NATIVE DISTURBANCE IN AUCKLAND.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1050, 1 September 1879, Page 2

NATIVE DISTURBANCE IN AUCKLAND.

[by telegraph.] Auckland, August 31.

Mr. Cashel of Ohinemuri, states the following facts, which throw some light on the native outrages : Six weeks ago, with a party, he was surveying the block where the outrage has taken place. The block has not passed through the court, as the party were surveying for the Ngatehako. It is supposed the perpetrators of the outrage, who had made applications to the Court here, are veryfew of the tribe, but turbulent. Their stronghold is at Te Awatu, betwee : Piako and Waiho. This and another tr. :>e (the Ngakoe) have taken advances on land from Bayldon's survey party, who were preparing a survey for that tribe, and who had also applied to the Court. They had asked Cashel to survey the block, but having ali'eady done part of it for other people, he would not undertake it, and hence Bayldon and Crump were the applicants. Tlie tribe claimed several pieces in the last Court, but gained nothing, and hence have been very discontented. They are the same people that prevented the snagging of the river at Pukihangui. The = Block described as the scene of the attack is bounded on the west by the Waiho (Thames) river ; on the north by a line commencing at Okaihukura, and extending eastward along the boundary of the Tamata Hini block ;on tho eist by the Ohinemuri goldfield block ; on the south by native land. The block is estimated to contain about 20,000 acres. Bayldon was authorised to commence the survey about five weeks ago. The following natives signed the autnority: Tamoni, Tora, Whakaia, Kere, Kereoma, Renata, Tamato, Te Wetene, Haoni, Kahorutu, and Mamaroa. The survey was being made on behalf of the Government, who were the purchasers, and for whom Mr. Mackay made advances some years ago. Bayddon states that after the shots were fired he and Crump ran oft in the direction of the other two, and hearing no cries did not know that anyone wa? injured. Ihe Maoris came on the party so stealthily that not even tiiecaiiie »i.>g belonging to one of the parly gave any indication of their approach. Bayldon and Crump returned to their camp, where they remained till after sundown, and ilia not leave until tiie arrival of the Armed Constables, who informed them that M'Williams had been wounded. Mr. Bayldon has laid the facts of th . sltoi ■! :ie.; before the Native Commissioner. _ 'J'no young man M'Williams is in tho Thames Hospital. lie is very feverish. The surgeons have abstracted the ball from his "thigh. The wound is not cons : .v\ered dangerous. On receipt of the ; - v <s at Gra'hamstown, Major Murray instrur the officers of No. 3 Scottish to place their services at the disposal of Inspector Thompson, and further ottered the Inspector "200 Thames volunteers, who could be equipped at an hour's notice. September 1.

The Native Minister proceeded to Ohinemuri and addressed the natives in the Paeroa Hall on Sunday morning. He said that he would take the perpetrators of the outrage, and with that object would open a road and construct a railway aim a telegraph line from Grahamstown to Ohinemuri. While Mr. Sheehan was making his address, a number of the Thames Scottish and Constabulary mustered to proceed to the Ngakoe settlement to demand the surrender of the offenders. Tukino requested Mr. Sheehan, before doing so, to send a number of natives with Mr. Puckey first to ask for the surrender of the offending natives. Mr. Sheehan consented, but Mr. Puckey's mission failed. Two of the natives (Hepine and Pakaia) stepped forward and said that they were the natives referred to, and that they would not surrender. They were justified in what they had done, as the land was unsold. They intended to kill the half-caste, but, not finding him, they shot the pakeha. Mr. Sheehan received a deputation of settlers at Ohinemuri, and informed them that a road and telegraph line would be started at once. He had had a communication with Mr. Macandrew re the railway, and he believed the Government would shortly have a large body of men working in the district. Mr. Sheehan is leaving instructions with Superintendent Thomson to act according to circumstances. Major Withers has mustered and inspected the Thames Volunteers. Wellington, August 31.

