A SECOND MAORI MUTINY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5734, 15 August 1879, Page 6

A SECOND MAORI MUTINY.

Another mutiny occurred amongst the Maori prisoners on the morning of Jnly 23, It appears that on the previous night some of the Ngatiruanui tribe (Titokowaru's men) in defiance of orders persisted in lighting up all the gas-jets in the room in which they sleep. The rule is that only one jet is to be kept lighted during the night. They also kicked up a great noise. A Constabulary man who spoke Maori went in and expostulated with them on their conduct, but they kept up the noise in defiance of the guard. They then proceeded to play a number of games, singing, talking, and making as much noise as possible until after three o’clock in the morning. Early on Wednesday the gaoler and guard informed Mr. Mackay of the conduct of those prisoners. He at once went into the room and told them that such conduct must he discontinued—that it was contrary to the rules to talk at night. Te Iki and Tamata Kuku began to talk to Mr. Mackay, and said that if they did make a noise it was amongst themselves, and did not concern him. Mr. Mackay went on to state that they had no right to make a noise either among themselves or with the guard, and they had no right to interfere with the lights in the building. He was again interrupted several times by the two ringleaders, and he ordered them to keep silence, but they would not. Instructions were then given to three of the guard to march them down to the Constabulary prison cells. On the three Constabulary men going in to arrest them some 14 or 15 others jumped up and said, “ They shan't go unless we go with them,” and crowded towards the door of the room, which Mr. Mackay shut. Mr. Mackay then called to the remainder of the guard, who were standing outside the door, to march in and load their rifles, and to stand perfectly quiet until he gave them orders. He then ordered the fourteen or fifteen Maoris, who were standing behind the three constabulary men and the two prisoners, to go and sit down on their beds, which after a slight hesitation they did, seeing that there were at least eight Armed Constabulary, with rifles and revolvers, standing in the guard-room. The two prisoners were marched out, and the others confined to their rooom, with a strong guard over them. Mr. Mackay then went to Mr. Woodward and Colonel Reader, the other visiting justices of the gaol, and requested them to come and inquire into the matter. Te Iki and Tamata Kuku were charged with disobedienoe of gaol regulations, and disobedience to the orders of one of the visiting justices, Mr. Mackay. After taking the evidence of Mr. Mackay, Constable George Neale, who was in command of the guard, and the gaoler (Sergeant McMillan), the two visiting justices sentenced the prisoners to seven days’ solitary confinement in the Wellington gaol. They were handcuffed together, and removed in a cab under guard of three of the Constabulary. Mr. Mackay next proceeded with the guard, consisting of a sergeant and ten men, to the Ngatiruanui quarters. The names of the men were called over separately, and as each came out he fell into line, the whole of the guard on duty and the escort taking up positions so as to prevent any possibility of escape. As the chief \yhakawiria had taken no part in the proceedings, either in the night or the day, Mr. Mackay sent him to the Taranaki quarters. The remainder of the men, 37 in number, were then marched down, under a guard of 14 men, to the lower barracks and placed in the prison room. The men who were then on guard were asked to point out those who had taken part in the night’s disturbance. Twenty-two were pointed ouc as having been quiet, and fifteen were brought before the visiting justices. The twenty-two were marched to the Immigration Barranks, and the case against the fifteen was investigated. The evidence of the Constabulary guard having been taken, they were convicted of a breach of the Mount Cook prison regulations, and were ordered to be confined in the Constabulary cells for two days on bread and water. The Ngatiawa and Taranaki natives informed Mr, Mackay that the Ngatiruanui indignantly reproached them for keeping quiet, calling them dogs, and saying they had no spirit to resist. Te Iki and Tamati Kuku formed part of the gang recently tried before Mr. Mansford, K.M., for ploughing on land at Opunake.