THE NATIVE TROUBLE

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1367, 12 May 1898, Page 29

THE NATIVE TROUBLE

Rawenk, May 10; Hone Toia and 15 otter Maoris from Waima were charged before Mr J: S; Clendon, S:M., at the Rawene Courthouse this morning with treason, and remanded. The oharge against them is breach of sectionßl of the Criminal Co.'o Act, 1891, by conspiring together to levy war against Her i Majesty the in order by force to com- i pel Her Majesty to change her measures, to I wit, the Dog Registration Act, 1880, and its ; amendments. Inspector Hiokson applied for a remand to Auckland till Friday morning, which was granted. Eleven witnesses Jhave been subpoenaed to j give evidence for the prosecution when the case is heard in Auckland. They include J several natives who s*w the Waima Maoris carrying guns, also Captain Coyle, Constables McGilp and JBeazey, Private Towgood, of the Permanent Artillery ; Koberfc Cochrane, settler ; John Welleford, the mail-carrier who was stopped; William Dean, native interpreter; and the liev Piripa Eakene, Wesleyan native clergyman. Mr F. fcarl, of Auckland, has been engaged by the Maoris to defend the prisoners, on the recommendation of Mr Hone Heke, M. t£.K The Government steamer i 3 hourly ex.peoted to arrive, and will take the force and the prisoners to Onehnnga. H.M.S. Torch leaves to-morrow morning for Onehunga, Wanaranui and Wellington, and thence goes to the South Sea Islands. A. number of representative Hokianga settlers interviewed Inspector Hickson today, expressing their dusatitttaction with the Email number of arrests made'." They stated that a large quantity of arms and ammunition i were still in the possession of the natives, ani also wanted additional police pr-teotion. for th 9 northern districts, pointing out that it was very easy lor natives to obtain arms. On the suggestion of the Inspector, ttoedeputation sent a telegram to the Premier embodying the statements made. The Wellington detachment will remain here for a few days. The others will go to Auckland. Fifty Snider rifles are to be left with the Hokianga settlers for their protection.

THE SETTLERS APPREHENSIYE.

BREACHES OF THE ARMS ACT,

Mr Clendon, S.M., has sent a telegram to the Government that he has obtained information as to where some of the arms in the possession of the Maoris were procured, and the parties will be proceeded against under the Arms Act. The Premier has received the following telegram from Rawene :—" We respectfully beg to submit that a widespread feeling of dissatisfaction exists that the whole of natives who threatened Kawene on the Ist inst. should not have been apprehended, and we urge the Government to spare no means to secure them and to recover all the arms and rifles not yet given up.— (Signed) W. Burr (County Chairman), H C. Powell (County Councillor), Alf. E. Yarborough, J.P.; Geo. G. Menzies (Road Inspector), Robert E. Leicester (storekeeper), S. Hawkins (settler), A. P. Blundell (contractor;, E. McLeod (County Clerk)." To this the Premier replied ;—" I have referred your telegram to the Minister of Defence. There is a matter in connection with this subject to which I wish to draw the attention of the settlers, namely, that when business iH to be done they do not Bcruple to Bell arms and ammunition to the natives, that there are even settlers who barter arms with them and who are subsequently amongst those who are alarmed for the safety of their wives and families and property. The Government will see that law and order obtain, and whether in the case of Europeans or Maoris any breach of the law should be punished."