THE WAIROA NATIVES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 68, 19 March 1872, Page 2

THE WAIROA NATIVES.

j According to the Wanganui Herald's Wairoa correspondent, a public meeting was held on 7th March in the Wairoa Town Hall for the purpose of taking steps for preventing any natives from settling again in the district. There was a very full attendance of settlers. Mr. Wilson Milne having been called to the chair, the following resolution was unanimously carried : — <c That all settlers present willing to proceed at a moment's notice to any part of the district, for the purpose of preventing any natives from settling, or removing any already settled, do give in their names to the Chairman." To try the feeling of the meeting on this subject, the Chairman requested all those who were willing to go to stand up, upon which the meeting rose en masse. A strong party was then organised and all the necessary details arranged eo completely that it will in future be almost impossible for any natives to be more than three or four hours in the district. The following resolutions were also passed : — '' That the report of this meeting Vie communicated to settlers in the other districts of this coast, and that they be requested to co-operate with the Wairoa settlers to prevent any natives from returning.' 3 " That a notice of warning as below he printed in Maori and circulated amongst the natives." CIRCULAR. To Ngarauru and other Maoris, — We, the settlers hereby warn you that we intend to prevent any Maoris from settling in these districts. Time will not change us. No passes or permits will alter our determination. We are always watching. We were once your friends. You destroyed the friendship. Be not misled by pakeha- Maoris. Keep out of our 'sight and live. We send you this not to cause trouble but to prevent it. — Wilson Milne, William Wilson, A. Cracroft Fookes v For all the Pakehas. In consequence of this, a meeting was called at New Plymouth by the Superintendent, so that the large body of settlers occupying the northern portion of the settlement might express their opinion upon so serious a subject. Resolutions were at that meeting adopted, " protesting against the lawless conduct of the settlers at Wairoa," and stating that they — the northern settlers — were asking Government to make terms with the natives so as to allow them to live in peace with their respective tribes. On the motion of Major Atkinson, it was resolved " That this meeting trusts that the Government, if it has not already taken action, will act promply in checking so gross an outrage agaiust the public peace of this Province and the country; and in acquainting the natives with the utter illegality of the conduct of the settlers."