NATIVE OBSTRUCTION TO RAILWAY SURVEY. Wellington, Monday.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 38, 23 February 1884, Page 5

NATIVE OBSTRUCTION TO RAILWAY SURVEY. Wellington, Monday.

With reference to the alleged obstruction of Mil's ey.- by nathes, the i'olloAving particulars have been obtained :— Several surveyor.s arc now employed by the Govern ment exploiing for a raihvay line between Wanganui and Waikato, and there aie also p.utics engaged on a survey of the South boundary of the King Countiy, preparatory to that region being brought under investigation for title by the Native Land Court. I The depot of iH'ovi^ions from w Inch seven al ol the>e parlio draw supplies is situated on one of the uppur tributaries of the Wanpanui Kiver, and has been visited by four armed natives, who helped them.selveb to a theodolite and as many stores a^> their canoe would hold. They told the man in charge to be off, or they would tie him up, and that they would come back and take the remainder of the stores in the depot. He vas to tell the surveyors they ■would oppose any survey*. The man, on his return towards the coast, met a survey party en route tor the depot., and all the men returned back -within the confiscation line. The Government are now dealing with the difficulty, w Inch at present scenic to be the act of young natives, in no v ay w a minted by their chiefs. JS'or is it an indication of the general native feeling, because several surveyors in ,i moie inland situation have reported that the natives are quite friendly to their operations, and have an intelligent compiehension of their object. The obstruction i^ Fnid to have been caused by Taumata, who claims a small valley in ■which the depot was situated. A telegram from New Plymouth says — The obstructing natives -were Taumata, an upper Wanganui chief, and three of his follow ers, who were all armed. It is evident, ho-\\ ever, that this chief is the only opponent that the Government have to deal with, as all the other natives appear favourable to the survey being made. Mr Spei cer and party, who havebcon surveying thonative boundary line, have arrived at Ohm a unmolested. Mr Skeet intends going out again at once to resume explorations, when it is intended to remove the depot nearer the coast.