THE PROVINCES.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 30, 4 July 1874, Page 3

THE PROVINCES.

WELLINGTON. WiHi reference to Kereopa the Wanganni ■' Chronicle" writes* —"This scoundrel has of late refrained from acts of lawlessness and violence, and since the Nathan affair, has kept himself tolerably quiet. An instance howeverhas jnstcome under our notice which proves that his savage in dincts and pugnacious propensities are as strong as ever. A carrier on the Patea road, named Richard Ross, was requested by Kereopa, just as the conveyance was leaving Nukumaru, to convey himself and saddle to Waitotara, but he refused to pay the fare till he reached that place. Ross knowing his man, reminded him that he must pay as the Pakehas do ; and? on his persistent refusal to do so, he was ordered by the driver to dismount, and take his saddle with him. Eventually after a. wordy warfare Re S 3 ejected him by main force, and threw the saddle after him. Kereopa then made a rush at the waggon, and succeeded in taking out a shovel, with which he decamped. Ross pursued him, armed with a stick, and repossessed himself of his property.' The bystanders cautioned Ross not to assault him, as he would assuredly lie in wait for him and kill him. Kereopa was now fairly beside himself with rage, and danced and foamed and howled around the waggon, vowing he would eat Ross tomorrow. On reaching Waitotara, Rosa informed the police of the whole transaction, and expressed a wish to lay an information against Kereopa, asking also that the latter should be immediately arrested. He was, however, advised to lay the information with Sergeant Meredith, at Patea, who would send down some extra assistance, as the policeman added, " what could we do against that pa full of rebels." This was all the satisfaction he could obtain, and therefore elected after taking into consideration the probable results, —as for instance the case of Nathan—to pursue it no further, He now travels armed with a revolver, fearing that Kereopa will watch an opportunity to waylay him. This man Kereopa has done more to disaffect and unsettle the dispositions of the returned rebels, than is generally known, and his name is a terror even yet in many parts of Waitotara as that of a savage bully, and dangerous enemy.