REVOLT OF THE MAORIS AT THE BARRACKS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 387, 12 July 1879, Page 12

REVOLT OF THE MAORIS AT THE BARRACKS.

The last detachment of Maoris who came down by the Patea on Thursday were known to be a "rowdy" lot. They numbered 29 all told, and judging by their physique and the character borne by the majority of them, there has been much surprise expressed among the cognoscenti at their having so peacefully surrendered their liberty when called upon to do so. Mr. Mackay has been in the habit of interviewing all the Maori prisoners shortly after their arrival, and in previous visits had found that out of the seventy arrested about half the number belonged to friendly tribes. Shortly before 4 o'clock on Thursday he went up in company with two other gentlemen to make similar inquiries about the last batch of prisoners, and found that the twenty-nine men belonged to Titokowaru's tribe, and that, they were for the most part well known bad characters, belonging to the Ngatiruanui. This chief, whose name is Whakawiria, had been troublesome on the passage down. When had up before the Court at Patea he had been insolent, and the temper and disposition of himself and his men had been such as to induce the authorities to be especially careful in the measures they had taken to keep them in safe custody. On Mr. Mackay arriving at the barracks he proceeded to put the usual questions to the prisoners, and found them disinclined to be communicative, and unwilling to answer his questions. As he finished his examination they were led off one by one, in charge of a constable, to a large room apart from the rest. The chief was reserved for the last, and although he had been decidedly insolent, in order to spare him the indignity of being treated like a man of no rank, Mr. Mackay himself went with him to the room where his fellow-prisoners were confined. On his way down Mr. Mackay told the chief that if any of the Maoris had any complaint to make he would decline to hear it except through the chief, and requested Whakawiria to submit himself to the authorities quietly. This request seems to have irritated the chief, and he at once said that he had a complaint to lodge there and then, and demanded that the Europeans should sweep out the room for the Maoris. Mr. Mackay replied that this could not be—that the prisoners would have to do this for themselves. The chief declined, saying that at Parihaka the Maoris had done this service for the pakehas. Mr. Mackay explained that guests were not prisoners, and left the room. The chief then jumped on to an iron bedstead, and began to harangue the Maoris, and repeatedly told them in an excited voice that now was the time to come down on the pakehas. Mr. Mackay, hearing the riotous language, re-entered the room with the guard, and told the chief to get down off the bedstead and be quiet. After some demur this order was obeyed. Mr. Mackay then called upon the chief to order one of the Maoris to sweep out the room at once with a broom which had been supplied to him. This the chief declined to do, and by Mr. Mackay's orders he was at once taken in charge, and removed. Three out of the six constables present took Whakawiria off forthwith, and Mr. Mackay then offered the broom to another Maori to undertake the duty ; this man was inclined to obey the order, and but for the remonstrances of the others would probably have obeyed the order, but ultimately he also was removed by two constables. This J eft only four Europeans in the room, viz.—Mr. Mackay, two visitors, and one constable. Mr. Mackay then called upon another Maori to do the sweeping, and this man also refused, and thereupon all the 27 Maoris present massed themselves together, and threatened to make a desperate rush for liberty. Mr. Mackay at once called out, "Turn out the guard," and for a moment the Maoris hesitated. Within a few seconds some four or five bayonets were pointing through the doorway. Seventy-five constables quickly appeared upon the scene, many of them being in undress uniform of a most primitive type ; some only in their shirt 3, others half-dressed, and some only half armed. On the appearance of the force the Maoris at once submitted, and were marched off to separate cells, some four or five being confined in each apartment ; the chief however was confined alone.

As soon as ever the prisoners had been secured, Mr. Mackay proceeded to interview the Native Minister, and found him in the Cabinet with his colleagues. We believe that Mr. Mackay was of opinion from what passed that these prisoners had expected to be confined with their fellow-countrymen, who were brought down some days ago. This expectation was not fulfilled, if it had been, it is more than likely that the last comers would have stirred up their comrades to make a joint effort to escape, and once more to defy the white men to catch them. We understand that the prisoners are likely to be treated with

far greater severity henceforth ; indeed, it is said that not only will all the little indulgences in the way of tobacco and • food be denied to them for a time, but that it is intended to ship a number of them off to Otago, in order to prevent all risk of their escaping themselves, or even of their instigating others to make their escape. We think that it is unlikely that the venue of the trial will again be changed, and we believe that the authorities will probably abandon this part of the programme. However, a diet of bread and water for a few weeks will go far to conviuce the prisoners that it is useless for them to resist the law, and will effectively dispel any illusory notions about the Europeans being their slaves. Iu the course of the evening the other Maoris heard of the disturbance, and became so excited that it was deemed advisable to send for Mr. Mackay, and to ask. him to come up to the barracks and pacify the prisoners. This task he kindly undertook, and very soon succeeded in convincing them that they had nothing to fea,r so long as they behaved themselves peacefully. We are satisfied that but for the timely action by Mr. Mackay a most unfortunate escape would have been effected by the Maori prisoners. The last batch are said to have plainly shown during the revolt what their intentions were, and we believe therefore a dangerous little plot has been nipped in the bud. As things turned out a catastrophe has been happily and successfully averted ; but while we admire the plucky determination to enforce his orders which Mr. Mackay showed, we think he would have been wiser if be had called out the guard first and presented the broom afterwards. When the excitement of the moment had passed, we have very little doubt but that the same thought would strike him just as forcibly as it strikes us.