A MAORI INVASION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 239, 9 October 1877, Page 4

A MAORI INVASION.

[Wanganui Herald Sept. 29.] Headed by a flag of truce, sygnifying that their intentions were peaceful, a party of the Kaiwhiki natives entered the town this morning in procession. Several of the party carried pegs, similar to those used by surveyors, ond ; all along the beach from the bridge upwards these pegs were driven into the foreshore. The party had come down the No. 2 Line, and across the bridge, marking tbeir march back again to Kaiwhiki along the river . bank. The proceedings were quiet, atid the participants evidently considered their action a very solemn undertaking. The meaning of this peculiar action is that Tikorangi, as the rangntira of the Kaiwhiki, advances n claim to the land' he has enclosed within the said pegs, He states tbat tbe land originally belonged to his tribe, tbat they never parted with it, and thafc they •wi-ire never paid for it. The block includes, we are informed, the land upon which the town now stands. The idea is not a new one. For a good authority we learn tbat a chief from the Wairarapa, about three years ago, first put the notion into Tikorangi's head, and that quite recently that enlightened chieftain visited Wellington, with tbe view of pressing, his claims upon the Government. He waa pooh - poohed' in Wellington so as bdernier ressort he now proceeds to peg out his property. Knowing his weakness will not allow him to seize his own me et armis, he proceeds under a flag of truce. It is harmless delusion of the upriver people* but we think if Tikorangi was summoned for damaging the Wangaehu Board's Highway, a salutary lesson would be taught him.