THE MAORI NUISANCE IN UPPER WAITAKI.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 770, 11 October 1878, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE MAORI NUISANCE IN UPPER WAITAKI.

When the ordinary business of the County Council had been concluded yesterday, Mr. Duncan Sutherland brought under the notice of members the existence of a Btate of affairs both discreditable and humiliating in the extreme. From his remarks, it appears that the band of Maoris in the Upper Waitaki, about whom some noise was made nearly twelve months ago, have been going about armed with tomahawks and loaded guns, to the annoyance and danger of white inhabitants. The natives, on first invading the district, had behavod themselves in a moderately decent manner, but lately their tone has been changed to one of defiance, and not only did their dogs continue to worry sheep, but the Maoris themselves no\r openly yarded thorn and killed them U>v their own purposes. One settler had lost some twenty sheep in this manner, whilo the shepherds, if they attempted to interfere, have tomahawks flourished in their faces, and their lives threatened. Growing still bolder, the natives had now actually ploughed up a portion of freehold land. It seemed to him pitiable that the settlers in what was supposed to be a civilised country should be kept in awo by a lot of savages, and he thought it was high time that the Government was forced to take some steps to remove tho nuisance. Over and over

again the Government had been corn; Eaunicated with on the matter. The only thing now to be done was to seek the assistance of their representatives in Parliament. He would therefore move, ■, " That this Council would respectfully j wish the members for the district, in their places in Parliament; to call the | attention of the Government to the lawless proceedings of the Maoris in this County, especially at Otekaike and Omarama ; and as this state of things has existed a Ion <4 time, this Covincil hopes that immediate action be taken for the protection of life and property ; and that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Chairman in Wellington." The motion was carried unanimously, several members expressing their surprise and indignation that such a state of things should have been permitted to j exist. ____ I