THE MUKIMOTU NATIVE DfSPUTE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 51, 20 February 1880, Page 2

THE MURIMOTU NATIVE DISPUTE.

♦- From Constable M'Auulty. who recently returned from Taupo via the •Murimotu country, we have learned further particulars of the native dispute at Muiiiiiotu It appears that to the south of the Kan.ipo desert, and of the Wungaehu Kivrr, there is % capital block of land, of considerable extent, which is claimed by two tribes — one party being Taupo natives, at the head of whom is the well-known

chief Topia. tbo other being a party headed by M«jor Kemp, the celebrated Waiirfinni cln*f. Topia, we Iwarn, has leaded the lanl iv question oMr VfoDih-iitsc, and bein> anxious to have iho bi ck I ill <?ff. employed v sui veyur nimed KeiMiely t.n do th" work. This .ecisivo action, ha- routed ■.he ire of Kern »\s party, and nce.*i\l inj/ly a parry "f 20 men, armed to the teeth with first class weapons, have stiii ted to remove thij s'trvcyir, and ai'H i o\v cnnpei.l at a kainjci culled Hukitepiiuuuu. Tupiu's people, on the other hand, are equally determined their wishes shall be carried out, and the survey completed. They have therefore collected an armed force of 90 fighting men, from Tokano, the villages round Lake Poutou, aud other parts of the Taupo district, and have despatched them under a native nanved fclohepa, who is at piesent in command. These men are mostly Kiugites, and have camped at Raugipo, where Kennedy, the surveyor, also is staying, about 20 miles from Uakitepauma. Our iuformant tiaveiled from Tokano with a squad of 1$ natives, whose arrival swelled Hohepa'ii force tv 90 men. Upon the party coming into sight, Hohepa's men fired a feu dejoie with ball cartridge, the bullets whizzing about ii all directions, several within 20ft of Constable M'Anulty. Uoth parties are reported to have plenty of ammunition, and as eacli seems determined not to give way, it is possible an appeal to arms may be made. This, however, is not probable, notwithstanding the rumors that have been circulated to the effect that a collision has taken place. There is in the native character a large amount of " bounce," and it is generally believed that the whole affair will end in talk and in the cessation of the survey. Although Kemp's force was small, when Constable M'Anul'y passed through the district, considerable reinforcements were daily expected from the Coast districts. Should, therefore, the two parties actually come to a collisiou, it is extremely probable a very bloody fight would be the result.