NATIVE TROUBLE AT POROUTAWHAO.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 47, 7 February 1879, Page 2

NATIVE TROUBLE AT POROUTAWHAO.

INTER TRIBAL SQUABBLE. A disturbance is at present going on at Poroutawhao, about 8 miles from Foxton, regarding the subdU vision of a, block of land called Manawatu Kukutauaki, No. 7, D. It appears that a certificate of title has been issued including three parties, who agreed to have the land surveyed and subdivided, and engaged Mr F. Bennett, a welKknown surveyor, to do the work. The boundary survey is completed, but as to the divisional lines, there are strong feelings on both sides. It appears that two parties interested want the land divided into three equal blocks*, each taking one. They are represented by Hapi, ot the Ngatituwhakahewa; and Kiriona, of the Ngatitemanea. The other party are represented by Tatnihana, of the Ngatihuia, and thsy wish to have an equal division of the land, but for each party to retain in their share, their own particular clearings and cultivations. Feeling runs very high upon the question amongst the natives. Hearing of the dispute, Mr Baker, Native Officer, visited the district, and advised both parties to allow the Burvey to go on, and decide the dispute afterwards. Hapi replied that having written to the Government to ask their opinion whether it should not be simply divided into three pieces he would give no answer either way until he heard from them. On Tuesday morning, Mr Bennett was proceeding to survey the land according to Tamihana's wish, when some of the other party stopped him by force, and said that they would use firearms if necessary. He therefore returned to camp. On Wednesday morning they went to him, and asked if ho intended to proceed with the survey, saying that if he did, they would ?ock up his instruments. Mr Bennett thereupon came to town, accompanied by Tamihana, and the matter was laid before Mr Ward, R,M., who advised the latter to let the matter stand over for a week, until they heard from Dr Buller and the Government, and to take a note of the damages they sustained by the obstruc'ivenes* of Hapi and Kiriona, and bring an action against them for the amout. Tamihana's party are paying the surveyor £2 for every day he is kept idle. Mr Baker stated that he had exacted a promise from Tamihana that he would use no violence against the obstruct tionists, which he had kept. Mr Ward said that Mr Baker had acted

very properly throughout, and as he himself would have <lone. No political significance attaches to the affair. It is simply an intertribal dispute, Tain ill ami an 1 his party wishing to retain possession of tlitiir own particular portions of the land whilst the other parties are not actuated by the same spirit of local patriotism.