THE NATIVE OUTRAGE AT TE AROHA.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1727, 2 September 1879, Page 3

THE NATIVE OUTRAGE AT TE AROHA.

GRAHAMSTOWN, September 1. The offending Natives have long opposed the public works in the district. They took away the snagging gear of the County Council, fired over Mr Mackay’s head when he went to arrange surveys, and have been generally demonstrative in their demands and assertion of claims. They opposed the navigation of the W:vitoa at one time, and have backed Tukukino’s obstruction to the railway survey, and tho road opening out the Ohinemuri district; but all these things will now be demanded as a right by the Native Minister, and the offenders will most probably leave the district. The steamer hss returned without the offenders. Tho Natives gave the names of two who fired shots, and the guilty ones said they would be tried by their own people, not by Europeans. The Native Minister arranged with tho police, under Superintendent Thomson and Inspector Kenny, to go up again early on Monday morning to capture the men. It is believed they took the young man fired at to be a Maori, as the surveyors had a Maori chainman a few days previously, who left the party, and it is believed he know mischief was intended. The young man shot is doing well. The bullet passed through the thick part of the thigh, but no bones were injured. To-day messages have been received, stating that the police did not go to the settlement as arranged, because they wore informed by some friendly Natives who assisted them as guides, that the settlement had been reinforced by Natives from Piako and other places, and that at the time of their first visit these Natives were lying in ambush ready to pounce on the arresting officers or Natives if an arrest had been attempted. Under the circumstances the Native agents thought it better to ask for more men and to lay these facts before the Native Minister. For that purpose they are now on their way to Grahamstown, where Mr Sheehan still remains. He intends to despatch a party to Piako to ascertain if the Natives there have gone to the assistance of the tribe who committod the outrage, and will possibly return to Ohinemuri himself late to-night. WELLINGTON. September 1. Touching the outrage at the Upper Thames, Mr Mackay says that the Ngatiwako tribe wore the original owners of the land at Ohinemuri and places in the Yalley of the Thames adjacent thereto. They were partially conquered by Ngat’mara i-nd Ngatimata tribes, who now claim to be proprietors of the district. The remnant incorporated themselves into the influential Ngatipaoa tribe, and were in consequence allowed as serfs or vassals to resume the occupation of some portions of the lands formerly owned by their tribe.