ARREST OF MAORI FANATICS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1612, 26 July 1887, Page 4

ARREST OF MAORI FANATICS.

Wanganui, July 23. A message was received by Mr Ballance to-day from Mr Bishop, Resident Magistrate for the Bay of Islands. It states that twenty-three fanatics had been arrested there after a severe struggle. Inspector McGovern swore in eleven civilians as special constables, and with eight members of the Armed Constabulary, and two Native constables, proceeded to make arrests at daylight yesterday morning. On arriving at the Pah they found its people astir and they soon had the whole community out to meet them. The warrants were read and Inspector McGovern told those accused they must go with him to answer charges before the Resident Magistrate of having ill-treated a European named "Wm. Hearn; that they would be welltreated, but must go. They defied him to take them, and on his entering the Pah the whole body of fanatics rushed forward with long axes, tomahawks, pointed sticks, etc., and made a violent attack on the police. Mr Bishop’s telegram continues ; —“ The scuffle became general, the women being if anything more violent than the men. While the police were handcuffing some, others attacked them viciously with axes, and to save their lives two of the constables fired four shots from their revolvers, two of which took effect upon a Native fanatic named Eurera Kapana, and m a few minutes the melee was over and the men and women were securely handcuffed. Some of the police had exceedingly narrow escapes from blows of the axes, especially the Inspector, whose tunic was cut by a blow, which one of the constables was just in time to prevent from taking full effect. A cart was procured and some of the women and wounded were conveyed in it to Waihou bridge, the rest of the party walking a distance *f about 3 miles. Dr Graham reported to Mr Bishop after examining the wounds that Kapana had merely two flesh wounds and would be quite well in a few days. Another Maori has a flesh cut in the back from an axe, and a woman, sister of the prophetess, has two scalp wounds but neither are very seriously hurt. The police have escaped with a few bruises. Mr Bishop considers the plan has been successfully carried out, all the fanatics but a few women who have been left to look after the children being in custody. The law has bean upheld and the troublesome natives in the district have

received a lesson they are not likely to forget. He considers that Inspector McGovern deserves great credit for the able manner in which he has carried out this important duty.” The movement, it may he added, has been growing for some months, and originated in the pretensions of the new prophetess to found a new religion in which it is asserted that the prominent feature has been the burning alive of an old woman. The chiefs called on Mr Ballance to put down the movement, but in the face of no proof being forthcoming be could do nothing. The Bay of Islands was constituted a separate Police District and Mr McGovern was made an Inspector with instructions to watch their movement. Mr Bishop, R.M., reported the violent treatment received by a European hamed Hearn at the hands of the fanatics and the Native Minister ordered that warrants should be taken out for their arrest and that sufficient force should be taken to overcome resistance. The chiefs and people of the Ngapaihi tribe are supporting the Government in the matter.