NATIVE MATTERS.

Press, Volume XLII, Issue 6304, 2 December 1885, Page 6

NATIVE MATTERS.

AUCKLAND, November 11. Information has been received in town of a daring.native outrage at TeWairoa, on Like Tareware, on Saturday last. The cause of the, trouble was the Terrace Hotel, which the native owners had leased to the late Bobert Graham. Since' his death they have desired to resume possession, and so notified to Mrs Graham that it was arranged that she should remain in possession pending the; settling of claims for improvements,.,, This agreement,was made oh Friday morning, but that night, after Mrs Graham had retiredy.the Natives entered the house and slept in some of the rooms. Next morning they forcibly broke into Mrs Graham's bedroom, the door of which Bhe had locked, and attempted to eject-her from the house. Her screams tor help attracted the attention of Sophia, the guide who, with others of the tribe, came te Mrs Graham's rescue. Ultimately she made her escape to the grounds adjoining the hotel. The hostile Natives meanwhile proceeded to break the doors and the windows., A messenger was dispatched to Botorua, and soon afterwarJs Constable Abrahams, appeared. Johnson, Government agent, was also appealed to, and sent a letter to the chief of theTahorangi, who is a paid assessor, and chairman of committee, to beware of countenancing Buch proceedings,, but it appears this was treated with contempt, as well, else, as the warrants for the apprehension of the offenders, which were issued that night. One of the leading chiefs, it is stated, loudly maintained that the law had not yet come into force in his district. -On * Sunday morning Constable Abrahams arrested two of the offenders, when the rescue was made by the tribe, led on by the chief Kepa, the constable being severely maltreated and 'bitten by the frantic savages. At this juncture Mr Lackena, Assistant Bead Engineer, lent valuable assistance j and, although he was held by Kepa, while the others almost beat his head out of shape, he eventually succeeded, with the assistance of other Europeans, in rescuing the injured, constable, ana placing' him mm Moßae'a Hotel. Another des■psxa.it> oiaraggla herd ensued. And-in IBS metee t3>R~c;ons3»ft>lA iiim i>i,£g«i *»- : OluiHamitii— Lmtt&r'- on . .unit 315889Z& tor tbe CroTetoment aecct to coins ""■B .- it onfc, aa<3 see riim.. and he compliad with, his request, the. upshot. of the interview being a. promise to him for the appearance o! the offenders next day in Court at Kotoma. At two o'clock on Monday tha five made their appearance. The proceedings vera postponed till tbe arrival of the Resident Magistrate, on the 3rd of December, bail being accepted from tne Kativea and h&lf-caato members of the flime tribe to the extent of £100.

WELLINGTON, November Iff. The Native Minister, who has retained from a visit to the most northern Native districts,states that Native affairs arsis a satisfactory condition. With regard to the West Coast, the Maoris show a very great disposition to discuss any matter affecting their welfare with the Native Minister. The Taupo Natives, who tho

- other day signed a paper that they would not . bring their lands into Court, '. but would place themselves under tiie direction of Tawhiao, have since ail signed a document stating that they will bring their lands before the Court which will sit at Taupo in February next. .- Te Huheno, who is favorably disposed to - tiie Land Court, called upon Mr Ballance ■-' in tiie Waikftto, and asked that the Court might be held there. Mr Ballance has , arranged that a Courtehall sit as requested , as soon as the one at Taupo is closed. --, With regard to the Native outrage at Tarawera, Ohinemutu, it appears that the affair arose out of a disputed title, The - house which was occupied by Mrs Graham was erected on Native land, for which ho title had ever been given. To obtain j possession the Natives took tiie forcible " steps which were telegraphed recently, and * it is believed they have a perfect right to , the property. However, it is not yet settled. '