ACTION OF THE GOVERNMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 102, 2 May 1898, Page 3

ACTION OF THE GOVERNMENT.

INSPECTOR IUCKSON'S REPORT,

"FANATICS WHO PEAK NOT

DKATH."

WELLINGTON, this day,

Inspector llickson reported to llio Minister of DcfoncQ yesterday afternoon : " Arrived at Raweno this afternoon, and was met by Mr (London, 8.M., Messrs Yarborough, Wallace ami Cluudon, justices, t-lio i.wii former from Kohnkohu, and the latter from [lawono. Mr Cluuden, S.M., inforiiied mo that he had sentaeoinmunication to tho natives in accordance with your \vL-hs--i of the "JDIh. A reply was rect'ived as follows; "Yes, we will play or otherwise light, this, too, tomorrow at Unworn*. I .shall coma with all my gun.H and we will light 10.morrow," Inspector llickson further reported that In; had M>nt out. an interpreter, Mr Brown, and a native ib reconnoitre, as ho had rereived iiiLimation tliai. a party-of natives wan i!(»min>{ up by water from Waima, and nnoih* r party IV land with (lie intention lit uneoinpaHMtn^ Rawene thattiitjht (Sunday). 1 have beun credibly informed," reported (nnpector tfittlcson, " that there ;ne only n() men wish arms ai. Waima, imt very probably they are gaining adherents. Thin: are a great many friendly nativiw, bn! it would take .some tim,e to collect them."

Mr Hickson liad consulted Colonel NojiWjji and Mr Webster, J.i\, and they as well as tho justice* previously mentioned wore strongly of uphjion that a Inr^e armed force was required in the district a.soon as possible, and he (iiiuk.Hon) ([iiitc. agreed wil'n ilium. The rchelliuus natives were ile.Hcribcd by hnpectoi- HtckAou a-* beint;

" i;tnaii<s who/ear not death," and ho advi'ci tho Government that a largo party, not I ••*.■; than from 60 to 90 men well armed :i!m! with a miui.ll battery of (,'un.s should bo at onec sen! up to the noetic of tho trouble.

Kawenu i« almost totally deserted, tho only people there being a fow men who ramc up irom Koimkuhu with Mr (,'letitlon. The report concluded hy mating that Colonel Noake.V house wan full of refugees.

At 7 o'clock last ni^ht a further telegram was received by in© Government from Mr Hifknoii, who wan hIUI at liawene. A number of natives vanic into Kawene and a party of Europeans* took refuge on the»,s. Gleneig.

KEY. OITTOS AND THE MAORIS,

The Hey, Mr (.JittOK went to tntret the native* and ft-tked them what they wanted, 'they ropiicU that they wanted to bo relieved ot all taxation and to \>u allowed to live jl> Maoris.

At the roqucHt of y\v Cieridon and In-'•[n-rtof Uickson Mi (>itt«K told them thitt tltey should bring their recjuest before Parliament,

Mr Gittns says he saw fifty natives and was informed there were 'JOO altogether, all well untied. .The '■ rebels," he says, had no intention of burning houso<« nor would (hey interfere with women <»r children. Their dealings would bo only with the representatives of the Government.

The Glenclg U truing to Kohukohu, "where," said Mr Hickson, " we remain to-night, as the husbands of women who have gone there are anxious."

Acting upon a telegram received previously from Mr Clondon the Government made arrangements for placing the women and children in a place of safety.

Instructions were given at .0 o'clock yesterday afternoon for men to be despatched. The arrangements were completed with quickly and the vessel left the wharf about 8 o'clock last nignt en route for Hokhnga, where she is due on Tuesday. Meanwhile messages have been despatched to leading chiefs of the friendly natives requesting them to take measures to prevent bloodshed if possible. It is the intention of the Government to enforce the law.

Waima, where the natives are gathered, is about ten miles up the river.