LAND SCRAMBLING IN THE NORTH.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2411, 8 December 1880, Page 2

LAND SCRAMBLING IN THE NORTH.

EXTRAORDINARY PROCEEDINGS OF A SHERIFF. [By Telegraph.] Napier, Dec, 7. A Supreme Court writ in the case of the Omaranui block, owned by Mr Sutton, but which he has been deprived of by the Maoris for the last 10 years was served to-day by the Sheriff’s officer and a party of eight. On their arrival at the pah it was found that all the men were absent, and from what subsequently transpired, it appeared that they had determined to leave only women and decrepit old men, in the belief that the Europeans would not use force to eject them. The baliff and his assistants waited all day trying to find some of the men, but unsuccessfully, and at last having failed in repeated efforts to get the women to leave peaceably, they were obliged to use force. The women declared they would rather die than give up their land, and taunted the Europeans with sending a war party against defenceless women and children. A sudden fancy took them, and they began to strip, declaring that they would be removed naked, and when at last they were carried out struggling and screaming they were very lightly clad. Possession was then formally given to Mr Sutton. Soon the women seemed reconciled and asked Mr Sntton to send them cabs to carry them to Tareha’s pah and this was done. Tareha was acquainted with the proceedings and acknowledged the orders of the Supreme Court must be obeyed. Three men were then left in possession, the remainder returning to town. All seemed satisfactorily settled, when two hours later a native policeman and eigh t Maoris went and removed the men in possession. They stated that Captain Preece, a native agent and Mr Hamlin

had informed them that the ejectment was carried out by the orders of Mr Sutton, not of the Supreme Court, and though they would yield to the Court they would not yield to-Mr Sutton. This agreed with the statements made by the women to.the effect that Captain Preece had told them that the Native Minister had instructed him to inform them that Mr Sutton was the author of the proceedings., If this be so, a great victory over Maori-trcspassers on European land has been lost. All assistance was refused to the Sheriff, and he was left to act on his own responsibility, which seems to bear out the assertions of the Maoris..