ATTEMPT TO EVICT MAORIS. EXTRAORDINARY PROCEEDINGS.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 55, 8 March 1881, Page 2

ATTEMPT TO EVICT MAORIS. EXTRAORDINARY PROCEEDINGS.

[iTNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Napier, 7th March. An. attempt was made to-day to evict natives from Mount Vernon in connection with the Oamaranui affair. The DeputySheriff, accompanied by Mr. Grindell, interpreter, and Mr. Harding, who holds the grant, served a writ formally, and called upon the natives to vacate the pah. Nearly all the natives were away attending the meeting of the Wairarapa prophet, only half-a-dozen men and several women being present. These refused to leave, and horses, carts, and" a party of men who were within hailing, were called into requisition, and the goods and chattels of the Maoris were, after some resistance, carted to the high road. The Europeans present, with the exception of the Sheriff's officer, Mr. Harding, and one volunteer, however, refused to lend any aid in evicting the natives, and, in response to a demand from Harding, they replied he had no power to force others to as3ist by calling on them in the Queen's name. After a desperate struggle, one man wa3 pnt outside the pah, but immediately returned. Next a woman was evicted, being carried away in a cart, in the struggle force having to be used to keep her there. As soon as the high road was reached, the police, who were watching the experiments, threatened to arrest the Europeans for assaulting Maoris in the Queen's highway. This unexpected threat put an end to the proceedings, the Europeans retiring, leaving the natives in possession of the field. It is believed the podce were acting under instructions from Wellington. So Harding ttill remains out of his property. Tbere is no disputing the fact that the Crown issued grant for the land, but owing to the survey description not being very definite, it is doubtful whether the Crown really acquired the land before Belling it.