HAMILTON. – RUMOURED DISTURBANCE IN PIAKO

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1869, 5 October 1874, Page 3

HAMILTON. - RUMOURED DISTURBANCE IN PIAKO

Hamhton was startled on Sunday last by a rumour that the men working on the Piako swamp under the contractor, Mr Walnutt, had been ordered off the ground by 25 armed natives, A large party of men : camein on Saturday evening, and stated that whilst working, these, natives, appeared, and refused to allow another spade to bo put into the ground, at the same time, warning the workmen that if they wore found on the spot at 11 o'clock on Monday morning, bloodshed would take place. The matter, on the face of it, appeared alarming; but subsequent investigation has, fortunately, entirely dispelled; all, cause of alarm. It seems that the men, were men newly arrived, immigrants and foreigners, of course, utterly ignorant of Maori < manners and customs, and therefore the matter to an' inordinate degree. The natives themselves arrived on Monday, and denounced the whole statement as a "HoriHori." They said they had seen but two. Europeans-(the cookto the party and another)—to whom they had said that the land was theirs, and had warned them not to trespass on it. As to any threats of violence, they had used none, and they were .Queenites, only desired an equitable adjustment of their rishts in dispute. They stated that Mr McLean had frequently promised ono of their number—TuWhenua-to give him back a portion of his land confiscated during the Waikato war, and situate within the swamp now being brought' under cultivation by Captain Steele and others. Further, that they were afraid that if any improvement were made tho Government would shrink from incurring the costs of' giving them back the land or compensation therefor. And that they had consequently had ordered the.men to desist in the same. manner as one European would warn another not to commit a trespass. Upon Captain Steele representing to them that the Government were the responsible parties in the matter, and that compensationwould no doubt be made them if it was found that there was reasonable ground, they agreed to submit their claims to the proper quarter, and to permit the men to resume work. The native who appeared to bo the principal in tho affair was one Tu Whenua, well known to Cambridge settlers. The whole of the workmen, accompanied by Mr Walnutt, proceeded _ this morning to the swamp with their fears entirely allayed. . The moral to be deducted from the whole affair is this—that it is impossible •to define, the liability the colony has been placed under with respect to lands supposed to be confiscated. If Mr Maclean realy made such a .promise, and the Government have to compensate these men, what security have we that similar promises have not been made to natives all over the island P ■ Who can estimate tho cost of settling these verbal engagements ? The matter, in my opinion, should be thoroughly investigated, and the Press, as the guardiuu of publie interest, should demand a strict enquiry at the nest sitting of the House into the number and nature of these " promises."— Waikoto Times,