REBELS GOING BACK ON THE WAITOTARA.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 646, 10 March 1870, Page 4

REBELS GOING BACK ON THE WAITOTARA.

[evening herald.] The Waitotara natives have made a bold attempt to violate Mr Fox'» order, and return to their old reserves on the Waitotara blouk. Aperahana, who formerly resided at lupitku, on the Waitotara, uccompanied by a native called Hata Rio, who is well known to have acted as a gobetween with the rebels during former wars oh this coast, arrived on Thursday week on the Waitotara block, with bullocks and dray loaded with potatoes, which they sail were a present for Major Durie. They had also three months provisions for themselves. Upon approaching the ferry they spied out a whare, the property of the ferryman, which they at once claimed the ryht to possess. The ferryman told them in a very positive manner, . with more force than elegance, that they should not have it even temporarily, whereupon they claimed the right to" it, as they said the land- there and about that, part of the country belonged to them. Whon they saw the ferryman would not yield, the korero ceased. In the meantime the settle) s wtere on the alert. They had seen the dray pass along tUe road, and suspected the design. One of the settlers slung a rifle: over his" shoulder, and followed, by several of his fellow settlers, made for where the natives had halted. The dray had been unyoked and the bullocks were grazing. The natives were discussing with the ferryman about the right of cutting timber on the land, they insisting that it could only be cut in a cortain place. They roundly abused Major Noake, and praised Major Durie, who Was all perfection in their eyes. As Captain Kells had gone into town, the Veterans could not interfere, and the settlers saw that the responsibility. of the fcituation devolved upon them. A promise having been given by the . Government that the natives should not be allowed to return^ the settlers considered that they had a right to resist vi et annis any attempt in that dirco'ion. The natives were peremptorily ordered to return, but they only reoeived the order with bounce, aud when they saw that that would not do, they became sulky and lay down on the ground. The settlers were getting exasperated, and when the natives saw that resistence was in vain, they re-yoked the bullocks in the dray and commenced the return journey in the worst possible humour, with Major Noake, whom they look upon as their greatest enemy (while he is this, he is the greatest friend to the settlers.) They had been provided with a- pass from the Militia office, which they thought was sufficient to guard them against interference. Aperahana is the principal chief of the Waitotara tribe, and is like his confreres, a murderous scoundrel, and if allowed to settle down on the Waitotara again, would soon have had the whole of his tribe around him. The same natives who were out on Thursday were also at. the Waitotara some days ago, no doubt laying out their plans for future settlement. The settlers are most determined that no natives shall settle down iv that country, and are prepared, if it be necessary to carry out the determination, to use the rifle, the sound of which is now so familiar to their ears. The first serious attempt on the part of any natives to return to the Waitotara, will be the occasion of a summary judgment and execution. Cannibalism and.burning homesteads are not forgotten in one short year. Government hitherto has been ! unable to protect the settlers, and it is time they protected themselves, a duty they are fully alive to, and not before it is time.