THE MAORI TROUBLE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3646, 23 October 1890, Page 2

THE MAORI TROUBLE.

Amntf Mstolwrs. [By Telegraph] (United Press Association.) Auckland, October 22. During the last few days there have been rumours of a now fanatical fad, originated by a native named Mahuki, in respect to which some trouble was expeoted on account of the large influence lent to the movement by suoh chiefs aa Eewi and others. Mahuki soma years ago, -with 40 followers', attacked ■ Messrs Hurst, bouse and Nowson, surveyors, and subjected'them to most cruel treatment and indignities. He then led his followers to' the invasion of the township of Alexandra. They reckoned without their host, however, on this adventure, for the Armed Constabulary, under ; Captain Gascoyne, : then stationed at Alexandra, not only prevented the attack, but captured the attacking party, and Mahuki and his friouds wore brought prisoners to Auckland n'nd tried before Mr Justice Gillies, Mahuki, • as the ringleader, was sentenced to a year's' imprisonment, and the _ others to lesser terms. Ho has now invented a new religion, and sot himself up. as a prophet. His vagaries in the neighbourhood of Te Kuiti have given a good deal of uneasiness to the settlers. It is reported that his audacity reached such an extent of development that he has taken possession of some stores at To Kuiti. Intelligence '■. of' these doings reached' Mr Lowis,- Undor' Secretary of Native Affairs, yesterday. He at once communicated with the Premier'at Wellington, and instructions were received to quell the disturbance and'ariest' Mahuki, 1 : To carry out this order Captain:M,orrisQa find a slronu detachment of the Permanont Forco and Inspector Brohsm with Constables, Lamb, Oollis, Dewes, O'Brien, Finnerty, Clark, Dunn, M'Coyf Mathesoh, and Deleotives Kirby and

Hughes, who will', bo joined at Huntley by a contingent under ' Inspector Eraorson, left at 1,10 a.m. for Te Kuiti by Bp ecial train. Mr Lewis accompanies' the expedition, which will te joined i it Otorohanga by Mr Wilkinson, Native Agent. WELLiNQioh I, October 25. The Government has received a long telegram fron l the UnderSecretary 0f.,-.Nati ,v 0.,. Affairs n the disturbance at Tekuiti. It states v that, the'party/' arrived at 7 a.m. in' pouring' rair i. '■ -The stores which the' Maoris j'esterday took possession of are i iilongaide the Railway va'sV-arranged that armiir / .'atibliltl : >be left in''' the' tiair i : ih'jjchafge' of the permanentv' niilititijj and that ,the,ai'restsi siKmi/d.b'e] made by the police, .who were'oi?. ily armed battens, On reaching •: the stores it was found.;' that. ; all,, tlie\ Maorie's" implicated 1 .except,. 4f jabtiki himselt. he'd returned , to, ,-Teku liiti..,' Mahuki was at once arrestedj In'; indouffcd, and placed in safei ; .Jceep|l,bgi '/Inspector then]' prpefee Jde'dji to; jtake 1 * evidence as to the 1 on'' ijra'ge.*' Taonui ' stated that ; Mahuki 1 |ad ! threatened to tie him up tp-dayV;; ; He'rlWiui) ns well as' all rightminded' i natives of the' place, approved of-tke>' | ictio,n.tako& by the authorities. v^'AfJter r Mahuki's arrest the people bega!|n- to and ultimately:, "a,lbaStbh, of; about twenty, all who could b- je identified as haying laken v part';invj tho'; outrage, were arrested., and i, handcuffed. Mahuki, 1 who commonci; id'Haranguing-' was separated from the'e ('.ttiers, "''Soma • of .those arrested jare (mere youths, but. all have a fanatical, bxcitod look, which in their leader a mounts to a ■'■ sort of frenzy. They v appeared to desiroi to pose as ma Jrtyrs. Four constables have been lefi t at Tekuiti as the other of Mnhuk ji's followers have threatened some of t |ie residents. On his arrival at Aucklan |d, Mair will telegraph to Eewi, who h as become a sympathiser of Mahuki, a* Jvising him. to return home, Mahuki and peoplehaying threatened it thi'.iy had not. done sufficient yesterday t jbey 'would to-day do something h (inch more notable. The number' of; /prisoners is twenty-two. ' I ' ; Later, /The Natives were brou; ?ht before Mr Phillips, J.P, at the Pt' dice Court and charged with forcible entry and assault, The cases were remanded till the 20th inst, and thf i prisoners ssrit to Mount Eden gaol, .1 I