NATIVE MATTERS AT TAURANGA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1484, 19 November 1872, Page 2

NATIVE MATTERS AT TAURANGA.

(From the correspondent of the New Zealand Herald.) A newspaper correspondent very lately mentioned as a passing reported incident that natives were threatening to exact a toll from travellers on the Napier and Tanpo road. The fact is, that they not only threatened, but actually did levy a toll from the stockmen of Mr Alley, who were bringing a herd of cattle to Tauranga. They forbade the drovers to proceed unless they tirst paid the sum of £Q for the privilege. The stockman who negotiated with them (an intelligent Maori) for some time refused to make any payment, but ultimately tendered £1 as a compromise, which was accepted, and the cattle were allowed to proceed. The occurrence was one of sufficient importance to have deserved very free remarks, and the absence of comment leaves an impression that there was a motive in ignoring any mischievous disposition on the part of natives, on the Napier side, generally, but incorrectly, supposed to be thoroughly imbued with affection and inspired with admiration for the Native Minister. The troubles of the cattle referred to are not over yet. The other day, after a rest in Tauranga, where unfortunately a fine beast was poisoned by eating tutu, they were started overland for Ohinemuri by way of Wairoa, Te Puna, Aongatete, &c, and had not been long gone before a messenger came into Te Papa, bringing word that the Ngatihaua natives would not permit them to drive over their land, and that if such a proceeding were attempted they (the natives) would kill the cattle without hesitation. A few days have passed since then and nothing further has yet been heard of the matter, from which it is to be presumed that some arrangement has been made with the obstructive people. If this arrangement has taken the form of money payment, it will only give rise to future extortions, for it will have established a precedent that the natives have a right to exact them. On Monday, October 28, a body of natives, in number about 10, were actively engaged in making preparations for a journey by the Taupo road to the Nihu-o-te-kiore, where they with many others will shortly be employed on the works. The men were strangers in Te Papa, and belonged to the Ngatiraukawa tribe, living at Whakamaru, a place somewhere near the sources of the Waikato river at Taupo. About two dozen horses, mostly saddled, were picketed on the green fronting the Court-house and beach,and in the course of the day, several of them loaded with flour and other stores, were led off with their packs in the direction of Orope. A few of the men having succeeded in making a draw ot money, expended it in the usual manner—got drunk—and became so noisy and quarrelsome that the interference of the police was necessary. The first peace officer was the native town policeman, Hiria, who with the best intentions, was outnumbered, and likely to bo overpowered, when Sergeant Naden came to his assistance, though even then, the captured individual resisted so violently as to render his conveyance to the lock-tip a matter of difficulty, added to which, a rescue was attempted by some other nathes, a lively scuffle taking place, accompanied by a clamor of voices from the surrounding crowd. The contest promised to continue for some time, to the amusement of the European hut disgust of Maori spectators, when a sally from the redoubt quickly altered the aspect of affairs. Two prisoners were taken, one of whom, adopting discretion when valor had ptoved unavailing, marched quietly away in custody; but the other, struggling to the last, was borne in tiiumph by four of the constabulary into the " wharehereLere."