NATIVE WAR IN THE NORTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9112, 21 July 1888, Page 5

NATIVE WAR IN THE NORTH.

SEVERAL KILLED AND WOUNDED. A LAND DISPUTE. [BY TELEGRAPH.— OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] Whangarei, Friday. The dispute between two sections of the Ngapuhi, about a block of land near Te Poroti, about fourteen miles from Wangarei, has culminated in an open battle. The survey was aboufc to be commenced by Mr. Andrew Wilson yesterday, and he sent a fparty to put up a flag on a hill, to test the threats one of the parties had made. The flag was pulled down by eome of Eru Hin's people, and hostilities commenced. Up to the latest news received there had been several natives killed and others wounded. Mr. Clendon (the Resident Magistrate) gnd two constables have gone out to the ecene of the trouble. There are about 70 natives on one side and 120 on the other. THE ORIGIN OF THE QUARREL. Wellington, Friday, 9.50 p.m. I interviewed the Native Minister (the Hon. E. Mitchelson) to-night relative to tho hostilities which have broken out between two sections of natives at Poroti, near Wbangarei, headed respectively by Eru Hiri and the chief Taurau Kukupa, of Whangarei. I may premise that this dispute is one about land. The block is a valuable one, and has been the cause of frequent trouble. During the Governorship of Sir Geo. Grey a pa was built on it, and some fighting took place. The Wesleyan missionary in Kaipara went up to mediate between the contending parties, and subsequently a peace was patched up. The more recent trouble ha 3 been simmering for three months past, Taurau's section wanting the land passed through the Native Land Court, and Eru's faction opposing it. In the meantime Eru's people have been allowing Europeans to dig gum over the block, a royalty of so much per ton being given for the privilege. Some £300 has recently been paid over to Eru's people. Taurau claims a share of the money, but has not got it, hence the present feud. The Native Minister has had the matter in hand, and only within the last two or three days has directed a survey to be made Df the land, with a view of the title being Investigated by the Native Lands Court. It would have been done sooner, but the delay has arisen on the natives arranging For the survey charges, and these are to be defrayed by cession of some land to the Government. Telegrams have been received stating that two men had been shot, but giving no details, Mr. Clendon being ebsent in another portion of the district. THE GOVERNMENT TELEGRAM. Later on I interviewed the Minister of Justice (the Hon. T. Fergus) who placed the following telegram, which he had received, at my disposal, as containing all the information which had reached him. It was from Inspector McGovern, who was leaving for the scene of hostilities : —" A half-caste from Poroti reports to Constable <iordon, at Whangarei, that natives under Taurau Kukupa and those under Eru Hiri came into collision this morning. Two of Taurau's men were killed, and several of Era's people were wounded." THE GOVERNMENT WAITING. The Government are awaiting further intelligence before deciding what course of action shall be taken. Sydney Taiwhanga has offered, if the Government would throw over their native Bills, to place his services at their disposal to go up and settle matters. So far, the Government have declined the offer, with thanks. THE ASSISTANT-SURVEYOR-GENERAL LEAVES FOR WHANGAjREI. Mr. Percy Smith, who is in charge of all the surveys in the Whangarei district, left for Whangarei by steamer last evening. He will give his aid in restoring peace, and as he is a good Maori scholar, and well acquainted with the natives, he will bo of great assistance to Mr. Clendon.