White Cliffs Monument (1871)

White Cliffs or Pukearuhe Monument commemorates eight people who died in the attack on Pukearuhe Redoubt on 13 February 1869.

A committee was formed less than a month after the event to raise funds by public subscription for a monument in memory of those who were killed.  A call for tenders for the monument, to be erected in Te Hēnui Cemetery, appeared in the Taranaki Herald on 19 November 1870.

It is unclear when construction actually took place as no further progress reports were published but it was certainly in existence by 9 July 1877.

Inscription on the front (north) panel - now badly eroded:

Erected by voluntary / contributions in memory of / eight persons who were / massacred by rebel natives / at the White Cliffs / on the 13th February 1869.

Inscription on the left (east) panel - also badly eroded:

Bamber Gascoigne aged 38 years
Annie [aged] 27 years
Cecil John [aged] 3 years
Louisa Annie [aged] 1 year

[The Gascoignes' oldest child Laura, aged five, also died that day]

Inscription on the rear (south) panel:

John Milne aged 40 years
Edward Richards [aged] 35 years

Inscription on the right (west) panel:

Revnd John Whiteley / missionary to the Maories / amongst whom he laboured / with untiring activity and / zeal for a period of 37 years. / A true friend of both races / aged 62 / He being dead yet speaketh.

The graves of John Whiteley, the Gascoigne family, and John Milne and Edward Richards are all in Te Hēnui:

1.

Sacred / to the memory of the / Rev John Whiteley / Wesleyan Missionary / Who fell in the course of duty / Slain by the hands of rebel Maories / Near the White Cliffs on the 13 Feb 1869 / After having wrought with singleness / of heart for the spiritual welfare / of colonists and Natives during a period / of 36 years / He was in the 64 year of his age.

Servant of God well done / Rest from thy loved employ / The battle fought the victory won / Enter thy Masters joy. / Soldier of Christ well done / Praise be thy new employ / And while eternal ages run / Rest in thy Saviours joy.

Also / Mary Ann Whiteley / Widow of the above / Who died October 5th1880 / Aged 76 Years.

2.

Maori War / In Honoured Memory / of Lieutenant Bamber Gascoigne / Aged 38 Years / Annie Gascoigne / Aged 27 Years / And their children / Laura (5), Cecil John (3) Louisa Annie (1) / Slain by a hostile party of Maoris / At Pukearuhe, White Cliffs / on 13th February 1869 / Erected by N. Z. Government.

3.

Maori War / In Honoured Memory / of / John Milne / Aged 40 Years / Edward Richards / Aged 35 Years / Killed by a party of hostile Maoris / At Pukearuhe, White Cliffs / on 13th February 1869 / Erected by N. Z. Government.