SERIOUS AFFRAY AT WANGAPOA.-ONE MAN DANGEROUSLY WOUNDED.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 18, Issue 1165, 7 November 1871, Page 2

SERIOUS AFFRAY AT WANGAPOA.-ONE MAN DANGEROUSLY WOUNDED.

News readied town yesterday (-ays the Southern Cross, Ist Nov.,) of a very serious affray which has occurred at Wangapoa between men employed by Mr. Thomas Craig, and a party in the employ of Mr 0. A Harris. The fight is another of the many phases developed by the well-known and apparently interminable case of Mohi v. Craig It appears that Mr Craig had instructed his men co take possession of certain logs (the ownership of which is the question in dispute), which his men had packed off the beach In accordance with these orders, Craig's men, accompanied by a number of natives, and under the charge of Mr Gibbons, went alongside a raft of logs, with some of Craig's chains and anchors', which were in the possession of Harris's men. A conflict ensued, in which Harris's men broke up three of Craig's boats, compelling the attacking party to return to the .»hore. In the scuffle some of Craig's men were thrown off the raft into the water, but the most serious part of the affray was caused by a native who formed one of the resisting party. Tins scoundrel was armed with a pike-pole, and stabbed one of Craig's men below the heart. The wound is of a very serious character, and would it was feared prove fatal. Tt is stated that the native who was guilty of this

act had once before wounded a man at Opitoni Creek. Immediately upon the state of affairs being made known at Coromandel, Mr Craig, who was there, procured the services of Dr. Payne, who at once proceeded to "Wangapoa to attend upon the injured man. The Thames Advertiser, 2nd Nov., says :—Craig and Harris, after their lengthened battle in the Supreme Court, have adjourned to Wangapoa, where each has a small army of sawyers, and a powerful contingent of friendly native?. Mohi Manga kahia and his tribe range range themselves pn the i-ide of Harris, while Craig has en listed the services of Paora Matutaera and his ' mob ' from Ooiomandel. The native who stabbed the man has been arrested for the offence, and is now in custody. A sergeant and two policemen have been left at Coromandel to prevent any further breach of the peace.