EARLY WAIRARAPA

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 16, 13 October 1932, Page 5

EARLY WAIRARAPA

Lake Controversy FINAL SETTLEMENT Maoris Agree to Sell

(By

W.H.T.)

Some time after the clash between settlers and Maoris referred to in this column last week, Mr. Alfred Matthews and Mr. John Bidwill went to Wellington, and, in the absence of Mr. Cadman, who was then Native Minister, they interviewed Sir Patrick Buckley and the Hon. Pember Reeves to ask the fulfilment of the promise made by Mr. Mitchelson, that assistance would be given in the event of any contest with the Natives in regard to the opening of the lake, as the Natives were again advertising that they proposed to obstruct the river board. Mr. Reeves communicated with Mr. A. S. Menteath, the solicitor who was acting for the Natives, and he replied that he would see that there was no obstruction by the Maoris if the chairman of the -board (Mr. Matthews) would admit that the Natives were in possession of the spit. Mr. Matthews, however, refused to admit that the sand below high-water mark was the property of the Natives, and in the face of this determined to proceed with the work of opening the outlet. Native "Passive Resistance.” “On the' day arranged for cutting an opening," stated Mr. Matthews in his narrative of the controversy, “I went along the spit and arrived early at the ferry house, and found the inspector of police and six constables already there. Later, the members of the board arrived with Mr. Stratton and Mr. Izard as adviser. The Maoris came in large numbers —men and women—with Messrs.

Menteath anil Bathgate, their solicitors. I found that the Natives had erected a wire fence to •prove their rights to the spit. I directed the men to start opening the lake, and almost immediately a Native walked up to each shoveller and caught hold of the handle of his shovel. I said to the inspector, ‘Can't you arrest these men?’ ‘No,’ he said, “it is'passive resistance.’ “■‘Passive resistance be hanged, I exclaimed ; 'it is conduct calculated to provoke a breach of the peace, and you will bring it about if you are not careful.’ . ‘.“■l can’t help it,’. he retorted, ‘it is only passive resistance.’ We stood looking'like fools for a time, and then he said. 'lf you -will join hands in a circle round the men in the trench and the Natives break through 1 will arrest them.’ Maori Amazons. “We did as suggested and stood around those working in the trench, when Piripi put his breast against my hands; giving him a dig with my elbow I said. 'Keen back, yon have no business here.’ On one side there were some young men with a number of women behind them ; these women now dived under the men's hands and plunged into the drain, kicking and scratching furiously, and bringing down large quantities of sand. Under any other circumstances the incident would have been ludicrous. “The inspector said. ‘lnstruct your men to throw those women out.’ ‘No,’ I replied, ‘give the word to throw the men out - we can't interfere with the women.’ “He replied. 'No. I forgot myself;’ “We made no progress until Mr.. M<-n--teath approached me and said. ‘lf yon will summon on? of our party for obstruction and. the case is brought before a Resident Magistrate, and not. a justice, wc will withdraw.’ “I replied, 'I shall have to consult my board.’ I called them together, and .Mr. Izard said, ‘There is no reason why we should not agree to that.’ “I said. T agree to the arrangement, and Mr. Menteath asked which Native I would sue, and I said. ‘Young Piripi te Maire.’ A Haka of Triumph. “Mr. Menteath began to withdraw his people, and some amusement was caused by one or two chiefs dancing a halm of triumph and exultation until they wete pulled lip by the heavy sand. “After a time Mr. Menteath came hurriedly back and s'aid. 'Mr. .Matthews, wc find that what, we have suggested will be of no use. Will you agree to have the leading points jn connection with this matter agreed to by both parties and brought, before the full court'.'’ “1 replied: 'We arc only too anxious to have the case settled in the law courts.’ “On this they again departed, but. not before I had expressed the wish that Mr. Menteath would instruct hist party .to remove the fence they had erected. lie replied. ‘No, we will not touch it.’ ‘Neither will wc.’ I said, ‘we will leave the water to do the work.’ “I instructed the men not to move anything, and the channel was cut between two of the posts. The lake was high and the bar fairly low, and in a very short time we had a biff outflow, and post after post fell into the water, and in a very short time very little of their fence remained.’ The Court nearing.

The matter than hung fire for nearly a year "When the case camo before the full