THE MAORI PRISONERS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1682, 11 July 1879, Page 3

THE MAORI PRISONERS.

WELLINGTON, July 10. Some insubordination occurred amongst the Maori prisoners this afternoon, which was at once promptly dealt wi h. Mr James Mackay was up at the barracks inspecting the last lot of Maoris who arrived to-day, and after they had had their meal Mr Mackay ordered some of them to sweep up the place and make things look clean. Whakawira, who was so impudent in the Court when brought up at Patea, told Mr Mackay to sweep up himself, or get a constable to do it, os it was their business to wait upon the Maoris. Mr Mackay had him locked up at once ; he then took the broom and was getting a young Maori to sweep up when a let of the others interfered and would not allow him to do it, saying, “ Let the Armed Constabulary do the sweeping.” Then the whole lot of inaub- • ordinates wore put into the cells, and will pass the night without supper. When being tried at Patsn, Whakawira ■ said, “ I did not come over to one settler, but to the whole. lam quite sure that anything il might aay now will not go against me on my trial. My God will protect me. lam your lord, and Tohu is your lord. I am .sweeping my blanket. Do not think I am coma to kill one. I have come to kill all, and you in this Court. This is the dale of ■ the breaking out. You must obey. This is ■ the day I have been looking for.” At a subsequent stage of the proceedings the same man would insist on lighting his pipe, which •had to bo forcibly taken from him, and ho -was threat ened to bo dealt with for contempt of Court. When asked if ho wished to ques- ■ tion one of the witnesses (Thompson), he said “ I say that I have no questions to ask of Thompson. Ask questions of me, your lord, tl did not do the ploughing to turn oil Finlay- ■ son alone, but all the settlers.”