The Native Outrage.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3337, 2 September 1879, Page 2

The Native Outrage.

The Present Position,

In yesterday's issue we presented to oar readers a correct though somewhat brief " pigeongraphcd" report of the latest occurrences at Ohinemuri. Mf Sheehan intended to proceed to Obiuemuri yesterday afternoon, only waiting the arrival of Mr Superintendent Thompson and Messrs Puclcey and Wjlkinson, of whose departure from, Paeroa to consult Mr Sheehan we wero advised yesterday. It was seven o'clock before the steamer with these gentlemen arrived at Shortland, and they speedily proceeded to the Pacific Hotel to interview the Minister on the affair nnder the new aspect it had assumed. The result of this interview was that Mr \ Slieehan decided to postpone his visit to Ohinemuri till after the meeting of the Council of the. Tribe * of Hauraki. If this august assemblage decides that the Ngatihakos have done wrong in firing on the survey party, the bands of the authorities in demanding the surrender of _ the actual aggressors would be considerably strengthened, and the difficulty would toon over, and the ends of justice satisfied.. However, it is beyond contradiction that the Pakeha and Maori ideas of right and wrong are two entirely different thing*, and the Hauraki Council may prefer washing its hands of the wlible affair to causing the handing over of their fellow-countrymen to be dealt with according to the laws of the European. This, as far as we can learn, is about the position.

I WHY THE ESPJEDITIOK DID NOT 60. As we intimated in yesterday's Star the midnight expedition to Pakara's settlement, planned for Sunday evening and postponed again till yesterday, was abandoned for the time being. The expedition was to consist of the men of Thames Scottish No. 3 Company, and some other volunteers, with Superintendent Thomson and Sub Inspector Kenny in command. Mr Thomson found his little army, though I zealous and brave, almost.entirely undit-1 ciplined, so much so that many of the men I

of the Thames Scottish Company were unable to load the weapons properly. However, it was nevertheless believed as the natives had apparently got no wind. of their intention, that the force available would bo quite adequate for the service required, and the men were ordered to muster at the wharf, prepared to proceed up tho river. The plan of operations was as follows :—The expedition was to land at tho junction and march on the Kgatiiiako settlement, which was to be quietly surrounded and a demand sent to the natives for tho surrender of the lawbrcakerg. If this mandate was refused it wan intended vtd attempt the capture. In pursuance of this scheme the men mustered, but Mr Thomson had to inform them that the expedition was to be postponed. It ! appearn that tho guide who had been engaged to conduct the ibrce had been spirited away by his relatives, and notwithstanding that search was made for ■ tho absentee, he was unprocurable. Ahi Pepene, a Te Aroha native who, knowing the snaggy channel of the Wailiou, had been engaged as pilot, also backed out, his reason being that if he was knocked over the complication would be intensified, as his tribe would desire to avenge his death and minple in the fray. Of course, under these circumstances, the carrying out of the intentions of the authorities was out of the question. Mr Thomson explained the state of the cast to the men and the expedition was postponed. In the morning the men again mustered, bat in the meantime the authorities had reason to believe that Pakara's hapu had got wind of their intended movements,. while reliable information was to hand that the Ngatihako had been reinforced by 30 or 40 Piako natives,,and were'reaiy to resist force witfe. ffbrcei Messrs Puckey, Thomson, Wilkinson and Kenny held a council of war, when Mr Puckey, in face of the new aspect of the position, expressed an opinion that with the small force available and the character of the natives, it would be both impolitic, unwise, and dangerous to proceed up the Eiver. In this opinion Mr Wilkinson and Mr Kenny concurred. Mr Thomson of course depended entirely on the officers of the Native department for his native information. He however had instructions' to effect the capture of Pakara and Epiha, and to permit the expedition to fall: through was -taking considerable responsibility. However he obtained from Messrs Puckey and Kenny memoranda giving their reasons for the desirability of a postponement. The men were again dismissed. Mr Thomson hat however placed them on pay, and they will be drilled twice a day by Mr Kenny. .