Arrest of the Maori Rioters.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4438, 27 March 1883, Page 2

Arrest of the Maori Rioters.

(Per Pjbess Association.)

Wellington, Yesterday

A proclamation was signed by .his Xx cellency the Governor at an early hour this morning, calling out theTeAwamutu Cavalry, and the Hinemoa was ordered to be in readiness to take up 160 men from Opunake to-morrow morning. Armed with the Proclamation, Mr Bryce this morning called out the Te Awamutu Cavalry, which duly mustered on the.spot.

This morning the news was wired that the Maori rioters, numbering about 20 were then crossing the Whatiwhalihoe bridge on their way to Alexandra, where they duly arrived shortly before noon. They wore met by the .European force, and summoned to surrender. JVlahapuki replied with defiance, going to the front of his men and calling on God and TeWhiti to aid him and destroy his opponents. There . : was no .{supernatural response, however, and in afe^f minutes the- whole 20,. including Mahapuki, were arrested, firmly secured, and marched off as prisoners to the Alexandra barracks, whence they will be in due course removed for trial. On the satisfactory intelligence being received of this farourabie termination of the affair, the orders for the sailing of the Hinemoa were countermanded, and all is now expected to go on quiotly "as before. . AucKiiAMD, Yesterday. This morning the obstructionists, numbering 40, rode on horseback into Alexandra, Mahuki leading the way, shouting like a luuatic, and calling upon his God to sare him and destroy the Europeans. Coming up the road leading from Whatiwhatihoe bridge into the township they encountered Mr Aubio, the well-known storekeeper, immediately seized and bound him, and pitched him into the fern ike a pig. Another European, Mr Benge, the schoolmaster at Alexandra, seeing them advance, made tracks, and got safely away. Directly afterwards they were met by the Te Awamutu Cavalry and constabulary, who made very short work of them, the whole party being quickly apprehended and lodged in tbe redoubt to await the course of justice. Messrs Wilkinson and Hursthouse are now at

Alexandra, the latter having come in to confer with Mr Bryce. The Premier has been closeted with Mr., Bryce all day on native affairs. Arrangements had been made for calling out the Waikato and Waiuku Cavalry, and orders had been sent to Wellington for the Hine* moa to bring up the A.C. force at Opunake. The capture of the obstructionists renders these- steps unnecessary. Mahuki, the ringleader, and 23 of his followers wjll be brought down by special train to-night undrr escort, and will be met shortly after midnight at Newmarket railway station by Inspector Thomson and *a detachment of Auckland police, and escorted to Mount Eden gaol. . . . .-.,.-. ~~-»--