STRANGE PROCEEDINGS AT OHINEMURI.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 165, 19 April 1872, Page 2

STRANGE PROCEEDINGS AT OHINEMURI.

I xdei; the above heading, made a little more sensational by the addition of the words, “Violation of a Maori Tapu,” our contemporary published an account of the dreadful treatment received by two Europeans at Ohincmuri for having plucked a | few heads of cabbages from a piece of tapu ground, on the banks of the river. Tiie article states that the gentlemen spoken of went up to transact some business with the natives, but dogs not give any idea of what the business was. From a gentleman just returned from Oliino i muri, who was there at the time of the j reported ill-treatment, we have been favoured with the following particulars. : At the same time, we may here sa}* that j the first lie learned of the cabbage busij ness was by the reading of the A elver- ! fixer's notice of it. lie states that some 1 longtime ago Te Moananui received a promissory note, signed by two directors of the Auckland Saw Mill Company, for . the sum of £2OO, as payment for 1 some land, or something of that sort. Before lie could get the note discounted lie bad to endorse it himself. It seems that the RX was dishonoured, and the holder of it now elects to come on Te Moananui for the money. It was for the purpose of serving him with a writ (so we are given to ui<dcrstand)that the up river visit was made, and knowing the ideas held by the natives in regard to matters of this sort, we are not surprised to hear that tiie visitors did not receive a hearty welcome. We remember some time ago tiiat some one tried to serve a writ on Te Moananui, and the fuss that was made over the matter. As for the cabbage, it may be a fact that they did commit a breach of Maori custom by gathering it from Tapu ground, but we fancy that the Ohinemuri natives would not proceed to any length in a matter of this sort. However, wc congratulate tlie two gentlemen on their lucky escape from the hands of the Philistines, and wish them better luck on their next trip to that part of the country where the Queen’s writ goes along in a very halting manner. Perhaps the Ist of May might suit for their purpose, as there will probably be , a large number of Europeans present at the races,