THE MAORIS AND THE DOG TAX.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 89, 14 April 1892, Page 5

THE MAORIS AND THE DOG TAX.

ARAWA CHIEFS ARRESTED.

EXCITEMENT AMDNGST THE NATIVES.

A great deal of excitement has been caused in the Bay of Plenty district amongst the local natives, who are chiefly of the Arawu tribe, by the arrest of five of their highest chiefs for nonpayment of the dog tax under the Dog Registration Act, and their imprisonment in Tauraaoa Gaol. The natives throughout New Zealand have always maintained a firm opposition to the dog tax, which they consider an imposition, and their pet hobbios of discussion at recent native meetings have invariably included the Treaty of Waitangi and the dog tax. A tew days ago the Government took the initiative by arresting two natives at Awhitu (Manukau Harbour) for failing to register their dogs or to pay the alternative line, and these two men are now in Mount Eden Gaol.

According to news telegraphed to town from Tauranga to-day the Tauranga police, on Tuesday, arrested five Arawa chiefs for default in payment of the dog tax, the natives being : Te Pokiha Taranui (Major Fox), Honaro Pukuatua, Hemi Wnata, Meta Teihoka, and Koroniria. These chiefs wero all convicted at Muketu last September of a breach of the Dog Registration Act, and were fined, with the alternative of three days' imprisonment in Tauranga gaol. The chiefs prayed the Government to remit the fines and also abolish the tax, especially as the Arawa, to which they all belonged, had fought all through the last war for the Queen and the Government. The Government, however, insisted on the fines being paid, but the warrants of committal were not received from the Justice Department until a few days ago. On Tuesday, acting under instructions from Inspector Emerson, Constable Hughes and Sergeant Kiely executed the warrants, and the prisoners were brought into Tauranga Gaol, where they now are. The three chiefs, Hemi Waata, Meta Teihoka, and Koroniria, were arrested in their own kainga at Maketu, and were brought in a buggy to Tauranga. No resistance was offered; Major Pokiha Taranui and Henaro Pukuatua were arrested near Te Puke. The natives in the various settlements aro greatly exercised about the arrest, as all the chiefs imprisoned are persons of great importance and rank amongst them, The matter will probably be considered at the big native meeting at Waitangi of Islands) this week. Major Pokiha Taranui is a celebrated chief of the Arawa tribe, and fought loyally for the Government during the Maori War and Te Kooti's campaign. He was given a major's commission, and had a sword of honour presented to him by the Queen as a reward for services during the war. He is in receipt of a Government pension. Henare Pukuatua also fought for the Government during the last war, and held a captain's commission in the native contingent. Herai Waata was formerly a native assessor, and Mota Teihoka was a late member of the local licensing bench.