TROUBLE WITH NATIVES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11540, 29 March 1898, Page 6

TROUBLE WITH NATIVES.

[Pee Peess Association.] AUCKLAND, Maech 28. The Tamahere Road Board lias experienced some trouble with the Natives. That body having 1 required some gravel for toad works, gave notice, under the Public Works Act, to the Natives, and took what gravel it required from a piece of their land. On Thursday the Board entered on the same land to get a further supply of gravel, but the Nativescame down in some numbers, turned the men and teams off,, and put a padlock on the gate. The mem reported the circumstances to Mr J. Furze, a' member of the Board. On Friday morning he cut the chain on the gate with a cold chisel and again started the men to wort. There was some talk between him and the Natives, but they did not attempt to use. physical force. In reply to a question by Mr Furze as to wbat they wanted, the spokesman of the Natives said that he did not know,. Soon after Mr Furze left the place the Natives forcibly shut the gate and kept the teams outside. The workmen thereupon knocked oif and reported the incident to Mr Fnrze, who then started for Hamilton and placed the matter in the hands of the police, who proceeded to the spot this morning. The land in question is situated on the Tauwhare Road, and was granted to certain Natives who had been engaged in the war. Mr W. A. Graham some months ago wrote to the Board on behalf of the Natives, asking that that body would provide them with another piece of land. This the Board is unable to do, but offered compensation for the gravel taken.