THREATENED NATIVE TROUBLES AT WAIROA.

Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 87, 12 February 1876, Page 2

THREATENED NATIVE TROUBLES AT WAIROA.

On Thursday hist we received, in co.'ilirmation of in forma', mu previously to Inmd, [he following telegram. which wo thought of suiUoiiMit im iiiiom-i 1 1 1 > nr-<-111 -• 1 10 without delay, in the form of an “ exlra” : •■T’io native-; an* ling in numbers on DickiTs ai W.-nroa. The n,l nri.iiis I oiv.ipa i• ■a■ i:- the n, mi! they boast; ill' having ejected itiddel, an.l say ill,at tic 11 1 ivi'iit mini arc afraid to tackle thoiii. which ajijH ill's triii*. They have reinforcements waiting if int«■rf\*i-i*il with. I’uloss tli,* Constabulary ant borities do their duty wit lioiii i'url!i. -r liolay it; is feared trouble must foilo-.".” Major Turner had not. as st.a(• •< 1. Iv-m appealed to, lint Im at one:* w n! down, accompanied by Constable Wa'lae.e. and. bv Ids courtesy, wo are enabled to pave t.m real facts of tin;■ case. Vie* natives, under their chief Tapa, claim tlio land, as never having boon cmdiscated. and allege that any Cnavn grant that lias boon issued to Mr Dickie is worthless, as between themselves and the Covernmcnt. They therefore liave taken, or retaken, possession exactly as described, though without using any threats or violence. • They have, however, left sable bailiifs in possession in the shape of two males, three i'emaies, adults, and two children. These have erected three miainis, and proposesfopping there (ill they have what tlioy claim again, or till the (roveniment eject, them from (he ground. .Major Turner duly interviewed these people, but eaiid make nothing more out of them than they were in possession, and deemed they had a right to it. A statement appeanal in the above, telegram that Kcreopa was a leader. This was not quite correct, though there was ample ground for making it, inasmuch as that worthy was on the laud for some hours during the day, but busied himself in digging up some ancestral bones and skulls, during bis slay, for depositary elsewhere. The spot is within a few miles of where Major Hunter was killed during a disastrous retreat. Captain Jl’akc goes down this morning to confer with the natives, and will probably induce the native bailiifs to withdraw ; till his return we can give no further particulars.