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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4350, 27 February 1875, Page 2

A body of Armed Constabulary, numbering about twenty-eight men, were yesterday forwarded by the steamer Napier to Opunake, to suppress the riotous conduct of a few natives of the Pariaka tribe, who have evinced a disposition to take the law into their own hands during the past week. These natives have shot four head of cattle and taken possession of some sheep that were being driven up the coast; but these do not comprise all their excesses, as will be gleaned from the following statement, which supplies the key to their action. In the neighborhood of Opunake there are two flax-mills, situated upon laud purchased from the Government, One of these, the Egmout Company, leased a lot of flax land from the natives, and, through the decline in the flax trade, became insolvent. The mill and site were sold at public auction, and purchased by a Mr. Bailey, the leased lands reverting to the natives. In the ordiuaiy course of events matters would have remained in this position, but the influence of the friendly old chief, Wiremu Kiugi, being somewhat on the wane, the three next influential individuals in the tribe, who have always shown a hostile disposition towards the Europeans, determined to interfere. They seem to possess something of the spirit of the Old Guard, who never surrendered though he died, and though many years have passed since the confiscation, they have not to this day relinquished the idea of recovering possession of the lands taken from them by Government after the war. Imbued with this idea, these men have been “ kicking up their heels” for some time past.: , After the sale to Mr. Bailey, they formally announced to him that there was some rent due by the defunct company, and, moreover, that as the laud upon which the mill stood had been confiscated without their authority, they intended to take possession of his property. , They took some cattle out of the paddocks, and subsequently took the roof off one of the buildings. The friendly natives, it is understood, remonstrated against this action, telling their erring compatriots that the Government would send up the Armed Constabulary. Upon hearing this, the offenders reflected upon their action, and seemed to regret what had taken place. They were at all events very uneasy, and there is little doubt that the presence of the Constabulary men on the spot will reassure the friendly natives and put an end to the trouble. -