THE PAEROA DISPUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 102, 30 April 1894, Page 4

THE PAEROA DISPUTE.

{ THREATENED HOSTILITIES.

WARLIKE MAORIS.

DESPATCH OF AN ARMED FORCE,

Is consequence of the dispute, at Paeroa, on the Upper Thames, between the Neatikoi and Ngatiwhaki sections of the Hanraki natives over the possession of a gravel' pit, a native demonstration took place today at Paeroa, and a serious breach of the peace was within the bounds of possibility. The Ngatiwhaki natives left the Parawai, Thames, to-day, for Paeroa, all armed with shot guns, for the purpose of making a big military display on entering Paeroa, and they were busily engaged yesterday in practising cavalry drill in order to make an imposing appearance as they arrive at that township this afternoon. The Ngatikoi hapu had erected a fence across the road leading to the quarry in dispute at Paeroa. On Saturday afternoon Inspector Hickson received instruction s from Wellington to take a combined armedforceof police andartillery to Paeroa, in order to prevent any serious breach of the peace there in consequence of the Maori inter-tribal dispute. Accordingly a detachment of 20 men from the Permanent Force at North Shore, under Lieut. Hume, came across to town last evenine and joined the police contingent, under orders for the "front." The Northern Steamship Company's steamer Paeroa was chartered to take the force up to-Paeroa. The Permanenb Artillery were armed with their rifles and the police with revolvers, as op the Kerei Kaihau expedition. The police force consisted of Inspector Hickson (in command) Sergeants Clarke, Macky, Acting • Detectives MoMahon and Bailey, Constables McDonnell (water police), Kelly, Jones, Quirk, Pardy, Hutchison, Walker, Rowles and Ready. The force left Auckland at halt-past six o'clock last evening for Paeroa in the Paeroa, and expected to reach that township on the Upper Thames River by two o'clock this morning.