THE SCARE NEAR ROTORANGI. Cambridge, September 13.

Waikato Times, Volume IX, Issue 518, 14 September 1875, Page 2

THE SCARE NEAR ROTORANGI. Cambridge, September 13.

I HATH no doubt^ that various rumoun will hare reached you regarding the affair on Mr Walker's property near liotorangi Up here tho matter gave rise to no alarm whatever, but as it is possible that sensational canards may get afloat in other parfs of the district, I think it only right that tho facts should be made known through your widely circulated columns. If appears that a number of men all " New Chums" but one, and little acquainted with " je manners and customs of ye natives," have taken a contract on land leased by Mr Walker. The lease has been disputed by a party of natives, who hare not the shadow of a tite to the land, but want to extract money from Europeans. The II new t-huma " unacquainted with tho bouncible character of tho natives, became alarmed at the demonstrations if a few old women and I hear, wished to end the contract on receiving a portion of the money. Mr Walker, who throughly understands the Maori character, and the hollowneaß of the claims now put forward, refused to make any paymont until the contract was completed, being convinced moreover that the workman were merely " funking" without cause. To make matters worse, however, tho men *ent pig-hunting on the native land, and were warned off. It appears that they misunderstood this, supposing it to apply to the land upon which they were working. I m»y state that the set tiers living on the confiscated boundary fully comprehend and respect the txtremw t'juchines* of the natives regarding any interference with pigs, timber, or property bevor.d t*ie b'Undiry, and no hitch ever occurs, but with new con. era the cafe is different. Tt appears that on Friday morning the men were returning to thoir woik, when they observed a fire on the ground, and saw, or thought they saw natives on the ground Without a word of parity t'u-y mule tra ka for the Queen's Rt doubt, where they narrated a sensational story, depicting the hair breath escipe they had. Sergeant Macintosh, who is in charge of the redoubt at Rotorangi, where a detachm-nt of the Armed Constabulary is stationed, tojk their statement down in writing. The Beared workmen besought him to sand out an armed eseoit to recover their tools, but the Sergeant, with an amount of good judgment that docs him'much credit refused to comply with the request. Thus the matter stood on Saturday last. I have no doubt that as soon si the men have recovered their blue funk they will go back to their work and thingt will resuiao tho even tenor of their way. To show the funk the men were in, I may relate a etory wh'ch I have obtained from one of them. Tim biggest of them told the Sergeant that if he hid arms ho would go back to the spot himself. Tho sergeant jokingly offered to lend him two revolvers, but the man looked sheepish, and backed out.