STOPPAGE OF THE TAURANGA MAILMAN BY NATIVES.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 320, 18 January 1871, Page 2

STOPPAGE OF THE TAURANGA MAILMAN BY NATIVES.

[From to-day's Thames Advertiser .] Tne word has cone forth, and the mail to Tanranga, winch formed the means by. which Auckland mid the Thames were brought within a low hours' telegraphic communication with the Southern provinces ia stopped On Monday, the mailman who carries the letters and telegrams between Ob.inei.uuriand Katikati, was stopped beyond the Paeroa by natives of Te Hira's party, who commanded him at once to turn back in the King's name. The man, conscious of guilt, attempted to sophisticate, and after some earnest pleading he was allowed to pass, with the promise that it would bo for the last time, and that ho would sont intimation to the contractor, Mr. WarbricU, who must forthwith appear before Te Hira, to answer for contravening the King's laws with reference to mails. 11, was no use sending the same man from Ohinemuri with yesterday's mail, and Mr. Thorpe, who has charge of the transit at Ohinemuri, sent it, surreptitiously by a native. This, however, can only be a temporary expedient which the natives will soon get up to. What is to be done ? Shall we call Hour and sugar to the rescue ? Don't let us pretend to be too dignified to do such a thing. Bigger crimes than stopping a rrail have been met by a donation of these useful articles We were pretty certain from the first that the natives would oppose tho passage of a mail by this route. They would not offer any objection to travellers going, and these travellers might convey letters without question. But the name of a mail the natives will not away with. We doubt whether flour and sugar, unless administered in very large quant.tieß, will do any good in this easo, for it is, be it observed, one of principle, and not ot mere detail.