THE LATE FRACAS AT TAURANGA.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 769, 28 January 1871, Page 2

THE LATE FRACAS AT TAURANGA.

The disturbance which took place between the Arawa and the Ngaiterangi, on the day of the Frince's visit, was regarded ;at the time with some degree of apprehension, as the ill-blood aroused threatened to continue. There is no doubt that the Arawa were the aggressors, and their conduct through the day was offensively domineering. In the first place HenareTe Pukuatua, Fox, and another Arawa chief pushed themselves forward in order to be the first to greet the Prince on landing, and this was considered by the N~gaiterangi to be a studied insult, as Tauranga was always the district proper of the latter tribe, who would not have similarly obtruded themselves at Maketu, on the ground of the Arawa, whose subsequent conduct, in the after part of the day, was not calculated to allay angry feeling thus provoked. Indeed, Henare and a halfcaste Arawa named 3lotite, wantonly struck some of the Tauranga people, and rudely pushed one or two of the Armed Constabulary. The fight speedily became general, and Henare, who is an athletic, vigorous man, wielded his "taiaha" like a broadsword, felling people right and left, and inflicting severe cuts on the faces of several people in the crowd, halfcastes and Europeans as well, In the absence of other weapons, a pile of firewood was laid under contribution by the other party, and blows were dealt indiscriminately on the nearest persons. I have mentioned that constable Swan was deprived of consciousness for some time, and a Maori from Rangiwaea reported to be fatally wounded, but since recovered. It appears that Colonel Moule had left for Maketu when the fight took place, but was immediately sent for, and on his return the captain of the Virago was induced to delay his intended departure for a few days. A boat from the man-of-war, with a gun, was ordered to cruise about the harbor all night, and one or two succeeding nights. The following day passed over quietly, although the Ngaiterangi came armed to take reyenge. —Correspondent of " Herald."