THE NATIVE TROUBLE.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8789, 10 March 1894, Page 7

THE NATIVE TROUBLE.

AN EXCITING STRUGGLE.. ARREST OF NINETEEN MAORIS. (PRESS ASSOCIATION- TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, March 9. The police expedition, immediately after arrival ao Mercer, marched down to the river and embarked oa a steam launch, which also towed a barge full of men dowa the river about half a mile, and landed them on the other aide close to the PukeI kawa, in the immediate vicinity of the tern porary camp of Keri Koihau and his people. About 100 Maoris, men and women, wero at the camp when the force landed. They I were all squatted near the tents on the I ground, around .a white flag with a red cross, listening to the exhortation of I Kerei Kaihau, who, was standing in their midst. On landing Inspector Hicksou j ordered the Permanent Force to the steam launch until they were required, while tbe j police were marched along the bank to : where the Maoris were sitting. Inspector Hickso'n, who bad a warrant for the arrest of Kerei Kaihau and his wife, the latter being charged with assaulting Constable McGovern and the former with inciting to assault, walked up to Kerei, and arrested him 4n j the Queen's name. The Inspector then called on two constables to remove Kerei. No sooner did they lay hands on him than a number of the Maoris jumped up. Several of the woman rushed at the constables and endeavoured to rescue Kerei. The Inspector warned the Maoris not to resist. The Maori women, ia accordance with the practice of the Maoris, were the principal aggressors, and au exciting scrimmage ensued,, ia which tho whole of the police were engaged. Sergeant Gamble, in the act of taking Kerei away, was tackled by a stalwart wahine, and another woman kicked him in the stomach. The struggle lasted several minutes. Several Maori men joined in the scrimmage round Kerei, and the Inspector ordered their arrest. Eventually Kerei, resisting but not violently, was marched off to the steamer between two policemen. His wife, who was the first to rush forward to obstruct Kerei's arfest, was next taken into custody. She resisted and fought with the constable, Who gob her down on the ground, and then induced her to get up and come along to the steamer. Meanwhile a lively struggle was proceeding between the force and a number of Natives. Several women handled the police pretty roughly. The Inspector directed his men to arrest two men for whom warrants were out. These men, who were sitting on the ground amidst a lot of others, were grasped by their friends to prevent them being taken away. A tough struggle ensued, the Natives resisting with all their might, but refraining from striking the police. The expedition to Mercer returned by the 8 p.m. train, bringing as prisoner* nine men and ten women :—Paua and Tanuahau, who had not paid fines, and for whom a warrant was pat; Keri KaJbau, for inciting to resist ; his wife for obstructing; and a number ot other Natives for obstructing the police in the execution of their duty. The Permanent Artillery took no part further than acting as a covering party. The prisoners under escort were taken to Mount Eden gaoL