HISTORICAL REVIEW OF NEW ZEALAND. 



1033 



out for militia -service, the windows of St. Paul's Church barricaded, and an earth-work 

 was thrown up near the Roman Catholic Chapel, while an urgent appeal for troops was 

 made to New South Wales. Like precautions for self-defence were taken at Wellington 

 and Nelson. The effect of the fall of Kororareka upon the native mind was disastrous 

 to British prestige. Heke's fame spread like wild-fire through both Islands, and respect 

 for the military prowess of the English correspondingly declined. All sorts of sensational 

 rumours kept the unfortunate settlers in a state of constant alarm. Heke was reported 

 to have declared his intention of marching, with 

 two thousand men, at the next full moon to 

 Auckland, for the purpose of sacking it. In 

 consequence of this alleged menace, Potatau Te 

 Wherowhero, the chief of the Waikatos, and 

 subsequently King, sent Heke the following warn- 

 ing message : " Remain at your own settlement. 

 This is my word : you must fight me (the 

 \\aikatos) if you come on to Auckland, for 

 these Europeans are under my protection." 



But Heke had other and equally strong 

 reasons for staying where he was. Tamati Waka 

 Xene, the most influential chief of the Ngapuhi, in 

 accordance with the compact made with the Gov- 

 ernor at Waimate, collected his followers at Hoki- 

 anga and marched across to the Bay of Islands 

 in order to take the field against his turbulent 

 compatriot. Some of the missionaries tried to 

 dissuade Waka from at once entering upon active 

 hostilities, and at their advice he dictated a 

 letter to the Governor intimating that he was 

 ready. While awaiting a reply, he encamped at 

 Okaihau, some four or five miles inland, and 

 summoned other chiefs to his assistance. On 

 the ist of April, Heke, who had three hundred 

 armed men with him, was strengthened by 

 the arrival of one hundred and fifty natives 



from Whangaroa, and the same day he moved on to Mawhe, a settlement distant 

 about two miles from Okaihau, and began constructing a pah there. Heke had 

 been manifesting some desire to effect a peace with the Authorities, but his hopes were 

 frustrated by the commencement of skirmishing between his own forces and those of 

 Waka on the 3rd of April, losses on both sides being the result. Further skirmishing 

 took place on the 8th and the i5th of April, and on the i6th of April the majority of the 

 Whangaroa natives left Heke and returned home. A sharp affray occurred on the igth, 

 and Waka, having learnt that troops had arrived from Sydney, wrote to the Governor 

 urging him to send them on at once. His Excellency immediately complied with the 

 request of his brave ally, and on the 28th of April, II. M.S. North Star and two trans- 





TAMATI WAKA NENE. 



