THE RAY OF PLENTY TIMES. “The spirit of the times shall teach me speed.” KING JOHN, ACT IV. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1873.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume II, Issue 135, 17 December 1873, Page 3

THE RAY OF PLENTY TIMES. “The spirit of the times shall teach me speed.” KING JOHN, ACT IV. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1873.

It is not often the case tlmt a joti feels a sense of relief on dßieovoriiig- that he lias promulgated incorroet intolliigoaoe ; such, however, is the case with us, and it is with pleasure that we have to slate that the telegraphic nows, published in our extra of Saturday last, announcing the shooting of some natives on the West Coast, was all wrong—nobody lias been shot, but an old laud feud has broken out between two tribes. The following are the facts of the case —Amongthe blocks of land, the titles to which were investigated by the Is alive Lands Court which sat at Otaki in the beginning of this year, was that known as liorowhenua. It "is a goodsized block, containing some 1-3,000 acres and runs up from the sea inland to the* Tararua Eanges. The ownership of it has for a long time been a subject of dispute, and was claimed by tho Kgatiraukawa tribe on the one hand on the score of conquest, and by the Muaupoko on the other backed up by tho Kgatiapa, .Hangitane’ &e., —the Muaupoko being but few in number ami the remnants of a tribe. The Court gave its award in favour of Muaupoko, reserving, however, within the block 100 acres around the burial place of a well known Ngatiraukawa chief (Te Watauui), and giving permission to a few old people of the same tribe to continue in the occupation they bad of a few acres not very far from the reserve. This was all agreed to, and Major Kemp, as the bead of the tribes, promised that these old Ngatiraukawa people should not be disturbed. However, a turbulent chief, Kawana Huuia, would not rest satisfied with the arrangement, but got up a party and incited the burning down of the house inhabited by the old people. Hence retaliation on the part of Ngatiraukawa in destroying crops, burning houses, and making prisoners of some four Muaupoko?, who were by rumour and telegranh exalted to martyrdom. Then tho Muaupoko ensconced themselves in a pa, and the reinforced Ngatiraukawa opened fire on them at long range, without doing any harm. Mean w Idle some Government officers had hastened to the spot, and one of them (Mr Booth) went backwards and forwards between both parties, taking up his quarters for the night with the Muaupoko as a preventiveagainsfcsurprise. The latest news are that; the supposed originator of tho mischief has left, that the Ngatiraukawa have returned homo, but that a very unpleasant feeling still exists which may break out if not carefully watched ; and that, fortunately, European's are in no way implicated beyond acting as mediators between the contending parties. AVe learn that steps are being taken to ascertain the real origin of the quarrel, and to bring it home, if possible, to the offenders.

There lias been some excitement lately at the Thames consequent on Mr Mack ay having, as Crown Agent, withdrawn front hearing at the Native Lands Court the claims to Ohinemuri. It was argued that this step was calculated to delay the looked for opening of that district ; and this feeling, added to the amount of destitution which unhappily prevails at the Thames, gave rise to an agitation which found vent in sundry wild proposals to rush Ohinemuri. There was a good deal of talk going on last Saturday, but it has resulted in nothing, the last phase being an advertisement in the evening paper inviting guests for a monster pic-nic to Ohinemuri. It is really a pity that, when the Government are making strenuous and successful efforts for the acquisition of native lands for colonisation, their endeavours should be thwarted by the blundering action of individuals, who, after all, are in this case themselves putting obstructions in the way of the object they profess to seek, namely, tho opening of the Ohinemuri country.

Me J. A. Wilson, Native Band Purchase Commissioner, huf, we are informed, succeeded in effecting a ieasy on favourable terms, for a long period of ft block ot 150,000 acres of land, known ,hs the Motu country, and s.tuate between the source o' the Wiiiockiv or Opotisi river and the fettled districts of Poverty Bay. We believe that a large portion of these lauds nre suitable for special settlement, and that others are adapted for pas'ora' 'purposes. We learn also that the lease e ,nt i rs provisions for the working of gold by p q tn> nt of the umwi uni ere’ rights fee- to the natives (as at tho Thames) ; and ’hat other ' treasures that lie hid below,’' in like manner be worked, with " a good show;” Shis being

J:n the immediate m-: .h,. U ; h.-o , of U.• ~ ~v j f --d iwr t » .... x,,, „ g 1| • I '■ i* ■ i'u n iiv .i a con,’ ’ ■• ~!!! nincum i * t m - ’.. ! j ‘ '* l --‘‘C ;■ . • ca Ir\ if; , -..1 ! *' " t - G .v» tsiuiri.r und '»!* WiXon t>i. ! :.r- t a ui mu It.

Cm rii.> i.-uKCft, M p j.. r I aurangn. I*ft Ky , ; u ‘ i ' tS; ’;' k lav to attend the woici. of' the PruTinoial Council now being held at Auckland. Iho inconvenient date *t ».h fh *he Council has been cau-d together- jm.» in'fore Christine.!? — n>& y be explained In she Lot mat it i~ « n0..,-,,w iMipo-fi) by I-i IV th- Count"! sKm:.! ‘t before Ist. January , 187-4 We hate rob.. 1 .;,. u.lornuition by t.J. g-im . O it tn- rn-e-n sc:., however, only last two or three dev. u-.d that, ihe mombe» w-ii be asked t.. L-U- H -■'uriil supply and thou uujouru until aider tt.e Monday a.