Land Dispate Among East Coast Natives. Maori Pa Burned and Four Persons Killed. Gisborne, April 19,

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 151, 24 April 1886, Page 6

Land Dispate Among East Coast Natives. Maori Pa Burned and Four Persons Killed. Gisborne, April 19,

KjiroitTb haYO come down from Wcviapu of a moat horrible affair having occurred at Waiaparo. Somo six months ago tho Waipiro Block was adjudicated on by tho Land Court, and tho chief Tuta Nehonioa was declared to have no interest in it. Tuta objected moat strongly to the decision, and applied for a rehearing, which is just about to take place. He also at once erected a pa containing many wharee, in which somo 100 natives have been living. This was done for the purpose of asserting his owner ship of tho land by forcible pos&ession. Very strong feeling has existed botween those people and the local natives decrood by the Court to bo the owners of the land, and on several occasions there have been actual conflicts. On Wednesday or Thursday night last the whole pa is reported to havo been burned down, and four persons, three men and one woman, are said to havo boen burned to death in their whares, all tho others escaping. It is believed the hostile natioes fired the pah in tho darkness, but no particulars are yot to hand, One of those burned is well-known in Gisborno as Tommy Poorfellow (Papehe Toana). It is probable that tho incident may lead to fighting betwoen tho parties of opposing natives, and that European armed intervention will be necessary. Mr Ballance and Major llopata were to arrivo at Waipiro to-day, and they may be able to prevont any outbreak, pending the rohearing of tho block. Tho foregoing is said to bo only on Maori reports, took place. Tho feeling botwoen tho opposing natives is said to be most bitter, A sergeant of police has gono up. It is about 100 miles from here, and near the East Capo.