THE PAEROA NATIVE DISPUTE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1157, 4 May 1894, Page 19

THE PAEROA NATIVE DISPUTE.

The following telegram has been received from thoS.M. at the Thames, Mr W. 11. Eyre Kenny: —“I saw Taipara this morning, and read to him the greater part of your telegram received last evening. He said that the Natives with him would not bring their arms loaded on to the ground. They would proceed to the place where Moanui was injured, load with blank cartridge and, according to Native custom, fire a volley in the air. He then proposed that I should stand between the parties and hear what they had to say. I am assured by those who know the Natives that thero is absolutely no risk of collision, and I have no fear of a disturbance. Please wire if you are still of opinion that Natives should not be allowed to proceed with their arm o .” The Minister has replied that Mr Inspector Hickson has been ordered to proceed to Paeroa, and that it is advisable that Mr Kenny should confer with him •, and that the Natives must be dealt with in the same way that Europeans would be under the circumstances, as thero is always a risk when a number of armed men come together. In this case the danger is accentuated by the fact that there is bad blood owing to the injury done to Moanui. The Minister advises the utmost firmness in the matter. The settlers in the neighbourhood aro naturally anxious, and the Government cannot for a moment permit a dispute over a gravel-pit to be a source of annoyance and anxiety to the whole country side. A Press Association telegram from Auckland states that Inspector Hickson and an armed force left on Sunday for the scene of the Native dispute at Paeroa. The parties to this dispute are tho Ngat-ikoi and Ngatitawhata tribes, of which Taipari and To Moananui are the respective chiefs. Their quarrel relates to the ownership of a piece of land at Paeroa on which a gravel pit is located. By Telegraph. —Press Association. Paeroa, April 30. Tho Permanent Force party under Inspector Hickson, together with Mr Kenny, S.M., and Sergeant Gillies, arrived at Paeroa at 8.30 o’clock. The Natives were disgusted at having had their ammunition, amounting to nearly one thousand rounds

of ball cartridge, taken from them at Hikutaia, by Inspector Hickson and party, but openly boast that their friends here have twice as much. The general opinion favours the exaction of an apology from Ngatikai, which will probably be forthcoming, as the latter only number a few and seemed awed by the immense numbers of To Moananui’s friends. There is no question that the Natives meant business, and nothing but the prompt action of the 'authorities has prevented very serious trouble. The dispute may now be regarded as settled, as the Permanent Force and polico leave hero to-morrow.

The following telegrams were received on Monday by the Premier from Mr H. E. Kenny, Stipendiary Magistrate, and Inspector Hickson, respectively: — 9.30 a.m.—Just arrived Paeroa. At Hikutaia Inspector Hickson drew the artillery and police across tho bridge, so as to stop further progress, and I desired the Natives, with Taipiri, to hand over all their ball cartridges, to be kept at the hotel till they return. Taipiri approved of this, and after some parley the Natives handed over tho whole of their ball ammunition except two rounds per man in the case of those who had no blank cartridges, tho understanding being that these men were to throw away tlio bullets and load in the presence of myself and tho police. —H. Eyre Kenny, S.M. 4.15 p.m. —Everything perfectly quiet — the usual liakas, war dances, firing and speechifying. I was very careful to express your views as you desired. The Paeroa branch of the Ngatitiwhaki would not consent to my mediating. Both Ngatikoo and Taipiri’s iqcn were willing. I go back to the Thames now. Artillery and police remain here this evening. Will go out again to-morrow if the inspector wires that I can do any good. —H. Eyre Kenny, S.M. 3.40 p.m. —We reached Moananui flat, about two miles out of Paeroa, shortly before 10 a.m., and remained there until 2 p.m., when the Natives went to dinner. There was a largo number of Natives. The representatives of five tribes assembled and danced a war dance in almost a v nude state. They fired several volleys of j blank cartridge. It was a wise precaution not to allow them to carry b ill cartridges. They have not yet come to an amicable arrangement, but we hope they will do so. Mr Kenny and I are just going out there ) again.—J. Hickson, Inspector. Later. The following telegram was received on Tuesday by the Premier: — Tlie whole day has been spent in fruitless negotiation. Inspector Hickson thought he had succeeded in making an arrangement this morning, but it came to nothing. Then Taipari tried liis hand, and failed. Afterwards I got the Ngatitawhaki to agree to a proposal I in ado that tlie Ngatikci should pay <£lo to end the dispute without prejudice to the caso in the Native Land Court, but the Ngatikoi would only pay money as compensation for the hurt to To Moananui, and the Ngatitawhaki would not accept it because it i 3 against Maori customs to take compensation for blood, and so matters are no further advanced. Am staying here tonight, and will try again to-morrow. I have been very careful to say to tho chiefs all you desired. —11. Eyre Kenny, S.M., Paeroa. Tho Premier’s message to Mr Kenny, which is referred to in this last sentence, is that ho should give the Natives 24 hours’ notice to disperse, at tho expiration of which time, if they have not obeyed the direction, they will bo dispersed summarily for having by their conduct committed a breach of the law. THE END OF THE DISPUTE. The Premier received the following telegram on Wednesday from Mr Kenny, S.M. : “ I effected a complete reconciliation at 5 this afternoon on the basis proposed yesterday. Moananui and Keepa shook hands and rubbed noses, and the peace liaka was danced. The chiefs of the Ngatitawhaki begged hard that their visitors might be allowed to remain for to-morrow, that they might feast and enjoy, as they * had been taken up with business these last two days. I said I must communicate with you, as your orders woro positive, but that they might remain for to-morrow only if they heard nothing more from me. If you approve of this arrangement please send us wire; if you do not approve wire to the Thames, and I will at once inform the Maoris. I leave for the Thames to-night, as I have a very important Warden’s Court for to-morrow. The artillery and police leave to-morrow. The artillery under Lieutenant Hume have rendered valuable servico, and I am convinced we should not have succeeded in securing the ammunition and making the peace without their presence.—H. Eyre Kenny, S.M., Paeroa.” The Premier has replied that to cement tho peace the Natives may remain another day, but that they must after that return to their homes, and he has complimented all the officers concerned on having brought the matter to a successful issue. The police and constabulary leave for Auckland on Friday morning.