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to invite the co-operation of all who wished to avenge their women killed at Hakitai. About a hundred warriors responded to the invitation, and set off at once for the seat of war. The combined forces then marched up the coast to attack Wairewa. The engagement which followed—afterwards known as Kai-whare-atua—was almost bloodless, but is memorable for being the first occasion on which firearms were used in this part of the country. The Ngati pahi, who possessed two guns, occupied a proud and envied position in the fore-front of the expedition. Though few ventured to touch the novel and dangerous weapons, all took a deep interest in their use, and hoped by their means to secure an easy victory, not so much from the execution in the ranks of the enemy likely to follow their discharge, as from the terror certain to be inspired by the report of firearms heard for the first time. These anticipations would probably have been realised, but for the chief Taiaroa, who kept far in advance of everyone, and reached Wairewa in time to give the inhabitants warning of approaching danger. On nearing the pa sufficiently to be recognised, he cried out, “Escape! fly for your lives I take to your canoes and go to sea, for guns are our weapons!” The mention of the dreaded guns was quite enough to create an immediate panic. Every one who could move rushed off in headlong flight, and when the Taumutu army arrived, they found the place quite deserted, and the only person they succeeded in shooting was a servant woman named Mihi nui, belonging to Pikoro. In order to understand Taiaroa’s conduct on this and subsequent occasions, it is necessary to bear in mind that although he had accompanied the Southern contingent in the capacity of a leader, he was in reality a Taumutu chief, and closely related to all the Peninsula people. He was a descendant of Te rua hikihiki, who wrested that part of the country from