantry surprised them with gun fire from

behind a line if trees; having set a machine gun and two mor-

tars launches.

The first fell short; the second took the head of private

James Heke and the legs of corporal Nagati - torn in half two

other warriors, the accompanying machine gun killed six as

they tried to recover their fallen colleagues.

89It was the timing of Simon's men that saved the day when

they arrived behind the gun emplacement - killing all that were there.

Blowing on his whistle and with pistol in hand, Simon

Wallace had led his troops around the destroyed or disabled

tanks, towards the German infantry; with the more con-

structed attack, he was able to separate the enemy from their

armoured cover - leaving them exposed to a superior force.

The effect on the German infantry, of seeing a small num-

ber of dark skinned warriors destroy their tanks and ar-

moured vehicles - followed by a fearless assault against their

lines, took their will to fight.

Captain Simon Wallace had lost sixty-five soldiers.

Mate atu he toa, are mai ra he toa

A warrior falls, another will rise

90 The Future

Simon, using his world-war-two binoculars, he can see the

landing strip from the window of the “1945 de Havilland –

Dove” aircraft – belonging to "Atua Awa" farm, and flown

by sixty-two year old Jack; farm manager and best friend to

Simon and John.

John with the naked eye cannot distinguish any shapes on

the landscape, but there is no need; for he knows where each

mountain, valley and riverbed is - he knows exactly the posi-

tion of the landing strip, where the houses are, and how long

it will take to reach them - for he and Simon have always

lived here.

Simon hands John the binoculars, and reaches for his cam-

era; now John can see the stockyards and the shearing-sheds,

along with their horses.

Jack lands the aircraft safely, bringing it to a halt outside the

barn; they collect their belongings and are met at the bottom

of the stairs by their friends - Nick and Jessica.

Nick and Simon have been friends since primary school be-

coming aware of each other - long before they were aware of

girls; together they follow the *cows to the milking shed - as

it is a daily ritual, all they do is open and shut gates; Simon

loves to warm his toes in the fresh cow dung. Nick is not so

keen. Before the share-milkers arrive, John and Jessica have

the first of the heard in the stalls and are attaching the cups

to the teats.

With the balance of the cows in the shed - they leave and

return to the house for breakfast - before going to school.

*"Atua Awa" is now a dairy farm, taking advantage of the increased

milk-powder payments from Fonterra.

91 Mr. Curtis

Standing in front of the backboard, tapping the chalk - every

word from the dictionary ready to explode forth.

'Morning every-one.'

Tap, tap; with a puff of chalk, nouns, pronouns, verbs,

adjectives and adverbs - burst onto the board, followed by

every compound word starting with C, modifiers, phrases

and clauses; a dash and a hyphen, punctuated with colons

and semi-colons, long and short words, singular and plural -

sentence after sentence.......

Without acknowledging the distraction to the class, when a

sparrow flies into the room through the open door and

crashes into the closed window - not hearing the screams of

Jessica unable to help - before the classroom cat goes for the kill.

History pours from the chalk - in no particular order of

events; the words change colour as the chalk returns to dust -

the brown hairpiece slips from his head, the braces holding

his trousers, unclip and hang down - making a annoying

click on the floor, as he moves back and forth in front of the

blackboard.

Disregarding calls from his students to slow down, he con-

tinues on into the night - long after the bell has rung and the

cat has returned home.

The stress of modern life is taking it's toll on all his genera-

tion - trying to live in the past, the time they know best,

when things were so different and simple - bring back the

good old days; not as the young living only for the present,

having no regard for the things in this world (nga mea o

tenei ao) - their history and their ancestors (whanau.)

92They will tell you they are looking after the planet; it is your

lot who mine the coal, drill for oil, use up the worlds re-

sources - fight wars over land, over oil (Saudi Arabia, Ku-

wait, Iran, Kazakhstan, Libya) fight over religion (Hinduism,

Jainism, Sikhism, Christianity, Islam) - ask the young who

died for their freedom, they will tell you - Luke Skywalker,

Odi-Wan Kenobi and R2-D2 - tell Green peace the universe

has been around for 13 billion years and will be here long

after us; ice age, stone age, bronze age, greenhouse gases.

*Nitrogen trifluoridr - who cares; without humans, without

the industrial era, without our inventions, without cars,

trains, planes, fridges, where would we be - still living in a

cave; no television, no phones or computers (thank you;

Mr.**Charles Babbage) what would we do without - brack-

ets, screws, bearings, belts, clocks - what would captain

Cook have done without his chronometer, would he have

found New Zealand - although the Maori did without one.

'I'll teach you.' Mr. Curtis tells the empty classroom. 'Take

notes; tomorrow you will know the past.

Charles Heaphy; Victoria Cross holder, artist and painter.

January 1840 first immigrant ship of the New Zealand Com-

pany arrives in wellington.

