ARREST OF PRISONERS AT TAPUAE.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 441, 5 July 1879, Page 2

ARREST OF PRISONERS AT TAPUAE.

(Taranaki Herald July 1.) Shortly after 8 o’clock yesterday morning (Monday) the natives appeared on the ground with , plougho and bullocks, and commenced to plough. Major Take and Mr. Parris came into the field before 9 o’ clock, and told the Maoris to stop ploughing. This they positively refused to do. Mr. Parris then told them that if they refused to stop he would arrest' them and take them to gaol. They replied that he could do so ; they would go to gaol first. They still persisted in ploughing, when Major Take ordered the ploughs to be seized. The natives made no resistance ; they only said, “ if you take us to gaol, more will come and continue to plough ; if you take them alto, then more will come ; and when you take all the men, the woman will cons. ” Major Tuke then put the natives nn£er arrest, who offered not the slightest sh>w of resistance ; they simply did whatever they were told. They appeared to hae the demeanour of martyrs, and were s submissive as they could well be.. Thiiteen of them were put in a trap, anc four were walking. The Constabulary employed to arrest the natives were Aiawas, who also escorted them into" towi. The cavalcade came slowly along tht Great South Road nntill it reached CotA field Road, where it turned off, and from

thence into JJcTon-sti'Cct round by inn Government Buildings, and on to the gaol. Tbc- elderly natives were snllcy, but the young ones laughed and talked as if they rather enjoyed the fun. One, of the young men said to n European, in course of conversation, “ That they had expected to be arrested the first day they commenced the ploughing.” In reply to a remark of one of the older natives, “ Why the Europeans did not go and take the trunk (Te Whiti), and not the hianches?” he was told “That it was the Government’s intention to lop the branches first and cut down the trunk afterwards.” The native prisoners reached the gaol at one o’clock, and were received by Mr Bosworth, the gaoier, who lodged them in the quarters prepared for them. The natives are placed in a separate portion of the gaol, and are divided in two sections. Their names were ascertained by an interpreter, on the request of the gaoler, so as to enter them in the gaol records, and are as follows : E Toko, Te Ngoringon (one of the leaders, and brother of Bob Erangi), Euaroa, Ara, Ealm, Makora, Tnkino ''(wms-ofthe leaders), Hcfaraka, Ngahape, Te Here, Perc, Toroa (i.o. Albatross), Himiona (an old decrepid man), Hatarei (i.o. Saturday), Rfttapu (i.e. Sunday), Kaioroto, Kaka. The last two arc quite young boys, and fresh from school. The <vhole J of the males belonging to the kaianga at Tapuae have been arrested, with the exception of two old men, and they were left with the women. Extra sentries were put over the gaol last night, and every precaution taken by Major Tuke to prevent either the outposts or town being surprised by movement on the part of the natives. The natives were brought before the Resident Magistrate this morning, and were committed for trial at the next District Court sitting, which will take place ■on the 17 th July.