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Threatening Attitude of Natives. Kawhia, Yesterday.

When writing on the 18th inst. in reference to the erection of beacons in our harbour, I did not anticipate that I should in two days have to inform you that they had been pulled up and broken by the natives ; such is, however, the case. Two chiefs of the Ngatimahuta tribe, named Tu te Ao and Tihirahi, having on the 19th inst. destroyed them. That they watched their erection by Capt. Fairchild with much apparent anger was quite evident, but I had no idea that they would so soon give vent to their spleen. They are now prepaiing to sink the bouys, and I have little doubt that they will put their design in execution, provided they are able to cut the chains, or make a hole in the bouys. This is after all, however, the lesser evil, as the property and lives of the European residents sue threatened if they do not obey the mandate of the Hauhau chiefs, and leave Kawhia within a few days. Formal notice to this effect has been tendered to them by the Maoris, and they are now in anything but an enviable situation. But for the firmness already exhibited by Mr Langley, who is our storekeeper, it is moie than probable that his store would before this have been robbed and pulled down. The Hauhau chiefs, more especially those of the Ngatimahuta tribe, openly declare their intention of doing all in their power to prevent Europeans occupying the sections on the proposed township, as they maintain the land is theirs, having never been legally sold or transferred. The stopping of the Raglan and Kawhia road has had a good deal to do with the change in the attitude of the natives. Te Ngakau has been circulating the idea now prevalent among them, that when he told the Government he would not allow them to make that road, they immediately ceased working upon it, thus showing that they were afraid to go on with it in opposition to their wishes, and now that they have been so successful in this instance, they should have courage and prevent the Europeans getting a footing in Kawhia at all. Of course, we are aware that this opinion of theirs in regard to what has caused the stoppage of the work is not correct, but still the public must perceive that stoppage of the work on this road, during the existing state of Maori opinion, can be termed anything but a fortunate or judicious piece of policy. It has been adopted by the Maoris as a sign of temerity on the part of the Native Minister, and I am prepared to state that if the work had now been going on, our present trouble would have had no existence. The Ngatimahuta tribe are now removing all their women and childien from the settlements on the west side of the harbour. King Tawhiao is now at Torea, and is watching proceedings with a careful eye. The native mind has not been more unsettled in Kawhia for many years. I shall communicate immediately anything fresh happens. — (Own Correspondent).

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT18830922.2.14.1

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1750, 22 September 1883, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
525

Threatening Attitude of Natives. Kawhia, Yesterday. Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1750, 22 September 1883, Page 2

Threatening Attitude of Natives. Kawhia, Yesterday. Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1750, 22 September 1883, Page 2

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