A NATIVE DIFFICULTY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1053, 25 March 1882, Page 4

A NATIVE DIFFICULTY.

We [Rangitikei Adcoeate') mentioned a short time ago that a “ native difficulty ” on a small scale has arisen in reference to a portion of the Aorangi block in Manawa*.u. It appears that this block was purchased from the Maori owners after having been pas.-ed through the Native Land Court at Palmerston a considerable time ago. A long narrow strip was not, however, “ occupied” by the Government, though the remainder of the block was. There was, indeed, a repetition in miniature of the system pursued in regard to the confiscated lands in Taranaki which caused so much trouble. The Government having recently determined to survey the unoccupied strip above referred to, sent to -Messrs Gillett to execute the work. Two Maoris, who are sisters, claimed the land, and the natives threatened to turn off the surveyor’s. There was, however, more talk than action. At last they made up their minds to do some overt act of interference, and on Thursday an old Maori woman advanced ; and seizing the surveyor's theodolite, carried it off to the pah. About a score of Maoris were lying in wait in the adjacent scrub, watching the ancient dame as she proceeded to “ bell the cat.” The penalties for obstructing surveyors are tolerabiy stiff, and we understand that the Government have made up their minds to exact them to the uttermost in regard to the Aorangi block. Hence it was, we presume, that the natives sent the old woman to carry off the theodolite, not caring to put themselves within reach of the law