MAMAKU. 
559 
Wiremu, who informed ns that the opposite side of the river 
was entirely in the hands of the enemy, which was the reason 
no boat had been sent to us ; all the available force was 
then embarked in the ship's boats, without loss of time, 
and we entered the river, bands of natives were prowling 
about on the town side, Hoani Wirimu sent word to the 
Governor, if a force were sent that night up the river, it 
would cut off all the canoes of the enemy, the advice was 
not taken, and the following morning they were removed 
higher up ; a great demonstration was made of our force, 
but without result, several skirmishes took place. The 
natives plundered and burnt all the remaining houses of our 
out-settlers, and drove off the cattle ; they carried on their 
operations so near that the people in the town could hear 
them thrashing out their wheat. This state continued until 
the 1st July, when the enemy enticed a party to leave the 
stockade to intercept a few natives, who were trying to carry 
off some geese ; when they got near, another party appeared, 
which caused a larger force to be sent to cover the first, and 
thus at last the whole of the military were drawn out ; this 
has been dignified as the Battle of St. John's Wood ; about 
three men were killed on either side, and ten wounded ; it 
appeared astonishing to a civilian that so much firing could 
take place with so little effect, the chief observable one was, 
a great downfall of rain on the following day; the natives 
early the next morning sent a challenge to fight on the open 
plain, which, not being accepted, they said, we cannot remain 
any longer, but must go and plant our potatoes, and, to the 
amazement of all, they broke up their encampment, and left, 
thus terminated the war. The natives said they were “rite” 
equal, and therefore satisfied, there being exactly the same 
number killed and wounded on both sides during the war, 
which was about half-a-dozen ; since that time a good feeling 
has subsisted ; the Maori has been raised in the European's 
estimation, having manifested so much courage and skill, as 
to elicit the admiration of the military, and he has clearly 
proved, that whilst willing to be one with us, he will not 
suffer himself to be trampled upon ; the patience and for- 
