THE OHAWE FEUD.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 9 March 1925, Page 7

THE OHAWE FEUD.

AGAIN FLARES UP. MAORIS MAKE SURPRISE MOVE. TWO WHITES OVERWHELMED. There, was. more excitement at Ohawe beach this afternoon., when the natives commenced to take everything movable off the piece of land whereon the pakeha’s. house still stands. The move t'hisi time was unexpected, and tin pakehas were present when about forty natives gathered in the vicinity. Tw;o of the dusky party entered the section and busied themselves with the removal of milk cans and other farm gear, while the remainder kept guard and gave instructions. The work of removal had niot been long under way when the two pakelia. boys appeared on the scene, and, taking: the situation in at a. glance, made a bold attack. Hayforks were again the recognised weapon of the whites, and the eldest- boy •succeeded in placing himself in .such a position that he held quite a. number of Maoris at bay, none of them being anxious to. be. the first to advance on to the long sharp prongs. The position for the natives, however, was. saved by an old Maori woman, who, with characteristic cunning, commenced to argue at close quarters with the white bov. So close, did she press' the debate that, the boy unthinkingly moved his weapon to- a le-ss dangerous, angle. In the twinkling of an eye the old wahine had both her hands, on .the wooden handle, of the fork, and before the pakelia could get clear he was pounced upjpii by the warriors Previous experience in the boxing ring availed the white boy nothing against so many, and in a few minutes he was on the "ground getting much the- worst of the argument. Blows were struck on both sides, and it would be hard to say just what would have happened if it had not been for" the plucky intervention of the two yoitng fellows, Messrs A. Powdrell aid E. Buist. They effected the rescue of both of the attackers, who by this time had been completely overpowered and trussed up with rones.Meanwhile the affair had not escaped the notice of other beach residents, and Mr T. Sturrock, who considered that bloodshed was inevitable, bad summoned the police. Subsequently the police arrived, land although the particular incident had blown over, the police remained, as it was expected that further developments were likelv.