THE LATE NATIVE RUMOUR

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 7010, 4 January 1877, Page 2

THE LATE NATIVE RUMOUR

We have, since the publication of Ihe late Dative rumour that two men had been killed on the Gam. bridge and Taupo road, taken some trouble to -enquire into the matter, and find that it originated as follows. A ' survey party had arrived in Cambridge, end a native named Hamiora asked what was the cause

of their leaving, when a storekeeper, prompted by th« spirit of mischief said that the road party had been attacked^ and one man killed. . The native went, away, believing the story* and it i was taken up direct to as the letter ot 9?** ' Ko.pua Correspondent informed «s, and there -received ia-all faith by the -natives. '■• We also leam from Oarabridge, thai* no -fresh seizure of cattle has ; been made. That, indeed, was the -..0n1y -part ofHhe rumour that appeared oto deserve any*€re^ deuce, and. it as satisfactory to find th^ at !i? without foaiidation^Since making- these ' investigations; •? we hay^),seea and spoken' with one ofthe road party, :in Uainiftbnj who only left the canip on Monday, and he states ./that b r a ,p&rfeot good feeling exists between the members of the A 0 Force employed there and the natives living in the vicinity of thp work. The nearest flettlemesfc 'is ' Watoiii, . and the natives are constantly backwards and forwards with potatoes aud-oiher sappHes for the caiaap, and ai*o mosit friendly and obliging..

•One thing; ai l«ast ; the runioar has Lad fche 1 effect of showing bow great- the .concern with which the iiifceUigehce, wliicfc'they believed to be. true,' was > received by the Sing natives. There was no -expression ■*. of -syniLpathy for- the .supposed, murderers, ho bounce, no putting on 7 of war paint, but on the contrary .the^was a-n expression of very .grave Jconfiern lest a mischance should have arisen which would' probably have endangered the peaceful relations ;at"|)resent : existing between the two races,. .. '