Native Affairs.

Clutha Leader, Volume IX, Issue 494, 30 March 1883, Page 6

Native Affairs.

The following are the* telegrams regard- I ing the new-Maori fracas :— At7CKla3std, March 25. Two hundred Natives assembled at Te' Kooti's place (Te Luiti), and a meetingwas held, : but nothing was "done but talking ■ Mahiikti said 'he was willing' -to return to Te Airaj or meet the 'Government officials at Aleiaiidra. Some of the Ngatimaniap'dto chiefs were opposed to Mr Bursthouse proceeding 1 farther, as involving danger," and 1 that- he 1 should return the- -way : he came ; also ■ that ■Mahuku should proceed with the Ngati* ■> maniapbto to Punui, meet "Rewi' 'and Wahahui,aiid there" discuss a settlement, if possible. Mr 1 Wilkinson' has read to -the prihdipaV Ngattimaniapot'o 'chiefs' a telegram : frbm : Mr Bryce thanking fch v eW fortheir conduct in rescuing Mr Htirsthouse. At the same time never ih tended- to leave the question :so entirely ' 'in 1 * the -hands -of Wahanui 1 that the law should 4 not be vindicated. The 'outrage and' barbarous treatment : had "been -so gross j : it was impossible-i t could ; be passed' over.- ' The: ?ringleaders -should be ' arrtested. ' If they 1 i(Wetereand Wahahu) 'could'riOtdo'thia^ he 1 (Mr-Bryce wduia :N: take r 'proceedings himself 1 with- that object. ' The Natives coriverie'd ; a meeting' later on! to consider* and discuss Mr Brytee J B' telfegrtitril ' It is stated ihe ; Natives • will not agree^that'Mahtiku 'should be 'handed *overtb !: the Gfovern'menll. ' ' • '- At th'e'ilSFativ^m'eetingrat-Te'Kniti-bn ■Saijurday "Mahuku^ madfe He tUurited^tlie Ngklkfi^nfe^oiy-

