THE CAPTURE OF THE ENTRENCHMENT
This picture is a drawing, untitled, among the numerous war sketches left by Major von Tempsky. Major Mair, to whom it was shown many years ago, said he believed it represented the final scene of Orakau, April 2nd, 1864, when the last few Maoris to abandon the pa encountered the bayonet.
The Ngati-Tuwharetoa and Ngati-te-Kohera tribes declared that it was Hauraki Tonganui who replied to Mair on behalf of Rewi—he was simply a mouthpiece or messenger.
It is clear from all the Maori statements, and also Major Mair’s account given me many years ago, that Rewi himself did not speak to the interpreter. (For full details of Orakau and the discussion [[74]]between the opposing parties see the Official History of the New Zealand Wars, written for the Government, and published 1922.)
Orakau pa was surrounded by a square of post-and-rail fence, about a chain outside the earthworks. A veteran of the Forest Rangers says it was a cleverly-designed obstruction—the predecessor of our modern barbed-wire entanglements. It was partly masked with flax and fern, and it wrought the defeat of Captain Ring’s charge at the pa. The mounted men, too, were stopped by the post-and-rail fence, and there made a good target for the Maoris. The earthworks were not high, but the wide trench was a deadly affair and a complete obstruction to any charge.
CROSS-SECTION OF ORAKAU PA
From a survey, 1864.
CROSS-SECTION OF ORAKAU PA