LATE NATIVE OUTRAGES. GENERAL ASPECT OF MATTERS.

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 158, 13 May 1873, Page 2

LATE NATIVE OUTRAGES. GENERAL ASPECT OF MATTERS.

• A gentleman, m^io is trarclling overland from Napier to Auckland, has favoured us with the following important information :— At about 6 o'clock on Saturday evaning, Mr Mackay, when on Ins way from Alexandra to Cambridge, noticed fires on PukeLura range. Mr Sheehan, M.H.R r who was at Cambridge, also saw fires on the poak. These are supposed \a bo Tery significant. At about half-past 10 o'clock on Saturday night, shots were heard by a settler named Laurence in- the direction of Mr E. B. Walker's place. 1 Major Clare and seven Constabulary, accompanied by Mr 1 Sheehan, M.H.R. , and Mr Tregear, rode to Mr Walker's and found thirteen armed men, ready to- defend the place. They rode across the s-wanip towards the Norwegian Mill, and thence back to the settlement, visiting settlers' houses on the road. No signs of natives were observed. The fact of fire arms hiving been discharged as amply substantiated by settleis. On arriving,at Cairibridge, they found that other shots had been, heard, during their absence, in tlie direction of the ranges to the left of the bridge. During their absence, Mr Alackay had sent a mounted orderly to (Japt Runciman requestuig him t» come in at once with such of his men as he could muster, {shortly afterwards he appeared with about l."> troopers. It was then arranged tihat two patrols should be sent out again at four o'clock in. the morning. At four o'clock Captain Runciman proceeded with 10 n'en in the direction of the Tiki, with instructions to proceed as far as the Kupapa settlement in the Maungatautan ranges. At the same time Major Clare, with a party of 10 men, started for the Moanatiiatua*vyainp, patrolling the line of country towards Walker's station, thence along the swamp roud towards the ranges where the murder was committed. Messrs Mackay and Sheehan were to have accompanied the party, but did not start till 10 minutes nfterw&rds. About half a mile from the bridge they met two oi Major Clare's party, who had been detailed to take them ou, to the rest of the party. They, rode on with the intention of overtaking Major Clare. Dense fog f prevailed and prevented their doing so ; tbey consequently set, to woik on their own account, and scoured the country between Walked station and the ranges. Immediately before dayj light they proceeded towards the ranges, passing by the I Norwegian Mill, and going on for some distance, turning back at the place where Sullivan and his party were surprised, The whole of tho country traversed was covered by dense scrub, especially adapted for surprise. Returning from there along the foot of the ranges by the lagoon road, they reached O'Ned'» homestead) about 7 a.m. They observed a young lad running in great haste along the road towards them, who, m coining up, told them that he had just been out to bring in some cows and had been chased by a native who had been lying in tho fern. The party returned te the spot where tho native h.id been, seen^ Ou arriving there Mr Mackny requested Mr Sheehan to return to the township and bring out nil the men that could be mustered. Ho (Mr Mackay) and the two troopers remainod to examine the manuka scrub. In about twenty minutes time Mr Sheehan returned with Major Clare and a party of nine man. An active search was at once commenced through the country leading up towards the range. . < ■. o p'Wcii v\orp observed where some persons had lam during the night. About a quarter to nine they gave over the search, and were returning to the town, when a cooey was heard across the range in the direction of the Moanatuatua swamp. In going towards the ipot they met two settlers, who said they had heard ihots fired a short time before. They then returned to- camp where they met Colonel Lyon, who had just arrived from Hamilton. After a lapse of about an hour, Mr Mackay ,. accompanied by an orderly, proceeded to the spot where shots had been last heard, and thence towards Walker's station en a piece of newly ploughed ground,, where naked foot-prints ware observed. At one spot they were observed in such positions as to pr»ve that there had been three persons who had either sat or crouched down together on the ground, the imprint of the butts of their guns being distinctly recognizable. The result of the whole enquiry makes it clear that at teast three of Purukutu's people had been prowling about in the vicinity of the township. About six shots in all were heard during the night. About half-past one Major Jackson, with a party of fifteen men arrived from Rangiawania, and after remaining a couple of hours returned. About live o'clock Mr Mackay issued a notice to the natives resident in and about Cambridge that they were to be in their houses by bbs o'clock, and tthat mo natives would be allowed to leave or ' como kite the township during the night. This order was readily obeyed by the natives present. During Sunday night mounted patrols were sent out round tho out-settle-ments. In the courae of Sunday several settlers with their families arrived, and it was reported that firing had been heard in the ranges during the afternoon. On Monday morning at 10 o'clock the Ngatihaua and Ngatiraukawa wero assembled. A " rananga " was held the night before Mr Mackay s muider was attempted. The night was spent in deliberating as to- what was to- be done. It was resolved by those present, whonumbexed 100, includingaany influential chiefs, that Mt Mackay should die r and four men were told off to curry out the resolution. Of the four only one turned up. Maneha, Te Kiwi, Kihi Nuku (the prime mover in Todds murder), and other chiefs were present at the meeting. On Air Mackay going \nto his tent to retire for the night, he found an ase at the door. Thinking that it might be made use ot by some evil-dispased native, he threw it into the ti-tree. Alter the attack had been made, and Mr