Native Hostility.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3335, 30 August 1879, Page 2

Native Hostility.

Jl Survey Party Fired on at OMaemuri* • Most intense and painful excitement was caused in town about eight o'clock last evening by the arrival in town of Mr Thomas Snodgrass, with the information that Messrs fiayldon and Crump's survey party had been fired on by the natives at i'likeraiißi, and it was feared the two gentlemen had been killed. From ' the statement of the messenger and other sources of information to haiid up to this morning, it would appear that the survey party consisting of D. H. Bayldon, H. Crump, surveyors, and T. Powderell and W. Me Williams (usually known as "Daldy") chainmen, were employed cutting lines at the Pukerangi block on the Te Aroba road, about 5 miles from Paeroa. Dinner was just over, and Mr Bayldon was standing by the instruments, the men bting disposed along the line, when they w^re astounded by some one calling out in* the Maori language, '• Palreha, look out or you will be shot." A; party of natives then suddenly, appeared, and

TIBED A VOLLEY at the astonished surveyors, who, however, at once realised the danger of the situations Fortunately none of the party were killed, which is to be accounted for by the hasty aim taken at them by the would-be murderers. " Daldy " Me Williams was the only one injured by the discharge, he being struck in the thigh and hand.

THE -woxnsps

were severe, but he had the presence of mind to lay down and sham death. The party, which numbered about fifteen, and belonged to the Ngatihako tribe, came over to where he was laying, but the semblance of death was so well maintained that '

THEY DID NOT TOMAHAWK , him. They were armed with guns and hatchets. . Befipre leaving MoWilliatns, one of the natives, whom Me Williams knows, cut off a portion of his hair and put it in his mouth, saying (in Maori), "You're done for.'' Wheu they had gone, Me Williams crawled, into the scrub, Where he found Pbwderell unhurt, and naturally supposed that the two surveyors were murdered. This, however, was not the cage. Bayldon and Crump ran off in a different direction to the chain men, and hearing no cries, did not think anyone was injured. They struck out for ,o

THEIB CAMPING PLACE,

where they remained in safety till evening when the constable' found them and; informed them of the shooting of McWilliams. We left the-latter and Powderell in the scrub. After the fear of pursuit had somewhat mitigated these two struck out for Paeroa, which they reached about 5 o'clock. On the news reaching Paeroa

THE EXCITEMENT AND INDIGNATION of. the population of that rural township knew no bounds. A strong party was immediately formed,- including several members of the Thames Scottish No 3 Company, and started out to eee. if any assistance could be rendered. When the messenger reached Grahamstown. be at once communicated with the police, and Mr Inspector Thompson at once telegraphed the particulars as far as them ascertained to the Hon the Native Minister, and Mr Sub-Inspector Kenny and Dr B. F. Andrews left for Paeroa. Major Murray took the earliest opportunity of advising the officer in command of the No. 3 Scottish at Ohioemuri to put himself at once under Sub-Inspector Kenny's orders there, and the Major offered to Superintendent Thomson the immediate , .

-';.-.% BBBVICBB 9F 200 MEN, fully officered, armed and equipped; At about midnight

MS fIHEKHAN's BEPLY

wag receired by Mr Thompson. It was to the effect that he would arriTe here this afternoon, and at once proceed to Ohinemuru At 2 o'clock in the morning the steamer Te Arolia arrived here from Ohinemuri with the iiews that. Messrs Crump and Bayldon'were safe, which considerably reduced the excitement of the public, which rumor, with its thousand tongues, had considerably increased since the news first arrived. The steamer

BROUGHT DOWN ■MC WILLIAMS,

who was at once conveyed to the hospital. He was unconscious from loss of blood, being wounded in the thigh, breast and fingers. Up to the time of writing there is nothing to show what was the

CAUSE OF THE OUTHA.GE. The natives are supposed to belong to the Ngatibako tribe occupying a bapu near the confluence of the Waihou and Ohinemuri rivers. If this surmise is correct, the natives are the same party who stopped the snagging operations on the Waihou river some time ago. The •

WHOLESALE MtTBDEB OF BUBVEYOBB wfls a favorable pastime of our unsophisticated colored brethren some years ago, and we sincerely hope, the Government will at once set their loot on this kind of work, and we are sure of they only, but say the word a strong force q{ fully equipped men could be raised at a few hours notice, who would be prepared to

MABCH THBOUGH THE, ISLAND

from north to south, and demand the handing over of the would be murderers, aye, even at the gate at Parihaka itself.