Ejecting Maoris at Awahuri

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 32, 1 September 1887, Page 2

Ejecting Maoris at Awahuri

One of the most important events in the history of the Maoris in (his district took, place Tuesdays and fortunately it was un.it tended ■.;jw-ith;-" ; .-very', serioo,* consequences.; . Tlie facts -of thy case, briefly- stated are that recently. Mr. Mac*: ' :. donald of A vrahu.ri, commenced an action 'for the ejectmrnt of .certain Maoris who-: had squatted on his property, and after a time he obtained a judgment in the supreme Court. Following this up^: Mr Macdonald through ibis solicitor (Mr HankinsJ applied for and obtained^ wjit of restitution, and%eßterday. ? in^compaiiy with the sheriff for thisMii6trict|MrgGrari land W. Wodhf^proce^eded-' to * put"-- this into operation. Taking with thjem ai poise of twelve men. Messrs Woeti and Hankins as above $fr)ceede"d to Awauuri to eject the Maori^wHo they found working avray on ;the land,' evidently with the idea of making a lengthened sojourn in the place.' Of. course, they .were, quite unprepared for the appearance ',. of such a body of ;men and did hot know how to act. •Con'segue'iiilJy. "when Mr W6on asked them to jjivte" mp possession ' the Maorisrefused, and chained up the / gate.to prevent the men from coming an • ; to^he land. . Thet/partylthen> proceeded, ' to anotW part of. the property, and : entering, the land commenced to reiuove : aU'Jfhe' stock", artd. -n>or*kble articlps:, separate' parties being set to do each particular duty.' This .waV ereritu&llv;' <*ff('(*tc>d without, any forcible opposition; except that i their Maoris' refused id open the gate, and ttedf their buggies up. to the . fences and ; sat in them. - ; ,. The women meanwhile had ensconced themselves in the housed barricading^ the doors and windows, and when asked by Mr Wbori they refused him ..adniission., *A"t ;tli'c sheriff's direction a paniel'^f tlie door .was knocked in with air axe, hut a Maori woman»pl^ced:-herfelj/against ihe >apeic tnre, f and' it "was found. . impossible,, in. proceed further in this directiuh.' Parleying . then .commenced,- the result of which was that eventually the women opened the door, and the goods were re moved to the road. A party of six men was left in the house jas a safeguard during the nigh t,,.but :r h'or- ;atte.inpfc ",;w«» ; m&Ae to ve-en^r^'/::^^^,^^/s.aviii?-scuffling, but no .viqlence '"look _ though some resistence Was expected. Considerable excitemerit^preyatled in the neighbourhood, and Maoris subsequently I ct^Dgregated in lar^Cirnunibers^ Afterz the ejec^ment?was^btiipletea telegrams i were receiTedadTisfng' tne Maoris not to gire up possession at' any' cbit, biii it was' then too late.— Manawatu (Timei. ■ • :