A BRAWL AT OHINEMUTU.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5657, 5 January 1880, Page 3

A BRAWL AT OHINEMUTU.

[by telegraph, from a correspondent.] Oiujiemutu, December 29. There have been diistatbances at Ohinemutu. On Fridayunornins, Timothy Howard, bailiff, with About 30 natives, rushed Air. Jsiac Wilson's hotel, at Ohinemutu. They succeeded in getting possession of the premises, with the exception ol the bar, office, and one bedroom. A native meeting was held the aame night, and it was universally understood -that the unseemly disturbance wai instigated by Mr. Robert Graham, who, it w.13 stated, had promised to pay the natives from five to ten shillings each for services in taking possession. On Saturday morning the natives, under the direction of Howard, carried apd threw cnt all beds, bedding, and furniture in that part of the house they held of, and at 11. o'clock Mr. Craig, a highly respectable auctioneer from Gnhimstown, commenced selling. He seemed, however, to be in a very unenviable position, and did nob at ail like the dirty j»b in hand. He ratiently listened to a protest against the of the sale, which was to the following eff-ct : —"Before proceeding with the sale, which is illegal, you ars hereby cautioned as vendor, and all purchasers cautioned that they, even by passing cash for goods, have not only uo title to tliem.but will also be held responsible for any damage that may occur to them, and also be liable to an action at j law for their detention." This was done on | beliaif of the proprietor. In the absence of Justices of the Peace, excepting Mr. Eobert Graham, Mr. Isaac Wilson could obtaip no protection, and the police would not interfere until the arrival of their inspector. During the afternoon Inspector Emerfon, Mr. Way, J.£\, and Mr. W. Kelly, J. K. arrived on toe acenc. The magistrates, on the information Mr. Wilson, granted a warrant against Timothy Howard for felonions'y stealing certain books and chattels. He was arrested on Sunday mnrning by Constable Graham, and lodged in the lock-up. He was afterwards brought before the magistrates and remanded until Mouday. Ou the applicat'on of Mr. Wilson, the case wi; adjourned until Tuesday, awaitiug oouuset from Taurang». The bailiff has been allowed bail. The arrival of Inspector Kmerson at Ohinemutu has had a most wholesome effeot on both Maoris and Kuropeans, the latter, almost to a man, being afraid of who might be turned off next. Inspector Emerson distinctly the natives that a most disgraceful proceeding lia l taken place, and, a3 they had taken the law into their own hands, they must abide the consequences. He was not there to put anyone into the liou3e, nor was he there to ej-ct anyone in possession ; bnt he emphatically declared that no breach of the peace should take place under his eyes; and be will, I believe, recommend that a U\!.r.dent Magistrate be appointed for tins to cirect the police in their duty, who, at the present time, are nonentities in a case of this kind. This morning u native policeman, who has been acting on , behalf of the aggressors, deliberately barricaded the only door of egress. On this i coining to Inspector Emerson's ears, he im- , mediately ordered the policeman to be : brought beforo liim, and asked hi-n on whose authority he acted. He had been un- < doubtedly well tutored, and answered that he acted on his own responsibility. Inspector Emnraon gave him five minutes to remove ; the obstacle, which was done. Nothing , could have been more conducive to the posi- ; tion of the Europeans than the. presence of | Inspector Emerson. Had he not arrived, . there is not the slightest doubt bloodshed would have been .the result. lam informed t ; iat a most serious charge will be laid against Mr. Robert Graham to-day for inciting natives to ,