NATIVE OUTRAGE. MR HURSTHOUSE TAKEN PRISONER. WAHANUI'S PLANS. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1671, 22 March 1883, Page 2

NATIVE OUTRAGE. MR HURSTHOUSE TAKEN PRISONER. WAHANUI'S PLANS. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

-~. Alex£.xiira,_ Yesterday. Mr! C. I HtJi«Tno|psß| wluf lefjjT here yesterda^- inorningMo repbrt_on trie practicability of a railway between here and Taranaki has again, this time forcibly, been stopped by natives near Te Uira. As-Mr^Hutsthous* was ,p\n% jtimo! under; llU'wing ofwliluinui, and 1 Was* actually' accompanied by Wetere Te Rerenga, the was generally supposed that his [mission would be unopposed. Such, however, turned out not to be the case. ' The firslrobstructionistsgracefully retired^ but the Te Kaumarau,-^ the Pariliaka returned crowd are called, proved irreconcilable. No doubt, being previously acquainted through Wetere's escort, they assembled near Te Uira in force. Mahukiti was their leader. On the party appvoaching he called r out; to, them that his God or spirit had' called' upon him to protect their land ; then to his followers, " Bring the pakeha here. 5 ' A rush was at once^madjj, for Mr Hursthoust:, who was in/th/ centfe? o&Jthe party.^ The escort, sSli^pirlg off theifthorses;- protected him and his companion. Over and under the horses rushed the attackiug party, who for some time were resisted. Te Hore receive^. » poinewhat -? severe blows in - the defence, blood < being spilt, the ' Europeans being also roughly handled on both sides. Te Wetere being highly afraid that .life might be lost, called out saying that 1 he- and" his Europeans would become, prisoners. The istrife immediately ceased, and all proceeded to the settlement, To Wetere at once sending an account to Walianui at Kopua, who is much concerned. He also sent news to the Government agent here, Mr G. Wilkinson, who proceeded to Kopua for consultation tljis morning. No apprehension ' need be felt' for the safety of the prisoners. The only motive for the natives' objection to Mr Hursthouse going through is to enter their protest" against what they consider the Native Minister's undue haste in forcing liis way through in the absence of T.nvhiao, or of any settlement having been come to of the differences between the two races. Later. Wetere te Rerenga, the Mokau chief who escorted Mr Hursthouse, has Just arrived here, and reports that .under "pretence of going on to Mokau he escaped from the" party "who stopped there. He says most of his party were stripped of their clothes in defending Messrs Hursthouse arid Newsham,; whom, , they had surrounded with their' horses. His men, seeing the determination of the attacking party, broke off their stirrup-leathers and irons to defend themselves. The Europeans, seeing bloodshed, called upon them' to desist, when all left for the settlement, each prisoner guarded. At present five men arc in different 1 houses.'' He has interviewed Wahanui, since, at Kopua, who is very indignant, at tl\e whole affair,^ and has sent put messengers in all directions 'in "the 'locality,* to assemble the natives to - morrow, to release or accompany the prisoners through. Mr Bryce havinaj put the responsibility on him, at least 200 will start from Kopua for Te Uira with this object. Your correspondent will accompany them. The wire closing forbids further news. Mr G. "Wilkinson, the Government Agent, retniudd here .with Wetere., ,