NATIVE INTELLIGENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 98, 3 May 1870, Page 3

NATIVE INTELLIGENCE.

WHAKATANE.

We have received the following rather mii nteresting intelligence from Whakatane : —

The natives here were in a great state of excitement on Monday morning last. Some natives had just returned from Ohiwa where an attempt had been made by the Government to capture a Uriwera chief named Tamai Kowha. This person is a well known character, and is said to have been concerned in many savage acts against Europeans, culminating, it would appear, in being accessory, if not the actual murderer, to the death of Bennett White. It is said that Major Kemp made a peace with Tamai Kowha some weeks ago and that Tamai had gone to Ohiwa, in accordance with Kemp's promise to give him land there. This is the native account, as may be understood from the alleged promise of land, for no European could believe that Kemp has any such power. . Of course the land does not belong to Kemp at all. "When Tamai Kowha, however, arrived at Ohiwa, he " settled" at a place called Whakarai, and sent messengers to inform the native chiefs that he had come. The messengers were, it is said, at first hospitably entertained, but they were afterwards made prisoners. Marsh, who occupies a post with his people at Ohiwa, endeavoured to surround the place. They were successful so far. When the pa was entered,, however, it was found to be deserted, although there was a good deal of loot. Only one old man remained ; his name was Ti Pene, and he was killed. There appears to be a good deal of exasperation at what has occurred. The natives ask why Tamai was sent there,, and afterwards treacherously surrounded. They say that this circumstance will prolong and intensify the war. No doubt, the explanation of these things will be intelligible when it comes, but these excitements do a great deal of harm by unsettling' the districts where they occur.