with having been-bouiioed, by Mr Bnyce, whom he compared toa pig, and said it he could get his hand on his heaU he ; would kick it. The Natives will not agree to the arrest of Mahiiiki, but he has agreed to prooeed to' Alexandra. ■ Mr Wilkinson telegraphed* to Mr Bryce yesterday- that if Mahuku goes to Alexandra he will be accompanied by 60 followers. Mahuiki urged his followers to re-arrest Messrs Hursthouse and ■Newsham, and 'to arrest' Mr Wilkinson ; but owing to the presence of a large body of Nga'timaniapoto his wish was r hot carried out. While of opinion that Mahuiki will not carry out his threat to visit Alexandra, - Mr Bryce has deemed it advisable to prepare for emergencies thereat. There are at present staioned at Alexandra 47 of the Armed Constabulary. This company will be strengthened by the' Te Avvamutu Cavalry,' numbering about 50 men. It is stated that Mahuiki' s men were ' catching their -horses, in order to come into Alexandra, when Mr Wilkinson and Mr Hursthouse left Te Kuiti. The cavalry troop were to reach Alexandra before 10 o'clock 6u Sunday morning. Messrs Wilkinson,- Hursthouse, and Netfsham arrived" at Alexandra: yesterday. The Constabulary at- Ohinemutu are under orders.to march. This morning the obstructionists numbering forty, rode on horseback to Alexandra, Mahuiki leading the way, shouting like a lunatic, and calling on his god to save him and destroy the- Europeans. Coming up the road leading from Whatiwhatihoe bridge into the township they encountered Mr Aubin, the well-known store-keeper, and immediately seized and bound him, and pitched him into' the fern like a pig: Another European, Mr Binge, schoolmaster at Alexandra, seeing their advance made tracks j and got safely away. Directly afterwards they were met by the ■* Te Awamutu Cavalry and the Constabulary, who made very short work of them, the whole party being quickly apprehended' and located in the redoubt, to await the course of justice. Messrs'Wilkinson and Hursthouse are now at Alexandra; the latter having come in to confer with Mr Bryce. The Premier has been closeted with Mr Bryce all day on Native affairs. Arrangements have been made for calling out the Waikato and Waituku cavalry. Orders- had been sent to Wellington for the Hinemoa to bring up the A.C. force at Opunake, but the capture of the obstructionists renders this step unnecessary. Mahuiki, the ringleader, and 23 followers will be brought "down by special train to-night under escort, and will be met shortly after midnight at the Newmarket railway station by Inspector ~ Thompson and a detachment of the Auckland police, and escorted to the Mount Eden gaol. Wellington, March 26. Telegrams received from the Hon. Mr Bryce last night and to-day report that at the second meeting, held yesterday, Te Kouiti Mahuiki completely changed demeanour from abject submission to most overbeariug truculence, and his language became excessively violent and offensive, suggesting the suspicion that . his previous submission was a mere feint to disarm his opponents and gain time. He did his utmost to excite his audience into fury, and to incite thorn to resent the action of the Government. He spoke with contempt of Mr Bryce, saying that he (Mr Bryce) was not able to do anything. If he was so strong, why did he not come himself and take them, but he could do nothing without the aid of the Native chiefs. He would shortly smash >Cryc"e's head, and kick him, &c. , &c. He threatened to advance on Alexandra,and then go to Auckland and defy the Pakehas to touch him, for his atua would protect him, and kill them. The Government were warned last night that Mahuiki and his followers would make a demonstration at Alexandra' to-day; and'prompt 1 preparations were made. A proclamation was signed -by His "Excellency the Governor at an early hour 1 this morning, calling out the Te Awamutu cavalry, and the Hinemoa is ordered to be in readiness to take up 160 men from Opunake tomorrow morning. Armed with proclamation, Mr Bryce'this morning called out the Te A wamuta cavalry, who duly mustered on the spot: This morning the news was telegraphed that Maori' riders, numbering about 20, were then crossing the Whatiwhatihoe bridge on their way to Alexandra,: where they duly arrived shortly before noon. They were met by the European force, and summoned to surrender, but Mahuiki replied with defiance going to the front of his men and calling on God and TeWhiti to aid him and destroy his opponents. ' There was no supernatural response, however; and in a few minutes the whole 20 including Mahuiki, were arrested, firmly secured and marched off as prisoners to the Alexandra barracks whence they will be in due course removed for trial. Ori the satisfactby intelligence being received of this favourable termination of the' affair,' the orders for the sailing of the Hinemoa were' countermanded,, and- all is now expected' to go. on quietly as before. 2.30 p.m. At 1 p.m.- Mr Bryce telegraphed : — "Wahanui has heard of the arrest, and says he is clear about it. (He approves I .)'* To show what were the intentions of the Tekaitmaretas in coming in this morning, after crossing the Whatiwhatihbe, the/ tried to seize a man who was on the" road 1 , but who -got -a way. Further along they seized another man and tied him up, andfour of the party-took him off" the road in the fern, but they .were seen and arrested by the cavalry. . Auckland-, March 27. • Mahuiki and his fellow-prisoners will be brought up at the Police Court tomorrow, and the preliminary investigation will be gone' on with. At the Session of the Supreme Court next week the Ctowri : •Solicitor, Mr Hudson Williamson j- will ' conduct the 1 proceedings/ •Mr Hesketh has also been retained. Mr Sheehanj it is said, will defend the prisoners if they are committed. . -' The Native Minister had an interview with Te Kooti to-night at Alexandra, the •latter having come down to the 'township Tiiie nature of the interview has not yet" transpired: Mr Bryce -leaves^ f of'Koptf a l .' -' to morrow to Bee ' Waihonui; • The visit? is' c of a -friendly • -character." Te t s£jQotv goes, badk-fo Te iV Kttitfe •■ Waijjairai^'brbther*" Kaniia 'has -came* domjh : to Auckland-in? ' connection"" ' with*- "the ' prdaecfctyioa^ • ofr< Mahuikiand his foloirajrs.