Mackay taken to< Rewfa quarters,, the natives who had determined up»n hia being Silled, demanded no less than three times during, the day from Mauuwhiri, permission to go in a body and till Mr Mackay. Rewi behaved splendidly. Upon hearing of the attack, he rushed to the tent and helped Mr Mackay to wash the blood that was flowing from the wouad. He also took him to his own quarters, and told a party of his men, sixty in number, to load their guns and have them in readiness to shoot the first Waikato that attempted the stream that separated the nouses occupied by the two peoples. R«wi further proclaimed publicly that he and his people would protect Mr Mackay at the hazard of their own lives, and added that if any harm came to Mr Mackiy, he would go into Cambridge and deliver himself up to Government a» payment. He said to the Waikatos, "I joined with you infighting against the pakeha, and was quite willing fo fight to the end, and that if the pakehas were strong enough they should kill us and take our lands. I fought them, but I fought them fairly and openly ; and they v< ere the first to-say, ' Let us make peace.' I consented unwillingly that peace should be made, although so far as I am concerned, it has been a peace,, but it has not been so with you. You have lent yourselves to a series of cow ardly outrages which have just culminated in the attack made on Mr Mackay, a man you had invited to your place, and who had partaken of your food. If you* want to fight why don't you say so, and do it in ax open and manly way. You will not have mj support in a struggle which shall arise" out of these murders of Europeans." During the night which Mr Mackay spent at his place, Rewi had his men- divided into three parties, acting a3 sentries over the house in which Mr Mackay was sleeping. The endeavours made by Mr Mackay to obtain an audience with the King were unproductive of reiult. A meeting was nvoided, the King giving as nn excuse that they could not think of meeting him after the- outrage which had been committed upon him in their settlement. Mr Mnckay then sent for Rewi, and formally demanded of him that the murderers should be given up to him to bo tried by the law. Rewi, in reply, said the demand was a fair one, and that he (Rpwi) on three previous occasions had demanded that murderers should be delivered up. In reference to this particular murder, he wuhed that tune should be given them in order that thp matter might be fully discussed sit tho ensuing meeting. Mr Mackny then consented to wait till the 20th niatuut for a reph , distinctly informing them, however, that he would not consider himself bound to insist if any fresh outrage occasioned in the meantime. Amongst tho people Mr Maclav met at Te Kuiti was the notorious Te Kooti, who is now living with Rcwi's people. He expressed lnmhll in the strongest terms in condemnation of the attempt to murder Mr Mackay, and volunteered to form one of the parly to escort Mr Mackay back to the frontier line. In Cambridge, about 50 men werp present ; also Mr Msukaynnd Te Wheoro. Mr Macka) explained that this murdei was the fourth committed by the Waikato people since it was publicly proclaimed there was to be no act of iigresaire cUiMrscter committed. All friends or relations of King natives, he thought it right to inform them that his instructions were of a most positive diaractcv. The Government was determined to have Pukurutu and his accomplices handed over to be dealt with, by the law. At Rewi r s request he had given the King party time to consider what action they would take. The period will expire on the 20th of the present month. lithe reply were not favourable, steps would be at once taken to compel acquiescence. He had distinctly warned the King, through Rewi, that ho was well aware that it was the intention to follow Sulli\an's murder by others, and gave him to understand that if between that time and the 20th any fresh outrage took plnco he would follow up all parties concerned into the heart of tho King's country if necessary. Ho thought it (air to give them this explanation, because it might be a struggle with the King party would ame. He strongly ndvised those friendly to the Government, to stand perfectly clear of the whole business, and that 1 they could not do better than return to their severa 1 kaingns Speaking to the Ngatihaua section, he said ho i wns well aware that the (action that Purukutu had tnl»en I was partly owing to the action they hud taken m reference < to' lands in which Purukutu and hi» people were purt < own mm with themselves, but which the Ngatihaua had i lea ed or sold without reference to them. He had heard i that other nugoc iat ions in respect to those lands were ] then pending, and he required of them that until i tins mutter »n' -pitied one way or tho other that i the land should be allowed to lem.iin quietly. Inthecoirse c of his ad tod , which occupied about, an hour, he give them

distinctly to understand that the outrage could not be condoned, and that the consequence^ would be on the heads of those people who committed the murder, or sheltered the men who committed it. Leading men of all the tribes present spoke in reply to Mr Mackay, expressing entire approval of the determination the Government had come to in order to terminate the present state of affairs, and declared their utter disapprobation of the act, and expressed thoiv willingness to aid in any way in bringing the murderers to juikice. Aqting on Mr Maekay's advice, they wopldat once, return' to* their settlements, and. they would lurtlier temporarily cease the surveys that were being carried on. They requested that Mr Mackay vroulJ inform them of tho rpply wuicli would be given by the King in order'thtit tliey im^ht take necessary steps to protect theme selves. Hakariwi (Hargreaves), of the Ngatihaua, stated, in reference to the land upon, which the murder had been committed, that no further action would be taken until further instructions should be given to them by the Government.