THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY AT OTOROHANGA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2304, 16 April 1887, Page 2

THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY AT OTOROHANGA.

We are pleased to have to report that what threatened to be n serious difficulty between the railway contractors and the natives has been satisfactorily arranged. As our readers are already aware, the disturbance commenced on Saturday, and as tho particulars of that

lay's proceedings have already been Dublished it will be unnecessary to refer ;o them here, further than to say the liapute was deemed to bo of so serious a iatnre that Inspector Kiely considered t necessary to at once proceed to Otoro:ianga in order to prevent any serious preach of the peace or destruction of property. He took with him Constables Wild, Jones and Ryan, and summoned 3ouatable Berriman from the Kuiti. The [nspecter arrived on the spot on Sunday afternoon, but finding all quiet, and judging that there was no liklihood of a renewal of the disturbance until Mr Ormsby's return from Auckland (for which place he left on Saturday afternoon), he directed all the constables to return to their stations, except Constable Berriman, who remained at Otorohanga. It was ascertained from Wahanui on Monday that Mr Kieley's surmise was correct, and that no further steps would be taken by the natives until Mr Ormsby's return, on Wednesday. It was the intention of the natives to hold a large meeting on Thursday, at which the whole question would be openly discussed* and a decision come to as to what further steps would be taken. Wahanui, Taonui, and the other chiefs present expressed their intention not to break the law or cause any disturbance so far as they were concerned, but they were determined to stand upon their rights. On Wednesday, Mr G. T. Wilkinson, Government Native Agent (who had just returned from the Thames) arrived, and at once interviewed both the contractors ?and the natives, subsequently holding a long consultation with Mr Ormsby, on the latter's arrival by train. The same train brought Constables Wild, Lowther and Ryan. On Thursday morning, at 9 o'clock, Mr Wilkinson and Inspector Kieley, accompanied by Constable Berriman, proceeded to Mohoaonui. where. the native meeting was to be held, the remaining constables having been posted at the gravel pit with instructions to remain there until further orders. On the arrival of Messrs Wilkinson and Kiely the meeting commenced. Mr Ormsby addressed the natives, telling them the result of his mission to Auckland. He was followed by Wahanui. Taonui and several others, and then Mr Wilkinson addressed the meeting. The position taken by the native speakers was, that while they were willing to come to reasonable terms with the contractors, they were determined to uphold their rights by force, seize the pit and, one speaker went so far as to say, destroy the temporary bridge over the Waipa, leading to the pit. As arranged. Inspector Kiely then sent Constable Berriman for the contractors who, with Mr Hursthouse, Resident Engineer, arrived about noon. The matters in dispute were then discussed in the most friendly manner between Mr Ormsby and Messrs Coates and Mctcalfc, Mr Wilkinson interpreting. After some argument, it was conceded that the woman, Ngaonewhero, had no right to deal with the land, and the contractors offered the committee £50 for it, but Mr Ormsby explained that the committee were equally unable to sell, and said their terms were 2s a truck. The contractors demurred, as they considered it too high. Finally Is 6d per truck was agreed upon uy both parties. As regards Mr John Ormsby's action in the matter, he says he was at the bottom of the obstruction for the following reasons : —The contractors had received a notice to stop work from Wahanui; they then interviewed the latter, who declined to give his consent to the work going on, pending consideration of the matter by the natives. Mr Ormsby, as chairman of the native committee, took the steps already reported in this paper. When told that an agreement had been made with a native woman to take the gravel, he said it was illegal to deal with a single individual until the Court fixed the ownership, and that under the circumstances two courses were open to tlie contractors, which were, either to deal with the natives through the committee, or else apply to the Government and have the land proclaimed under the Public Works Act. After the struggle in the pit Mr Ormsby went to Auckland to take advice, and he came back determined to serve them again with notice to quit, and if they refused to go to take steps and compel them to do so. However they met the natives and the matter was settled on the terms mentioned. The charge of two shillings was made on the assumption that the truck held eight yards, and the price for gravel fixed upon some time ago by the committee was a shilling a yard for quantities up to a hundred yards, over that, for large quantities, such as would be required for ballasting, three pence a yard, and as the truck only contain six yards the price per truck comes to the amount originally fixed per yard. A lump sum of £50 was offered by the contractors, but was refused, as Mr Ormsby considered that whatever action was taken in this case would be a precepent for future occasions. This price is to be retrospective, and the £15 paid the woman is to be taken as on account, so that that sum will not be lost to the contractors. Mr Ormsby also states that this course is by no means in accordance with the advice of his solicitors, who told him the natives were quite justified in enforcing the discontinuance of the work, but he adopted the former course to save trouble. This should be a lesson to the Government to see that in similar cases in the future arrangement should be made by which such" unpleasantness may be avoided, as the Act expressly forbade dealing with an individual, whether ownership has been decided or not. It would be as well for all contractors iu future to deal only with those authorities recognised by the Government. Mr Ormsby disclaims any personal motives in the matter, and says that as chairman of the committee he is acting only iu the interests of the natives as a body.

It is generally admitted that Mr Ormsby acted throughout in a spirit of fairness and forbearance, and did much to bring about an amicable understanding. Mr Wilkinson and Inspector Kiely were unremitting in their efforts to preserve the peace and settle the difficulty. Both appeared to have acted harmoniously, and too much credit cannot be accorded them, and especially Inspector Kiely, (for Mi Wilkinson did not arrive until Wednesday), for preventing a cessation of work at the pit, which would have meant throwing some GO men out of employment. In this good work Mr Hursthouse gave invaluable assistance. The constables were also most attentive to their duties and put up most cheerfully with the privations inseparable from the nature of the mission. The police left Otorohanga on Thursday evening.