ARMED NATIVES AT TE AROHA.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 187, 24 January 1877, Page 2

ARMED NATIVES AT TE AROHA.

[FROM THE NEW ZEALAND HERALD.J The Te Arolia steamer, on the I3th instant, took a party from Grahamstown up to view the Broomhail Settlement and lands adjoining- From Paeroa the small steam launches Fairy and Buona Ventura proceeded up the Thames Eivef some forty miles, through first-class country, but were challenged by an armed party of Maoris, who insisted on their landing, and after making enquiries and search for any of the Ohinemuri natives, declared that if they had found them they would have killed them, as the land belonged to them and not to the other Maoris who had taken upon themselves to sell to Mr Mackay. The first stoppage took place about five miles below the Omahu settlement, on the Te Aroha block. A party of about forty natives were on the bank, and after some hesitation on the

part of those on board the steamel’ Buofia Ventura, it was stopped, and a Maori Came on board and made an inspection of all who were there. The ii'e of the Maoris was excited apparently against the Ohinemuri natives, who had sold Te Aroha, and they were determined that not one of them should pass up the riven On the second steamer, the Fairy, coming up, a number of natives lined the bank, and actually pointed their galis at those on board. After seeing that no Maories were there, they said they would not interfere with Europeans. They then fired off the guns over the heads of the excursionists, who heard the bullets whizzing through the air. When the Europeans were leaving the neighborhood of the settlement, the Maoris told them that no more whites must come up there. They said emphatically, “ Don’t let Mackay come up here; we will shoot him.” Things seem to be getting worse. On Monday a number of the Ohinemuri natives, including Ropata te Pokiha and Tinipoaka, -were going up the river to attend a Land Court at Cambridge, when they wore stopped at Te Aroha, and compelled to turn bA;. The Ohinemuri natives, on hand, have established a blockade of the river, so as to prevent the Te Arolla natives from coming down. Altogether a very awkward position of affairs has arisen. Mr Puckey, Native Agent at the Thames, and Ropata came to Auck - land last week, probably to consult with Ministers on the situation between the different sections of natives.