1842. Settlers reach Nelson.

1845 British forces attack Puketutu Pa [32]

*Nitrogen trifluoridr - inorganic compound with the formula NF. (so

there - you make sense of that?)

**Charles Babbage; 1791 - 1871

93 To his head comes a *song, Mr. Curtis sings.

Now this bloody war is over,

Oh how happy I will be.

No reveille in the morning,

No parading for C.B.

No fatigues on Sunday mornings,

No more polishing my brass.

I will tell the Sergeant-Major

To stick his army, (where he likes).

*Writer unknown, but I thank him.

Harry Atkinson; became Premier in 1876.

Polynesian navigator Kupe, discovers New Zealand 1350

AD - he called the north island Aotearoa.

Moa birds were a food and bone source for the early Maori

before their extinction [10]

Hone Heke; in 1844 cuts down the flagstaff - for the first

time.

January 1845, the second time.

January 1845, the third time.

March 1845, the fourth time (then they took the axe off him).

The Warship HMS “Victoria” sails from England collecting

two hundred men of the 40th (Somerset-shire) Regiment of

Foot with Lieutenant Colonel Robert Young and Major

Charles Gold, taking them to New Zealand [30]

1864, the Tai Rawhiti are driven from Maketu, Bay of Plenty

and the British troops are repulsed with heavy losses at the

Gate Pa. Tauranga.

March 1864, Robert becomes a hero - receiving the "Victoria

Cross'; for outstanding achievement and gallantry [48]

94November 1863, Meremere Pa. Waikato - is abandoned by

its garrison.

William, Hine, Daniel and Ruihi arrive at their new farm [86]

Captain Wakefield (no relation to anyone in this story) is

killed at Tua Maruia, Wairau; along with 22 settlers.

The words continue to form into sentences from Mr. Curtis's

chalk; the board is covered with facts and figures, quota-

tions, references, statements and phrases.

Me mahi tahi tauathey.

Kia ora Koro Rangi.

Te iwi o tawahi.

The first New Zealand picture postcards were published in

1897.

1860. First Pakeha women arrive in New Zealand - Thomas

King is first Pakeha boy to be born in the country.

Samuel Marsden in 1814 makes his first.

Whaling stations were established at Tory Channel, Pre-

servtion inlet and Woods inlet. [11]

1834. United Tribes flag adopted.

1838. William Colenso prints the New Testament in Maori.

1840. The first settlers arrive at Port Nicholson [67]

Signing of the Treaty of Waitangi [21]

George Grey becomes Governor in 1845.

1850. The settlement in Canterbury is founded.

Gold discovered at Gabriel's Gully 1861 [56]

1861. Bank of New Zealand incorporated at Auckland and

the first gold shipment from Dunedin to London.

1863. New Zealand Settlements Act passed to effect land

confiscation.

First steam railway in New Zealand [63].

95Standing with his back to the window, the mad historian

continues his history lesson.

1914. World War I begins.

140.000 New Zealander - men and women serve overseas in

Egypt, Mudros and Gallipoli.

New Zealand loss 291 killed. 387 wounded and 1826 taken

prisoner.

1939. World War II begins. HMS 'Achilles' takes part in Bat-

tle of the River Plate.

New Zealand troops reach Tripoli 1943.

28th. Maori battalion won the admiration of the other allied

troops.

New Zealand troops invasion of Italy 1943

1899. New Zealand army contingent is sent to the South Af-

rican war.

Labour Day celebrations.

First telegraph 1862 - Christchurch to Lyttleton.

1865. Government transferred from Auckland to Wellington.

Native Land Court established.

Auckland streets lit by gas for first time

1869. New Zealand's first university - University of Otago.

New Zealand Shipping Company established.

First shipment of frozen meat leaves Port Chalmers for Eng-

land on the ship "Dunedin".

1898. Old Age Pensions introduced.

First cars imported to New Zealand.

1905. New Zealand rugby team tours England and becomes

known as the All Blacks.

1907. Fire destroys Parliament buildings.

1908. Auckland to Wellington main trunk railway line

opens. [63].

961913. Waterfront strikes in Auckland and Wellington.

1918. World War I ends.

1908. Ernest Rutherford is awarded the Nobel Prize in

Chemistry.

1908. New Zealand's population reaches one million - two

million in 1952. Auckland population reaches half a million

in 1964

1926. National public broadcasting begins.

1946. Family benefit of £1 per week becomes universal.

1953. First tour by a reigning monarch - Edmund Hillary and

Sherpa Tenzing Norgay first to climb Mount Everest.

Railway disaster at Tangiwai - 151 people die.

1969. Television begins in Auckland.

1966. International airport officially opens at Auckland

1968. Wahine' sinks in severe storm in Wellington Harbour -

51 people die.

1976. Introduction of metric system of weights and meas-

ures.

1969. 20-year-olds get to vote.

1979. Air New Zealand plane crashes on Mount Erebus,

Antarctica - 257 people die.

