THE CAMBRIDGE NATIVE LAND COURT.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 516, 22 May 1879, Page 2

THE CAMBRIDGE NATIVE LAND COURT.

ATTEMPT TO "RUSH" MR. SHEEHAN'3 ROOM. AMUSING SCENE. (PBR PRESS AGENCY.) Cambridge, 22nd May. The Native Land Court, consisting of Judge Munro and Native Assessors Hone Mohi and Tawkai, sat to-day, at the usual hour. Manga (Rewi) appeared, and requested an adjournment of the Okawia block, to give him time to get witnesses. The adjournment was granted. Manga having formally appeared in J Court with his hat in hand, shows a pleasing recognition of the jurisdiction of Court. The natives are conducting themselves in the township in admirable manner. Good humor prevails, and there is very little drunkeness—far less than would be the case if a similar number of Europeans gathered together with nothing to do. An amusing scene occurred on the first night of Mr. Sheehan's arrival at Cambridge. A number of natives, eager to to see the Minister tried to climb the stairs, and passed the orderlies on guard at the top of the staircase, but were forced back. The warriors fancying themselves aggrieved, made another frantic rush, and reached the first landing in triumph. Here, one of the Constabulary with his back against the rail, planted his feet against the foremost natives' abdomen, and by a vigorous thrust turned the tide of victory, and sent half-a-dozen chiefs bead-over-heels down the stairs. With them, also, fell the native agent, who had just put in an appearance on the staircase. A promiscuous struggle followed. A. native policeman, much excited, distinguished himself greatly, all round, but by an absurd blunder the Constabulary arrested their native auxiliary, whose official hat was lost. He was not recognised in the darkness, aud was taken and incarcerated in the lock-up, but in the morning the mistake was discovered. The affair caused general laughter, but no further attempt has been made to carry the Native Minister's room by storm.