ARMED NATIVES AT TE AROHA.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 716, 18 January 1877, Page 2

ARMED NATIVES AT TE AROHA.

THE RIVER BLOCKADED. ATTENDANTS ON THE CAMBRIDGE LAND COURT TURNED BACK. The Te Aroha steamer on Sunday took a party from Grahamstovvu up to view the Broomhail Settlement .and lands adjoining. From Paeroa, says our Auckland couteuiporary the " Herald," the small steam launches, Fairy and Buona Ventura proceeded up the Thames river for some 40 miles, through first class country, but were challenged by an armed party of Mioris, who insisted on their landing, and after making inquiries and search for any of the Ohinemuri natives declared that if they had found them they • would have killed them, as the land belonged to them, and not to the other Maoris who had taken upon them to sell to Mr Mackay. The first stoppage took place about five milea below the Omaha settlement, on the Te Aroha block. A party of about forty natives were on the bank, and after some hesitation on the part of those on board the steamer Buona Ventura, it was stopped, and a Maori came on board and made an inspection of all who were there. The ire of the Maoris was excited apparently against 'the-.Ohinemuri natives, who had sold Te Aroha, and they were determined that not one of them should pass up the river. On the second steamer, the Fairy, coming up, a number of natives lined the bank, and actually pointed their guns at those on board. After seeing that no Maoris were there, they said they would not interfere with Europeans. They then fired off their gun over the heads of the excursionists, who heard the bullets whizzing through the air. When the Europeans were leaving the neighbourhood of the settlement, the Maoris told them that no more whites must come up there. They said emphatically, "Don't let Mackay come up here; we will shoot him." Things seem to be getting worse. On Monday a number of the Ohinemuri natives, including Kopata te Pokiha and Tinipoaka* were going up the river to attend a' Land Court at Cambridge, when they were stopped at Te Aroha, and compelled to turn back. The Ohinemuri natives, on the other

of affairs has arisen. Mr Fuckey, Native Agent at the Thames, and llopata came lo Auckland last night, probably to consult with Ministers on the situation between the different sections of natives.