THE NATIVE OUTRAGE AT TE AROHA.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1739, 16 September 1879, Page 2

THE NATIVE OUTRAGE AT TE AROHA.

GRAHAMSTOWN, September 15. The following message appears in this morning’s “Advertiser,” from the meeting of Hauraki tribes at Ohenemuri “ The opinion expressed a few days ago that the Hauraki chiefs, in conclave aarembled would, as the result of their deliberation, demand the immediate unconditional surrender of the perpetrators of the outrage, has proved correct. All day yesterday two committees, appointed by tho Runaga to go through the evidence, were engaged in carrying out their instructions. The younger committee appointed Henare their chairman, and sat in the v ourt house. Brown is tho chairman of the other body, which is called the old committee, and did its w’ork in the public hall. After each had gone through the evidence, they met together and re-examined it, after which they discussed the whole matter, and arrived at their decision to-day. At the Ngahako meeting there were two noticeable features. They were more than usually quiet, and only one man was decked out in fighting costume, all the rest being dressed in ordinary fashion, although ever since they arrived here they have had their war paint on. Hoane Naho, of Kirikiri, opened tho day’s proceedings by reading the judgment, which was as follows :—“ It has been proved that Timangare was wrong in connection with the ownership of the laud. Ist. He was wrong in

not stating to Mr Wilkinson that Tangitihua > and Kiritnna were included in the block Ngatikoe proposed to sell to the Government. He stated that Pukehanga was all the land he was selling. 2nd. His keeping hidden, or misrepresenting the_ boundary, known as “ Omahakahine,” his stating that Kaikikaki was the boundary, was wrong, many witnesses having stated during the enquiry that the boundary was Owhafcatena. 3rd. At one time he stated that the boundary of his ancestor* ran in a zigzag direction, and at some other time he said it ran in a straight line. That is false. 4. The land at the southern boundary which he calls Native land is not so. The Government’s action in advancing money on land not yet through the Land Court, Pakeranga, Tangehua, and Keretuna (as no Crown grants had been ordered for these blocks) is wrong. The Ngatihako have done wrong, as blood has been shed. This committee is clear that the survey in which the European was shot was Ngatikoe’s survey. That is proved by Mr Wilkinson, who stated that merely the Ngatikoe tribe took money on the land, which they sold under the name of Pakeranga. Mr Wilkinson said that those of the Ngatikoe who were able to do so gave the boundaries of this land, and those who could not give boundaries listened while others of the people did so for them, and none objected. The name they gave for the block was Pakeranga. Mr Wilkinson gave the names of all who had taken advances on the block, and they turned out to bo Ngatikoe people. Therefore the committee is satisfied that Ngatikoe were the cause of the survey, and that the survey was for Pakeranga block. The committee see that the survey was being made by Ngatikoe and Government conjointly, consequent on the Government buying Native lands before it passed the Court. It was on account of this system of land purchase that the trouble has arisen, and through this that the Chief Surveyor authorises his surveyors to make surveys of land on which the Government has advanced money. Had the Government not made advances on this land, which was not through the Court, this trouble would not have arisen ; and and had they not paid money to Tamahi and the rest of the Ngatikoe and authorised the survey, Tamahi would not have had money to have the survey of the land made, nor would the Chief Surveyor have authorised his men to survey it. Therefore, committee consider that both Ngatikoe and the Government are to blame, and they also consider ’hat Ngatikoe should give up two hundred acres of Pukehanga block for the European who was shot as an atonement for their wrong in surveying the land, Tanpihiki and Kerehena (adjoining Pukehanga), which are owned by Ngatihako. The committee consider that the shooting of the pakeha was wrong according to English law, or according to the law or word of Hanraki, which provides that no blood shall be shed in Hanraki district. But the committee on looking at the matter consider there was a reason for shooting the European, which was the surveying by Ngatikoe and the Government of a portion of Ngatihako land without their consent. Many survey parties had been turned off previously by Ngatihako without their discontinuing to surrey, but they at last got tired of turning them off, and although they used to talk to surveyors they persisted in surveying the land, and the reason why they shot persons in this case was in order to stop the system of surveying. The committee consider that the act would have been justifiable had the persons shot at been Maoris, but as it was a pakeha the committee consider the act wrong. Reference is made to the case of McCaskell, who shot Hoane Pahane at Hekutare. His case was carried before tbe Supreme Court so that ho might he tried by law, and it was proved that be had not committed any crime. Therefore tbe committee deemed that the persons who shot tbe Europeans should give themselves up to be tried by the Supreme Court in the manner McCaskell was tried.

The judgment of the committees was read clearly and deliberately, and listened to by the belligerents with the greatest attention. A long rambling discussion ensued. Hatakapa asked the owners of the Pnkehanga block (Ngatikoe) whether it was their intention to carry out that portion of the judgment which had reference to themselves. Pineha replied that his tribe were content to allow the law to take its course. A demand for the surrender of the culprits was then made by the assembled chiefs, which was, as expected, refused, although not in European manner. The only speakers on the Ngatihako side were the chief Eueha and a young intelligent Hanhau priest named Timothy. They strongly deprecated land buying and selling, as it had and always would be the cause of trouble between the two races, and asked that the surveys, roads, railways, telegraphs, and Lands Courts should be handed over to them, meaning, it is thought, that they should be abolished. Mr Wilkinson informed them it was impossib’o to discuss those matters until Fakara and Epiha wore handed over to justice. _ Finding that Ngatihako would not yield, old Hotereni Eaipari rose, and in a brief speech ssid that the Ennanga had carried out to the best of its ability the purpose for which they had been called together, but had failed to achieve that success which they hoped they would have obtained, and they now banded back to Mr Pnckey, who represented Mr Sheehan, the whole matter.

Mr Pnckey, in a few remarks, regretted that Ngatihako bad not agreed with the decision that day given, and warned all outside that Hapn not to interfere in any future course the Government might decide upon, in order that they might not get themselves into trouble. He was .followed by Pineha, who maintained that his people had not transgressed the law under the circumstances. He said they would now return to their settlement on the banks of the Waiho, and if the Europeans wanted them they could go and take them by force. He advised them not to take only Pakara and Epiha, but the whole force, men, women, and children, and make away with them, thereby blotting out the name of Ngatihako. He warned them that if the two men were taken to gaol the whole tribe would take up arms and devastate the country. The meeting then broke up. The Thames chiefs left for the Thames this evening, with the exception of Pineha and Ngatihako, who left for their homos at seven o’clock. Sunday, 5 p.m. The people of the Thames will be pleased to hear that wise counsels have prevailed since yesterday, and within a week the Police Court will be graced with the presence of Messrs Pakara and Epiha, through the exertions and good offices of old Tukukino, who induced Pineha to remain behind for a day or two for the purpose of talking ovet the matter privately. Tney were engaged all to-day in doing this, and the result has been that the road obstructionist has persuaded Pineha to allow Pakara and Epiha to be given over to justice lest the peace of the district is disturbed, but it will be four or five days before the matter is finally settled. Wata Tapa, a young chief, and Tukukino will bring the culprits to justice. The following telegram was sent through to the Native Minister late last night:—“ Pareora, 14th Sept., 4.30 p.m. Hon. Sheehan—Pineha, through the action of Tukukino, has at last consented to Epiha and Pakara being given up, lest the peace of Hauraki be disturbed. It will take a week before it is finally concluded. —E. IV. Puckey, Netive agent.”