THE WAOTU NATIVE DIFFICULTY. The Survey Party Obstructed.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1774, 17 November 1883, Page 2

THE WAOTU NATIVE DIFFICULTY. The Survey Party Obstructed.

Am yet this difficulty, of which wo g.ive the particulars homo tune ago, has not been satisfactorily ananged, and it now lemains not only in the state in which we 01 igiiully found it, but something worse. The obhtiuctionist chief, Whatuaio, having been considerably reinforced by his followers, has now erected a pah or stockade, by way of forcibly supporting his claim to the land if necessary, and all his followers are said to be well armed, and ready for action on the smallest provocation. The other moining it came to the knowledge of Whatuaio and his party that Mr Donald Stubbing's survey party were busily engaged surveying ..the land in the immediate vicinity, and which is now the cause of dispute. The chief immediately despatched a number of his followers to request Mr Stubbing to desist, and probably to forcibly prevent them continuing 1 should they do so. The ob&ttuctionists were not satisfied with requesting the surveyors to " clear," but set about depriving them of their instruments. The latter, however, stuck well to their property, and the natives had to be contented with smashing a few poles and carrying off a fern hook. Whatuaio is going about .suppoiting his right in a manner which is certainly not in any way likely to forward his cause. By obstiuctiug a duly authorised .survey, he has made himself liable to be arrested, and dealt with by the ordinary criminal law. Doubtless, as matters have now approached a climax*, the law will be resulted to to settle the difficulty. Whatuaio evidently is wise enough to let his followeis do the work of obstructing, while he stays behind and pulls the wii c«. Tt is quite possible that the next step whic.j this worthy obstructionist will take will bj the assuming of the prophetic powei. Harry Symonds and his people, evidently bant on not being taken by surprise, continue to keep armed and l'e.idy for action, and always maintain a good look-out for an approach of the enemy,