ATTEMPTED RAPE BY A NATIVE AT WANUANOI.

Otago Witness, Issue 571, 8 November 1862, Page 8

ATTEMPTED RAPE BY A NATIVE AT WANUANOI.

Scne excitement Irs been cruise,! at Wnnoanui by an allege 1 attempt of- a native, named Te Wirihana Mokara, to commit a criminal assault upon a yoiw European gill. A warrant of appiehension was issued by Major Durie, and a policeman sent out to Matataera (a settlement near Tmakinsi) on the loth inst , to execute it. The natives resisted the execution of the warrant, claiming to hive the case heard by Mr Bailer, at Turaktn'a, on the following Friday. The offender is a Kingite, and it was evident that his friends were anxious to place difficulties in the way of his committal for trial in the event of the charge being established. Mr Builer explained to the natives that as the alleged offence took place at Wans<a imi, thecase came properly within Major Durle's jurisdiction, and on receipt of the warrant be despatched several of the native police to Matataera to execute it. Te Wirihana got wind of this, and tOOk tQ..thfi WOOaa. The police eponfc tte <lay in a -fruitless search, and returned to Turakina in the evening. Early on Monday morning a detachment of ten of the West Const police started in pnrusit of him. We have heard nothing further as yet, but there v little doubt as to his ultimate capture. Such is the account as gleaned from the local aper, but a correspondent, on whose authenticity we can rely, has furnished us with a somewhat different version of the affair. He writes, " that last week, Mr Builer sent several native policemen to apprehend the culprit, but that they were unsuccessful because he was concealed in the 'bush. More policemen were afterwards dispatched on Tuesday last but meantime the friends of Wirihana communicated with the King; natives at Kaiwhike, who accordingly despatched six of their followers to prevent the arrest. Then came the tug of war Tahaua, the assessor at Aiatataera, acted plutkilv, and, backed by tne native police, insisted on the offender bein* civeii np ; Instantly, the adherents of King Potetau ! fanng their loaded muskets to their shoulders and I threaten extermination to the native folio a era ot the CJaeen. Taniata dares them to fight, and thereupon a regular manual skirmish takes place between the native police and the friends of the accused, ns the result of which the Kinfiites depart in triumph to - Kawhike, carrying their compatriot, Wirihana along with them."— Wellington Independent, 28th Oct The Queen steamer, on her last trip northward, lett several of her passengers and mails behind • Captain Pole is much censured in the local papers Alessr?. Holmes and Co., the contractors for the Uwßtchuroh Railway, have purchased a large block of forest at Pweon Bay, and intend erecting two poweriul saw-mills there.