The Opunake Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1897. NATIVE TROUBLE AT PIHAMA.

Opunake Times, Volume VII, Issue 313, 7 September 1897, Page 2

The Opunake Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1897. NATIVE TROUBLE AT PIHAMA.

There has been a serious disturbance at Pihama amongst the natives during the past few days necessitating the presence of Inspector McGovern and Constables Twomey, Hickman, and Salmon to preserve the peace. The dispute is over the right of occupancy of the land between Pihama and the Oeo river on the sea side of the main road. As far as we can ascertain several years ago the Public Trustee had the block subdivided, and certain natives entered iDto occupation with his consent. They fenced off sections and built houses, and were cultivating the land, but two years ago other natives, followers of Te Whiti, took forcible possession and planted a crop. This led to breaking down a gate and a fence and resulted in a court case. After hearing part of the case the information was withdrawn by leave of the Court on the understanding that defendants were to be allowed to peacefully remove the crop they had planted when it was matured, and the Public Trustee was to be asked to decide who were the proper parties to occupy the land. The latter part of the understanding was never carried out. Last year a?ain the same trouble arose, fences were again broken down and generally a breach of the peace seemed imminent. Informations were laid against the reputed trespassers and the case duly called in court, when it was found that the defendants had coolly cleared off to Parihaka and would not attend the Court. The plaintiffs, however, did not offer any evidence aud the case was dismissed. The Magistrate pointed out that the proper course to pursue was for those who were in occupation to obtain a license to occupy from the Public Trustee which would give them a legal status and enable them to resist the trespass of the Te Whitiites. We understand strong representations have been made to the Public Trustee by the Police Department, but the Trustee does not appear to move in the matter. The ill-feeling has become so great now that a great amount of damage has been done, scores of chains of fencing have been demolished and burnt, and one house was partly burnt. The leader'of the Te Whitiites gave orders for all the houses to be burnt, and the carrying out of this or.ler would hav*b meant bloodshed, in all probability, had not the timely arrival of the police prevented it. It is simply disgraceful that such a state of affairs should be allowed to exist by the Public Trustee. Knowing as he does the unsatisfactory state of affairs he should take steps at once to grant licenses to occupy to the natives entitled to do so, and then in the event of trespass oc damage the offenders could be summarily dealt with. As it is now the Te Whitiites claim on tribal rights, but that claim can be easily disposed of if the Trustee once deals with the land under the powers vested in him. The outlook at present is that the Te Whitiites will prevent the other resident natives from cropping and they will most likely find themselves face to face with want during the coming season. The wreck made of all property is quite equal to what an old war party would have produced, and such being possible whilst they are supposed to be living under the protection of the law is simply a disgrace to the Public Trustee's management. If the Trustee will not act then it is time the Government stopped iu and acted for him.