THE OHINEMURI MAORI OUTRAGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue XIII, 11 September 1879, Page 2

THE OHINEMURI MAORI OUTRAGE.

THE DEFENCE OF THE NATIVES. Gbahamstown, Tuesday. Thl meeting or council of Hauraki chief s, for the purpose of trying the perpetrators of the late outrage at Ohinemuri, commenced its sittings on Friday morning, iv a paddock near I'aeroa. The Ngatihakos did not arrive until nearly 12 o'clock. They numbered m all about 40 persons, 10 of whom were women. Fifteen of the men were dressed m fighting costume, and carried double-barrelled guns. On approaching the place of meeting, these men fired a volley m the air. On nearing the other tribes they were greeted with cries of welcome, and the waving of shawls, mats, &c. The day was then taken up with the formal speeches and salutations usual on such occasions, and about 5 o'clock the meeting was adjourned until the following morning. Ou Saturday morning, 'the tribes assembled afc halfpast 9 o'clock, and at once elected Kaika, of Kirikiri, President, and Hone Naho, Secretary. Wepiha, or Epiha, ono of tho 1 cidprits, was the first -witness examined. He stated that the cause of the trouble was the survey. He did not see any Maoris among the survey party, and tho only European he saw was the one he shot. The land which was being surveyed belonged to him or his tribe (tho Ngatihako). 'I lie general namo of the place is To Papa, but this particular block is called Tangiwha, and extended to Kirifcuna, and the boundaries were bewccn those two places. It was on tho second piece wore . tho pakeha was shot. Somo of the other tribos were aware that they owued this laud. The Europeans ' had no claim to tho land through native custom. There were a great many owners to the land. All the Ngatihako, aud somo people of other tribes who wore connected ' with them, were the owners. Ho could not sivy whether the Europeans were the instigators of tho survey. Betides McWilliarus, be say/- thvee others. Ko !

only knew ono of thorn, wh? was a half- j casto called Tommy. The oniv reason for shooting was on account of tho survey. Ho further stated that a groat many of his lands had been surveyod by tho European without his concurrence, and that m every case ho had ordorod tho survey parties away, but they would uot go. He referred to the stoppage of tho snagging operations on tho vVaihou, andmontioned that it was only after taking the tools away that this work was stopped. All those actions of .the Europeans were trampling on their (Maori) laws, and that was why he had resorted to tho shooting. He was not aware that their was any dispute* m connection with the land among the natives. In an-.wer to a question, Why tho people snagging had only their property taken from thorn, white tho surveyors had been shot at V ho replied, some wha 1 ; evasively, "My reason was because the pakeha, after being turned back m the first instance, did not attempt any of these works for a long time, but after stopping the snagging they only waited five months before they commenced the survey" Besides his own tribe, the foUowing people had a claim on tho land :— Tukupopa, Te Ora, Erentara, Hunia te Weu, and Te Poldhi. No one had ever told him the land hacl been sold to the Europeans. " I am the person who gives forth the word nr connection with these matters, and I have Raid if the pakehas go to survey our land thoy will be shot." Mr Bayldou was also examined, but his evidence was only a repetition of much of what has already been reported. The examination is being carried on m a very systematic manner, and all the evidence is being carefully recorded. The culprits are very unwilling to give themselves up, and it is very likely the A C. force will yet have to be called into requisition. It is said the Government are determined to have Pakara and W<*pika at all risks.