Page:Reminiscences of Earliest Canterbury 1915.pdf/49

 were in the hands of the former, and, in addition carried back with him several of Te Rauparaha’s men as prisoners.

I was quite young at this time, but the incident of Tuhawaiki’s conversation with my father is indelibly fixed in my memory, as is also the appearance of the man. So clearly are his features, and figure, and deportment generally, defined in my brain that were it possible for him to pass me in the street to-day I should instantly recognise him.

The influence this chief exerted on behalf of the white settlers at the time of Bukanui’s conspiracy has already been referred to. One of his sons was taken to London, and on his return told his father it would be useless to attack the Whites, for they were more numerous in London than the shells on the beach, and could easily exterminate the Maoris. Probably this may have influenced Tuhawaiki. In any case, he was always friendly with the early settlers, and was most thorough in stamping out any embers of a rebellious spirit amongst his own people. For, some months after having frustrated the plot to destroy the Whites, he visited every native settlement of note, and pro-