Carless days introduced to reduce petrol consumption.

1981. South African rugby team's tour brings.

Auckland's population exceeds that of the South Island.

1985. Greenpeace vessel 'Rainbow Warrior' bombed and

sunk by French agents in Auckland harbour.

1986. Soviet cruise ship, the 'Mikhail Lermontov', sinks in

Marlborough Sounds.

Goods and Services Tax introduced.

1987. New Zealand wins Rugby World Cup.

1988. Number of unemployed exceeds 100,000.

Bastion Point land returned to Maori ownership.1991.

1991. Number of unemployed exceeds 200,000.

97New Zealand troops join multi-national force in the Gulf

War.

An avalanche on Mt Cook reduces its height by 10.5 metres.

1994. Government proposes $1 billion cap in plan for final

settlement of Treaty of Waitangi claims.

1995. Team New Zealand wins America's Cup.

The rabbit-killing Calicivirus (RCD) is introduced.

The $170 million Ngai Tahu settlement is signed.

Jenny Shipley - first woman Prime Minister.

1998. The Hikoi of Hope marches to Parliament calling for

more support for the poor.1999. US President Bill Clinton is

in Auckland - The country mourns the All Black's semi-final

loss to France in World Cup Rugby.

Preventative measures are stepped up to fight the Y2K com-

puter bug.

It is ten o'clock as the children arrive at*school, they find the

lights on, and all the windows open - their teacher is at his

desk.

Yesterday's work had gone from the blackboard and re-

placed by a hundred lines of - I shall not forget the past.

Where once the lines were straight, they now turn down at

the end; where once they could be read and understood - it

now took the mind of an idiot to fathom.

'Morning all', Mr. Curtis welcomes the children. 'Sit down

and write - I shall not forget the past, until I say stop.

* All ages share the same classroom, the under tens sit on a mat, the

older children are at the back; those students in their last year - sit at a

desk.

98Erena, Mr. Curtis's assistant, tries to overturn his instructions

that all pupils write out the lines - she argues it is no benefit

and asks what have they done to receive this punishment.

'If you don't stop this.' Erena screams. 'I will take the

young ones out of class'

.

'They will do as they are told, and who are you to dis-

agree with me; this is what's wrong with the children of to-

day' he replies -

'they have no respect, and no gratitude, they

want everything and everything must be done their way; it's

all about me.'

Then without a sound, without a comma, or a full stop - the

words cease.

Mr. Curtis is dead.

A lifetime of knowledge and experiences, banks of useless

information and youthful ideas, years of un-achieved ambi-

tion, missed opportunities and lost loves - all mixed together

pour onto the floor - disappearing through the cracks in the

floor boards; lost forever.

99Part Five Kealakakua Bay

The HMS “Enterprise” turns broadside to the beach and

lowers its shields, Cook and a hundred marines board the

assault vehicles to carry out the attack. The ship cannons fire

their lasers, causing mass destruction on the natives’ envi-

ronment.

The marines advance across the short distance reaching

the enemy with deadly accuracy; forcing young and old to

escape into the underground bunkers, while the fighting fit

held firm; throwing their traditional spears into the line of

marines.

The eighteen hundreds artillery is no match for the

twenty-first century firepower, as it vaporized the trees and

converts the under-growth to scorched earth.

From the ship Missiles continue to rain down on the in-

nocent population, as the British search from hut to hut ex-

terminating those unfortunate to be found – as they leave a

hut it is set a lit.

Cooks arrives on the beach and encounters over two

hundred armed warriors willing to fight regardless of the

enemies strength, they are lead by two young chiefs and a

priest “Koa”.

The marines closest to Cook panic when several natives

surge forward and shoot two dead; more of the natives are

forced closer from those behind, coming into the reach of the

British bayonets; unable to retreat, the British, because they

are at the waters edge, and the natives, because of the num-

ber behind; each side begins the retaliation.

As men from both sides died from the hands of the other,

Cook stands his ground, sword in one hand a pistol in the

other, protected by two of the largest marines.

100It is during this skirmish James Cook, explorer, navigator

and cartographer is struck on the head and stabbed.

Cook’s Final Entry

I did not see the club coming my way if I had, I would have

moved my position; before I know my head aches.

Blood starts running from my hairline the blow causes me

to bend at the knees and then a spear penetrates my side just

under the armpit. Christ the pain is unbearable more objects

enter my body causing sharp and continuous agony.

I fall into the water before hands grab and drag me back

onto land.

The fighting continues all around as the landing party

frights the islanders.

As I slip into unconsciousness my*life passes before me

all the events, achievements, journeys my wife and family,

all lost to me now - I am just another dead explorer.

I look for my body among the dead on the ships deck; I

can see sailors standing over their fallen mates and fellow

marines but I cannot see anyone looking for me; does no one

care about me.

*Captain James Cook was murdered at Kealakakua Bay; Hawaii, on the

14th

. February 1779.

101102