PAREHA VERSUS MAORI.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 842, 14 June 1910, Page 4

PAREHA VERSUS MAORI.

A JERUSALEM STORY. '

The Jerusalem Maoris, on the Wanganui River, are at present intensely satisfied (writes our -travelling correspondent) over a victory which they have just gained over the pakeha. As usual, .the trouble arose over a survey.' The Maoris had had reserved to them certain blocks of land, comprising 16,600 acres, which it is understood they intend to farm. The Aotea Land Board asked that the land be surveyed, and the Native Lands Department sent up a party of men, unuei a surveyor, to do .the work. Meantime the Jerusalem Natives had discussed the matter. From a previous experience, in which Native lands had been surveyed in the district b'y the Government, the Maoris came to the conclusion that from a.money point of view,land surveys were a delusion and a snare. "It is many years," they reasoned, "since yonder block of land was survej-ed, and white settlers have gone on it. Still wo have received no money. The board says that the rent money must be held, because the land has been loaded for the survey. There is too much the long time about these surveys, and we will have no more of them." -

■The Government survey party, havinff duly arrived at Jerusalem, was met by the Natives, who delivered an ultimatum to the effect that no work was to be done. The spokesman for the Maoris £M Neri Poutini, commonly called T\ed, of • Jerusalem," and )3r. Poruare acted as interpreter. The text of the address was that the Aotea Land Board had no jurisdiction over the blocks of land in question, namely, Morikan, Banana, and Ngarakawhakarara, and that if the survey party commenced' work it would be forcibly removed from the position. The survej'or decided to commence his work, and proceeded down the river with his men. The Natives followed in their canoes, "Ned, of Jerusalem" in command, and summarily closed down, on the business. There were only eight white men against about twenty Natives, and the surveyor decided that discretion was the better part of valour. He surrendered, and he and his party, with jdl their tents and baggage, were taken up the river in the canoes to Jerusalem, a distance of nine miles.

The only pleasurable portion of this in-, cident to the Europeans was that' the Natives had to do the rowing. Arrived at Jerusalem, the survey party was placed in a wtiare, and entertained at a dinner..The next night they had a dance. Meanwhile telegrams on the subject had been sent to the Native Minister. No answer was received, so the Natives authoritatively ordered the pakehaa to olear off the premises forthwith. This they ! did, and now the Jerusalem Maoris nightly celebrate their victory. .