The Government received the following from Grahamstown ;—He native disturbance, Mr. Puckey has informed the Native Minister that the survey party fired upon are unhurt, except a survey laborer, who was wounded in the leg, and is now in the Thames hospital. Mr. Sheehan has proceeded with the utmost despatch to the spot, to enquire into the matter. Mr. Puckey states that the outrage has no political significance, from which it is inferred that it has arisen from a dispute among the natives themselves, with reference to the sale of the block which was being surveyed by the Land Purchase Department, and may be regarded as an unexpected protest by some of the discontents against the sale by those who have offered their interest to the Government. The land was being surveyed under the Land Purchase' Department, to enable its being passed through the Native Lands Court. Grahamstowx-, September 1. The Hon. Mr. Sheehan proceeded to Ohinemuri in the steamer yesterday, intending to take the Maoris who fired at the surveyors when the land was surveyed on behalf of the Government. The surveyor who instructed the surveyors accompanied Mr. Sheehan. The agent, accompanied by the influential natives, proceeded to the settlement to i demand the party to be given up, and io state that they would be taken as compensation. Mr. Hheehan has determined to make road, railway, and teh-gr.-ph lines through the country ;.i piiynv.-'.-r :>.r ' the oflenoe, or t-.i arro-it thf.se who fired j the shots. The Volunteers of the district | are at Mr. Sheehan's disposal. Messrs. '< Bayldon and Crmnp only commenced to | survey the disputed block on Wednesday I last. It was called Orahukoro, and was I purchased for the Government recently by Mr. E. W. Puckey. The surveyors had hot the slightest suspicion that the

natives were annoyed. Mr. Brassey, otl returning from an inquest a Pakcrrio heard a rumour of the survey being ab ,ut to be stopped, but it was so vague that no attention was paid to it. A volley wry tired suddenly on the survey party. M'Williams, on being hit, fell down, feigning death, and the Maoris, thinking he was killed, ran after the rest, eluded them, Powdrell, at the hazard .f his life, remaining in the vicinity of 0,,, bush till M'Williams crawled out, an-l assisted him to a place of safety. The attacking party number about ten of the Ngatikoc trilie. Tlie disputed hii, has not been passed through the Land Court. Mr. Puckev, native ".t. wiiv< ;!• t he wa.. uu-niccessfiil in getting «Ist- a !>-• nuirder.-rs to ;_.ve ilumiisulvim up. .••.lVn-ie.s are very determined, anil e ;; v admitted they iiill (In- deed andth.r r w a.> premeditated. Pukara said lie lire. 1 the tirst alios, and Epiha follow ed. at"; i r which he went to the man shot and cut oil' a piece of his hair, assuming him to l, L > dead. The hair was evidence to his triiio ' at his mission had been carried out. *sir. Puckey said that the offenders would be arrested. Pukukura replied that it would not- be done without more blood-.-'hud, for he was determined to remain free. He would consent to be tried by a Council of the chiefs of Hauraki, ami would abide by their decision. Mr. Sheehan, on hearing the result, gave instructions for the men to be arrested, and it was arranged that a steamer, with Armed Constabulary and Volunteers, under the command of Captain Thomson, should leave quietly during the night, reaching the settlement of Pukaru by daybreak, and, surrounding it, tako the aggressors. Mr. Sheehan left, en routo for Auckland, at 10.30. A letter by the Star carrier pigeon, sent from Ohinemuri, says : " The expedition did not leave last night till after the departure of Mr. Sheehan. Tho nativn threw every obstacle in the way of Mr, Puckey. News having come in that Pukara had reinforced tho malcontents from Piako, they refused officially to proceed. The Volunteers mustered again this morning, but nothing has yet been decided, as they are waiting for support. The Ngatikoe men arc very determined, and will not be taken without bloodshed. Volunteers are going up the river. Later. A pigeongram to the Star says : —Tho expedition against the Ngatikoes haß been postponed for reinforcements from the Thames. A great number of tho Piako natives, well armed, have joined the Ngatihakos, and will resist to death any attempt to capture the aggressors. Two hundred men will be required to capture them. If the Volunteers had attempted the capture last night), thero would probably have been severe fighting, as there was a large number of natives lying concealed in the flax. The message states that the chief Te Hira intends joining the enemy. There is great excitement at Pacora. Mr. Sheehan will go to Ohinemuri to-night. M'Williams is in & precarious state.