A GOVERNMENT EVICTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10572, 20 January 1896, Page 3

A GOVERNMENT EVICTION.

[ REMOVING "A MAORI. (Faou Ooa Own ConnESPONDBNT.) •-., Auckland, January 18.':. The Herald says re the contemplated eviction of Tcnetahi from Little Barrier Island :—" The Government have not yet got over the trouble connected1 with the Little Barrier Island. It waa rosolred that the island should be purchased with the view of making it a reserve - for native birds and other animals. This project was delayed for many years, owing to the contention befcwe.u rival tribes aa to ownership, Tho Native Laud Court gave various decisions'on the subject, aud at length one party e-t-.bli-.hed. their claim. . The Government then proceeded to buy from the owners, and concluded arrangements on liber-l terms with everybody except Tenetahi and his family,, who declined to sell. A special act bad to be passed empowering tho Government to pay Tene-r tahi for his share of the island, and to compel him to leave ic. Tenatshi rsfused to go, and was brought before Mr Nortbcroft in November last. Efa.was thc-u ordered to leave the island by December 10, but Teuetahi will not move, and he was still on the island when his Excellency the Governor landed there a few days ago. We understand that- it i» intended to despatch st once a force to enforce the judgment of the court by evicting Tenetahi. Thia force will be composed of bailiffs, to see that everj thing is legally done, of *. policemen, and of artillerymen iv case any force is required. ■ Tenetahi published in our solumns, shortly after Mr Northcroft gave his judgment, an elaborate protest against the way iv which the Government propored to deprive him of his home. It i.s rather curioqs that the first New Zealand Government to do a real oldfashioned eviction is one whose membars sym-r patbise witb the Home Rulers in their opposition to evictions in Ireland, aud thnt the lejal gentlemen engaged in prosecuting Tenetahi aro zealotiß friends of Mea«ra Redmond, Dillon, and Davitt." It may be added tbat the steamer Nautilus leaves to-morrow with a detachment of the perminent force and s'orne bailiff a to enforce the judgment of the court.